CVA Accura makes meat

Muzzleloader season starts tomorrow by me, but I took mine out today all the same. About 15 minutes before dark a nice doe presented herself at 70 yards to my left (South of where I was setup). I brought my Accura to my shoulder and squeezed off the shot free-hand. The doe flopped over with a clean pass through mid way up the front shoulders. The doe was definitely the largest bodied deer I have ever harvested, and probably weighed between 160-165 lbs live weight. I know people take monster 200+ lb deer in the northeast, but I certainly don't see many of them.When I walked up to the doe, she was still alive, though completely incapacitated. I dispatched her with one shot through the head from a pistol.

As that isn't much of a story (despite being really exciting for me) I'll give a review of gear and what I would change.

First the load: I used 100gr of loose Triple 7 powder and a 250 gr TC shockwave.  The load shoots well and has plenty of knockdown power.

Second the knife: This is the third deer I have dressed out with my mora 440 sporter knife- and it has held an edge well. If I were buying it again, I would buy one with an Orange handle instead of black, so it would be easier to find when I put it down.

Third the Flashlight: Still carrying a solarforce L2 with a Cree XP-G emitter. Light is bright, and I have no complaints about it. I keep a single 1850 stick battery in there and I never have problems with it.

Sidearm: Springfield armory mil-spec loaded with 230gr winchester white box PD JHP. This load has performed well in the past, and gave a clean pass through on her head for a finishing shot. Slug was not recovered so I cannot comment on expansion- though judging from the exit wound, I don't believe it opened up much. Magazine was a C-products 8 round mag. Not the greatest, but functional and it was loaded up with the ammo I wanted to carry.

Camo was all scent lock gear, and ontop of it all I wore a harness from Hunter Safety Systems.

Tree stand was some no-name ladder stand I couldn't say anything exceptional about one way or the other.

That is everything. I try not to carry too much stuff when I am out in the woods. Throw in a cellphone and a couple zip ties to attach tags to animals, and some latex gloves for gutting and you have my entire 'kit'.  Hopefully, I'll put at least 1 or 2 more in the freezer before the close of season- as this was only the second day I have been out this year.  Dad has put up 2 in the freezer so far, and if we can get 4 or 5 total we'll be well set for meat for the upcoming year.