EllieMae,
<br>My best 45/70 story is neither about a levergun nor a "success".
<br>Quite a while go,I was sitting on a sidehill,about 40 yards above a ledge that rose in height toward the edge.The back part of the ledge,closest to me,was very heavily covered with saplings and brush.It thinned out nearer the edge.
<br>Three "hunters" walked up from the bottom,crossed the ledge,and passed on to the top of the mountain.They were Yakking like they were going to a Bar,instead of hunting.
<br>I realized then that nothing would stir for another hour,or so.I laid my single shot Trapdoor on my lap,and rested.
<br>Less then five minutes after they passed,I could still hear them talking,I spotted a deer sneaking along the ledge.I put my binos on it,a doe.But there was more,five in all,and one was a huge ten pointer.I had never seen anything like this before,in my life.
<br>I raised the Trapdoor,held the trigger,while i cocked it.(if you don't hold the trigger,cocking the rifle sounds like a 22 shot).The deer were all bunched up.I could not see the buck. I picked him out with the glasses again,but he diappeared without them.I went through this routine two more times,but the buck just walked on by.
<br>If only he had strayed farther away,or just raised his head like a real sporting buck would do.I don't think that he ever saw me,although he probably heard my heart banging against my ribcage.
<br>I really do'nt know how long it lasted;it seemed like all morning.
<br>I did'nt get any venison,but I did get a memory that I've had for about 35 years.
<br>Frank
