To add to hunting from the ground. back when I was about 13/14 I was just beginning to cut my teeth on deer hunting. Between my Dad, both Grandads, and my late Uncle Garrett Litton, I had it pretty good as far as deer wisdom. I had just got my first Muzzleloader from grandad, and it was a Pedersoli 40. cal. flintlock. from Dixie gun works. Well, we were set to hunt on a property nearing Alvin C. York's stomping grounds. Myself, Uncle Garrett, Grandad, and a couple of my cousins all loaded up in the trucks and went. It was cold and extremely foggy that morning, and while we were getting unloaded I decided to load my Frizzen. Garrett, without hesitation, said " I'd wait till this fog clears out to do that". But I decided otherwise! I said " Nah it'll be fine" He just Chuckled. I would soon regret. After Me and my grandad had been napping up against a very large oak tree, finally a six point buck came slowly trekking by at about 15 yards. Perfect setting right? Grandad went to hand me his MZ, but I insisted on using mine. "Shoot Em'" he urgently whispered as I rose my rifle to my shoulder. As I took aim I let out a subtle "Bleat" the buck stopped perfectly broadside right in front of us, and he knew his time was up LMAO. when I squeezed the trigger and the lock released all you could hear in the woods was a resounding "FFFFZZZZZZZSSSSSSSHHHHH!!.......ZZSH...." "sh*%" I whispered. yep..... my powder was too wet to ignite the barrel. and that deer took off like rocket blowing and all, never to be seen again. Grandad and Uncle Garrett Laughed about that for years. My nickname in family became "Fizzle Pan". every Christmas and Thanksgiving or any other family event I would hear them say "here comes ol' Fizzle Pan", and even to this day when MZ season Rolls around, Papaw still calls me that. Maybe that should be my User ID LOL.
