I don't carry the centerfire unlessI get invited tohunt some private land. The public land around here gets to crowded. Luckily there are some state WMA's around that are primitive weapon only. which is where I do most of my hunting.
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TC Omega .50 SS/Lam (gray/black) w/Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x40 & Leupold QD rings
Rem 700ML .50 Blue/Syn (black) w/Nikon Monarch 4x40 & Leupold QD rings
TC Hawken .50 Brown/Walnut
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No matter where you go.....there you are.
Many years ago I used only center fire rifles. I lived in a part of the State where shots could be extreme, and the need to fill the freezer seemed real important as part of my hunting conditions. Then as times changed, the need to fill the freezer changed and I found the excitment of hunting was getting stale. I started to hunt only with a traditional style rifle, shooting roundball. It decreased my effective range but opened up a whole new excitment aspect for me and made hunting fun again. I never looked back. Fillng the freezer became an added bonus at that point, and I also found myself looking forward to hunting season again.
I will on ocassion pick out one of the center fire rifles during our modern season, if I am going scouting or out for a short walk. Then I do not have to prepare and later clean the muzzleloader. But for the most part I hunt 95% of the time with a muzzleloader. I even started upland bird and turkey hunting with black powder shotguns. So I am kind of hooked myself you could say.
By the way it only gets worse with time. So you will be wanting different rifles, and old style rifles, and it just builds from there... Good luck with your Omega and future hunts.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
Once bitten it is hard to return... I am/was an avid centerfire hunter - especially out here in Idaho where the ranges can get long, even this year as I was elk hunting during a late season hunt, twice I encountered elk that would have been an easy shot for my 300 win Mag but could not make with my ML, after each encounter I was mad and when i got home twice I got the mag out and loaded it up, but each time after a few hours to settle down I would leave the mag standing and grab the ML... it finally paid off and it did really make me feel good to get an elk with a ML + a 4x4 whitetail and a nice whitetail doe. I am hooked also but I think the state of Idaho may be preparing another curve ball for us with new regulations coming out for 2008...
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Keep on Shooting Muzzleloaders they are a Blast
Here in Indiana shot gun was the only choice for gun season. You see a lot of muzzleloaders during gun season. Dave, I have been considering a black powder shot gun barrel for my Optima. How hard is it to find cups,shot etc for a shot gun setup.
Is it basically the same routine finding the best load as it is for slugs?
This year was my first year hunting with and owning a muzzleloader, specifically an Omega. I'm about the biggest centerfire nut there is, but believe it or not, I found myself taking that smokepole out in regular season too. To be honest, it was just alot of fun going through the motions of muzzleloading, and hunting knowing I only had 1 shot. I never got that shot, but I've got to say, I had alot of fun, and ended up hunting more days with the ML than the rifle.
How many of you find yourself dragging the smokepole out in regular season?
I have used my Savage all year ever since November 3 for all hunting.One shot is all you need.
Chap Gleason
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Chapman Gleason
Purcellville Va
http://www.the-gleasons.com
I don't own a rifle myself, so it's either bow, ML or shotgun. I really don't think I'll ever buy a rifle to use for hunting. In fact, I bought my son a 22LR/20ga combo for Christmas. I think that'll do for anything we need a rifle for at our house.
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If deer didn't have antlers, would anyone care which one they shoot??
I'll have to echo the rest, once you're bit you're done. Where I hunt we're only allowed shot guns but once I bought a ML I was so thrilled with it I sold my shot gun and now take my ML out every time I hit the woods. As some one else saidmuzzleloaders area BLAST. I hope you continue to enjoy MLing.
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Hey Fred, you go up on that ridge, I'll go down in that swamp, we'll get that buck.
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