I was going to suggest that as well. However in order to do that you will need to get the 20 guage heavy barrel. If you get the 12 gauge heavy barrel you cannot add barrels to it except for a 10 gauge smooth bore. The recievers are different.

You are correct though, a muzzle loader would let you hunt longer because you can use it during gun season and muzzle loader season. Check the regs where you live though to see what the restrictions are for your ML season. In MI we really don't have any. However some states won't let you use an inline, or optics.

This will be my first year using a slug gun. I used a remington 700 ml prior to this. My ML seems a bit more accurate, but the the slug gun has more nockdown power. And if I work at it enough I should be able to find something pretty accurate as well. I just ran out of time and money to play with it. I think you have time to get a slug gun ready for season though if you have a place to shoot it. Well I don't know when your season starts though. Mine starts the 15th of Nov.

Paul