There's the difference between our two ways of thinking, too. In your state they break it down into a general muzzleloader season and so-called "primitive" muzzleloader season. Here in Iowa we just have two muzzleloader only seasons, early (resident only) and late. We are blessed in that we may use any legal muzzleloader during ANY gun season, so if I can't get a quotaed early season tag I can get a shotgun 1 or 2 tag and hunt with my muzzleloader then. What gets me is when people want to impose restrictive Colorado style regs on the muzzleloaders. Once again we're blessed in Iowa with few restrictions on what constitutes a legal muzzleloader. We just have to shoot .45 to .75 caliber single shot muzzleloading rifles or pistols. Cap-n-ball pistols are allowed, but only in the designated pistol-legal seasons.
Just to point out too, you mention pre-1840's technology, but like I said, the inline was designed in the 1600's but never caught on. Probably considered too progressive and not traditional enough then, eh?! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Mike
Gun control means putting the second bullet through the same hole as the first- Ted Nugent
NRA Member
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Ben Franklin