RE: shotgun or muzzleloading
It would really depend on what terrain that I am hunting. If brushy, wooded, tight conditions where quick shots and possibly more than one shot is appropriate, then I would go with the shotgun. If longer shots are available and terrain not so quite dense, then ML.
I primarily hunt in a shotgun/handgun/ML only zone in Minnesota. I have always used a shotgun, but will be using my savage 10ML-II this next year. I have a few spots that offer longer shots, and since I will be using smokeless powder, I can reach out to 250 yards and little farther without a problem.