Also consider the fact you're basically limited to one shot unlike the centerfire rifles. If you do get a second shot, it will take some time reloading. And yes, some of the do produce some impressive velocities.. and it is up to the State to determine what is safe and what is not. So as long as they allow them, if I hunted in a shotgun only area, I would be using a muzzleloader.

In fact years ago friend invited me to hunt with them for a special season. They were in a shotgun only, but muzzleloaders were allowed. I took a muzzleloader instead of a shotgun. I watched my friend pass up a nice deer at only 100+ yards. He said he did not want to risk it. Had I gotten a good rest sooner and been were he was, I'd of shot the things. A .54 caliber will do wonders out to about 120 yards.