I agree with an early ML season and the "little or no effect on the deer for bow season" with one prevision iron sights only, in most cases you will be hunting well within the ML's range and with the modern rifles, projectiles and powders if you scope it you may as well have a cartridge rifle at the same range. I have a CVA side-lock ML without a scope and like the challenge of a single shot and iron sights. So yes to early ML with iron sights.