Due to some unfortunate events during my misspent youth I am a convicted felon. I hunt with a muzzelloader as well as with a bow. In Texas it is legal. I have contacted ATF about traveling to other states and they told me as long as it does not use centerfire primers it is legal. So a sidelock percussion or flinter is legal according to ATF. I have no idea how someone could say owning a bow is illeagal. It is certainly not a firearm. In Texas the law states that it is legal for a convicted felon to be in possesion of a circa 1899 or replica of a circa 1899 muzzleloader. I have contacted the Texas Dept of fish and game and double checked. They told me the statute that the legislature passed to make it legal. I don't have it here on hand at work but if anyone needs to know it PM me and I'll find it for you. EDIT: for what its worth my felony was a violent crime involving a gun. I went to prison for it and it is still legal for me to hunt with my sidelock MLs.