ORIGINAL: CarpetBagger
No it is not required. Sabot rounds are allowed.
Truth be told the WMU I hunt is shotgun only...but allows for inline muzzleloaders to be used during the firearms season. After 2 years with a mossberg 500 shotgun ive decided against throwing lead at a deer and am now moving towards a muzzleloader for accuracy purposes.
There is also an early doe muzzleloaderseason that overlaps our archery season as well as lobbying for an early buck season for muzzleloader.
I like your style! I gave up the trusty Mossberg Trophy Slugster for a ML'er during Shotgun Season 10 years ago. I have always been a 1 shot guy, never liked hearing all them 4-5 shots in a row. I knew when I shot I had that 1 and only shot and it makes you a better Hunter and you know you have just 1 shot so you better wait and make you best shot, if you dont get that perfect opporitunity than you pass. I must have got this way from being a BowHunter.My Buddies all think Im crazy for using it during SG Season but My results using it are mostly better than there's! One tip though....after you shoot, RELOAD!!! Im not gonna get into that one but do reload because you never know when a Big Buck is gonna walk by after you shoot a Nice Big Doe! We also have a 10 Late ML Season that starts the day after SG Season, it's great and you actually see a-lot more deer during it. And where I live most Hunters are burned out after SG Season so there's hardly anyone out Hunting, it's nothig to drive down the road and see 30 or more Deer just out feeding in the Corn Fields.