Chet, not so very long ago, i had a chat with a game warden about muzzle loader regulations. Whut brought it about is a difference in the wording of muzzle loader requirements in the general big game regulations vs the wording in the muzzle loader application. The general regulations only mention rifle caliber; bullet caliber is never mentioned. The minimum muzzle loader rifle one can use in SD is 44 caliber. However in the muzzle loader regulations, the word bullet appears.

We came to an agreement that one can use a 45 caliber rifle with a 40 caliber bullet during any rifle season, but not during the muzzle loader season. The way the muzzle loader regulations are written, one must use at least a 44 caliber bullet during muzzle loader season. The reason i bring this up here, is because you virtually must use a conical during the muzzle loader season, if you use that 45 caliber rifle.