I am new to hunting and I have never shot a muzzleloader. I am going to shoot a Connecticut valley Arms Hawken rifle. It shoots .50 caliber ammunition. My dad has never shot one either... He got it as a gift and niether of us know how to use it. How much powder should I put into it? What kind of powder do I use? What kind of bullets do I use? Will it take a deer? Will it take an elk? How many yards for a deer? How many yards for an elk? What's a nipple cap? Do I need a nipple cap? Does the rifle have any recoil? Do scopes fit on it? Do I have to buy special muzzleloader scopes, or can I use my rifle scope on it?

Any help on my little dilema ill be greatly appreciated!