When does your ML season start and what do you plan to use?
 

Here in GZ6 of South Carolina, our General Gun season started last Saturday (Private Land). We can use whatever we want to harvest deer until January 1st. I know other states aren't as fortunate and most have specific seasons for archery, ML, and General Gun. So when are you gentlemen able to get out to the woods with your muzzleloaders? And which one do you plan on using once the season kicks off?

If I don't get one with the bow Antelope opens Sept 20th for ML. Following that Deer opens Oct 1st.

sw

My hunting in Idaho does not start until Oct 10. That is the beginning of the General Rifle season. I will be starting the season hunting whitetail with a Knight Disc Extreme, a 200 grain Lehigh, and T7.

My next season... is a ML elk season December 2-9 and and extra deer season from December 2 - 14. In those two ML seasons I will be using a TC Renegade with a GM-LRH barrel. I will be shooting a 460 grain Bull Shop conical and again T7. In Idaho during a ML season, we can not use optics, 209 ignition, sabots, or pellet powder - hence -> the Renegade.

I will finish the year with a Triumph and a late season whitetail hunt December 14 - 31, again shooting either the 200 grain Lehigh or the 250 grain Lehigh.

This year I will be hunting 3 states Lord willing.

Squirrel season starts next weekend and I'll be takin' the ol smokepole out for them. 30g BH. veggie wad, .15 patch and round ball out of a Genesis.

Then comes fall turkey season in Oct. where I'll be using 200g XTPs over 80g of BH or 777 depending on if it's out of a Genesis or 700ML.

Also in Oct we have Bear season in TN. Using 460g Bullshop, veggie wad and 80g 777 out of my 700ML

Nov has both ML and Rifle seasons in VA. For the ML season I'll use a Hawken w/85g of 777 and a .15 patched round ball. For Rifle I'll use 200g XTPs this year (change from previous years of 300g-ers) in front of 110g 777 out of my 700ML.

Late Nov I'll be in MS huntin' hog w/.430 300g XTPs over 80g BH out of my Genesis.

Dec can be a combo of any of the previous. Dec is kind of my 'do whatever I please' month...

West Virginia
 

West Virginia has a new MZ season this year that is at the end of Sept. for a week. However I doubt if I hunt it. It is doe only, and that is disappointing to me. I do not care to take a doe early in the year when it is hot and I can not let it hang for awhile. So I will wait for the December season. Tom.

Nebraska has a cool change for this year!!!:barmy:

Special EARLY 3-day any weapon season for Oct 9 - 11, 2009

October Antlerless ***NEW IN 2009*** Open to those with SCA 18 or 21 permits Archery, Muzzleloader, centerfire and crossbow is legal.

I LOVE Nebraska:party0007::groupwave::party::woot::cool2:




Plus regular rifle=Muzzleloaders allowed Nov 14th-22

Regular Muzzleloader 01-31Dec

Late Rifle/Muzzleloader 01-15Jan

:D:D :happy0001::happy0001: :barmy:

I will use the 45cal Disc Elite and 200g Lehigh's and 130g BH209,
200g SST's and 130g BH209,
And 300g Platinum Pbelts with 60g BH209

Are you participating in the new Wolf season this year? I heard about that on the news.

sw

The wolf problem here in Northern Idaho is far greater than the state will tell you. They have been really tough on the Clearwater Elk herds, and two weeks ago they took a beef cow down on the open range a few miles from here and that is not the first one but one the state finally recognized as a wolf kill.

Hunting them on the other hand I doubt I will set out with a goal of shooting a wolf. Our area up here in the north is really timbered and rolly-polly, if not straight up and down getting a shot a wolf without bating might be pretty rare. Where they might end up disappearing a few of them anyway is when a farmer or rancher gets his opportunity.

Unit 84 - San Isabel Ntl. Forest - Sept 12-20th

Buck Tag - Cabelas .50cal Sporterized Hawen - 110gr RS with 247gr Colorado Thor

Cow Elk tag - CVA Mountain Stalker, 90gr RS, 362gr Custom Tip Powerbelt

Bear Tag - CVA Accura, 100gr RS, 247gr Colorado Thor

---------------------------

Raton, New Mexico - Sept 24-28th

Buck Tag - CVA Accura, 110gr RS, 250gr Ballistic Tip Thor.

I get a nice 1 to 2 days rest after my Colorado season until i have to pack up again and head up to NM for my brother in laws hunt. This guy is something else let me tell you! I showed him the bullet we're going to be using and right away, I dont like ballistic tips! I never had any luck with them in my rifle ( Centerfire) He's going to learn something about muzzleloaders this year.

I hear ya. Was just wondering. I heard Montana is opening a season also. A lot of the anti's don't realize it but this is what happens when they ban hunting for a certain animal. The same thing happened in New Jersey with bears.

We have 3 different options in Oh. Early season is from Oct. 19 - 24. 1 deer only, duck or doe in 3 different specified areas in the state. 2 hr. + for me, I won't be going. I think it's BS it isn't state wide. :mad:
I do have 3 different stands 20 min. from my back door. The bow is lighter anyways.

Our shotgun comes in 11-30 to 12-6, + an extended gun Dec. 19 and 20th. Hand guns of certain cal. and ML are allowed. NO RIFLES during any part of deer season. No ML again for me then either. As we do drive hunts around here. You are just kinda looked down upon carring anything less then a shotgun with the fellas I hunt with.

Jan. 9 - 12th.
:party: IT'S FINALLY ML SEASON! :party:

Oct. 31 here in VA Hope to get me a Halloween buck

I will be using my Hawkens .50 kit I put together earlier this yr when my hours were cut back and needed something to work on for my days off.

Dave

Yeah, back in high school when I participated in drive hunts they were teasing me for bringing along a ML instead of a shotgun all morning ("That's stupid, you only get one shot"). Then a doe ran across in front of us, three of them emptied their guns without hitting her, and I calmly took a knee and rolled her with a single shot from 140 yds (looked up at them and said something to the effect of "Unlike you, I only NEED one shot"). (not a shot I'd take today but I was 16). That shut them up REAL quick.

If you can hit'em, go ahead and take it. You'll find yourself aiming a lot better without having the extra shells in the back of your head.

In Arizona you have to get drawn to hunt anything and I have not been drawn for three years. If I could hunt it would be with the NEF Huntsman with a backup of the White Ultra Mag as a second choice especially for Elk.

I didnt get drawn for the ML season this year. Deer season starts on the 4th Saturday in September for me and goes for....I think 36 days. If I were to get drawn, the ML season goes from the end of October thru the first two weeks of November.

Our ML season doesn't start until first Monday in Dec. and goes for a week. By then I will have been archery hunting since Oct. 1 and regular rifle hunting the first week in Nov. I am planning on using the ML duting the reg rifle hunt in Nov. as by the time Dec. rolls around we are usually thigh deep in snow. 'll use 54 T/C Hawken perc./ PRB over 90 gr 3f Goex. We are in med heavy bush and 80 yd shots are the max.

here in Utah i will be hunting ( the very few that are left ) deer in the muzzle loader season from sept 23- Oct 1 and then for the very plentiful Elk , i will be hunting the muzzle loader season from Oct 28- Nov 6th , We have very short season for both , I will be hunting the last 5 days of the elk hunt hopping the snow comes by then moving more elk into my area . I will be using my Encore with a .25 acp conversion and 777 with a 300 grain .452 XTP mag . The Xtp did a number on a mule deer for me and Two elk , one was my sons and one a friends . Grouse , Dove , Deer , Elk , Ducks and Geese seasons and cool weather ( i hate the heat ) are just around the corner !!:happy0001:

Here in Eastern NC ML season comes in OCT 10-16 with Gun season coming in on OCT 17th. In gun season, you can use whatever you want. I plan on using my TC Triumph with Nikon Omega 3-9X40 if I can get all my supplies in and get her sighted in in time!--DrASUS

Early ML season in Iowa starts Oct. 17th and runs through Oct. 25th. Late ML season is 10/21 through 01/10/10. Muzzleloaders are also legal weapons during both shotgun seasons and any other season when firearms are legal. Iowa has few restrictions on what type of ML's are legal. Inlines, scopes, smokeless powder, sabots, etc... are all legal. Basically, if it loads from the front and is at least 44 cal, it's legal.

Mike

Oh, and to answer the rest of your question, I plan to hunt early ML this year, with my Savage 10ML-II shooting a 300gr Barnes Expander MZ sabot over 43.5 grains of AA 5744. I'm good to a tested 200 yards with this load.

Mike

Kansas
 

ML Deer Season - 21 Sept - 4 Oct

Tueky - 1 Oct - 1 Dec

ML season start Oct 17th here in Arkansas.

Got drawn for elk this year, season is Sept 1 to 30 and is open to all weapons. Then there is our earn a buck mule deer draw and the season runs Oct 1 to Oct 31 for muzzleloaders then Nov 1 to Dec 7 for general rifle. Our white tail season runs Oct 1 to Oct 31 for muzzleloaders and Nov 15 to Dec 7 for general rifle. Will be using my Triumph during ml seasons and elk season with the Lehigh 275 grain & 110 gr bh209.

That's a great setup you got there. Mine shot best with 42.5grns.

As previously stated, here in Virginia, ML season is October 31-November 13. I am missing the first five days of the season due to my better half scheduling a family Disney trip. I couldn't friggin believe it. I'll catch up with the rest of ML season. If I have luck I'll keep on using the ML, otherwise I may switch to my .308.

We also have a late ML season December 12-January 2, depending on the county.

I'll be using an T/C Omega X7 (my only ML). Likely Speer 300gr GDHP and BH 209.

With the Late Antlerless-Only Firearms Deer Season for private property in Northern VA, I hope to be hunting until March 27! :barmy:

ML. season for deer in november [hope we have snow on the ground] i will be caribou hunting the 10 of sept. for 7 days ..i have not decided if i will take my ML. or the 300 WSM ..also going for moose in oct ..and any WOLF that crosses my trail is going down ..

Indiana is Dec 5-20. I'll be using my White Lightning #2 in .504. Might even use sabots this year:cool15:.

Yeah. Love the gun, and the load does a heck of a job on whitetails, and I'd imagine anything else you shot it at!

Got my tag today, so it's a done deal. Now I just wait for the antlerless tags to go on sale, and get a couple of those, one for early ML and one for late antlerless. And I'll be good to go. Hopefully I can put two in the freezer in October with the Savage, and another in January with my new 257 Wby. Looking forward to hunting this year, but wish I could afford another trip to my bros place in MN. Have to hunt close to home this year.

Mike

Ft. Sill, OK muzzleloader season starts on 17 October and runs through 1 November. OK Muzzleloader season starts on 24 October and runs through 1 November. Ft. Sill deer gun season starts in November and runs for five weekends that do not include Thanksgiving weekend.

OK deer gun season for this area on 21 November and runs through 6 December. Holiday doe seasons run December 18, 19 and 20 and another that runs December 25, 26 and 27.

i intend to use my trusty CVA Stag Horn loaded with 100 or 110 grains of Goex Pinnacle and the excellent 240 grain .430 XTP bullet. For long range use from a few stands i will use the TC Encore loaded with 120 grains of Goex Pinnacle and the 250 grain SST/Shockwave bullet.

Of course, i would rather shoot a big sow than a trophy buck. :D

South Dakota muzzle loader season starts December 12, 2009; ends January 31, 2010. We cannot use smokeless powder or optics. My rifle will be an Omega X7 with the factory peep sight. The first load i will try will probably be 105g BH209, Winchester 209 primer, green crush rib sabot, and 270g gold dot. Then i will try the 300g .44 XTP. It is possible i may also try the TEZ.

During the rifle season i plan to carry an Accura with a 4X Leupold, and shoot similar loads at antelope and deer.

If i were hunting elk, my load would be similar, but the bullet would be the proven Nosler Partition.

If the mentioned bullets don't perform to my expectations, i will only be using the Nosler in the future, as i am very demanding when it comes to hunting bullets. Oh, perhaps, if they are still available, i will give the Lehigh a chance, if i run out of my supply of bullets. Having killed 5 deer last season with the SST/Shockwave, i have seen enough of them; they will never accompany me hunting again, unless they are all i have.

In New York we have a season in the northern zone with a different start date than in the southern zone. I usually bow hunt during October/November so my first ML hunt would be Nov. 21. That is the start of our reg gun season. After gun season is a ML season running from 12/12 thru 12/22. There is also a special shotgun season on Long Island that runs the month of January. You can use a ML during that season also.

First up would be my PH pushing a 275gr Parker BE behind 110gr of BH209. My daughter would be using the Accura and the 185gr Lehigh.

Eastern Oct 10-16
Central Nov 7-13...Muzzleloader can be used in either until January 1st when the Gun season closes...I use my muzzleloader about 75% of the time...

I hunt on lands near the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. Opens up for muzzleloading Nov 1 and last 2 weeks then rifle kicks in. I actually liked it when the season opened a week later; colder and closer to the rut. This took a week of bow season away where the hunting woods were all but deserted. The The last week of hunting season which ends the first saturday in January is always muzzleloading or bow. Great time to pick up a doe.

Turkey Season
 

I am hoping to win an auction for a BP shotgun. I have never taken a turkey doing it this way. The BP season here in kansas opens very early

My poor Rem 700 .30-06 is being neglected. Ever since I started with muzzleloaders that's all I have used. After I get my first buck and doe on the ground this season I may pull out the 700 and give it a workout.

I'm just the opposite. I hunt with a ML mostly because it's a better choice than shotgun in a state where CF rifles are only legal in a small part of the state (which happens to not be the part of the state I live in :s6:) during a special late antlerless season. If CF rifles were legal throughout Iowa with normal any-sex tags available, I'd probably only hunt with my CF rifles.

I like muzzleloaders, but they just don't have the convenience, accuracy or range of a CF rifle.

Mike

ky ml starts in oct two days of it and in dec seven days of ml

Here in south eastern PA (special regs area), we have one full week in October, then most of December and January instead of using a shotgun. A majority of that time is for antlerless whitetail deer. I have four antlerless tags and one buck tag. After Christmas, I can take an anterless deer with my buck tag if I am using a flintlock.

We have a lot of deer around here but not a lot of places to hunt. It is common to see Does with two fawns and every now and then with three fawns. They re-populate very quickly. Lots of farm crop damage.

I hope to use a tag or two during our archery season, but we will see how it goes.

I plan to do most of my muzzleloader hunting with a .45 cal Knight DISC Elite using 120 gr BH209, 200 gr SW in a tan MMP sabot, and NFPJ using Winchester 209 shotshell primer. This combo rivals the accuracy of my .270 Winchester out to 200 yards. Plenty far enough.

MD Muzzy
 

Here is what the MD muzzy season looks like three seperate dates. I can actually take as many antlerless as I want in my county. I will be using my Optima Elite with BH and 200gr SW's.

2009
Oct 22- Oct 24
2009
Oct 26- Oct 31
2009
Dec 19- Jan 2

Getting stuff ready right now elk seaon starts in two weeks can't wait. going up labor day weekend to set up camp check some wallows I get goose bumps just thinking about it. I shoot a Remington Genesis with 110g T7 CVA 348 power belts.