I never considered putting a scope on my gun till my eyes could no longer focus on the iron sights. I don't think there should be a cut-off time from muzzleloading due to aging eyes. A scope brought muzzleloading into to being ethical and fun again for hunting.

Last year Colorado issued about 3500 so called "statewide" bull tags. Since nonresidents get 35%, that means that they issued 1225 nonresident tags. I didn't pull a tag this year with 3 years into the drawing. I should be able to pull a tag next fall but if they reduce the tags any, that could me longer than a 4 year wait! I feel pretty sure that more bulls would be killed with scopes. I have no real proof, but I bet someone could look up stats in a state that has changed to allowing scopes and see how it affected that harvest. I just know personally, there have been quite a few times I could have shot at an elk with a scope, but I came home without firing a shot.

I really like the special muzzy season because I can chase elk in September with golden aspens and bugling bulls, so I don't want that to change either.

It isn't all "sour grapes" though. I did get a cow tag as a second choice the last two years and came home with a cow. I have another cow tag in my pocket for this year! I love it cow or bull, but just wish I could hunt for the "big-un" more often. I have yet to kill a really big bull and at my age, every year counts!

Maybe I will draw a Utah tag next year and put a scope on my muzzy!!!

it is no guarantee when useing a scope that harvests will go up, you still have to be able get one in your crosshairs. i whitetail hunt here in kentucky, in 3years i've had an inline with scope i have taken 1 deer with my muzzle loader. i do very good with my 308, but even with a scope to get an animal in range is still tough. no one can say for sure about if useing a scope will make harvests go up, one year it might, one year it might not, it depends on the luck of the hunter. but useing a scope will i believe cut down on wounded game. thanks

But have you been able to hunt them in the rut, as we can with the elk muzzleloader season? Many times, we can call an elk in during this season only to have him hang up at 150-200 yards.

As I already stated, I would be for allowing a 1X scope as that will allow people with bad eyesight to do better, but wouldn't affect the accuracy range much.

Well to out law scopes would eliminate all of us older people who have to ware trifocals or quad focal, is that what you want. We work for a long time to get scopes and two things won the fight one was when we proved scopes go all the way back to the flint lock era the other was discrimination lawsuits that were dropped because their was no need for them once they allowed scopes.

"Well to out law scopes would eliminate all of us older people who have to ware trifocals or quad focal, is that what you want."

No, I have said I am in favor of your change. I am talking specifically Colorado seasons. And as far as Trifocals, etc, I am basically there myself. Cept I wear no line progressives. Maybe there can be a provision for those who prove need, just like crossbows, but I still say: Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. I don't want to have to wait 5 years or more to draw a Colorado bull tag!

And let me say this one more time: I am not against 1x scopes. Should solve the problem of poor vision without producing the changes I am afraid will happen. I just don't want to increase the distance people are proficient with muzzleloaders from 100-150 yards to 200-250 yards IN COLORADO.

they have seasons for the disabled.

but i agree tx with your post on cayugads post. Colorado allows scopes, the harvest rate will go up and i to am afraid that once that happens, the tags will take even longer to get in the same crappy units where i mostly go home empty handed.

Add a new season for scoped muzzle loaders IMO. I am going 2nd or 3rd rifle and using my muzzleloader.

I shot a deer last year at 82 yards with my Knight Revolution and open sights. I hit it hard as it bucked and ran but it didn't leave a good blood trail. It quit bleeding about 100 yards into the woods, I shot it in a field, and I lost it. I have since scoped my gun and have it about zeroed in now. Next time I will be sure to get a heart/lung shot.

I hate to admit I can't use open sights, but I have shot a scoped rifle for so long that I just can't ethically use open sights.

Unless someone can state hard cold facts. There is no reason to ASSUME that it will increase the harvest rate. When I've been out in the field I sometimes heard WWII only to see the deer running unhurt and the person yelling in disgust and low in behold he has a scope on the gun. Also other things to think about. I know Montana is like this and it wouldn't suprise me if all states are like this because of FWP. MONEY, it all boiles down to money. Even if the harvest rate increased they are use to the MONEY and they are not going to cut tags and limit their income. The only way that would bite us in the back is if they limit the tags and then increase the price for the remaining. However in Montana, State Congress has to pass that. So I find that highly unlikely. Montana use to not allow illuminated optics. Like red dot scopes, etc. Well they finally changed it. Your scope can be illuminated, just not shoot out a laser or night vision. GUESS WHAT? We havn't had a increase of harvest nor increase of poaching! If we really wanted to fix the States Muzzleloader Seasons and stop some of the fighting, we need to get rid of the INLINES. Now don't get me wrong I love my inline. But all of these INLINES have ballistics equal/close to 45-70 or greater. Which is like shooting a center fire rifle. Make all Muzzleloader Seasons SIDELOCKS ONLY! Then as for scopes make them no greater than 4x. The inlines are nice and people can use them during reg season. But make Muzzleloader season SIDELOCKS ONLY! Now I'm sure I'm going to upset some people but this is how I feel.

That certainly is not the case here.Our statistics say that ; There are less hunters and more deer every year. We have been able to use any kind of sight we want for the last 5 or 6 years; during muzzleloader season the requirement is 40 caliber + we are even allowed to use muzzleloading pistols. Our limit is 3 deer in my section but some have more we are only allowed bucks with 3 or more points and in some situations it is 2 bucks and one doe in others it is 2 or 3 does and a buck or two. AR is very common sense about most laws it is the only state out of the 4 I have lived in that is that way and it has the most deer of the 4.