I see one point here that I can not agree with. I use iron sights open iron buck-horns modified by me for use at the mountain man and Hawken matches at friendship.
I have taken deer [2] and a bear at 180 yds with my home built 54 caliber with PRB and I believe that any one willing to put enough work into it can be ready to shoot that far. My need for a scope is because it is the only way I can hunt if I can not see the sights clearly I will not shoot. The average age is getting older every day and those of us who need a focal point that will work with our glasses in order to hunt will fight to get it. The statistics show less wounded deer getting away this is not quite the same thing as a higher kill per hunter only a cleaner kill.

Lee

Are you saying it helps to be Proficient with the use of your rifle?

To some degree - I kinda agree with txhunter in the thought above. I really believe it is much easier to become proficent with a scope that puts the animal in your lap than it does using open sights.

But I also do not think it matters what type of sight you are using - you still have to find the target.

+ I still think if you want to use an advanced scoped ML - just hunt in the regular rifle season - if your state will allow that.

I say that becuase Idaho's ML season is at the end of the year and 7 days long... The bow hunters have tied up the 'Rut' to the point they control it... Sure helps to be organized and have the ability to lobby.

Yes, I think if you are talking a muzzy season outside the rut, scopes would be fine. Proabably wouldn't make much difference

Montana, of course, doesn't have a seperate muzzy season. From what I have heard, they have tried to get one in the rut, but the bowhunters have too much clout. So if they ever came up with a muzzy season outside the rut, I think scopes would be OK there as well.

FYI, I have a group of friends that always go to the first elk rifle season in Colorado (draw only). For that season, any weapon is legal. They all use open sight 45-70 cartridge rifles and generally run about 75% success.

Yeah, your right about that. The bowhunters have tooo much pull. I wish I could find out who they have lobby'n for them. Also Montana got rid of most late hunts so the great idea in having a ML hunt after anyone else is not going to happen. I wish we could have one or the other. Montana has alot of Mountian Men events every summer. So I know there are enough to allow a ML hunt. Also i'm sure alot more people would try a muzzleloader if that meant they could hunter longer or rut. I just don't see it ever happening. I think if I want to hunt a muzzleloader season, i'm going to have to put in out of state. Like North Dakota or Idaho

Or Colorado (wolves haven't gotten there yet!)

Dont even get me started on those damn wolves. We were suppose to have our 2nd year of season on them. But the tree huggers sued and of course they won. So I guess Montana is going to let the wolves eat everything.