My first choice is a ML. I bow, ML and rifle shoot but I must admit that ML season is my favorite. But ML hunting is some work. It is not dropping a round into a chamber and letting the hammer down. Since you have stated this would be your first gun, I would lean towards the shotgun. This firarm would provide you with more hunting options. An 870 Rem is a good choice. Not only would you be able to deer hunt with it but it would give you the option to waterfowl hunt or go for upland game. I don't know if you are interested in this type of hunting but an 870 would provide you the option if you have the opportunity in the future.

I just got back from BassPro and i think that i am going to go with the CVA Wolf. I don't see myself using it more than 2-3 times per season. I held that Omega and the TC Pro Hunter and they were obviously a much better rifle. My wife would skin me if i spent that much on something that i'll use so little. I appreciate everyones advice, it helped a lot. As for the shotgun, i just don't see myself ever going bird hunting. Not that there is anything wrong with it but i don't know anyone who does and i'm not sure i would get a rush out of shooting small game like that.

Upland game at times may be slow, not that I'm calling it down but goose season when the big flocks are taking off are quite a rush. Having 5000 or so birds take off not more than 20-30 yards over your head is something else. Ducks such as Teal are flying by you at warp speed also make for an incredible experience. Even though deer hunting is my passion, I hope that someday you may have the opportunity to try waterfowl.

dstubb, I would suggest you save up another $50 and get the nickel finished wolf. I have seen two CVAs with blued barrels rust up, including mine. The nickel is more weather resistant. You should also head over to the muzzleloading forums, introduce yourself, let them know you are a newbie and what weapon you have. There are a lot of really nice guys over there that will give you so much information your head will explode. I'm pretty sure you will get hooked on muzzleloading.

The Wolf is known as one of the fastest rusting muzzleloaders.If you get that one I would suggest using Blackhorn 209 (new non-corrosive muzzy powder) in 80-90 grain charges. That will work very well out to 100+ yards. Don't expect 200 yards from that gun. If you will want to shoot farther, I would suggest getting a TC or Knight. You might even want to look at the classifieds here and see if you can get a used stainless steel model all set up for about $200 or so. I would look at 50 cal if you can as it gives you more options, but 45 works just about as well with todays powder and bullets.

I forgot to mention that you need to look at your State's regulations as far as the size of muzzleloading projectiles. Most sabot loads for the .50 cal use a .44-.45 cal bullet. The .45 cal muzzleloaders use a .40 cal bullet. So if your State requires a .44 cal or larger bullet, you will need to buy a .50 cal muzzleloader.

Buy an inexpensive inline .50 caliber muzzleloader like a CVA Buckhorn. Put a good scope on it and don't look back. I have a TC Encore; it is a very nice rifle and is very accurate. It is alsoheavy at 8.8 pounds with scope. Also have A CVA Mag. Hunter and a CVA Staghorn thatshoot just as well as that Encore.

Thereis nothing wrong with the CVA Wolf. I have one and don't have any problems with rust. Any muzzleloader will rust if not properly taken care of....even those $300-600+ models. I highly doubt BPI/CVA uses different metal in the Wolf compared to their other models. I clean mine as soon as I'm done shooting at the range, remove the breech plug while its still warm and then give everything a good cleaning when I get home. I shoot no more than 100gr pellets or loose, Remington Kleen Bore primers, and a Nikon Pro Staff 2x7x32 scope.Bullets I've used include XTP's 250 and 300gr, Barnes Expander MZ in 250 and 300 grain, all with the black Crushed Rib sabots. I've also shot Powerbelts in 245gr and Sabortooths in 250gr. All shoot really good. I settled on the Barnes as my go to deer hunting load because of their reputation. I took two deer last year and one went maybe 15-20 yards and a big doe dropped right in it's tracks so I'll stick with what works. Visit the blackpowder forum on this siteand you'll get a lot of good information not to mention the guys are really helpfull. I just bought my second muzzleloader this spring, a Knight KRB7 but haven't had much time to shoot it yet and get dialed in. Good Luck.

Take a look at Sportsmans Guide. They had a .45 cal CVA Kodiak Pro (similar to the TC Omega) in stainless for about $150. If you are open to the .45, that looked like a great deal.

We were forced to hunt with slug guns for years in NY, and IMO a shotgun is about as lousy as it gets for a deer gun, they kick like heck, are very expensive to shoot, and are innaccurate with $2 a round ammo as well.
Muzzleloader is the only way to go, they are so much more pleasent to shoot, and actually supprisingly accurate. I've got a T/C Omege Stainless that I bought for special ML season, and I occasionally take it out durring rifle, and believe it or not, I do not feel handicapped by it.