Muzzleloaders?
 

I'm half afraid to start this one, but hey i'd like to know. What's everyone's opinion on the following. There have always been a group of shooters who enjoy primitive hunting, and while I don't necessarily agree that a blackpowder hunter is at a disadvantage and needs a special season to aid in that disadvantage, it's there nonetheless. My question is this... With all the muzzleloader advances, just how primitive a weapon is it? I seriously doubt that someone who owns, say a Thompson Center Omega, with a nice scope , is at any disadvantage, other than a somewhat limited range, and that's questionable. The new blackpowders are really fine, modern weapons. should they get a special season or should it be limited to non-bolt action, iron sighted weapons?

RE: Muzzleloaders?
 

I can't say I have killed any more deer since I changed over to my knights. So little difference, I am switching back to my TC Hawken next year. Instead of thinking about the culture of the argument or the "inner meaning", it really should be decided based on the needs and wants of the people. The early seasons I see in alot of states, is starting to get crowded with inlines and sidelocks alike. State I hunt most in, MD, needs to thin out the deer herd, bottom line. So the early season helps that. Sure us Bowhunters don't like it. So let both hunt.

But states where thinning is not needed, DNR still needs to make it challenging. Like parts of WV for instance. Keep it primative.

I guess what I am saying, I could care less what people shoot, just open the seasons enough so we are maintaining a healthy herd of deer and there will be for my children one day. I like the difference seasons myself.

RE: Muzzleloaders?
 

BC,
don't get me wrong, I like the difference too. What I was saying was that when the special seasons started, the rifles were primitive but these days they're about on a par with a smokeless powder rig. I hunt muzzleloader season, but i use the old fashioned "smokepole" I guess I'm just old fashioned.:D

RE: Muzzleloaders?
 

Well, I don't mind what they change it too, because I have the firearms to hunt with either. But I have to remind myself that these public woods belongs to all of us.

All I want for the DNR is to maintain a healthy number of deer/game so that we all can hunt for a long time to come. They have several tools in thier chest for this. From different seasons, to different weapons used.

When they introduced Crossbows to MD hunters, almost 90% bowhunters said no way unless you are disabled. But lets be honest, here, the reason I said no to crossbows is I liked the woods to myself. It was a selfish reason and bow season is relatively uncrowded. But you let crossbows out, then all the sudden every guy from the city goes out and buys one and expects to kill deer without putting in the hours and hours of tuning and practice from a compound or recurve. All the sudden the deer are pressured, and the fun of bow season is like gunseason now.

RE: Muzzleloaders?
 

Other than the source of ignition and the addition of a scope what is the real difference between modern inlines and the old relics? I prefer someone out there using a modern gun that he can cleanly harvest deer with over someone who can't seem to hit the proverbial broad side of the barn with a flintlock. I for one could never shoot a flintlock as accurately as my inline so therefore I may never have hunted muzzleloader season if it were not for the ease of use of an inline. If using inlines could "spark" the interest of someone to go out and hunt an extra season I say great, we need all the supporters we can get! I would much rather see someone outdoors rather than sitting at home fealing left out. Don't condem me for saying I couldn't shoot a flintlock, I just never had the opportunity to practice all that is required at becoming proficient with one.[X(]

RE: Muzzleloaders?
 

With the advent of changes in a lot of muzzleloaders,they are better than the original ones.They do have advantagessuch as in-llines,scopes,modern powders as the (savage). MANY states because of these advantages have outlawed nothing but the old style muzzies. One with nipples,caps,and loose powder no pellets as well. open sights only. Check with your state or the state your going to hunt. As far as the other special seasons given to muzzles is in direct attitude with the reason that one is at a disadvantage in hunting because it takes longer to reload between shots.Thats why. Advantage is the seasons they give is during the rut,or when its better wether conditiions,llike later on in the seasons to hunt deer. So there is pros and cons about it! Pay your money and take your chances,with one you like. Some states let you get deer with a ml and a regular rifle and bows as well.Like three different seasons and tags for all.States are different. vangunsmith

RE: Muzzleloaders?
 

I ain't going to lie the inline scoped is an advantage to an iron site trad. The technology now is miles ahead and allowing us to do what we thought may not be possible but really take a look at hunting as whole. Bullets/Rifles/Bows/Arrows/Broadheads/ATV's/Treestands/GPS/FRS/GMRS...the list is huge but basically does anything ressemble what it once did with regards to what we have available to hunt biggame with? I think the whole face has changed and while with any change you get some bad more good has resulted. For example more hunters taking up different angles of the sport, extended seasons, more time spent on the sport, more money coming back to the sport, etc. Some may argue a more effecient hunter with aid of technological advances in todays hunting world, while some maybe true I do think the advances can also create an air of false positive in terms of ability, etc. However for the most part the hunt itself is unchanged, it is still man/woman in nature, self challenge, test/accomplishment, always learning, commodarie, peace and so forth. It really is no different than anything evolution is part of life, your transition between the swings and pretty soon it all becomes to familar..but the core is still the same. You work b/c you need money you are now paid more than many made in a decade or more but yet still have the same hardships...I big ball that just keeps turning! Has anything really changed??

As to why I use my scoped/inline b/c I can legally and if they changed it I would just go back to my ironed trad and continue on with a longer season doing what I love to do. Do I see it ever happening, doubtful but like BC said I think a direct result is the game management and population of the game...which we are a direct result to so we should also be part of the solution. I relish in the fact we need to be a part of maintaining healthy game herds so futures will be able to enjoy all of natures beauty. All in all, I have more opportunity and am up to that task to take as much advantages as given/able. BTW the inline has not filled my freezer anymore than before it just allows me more choice and that is the bottomline.

RE: Muzzleloaders?
 

lets be honest, the old style muzzleloaders were (trying to think of a politically correct word) ok BAD! There I said it. Back before inlines came out, when my father and I would hunt muzzleloader season, I would carry my bow, I hated lugging that seriously unbalanced ugly octagon barreled Thompson Renegade out in the woods. But when inlines came out and I shot my friends Ruger M77, the feel of it and the accuracy told me I had to have one. I would rather have 75% (rough estimate no data to support) of the hunters out there using inlines if they want to, and giving them the advantage to cleanly harvesting a deer, than to have everybody carrying hunks of steel that they cant hit the broad side of a barn with. Also, I cant tell you how many guys I knew would just carry
12 ga's in stead of M/L's because they sucked with them. And besides inline or sidelock....they're all still single shots. Thats the real key here, make that one shot count with whatever you are carrying!!!

RE: Muzzleloaders?
 

Goodness Mossy, I have heard you say some crazy stuff before, but as a bud and friend, this tops it all.

RE: Muzzleloaders?
 

why? just because I absolutly HATE those old muzzleloaders? Its just my personal opinion, if MD goes back to traditional smokeploes, I will use my bow.....besides I kill more deer with a bow than I do with M/L and rifle combined. I guess the next topic will be compound vs. recurves......dont hear too many guys saying we should go back to only using recurves! and I guess if compunds get banned I will try my luck with a slingshot:D