Is this what muzzleloading has come to?

[livinoutdoors]

I think we should manage seasons by experience level not weapons. So new folks get the first week or two, then folks with some kills, and then finally the people who know how to kill a deer just by lookin at it.?

 

[GeorgiaBob]

I think we should manage seasons by experience level not weapons. So new folks get the first week or two, then folks with some kills, and then finally the people who know how to kill a deer just by lookin at it.?

I never have mastered that last bit - and believe me, I have put the death stare on more than a few bucks who were standing just a step too far. I even but a double death look on a giant buck who walked into the road as I was putting my smoke pole back in the trunk and all he did was whuff and amble across the lane! What might I be doing wrong?

 

[livinoutdoors]

I never have mastered that last bit - and believe me, I have put the death stare on more than a few bucks who were standing just a step too far. I even but a double death look on a giant buck who walked into the road as I was putting my smoke pole back in the trunk and all he did was whuff and amble across the lane! What might I be doing wrong?

Dunno cant say im at that level myself! ??

 

[Jim Boyd]

Yes, in some states and some areas, including the national forests of Georgia

You go to parts of Kentucky and they restrict what you can kill during muzzleloading deer season

Some deer managers are recognizing muzzleloader season as no different than "gun" season.

Here is the problem with that theory -

We might know that the deer herd is down (it is down in SC also and for a great part of the state, our gun season starts on 15 August - so ML have nothing to do with the decline) but absent the data of what % of the deer were killed with ML - it could be that multiple factors are the reason “why”.

Loss of habitat
Hardwood replaced by pine
Liberal bag limits
Loss of tillable / food
More hunters
Etc

I won’t rule out more effective weapons, though.

Excellent compound bows
Crossbows
ML’ers
Highly accurate centerfires
Range finders
Excellent glass

None of these genies are going back in the bottle, IMHO - so the best thing to do is simply to get over it.

Same arguments could be made for bass fishing. Boats, rods and reels, trolling motors that are smart, electronics that are out of this world and so forth.

Just know that things evolve and get over it.

I hunt most of my season (SC and IL) with a crosssbow - that many would rail against - but I rarely hunt with a centerfire. Some years, I never pick up a gun. So does that mean I feel badly for using a “new fangled” crossbow?

I don’t, in the least, feel badly about it - and am not going to change my viewpoint.

 

[JustUs4All]

I never have mastered that last bit - and believe me, I have put the death stare on more than a few bucks who were standing just a step too far. I even but a double death look on a giant buck who walked into the road as I was putting my smoke pole back in the trunk and all he did was whuff and amble across the lane! What might I be doing wrong?

Not enough practice. Go at it with yourself in the mirror in the bathroom. When you can no longer even glance at the mirror when you enter the room for other reasons you are getting close.

 

[lampern]

Most of SC has any legal weapons season.

Which makes sense to me.

 

[trial&error]

I prefer the cap and ball though I bought an inline with stainless barrel because it was priced right and I wasn't really looking for one. I have an old hawken that i clean religiously as well as revolvers and single shot pistols. I mainly bought it for when I don't clean them regularly. I'll still have a nearly new inline that should last me and my son all of our days. We cast our own balls and could make our own powder if need be.

 

[Darkhorse]

Here’s how to take my statement: I like having a muzzleloader season. Here, it’s in early October, which is the perfect time to be in the woods. Frosty mornings, warm days, colorful leaves, deer on an acorn pattern. And most importantly, public land isn’t infested with thousands of punkin- suit rifle hunters. I ml hunt in rifle season too pretty often, but it just isn’t the same at all.

I guess I'm confused but I thought you lived and hunted in North Carolina?

 

[fflintlock]

In my mind, deer hunting has become just like anything else, it's all about the money. The newest this, that and the other just to kill a deer. All lobbied for by corperations that manufacture those goods. Go ahead and think about that.
Primitive hunts should be just that, primitive.
Primitive is a way of hunting, with specific weapons, primitive weapons. Not an extension of modern day firearms.
I really don't care what you use when you hunt. I on the other hand know why I hunt and know how to use what I hunt with. I'm not a trophey hunter, I don't own expensive gadgets to use in hunting. I'm a simple man with simple tools for a simple need...

 

[NCHillbilly]

I guess I'm confused but I thought you lived and hunted in North Carolina?

I do. I also have a place about halfway down the SC/GA line and I hunt down there a lot, too. The same applies there. Early October ML, good hunting, pleasant time to be in the woods.

 

[hunter 85]

I say they should just open the season as hunting season and people use what ever flipping means they want to hunt with and quit worrying about what the person on the other property are using. I personally have no care to use a cap an ball or flintlock and if they made the law as to that is what is needed to be used I would put my inlines in the closet and hunt with my bow as I have done for many years before I owned an in-line but I definitely would not be bitter about it.

 

[01Foreman400]

Great post! With that being said…….I’m looking forward to 10/9. My favorite time of the year. I’ve got the whole week off to hunt. That Barnes T-EZ bullet traveling 2,151 fps (average of 6 shots I chronographed) out of my inline is devastating on whitetails. I use it some even after rifle season gets here but I don’t sit there hating everyone who carries a centerfire rifle those days. ?

A few my T/C Omega has killed. I’ve included a picture of it as well. ?

Good luck to everyone this season no matter what your toting in the woods.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I think they should extend ML season and get rid of all “special” seasons.

 

[pacecars]

One of the reasons that some game departments have added modern muzzleloaders and even straight wall cartridge guns to the season is because they were not getting the harvest numbers they wanted. There are only so many “buckskin” clad hunters out there

 

[lampern]

I think they should extend ML season and get rid of all “special” seasons.

There is no biological reason for special seasons anymore.

Safety reasons for areas around Atlanta or Macon? Sure.

But not biological anymore.

 

[7 point]

The same here with crossbows. You used to need a handicap permit.

I remember that.

 

[earlthegoat2]

The thing with MLs is they are not user friendly if you only have ever known about cartridge firearms. The Strikefire takes that learning curve and makes it much easier and faster to use effectively and safely even if it is a pretty far cry from anything traditional.

You don’t need to know about different brands or types of powders or charge weights or pellets vs loose. You just take the fire stick and load it into the breach like a single shot break action and ram the bullet (most likely and easy to load typ bullet). Traditions and Federal tell you all you need to know by buying their prepared powder charges and bullets.

Takes all the need to read up and research out of the picture. It’s a perfect product for the society we are evolving into. Instant gratification with the least amount of effort. My dad has always said, if you want to be rich, invent something that can make people lazier. Then he uses the TV remote control as an example. Ive noticed you can probably get more rich by making already lazy people even lazier.

Not to say anyone buying a Strikefire is lazy as it is an intriguing product. I myself have several modern muzzleloaders and don’t particularly consider myself lazy. Modern MLs can be very user friendly and convenient to effectively take game.

I am not a pellets type of ML shooter though. I use loose powder always and have researched and learned how to use it correctly as many here also have. I buy my sabots and bullets separately so I can have greater control over the bullets I use as opposed to buying the “canned” bullets the ML manufacturers market. Nothing wrong with any of it though. I just get a little more into the process.

So far this year I am shooting my 58 cal Hawken right on and haven’t touched an in-line. It’s shooting good for me with the open sights and PRB at 60 yds. It should be a winner this year.

 

[ddd-shooter]

I think we should manage seasons by experience level not weapons. So new folks get the first week or two, then folks with some kills, and then finally the people who know how to kill a deer just by lookin at it.?

I say they should just open the season as hunting season and people use what ever flipping means they want to hunt with and quit worrying about what the person on the other property are using. I personally have no care to use a cap an ball or flintlock and if they made the law as to that is what is needed to be used I would put my inlines in the closet and hunt with my bow as I have done for many years before I owned an in-line but I definitely would not be bitter about it.

There is no biological reason for special seasons anymore.
Safety reasons for areas around Atlanta or Macon? Sure.
But not biological anymore.

Actually, it WAS supposed to be a distinct season for those who wanted to do something MORE difficult. (A strange concept nowadays, I know) It has since became much, much less difficult.

Except, it went like this "Let's reward those who have a particular set of skills, and/or those who want to develop them and give them "bonus" times to hunt deer. It will encourage more participation, and since these weapons are not as lethal, won't impact the harvest numbers as drastically. So there was/is a small biological reason. It "should" allow more hunters in the woods for longer times, without increasing the harvest as much as rifle seasons, but as you said, not anymore. Too much innovation.


I don't understand the notion of "let's make everything as easy as possible." "It's for the kids! How will they learn to hunt without it?"

How's that working out for us? We have the laziest generation of hunters in history and marvel when little Johnny doesn't get thrilled when he puts down his video game in his shooting house to shoot the deer that stepped out to visit the corn feeder...
Why can't these kids fall in love with hunting like I did?
Because you're not showing them what you had when you grew up. You're showing them this aberration we have nowadays...
Rant over.

 

[livinoutdoors]

Actually, it WAS supposed to be a distinct season for those who wanted to do something MORE difficult. (A strange concept nowadays, I know) It has since became much, much less difficult.

Except, it went like this "Let's reward those who have a particular set of skills, and/or those who want to develop them and give them "bonus" times to hunt deer. It will encourage more participation, and since these weapons are not as lethal, won't impact the harvest numbers as drastically. So there was/is a small biological reason. It "should" allow more hunters in the woods for longer times, without increasing the harvest as much as rifle seasons, but as you said, not anymore. Too much innovation.


I don't understand the notion of "let's make everything as easy as possible." "It's for the kids! How will they learn to hunt without it?"

How's that working out for us? We have the laziest generation of hunters in history and marvel when little Johnny doesn't get thrilled when he puts down his video game in his shooting house to shoot the deer that stepped out to visit the corn feeder...
Why can't these kids fall in love with hunting like I did?
Because you're not showing them what you had when you grew up. You're showing them this aberration we have nowadays...
Rant over.

Uhhhh, my post was meant as a joke! I think ol flintlocks n caplocks are beyond cool. I love pretty much anything that has a bit of history involved. Like i said in my post before that one, i only have an inline to hunt hogs on public land since they changed the rules to ban centerfire. If they banned inlines i guess i would go back to my 22lr.

 

[BarnesAddict]

People and their lives are NOT the same as those of us older folks. Lazy generation? To some extent maybe but, when I started hunting as a child, I'd start out in the morning from the farm, and I might end up 5 miles or more from home. I'd cross farm after farm, maybe even hunt with one of the neighbors. l'd walk out to a road and start heading home. Someone would always stop and pick me up, make sure my firearm was unloaded and take me home. How would that work out today in the majority of the country????
Next the large properties or farms in many areas have been chopped up and sold off. 10 acres here, 20 acres there, 5 acres here, or a darn subdivision now in place. City folk moved to the country to find THEIR little piece of country and by God its THEIRS! Don't you dare cross that property line. You do not have permission to retrieve game if its on my property and a whole list of other "do not disturb me" lines.
Some hunters hunting over large agricultural fields must shoot long range. Others have to kill an animal DRT because of "that" neighbor.

EVERYONE has to set back and think about how others may hunt and not be so selfish. That gets no one anywhere and only divides the numbers. You boys that have hunted in the mountains all your lives, have no clue what its like to hunt over a 200 or 400 acre agricultural field/s. Try your Davy Crocket sneaking on a buck that came out of a corner 300yds away over a picked bean field. The does will instantly spot you and they'll all be gone.
Likewise, the guys that have hunted open fields all their lives, know nothing about the guys hunting mountains and certainly anyone that hunts in the swamps.

If you have a problem with Billy Bob hunting with a modern inline rifle, you have the problem not Billy Bob. That your way or the highway stuff is nothing but selfishness.