alternatives to muzzleloader

kcub · December 31, 2015, 02:40 PM

My state, Texas, has a muzzleloader only season. Do other states have variants on primitive weapons, black powder cartridges perhaps? Might be hard to enforce.

NHSHOOTER · December 31, 2015, 02:54 PM

There was another post recently that said in some states, La I think was one, single shot breech loader, certain calibers, 1 they talked about alot was the 35 whelan. Take a look back just a few weeks.

Doyle · December 31, 2015, 03:25 PM

Yep, LA and MS got into a contest to see which one could make the most liberal definition of a primitive weapon. I think both states wound up with the same definition - single shot, external hammer, .35 and larger.

jmr40 · December 31, 2015, 04:17 PM

Georgia has had an archery season forever. We start with archery in mid September and rifle season starts about 5-6 weeks later. Muzzle loaders didn't have a specific season on a state wide basis until just a few years ago. They have always been OK during rifle season and there were a handful of Wildlife Management Areas who hosted special muzzle loader hunts.

They wedged one week of muzzle loading hunting into the last week of archery before rifle season starts. They call it primitive weapons season. Muzzle loaders and archery are both legal that week. It doesn't offer any more time in the woods and I've never fooled with buying a muzzle loader. I continue hunting normally that week with my bow.

It does have to be a muzzle loading rifle, no single shot breach loaders. It can be traditional or an in-line, but during primitive weapons week no optics are allowed. If you use it during rifle season any type of sights may be used.

big al hunter · December 31, 2015, 06:00 PM

In Washington we have a muzzle loader season. No optics and the cap must be the old percussion style, no shotgun primer systems. The cap must also be exposed to the weather ( not covered by the weapon proper). The early elk season is the week between archery season and modern firearm deer. That puts muzzle loader right at the end of the elk rut

. Then we have a late season that is 3 or 4 weeks long in November and December, depending on which unit you hunt in.

We have to pick a weapon when we buy the tags, so you have to choose between archery, modern and muzzle loader. Many of the units are buck or bull only for modern, but archery and muzzle loader have several units that are any elk or deer. You only get 1 tag per species. Tough decision every year....

Gunplummer · December 31, 2015, 06:11 PM

I still hunt one other state for deer. When I was younger, I went to a couple different states. Some of the states had so many gun/area restrictions that I was afraid to go there. Some had cap areas, some flintlock areas. Some of the regulations bordered on entrapment.

hartcreek · December 31, 2015, 07:24 PM

Big Al is close to being right in Washington except he forgot that we also have a draw for multiseason deer and elk so it is possible to hunt archery, muzzleloader and modern season. Last year there was an abundance of deer multiseason tags as many folks opted to not get one.

Last year I hunted multiseason for deer and elk.......this year just multiseason deer.

You also can use bow, crossbow, muzzle loader or modern for turkey and grouse.

big al hunter · December 31, 2015, 07:34 PM

I also left out that we have a raffle for second tag, special permits for antlerless for modern firearms and that some areas are firearms restricted all the time. But I didn't think about the special drawings and permits when I was writing. There is so much to remember....

Hawg · December 31, 2015, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Yep, LA and MS got into a contest to see which one could make the most liberal definition of a primitive weapon. I think both states wound up with the same definition - single shot, external hammer, .35 and larger.

MS changed this year. The old single shot rules still apply to public land but private land is weapon of choice. I guess we have too many deer. Bag limit is three bucks(with antler restrictions)and five does. No tags and crossbows are legal during archery season. You can now legally have a feeder in sight as long as it's 100 yards away.

Blindstitch · January 2, 2016, 01:22 PM

Muzzleloader season in wisconsin is 9 or so days after the firearm season and any actual muzzleloader can be used but I believe the caliber has to be .40 or larger. Optics are allowed.

I really wish that there should be a muzzleloader or primative season before firearm deer season but limit it to say cap and ball but that's my opinion.

My option is a Barnett crossbow and it limits me to 50 yards shooting quarters groups. That's not bad.

T. O'Heir · January 2, 2016, 02:14 PM

Ontario has what's called 'primitive weapons'. Means either ML's or archery. Archery only runs before the 'gun season'. Everything else is by Wildlife Management Unit(WMU). Some WMU's are shotguns only. Some bows only. Some Primitive only. Etc., etc.
Whether BP cartridges are OK or not will be a local thing. I think most places consider BP cartridges to be the same as any rifle. Be the kind of thing your Texas hunting regs would tell you for sure.

Pahoo · January 2, 2016, 08:05 PM

Quote:

My state, Texas, has a muzzleloader only season.

Iowa has two M/L seasons; early and late, as well as a separate bow season. Each year the DNR has modifications but pretty much stick with these seasons.
I believe you can still use a handgun, during the second season. ......

Be Safe !!!

Jack O'Conner · January 3, 2016, 08:29 AM

Pennsylvania has a flintlock only deer season. Flintlock hunting is especially challenging when the humidity is high. I do not understand the science of it, but pan powder is difficult to ignite during high humidity.

Jack

Doyle · January 3, 2016, 06:57 PM

Quote:

MS changed this year. The old single shot rules still apply to public land but private land is weapon of choice.

Hawg, weapon of choice is only for subsequent primitive weapons days. The first one (doe only) is still true primitive weapons on all land.

Mobuck · January 3, 2016, 09:16 PM

MO has an "alternative methods" season. Methods include crossbow, ML, handgun, air rifle, and atl-atl.

Hawg · January 3, 2016, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Hawg, weapon of choice is only for subsequent primitive weapons days. The first one (doe only) is still true primitive weapons on all land.

You are correct Doyle. First season is limited to single shot breech loaders or real muzzle loaders until after Nov. 30.

December 31, 2015, 02:40 PM	#1
kcub Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,318	alternatives to muzzleloader My state, Texas, has a muzzleloader only season. Do other states have variants on primitive weapons, black powder cartridges perhaps? Might be hard to enforce.

December 31, 2015, 06:00 PM	#5
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	In Washington we have a muzzle loader season. No optics and the cap must be the old percussion style, no shotgun primer systems. The cap must also be exposed to the weather ( not covered by the weapon proper). The early elk season is the week between archery season and modern firearm deer. That puts muzzle loader right at the end of the elk rut . Then we have a late season that is 3 or 4 weeks long in November and December, depending on which unit you hunt in. We have to pick a weapon when we buy the tags, so you have to choose between archery, modern and muzzle loader. Many of the units are buck or bull only for modern, but archery and muzzle loader have several units that are any elk or deer. You only get 1 tag per species. Tough decision every year.... __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

December 31, 2015, 07:34 PM	#8
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	I also left out that we have a raffle for second tag, special permits for antlerless for modern firearms and that some areas are firearms restricted all the time. But I didn't think about the special drawings and permits when I was writing. There is so much to remember.... __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

January 2, 2016, 02:14 PM	#11
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Ontario has what's called 'primitive weapons'. Means either ML's or archery. Archery only runs before the 'gun season'. Everything else is by Wildlife Management Unit(WMU). Some WMU's are shotguns only. Some bows only. Some Primitive only. Etc., etc. Whether BP cartridges are OK or not will be a local thing. I think most places consider BP cartridges to be the same as any rifle. Be the kind of thing your Texas hunting regs would tell you for sure. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 3, 2016, 08:29 AM	#13
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	Pennsylvania has a flintlock only deer season. Flintlock hunting is especially challenging when the humidity is high. I do not understand the science of it, but pan powder is difficult to ignite during high humidity. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

December 31, 2015, 02:54 PM	#2
NHSHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2012 Location: Concord NH Posts: 1,002	There was another post recently that said in some states, La I think was one, single shot breech loader, certain calibers, 1 they talked about alot was the 35 whelan. Take a look back just a few weeks.

December 31, 2015, 03:25 PM	#3
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Yep, LA and MS got into a contest to see which one could make the most liberal definition of a primitive weapon. I think both states wound up with the same definition - single shot, external hammer, .35 and larger.

December 31, 2015, 04:17 PM	#4
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	Georgia has had an archery season forever. We start with archery in mid September and rifle season starts about 5-6 weeks later. Muzzle loaders didn't have a specific season on a state wide basis until just a few years ago. They have always been OK during rifle season and there were a handful of Wildlife Management Areas who hosted special muzzle loader hunts. They wedged one week of muzzle loading hunting into the last week of archery before rifle season starts. They call it primitive weapons season. Muzzle loaders and archery are both legal that week. It doesn't offer any more time in the woods and I've never fooled with buying a muzzle loader. I continue hunting normally that week with my bow. It does have to be a muzzle loading rifle, no single shot breach loaders. It can be traditional or an in-line, but during primitive weapons week no optics are allowed. If you use it during rifle season any type of sights may be used.

December 31, 2015, 06:11 PM	#6
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	I still hunt one other state for deer. When I was younger, I went to a couple different states. Some of the states had so many gun/area restrictions that I was afraid to go there. Some had cap areas, some flintlock areas. Some of the regulations bordered on entrapment.

December 31, 2015, 07:24 PM	#7
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	Big Al is close to being right in Washington except he forgot that we also have a draw for multiseason deer and elk so it is possible to hunt archery, muzzleloader and modern season. Last year there was an abundance of deer multiseason tags as many folks opted to not get one. Last year I hunted multiseason for deer and elk.......this year just multiseason deer. You also can use bow, crossbow, muzzle loader or modern for turkey and grouse.

January 2, 2016, 01:22 PM	#10
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,692	Muzzleloader season in wisconsin is 9 or so days after the firearm season and any actual muzzleloader can be used but I believe the caliber has to be .40 or larger. Optics are allowed. I really wish that there should be a muzzleloader or primative season before firearm deer season but limit it to say cap and ball but that's my opinion. My option is a Barnett crossbow and it limits me to 50 yards shooting quarters groups. That's not bad.

January 3, 2016, 09:16 PM	#15
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	MO has an "alternative methods" season. Methods include crossbow, ML, handgun, air rifle, and atl-atl.