What has happened in many states is that, because of popularity and in some states the virtually unrestricted category of weapons, the distinction between a muzzleloader and a modern firearm has become hard to find except for the single shot feature.
Protected, in-line ignition, saboted projectiles, and scopes have increased the efficiency and effective ranges of the weapons, and have inarguably increased harvest rates by comparison to "traditional weapon" requirements. That's cool, but F&G Departments have reacted to increased rates of harvest by simply reducing the seasons and opportunities to keep things in balance. So, many states which do not much restrict the attributes of a "muzzleloader" are seeing "muzzleloader" seasons sort of melt in with the regular rifle seasons.
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IdahoElkHunter has defined the "problem" well... I.E., the "mix" of muzzleloaders (both "modern in-lines" and "traditional" muzzleloaders) together with modern rifle hunting seasons have almost made the "special" muzzleloader seasons useless.
What needs to be done is to split the "muzzle-loader" season into two categories... "
Muzzle-Loaders using iron sights shooting ONLY a patched, lead rifle ball" and "
Muzzle-Loaders ONLY".
With such a long designation, it could be shortened to just "
Muzzle-loader/patched, round ball ONLY/iron sights ONLY" and "
Muzzle-loaders ONLY.
The reason being that there is a distinct and major "difference" in range and accuracy between a patched, round lead rifle ball fired from a flintlock or cap-lock rifle vs. a sabotted jacketed "bullet" fired from any muzzle-loader.
If you think about it, there's not all that much "difference" between an in-line shooting a patched, round, rifle ball and a traditional flint-lock or percussion cap rifle shooting the same round, patched rifle ball.
The big complaint from traditional muzzle-loader shooters comes when the in-line shooters use scopes and sabotted, jacketed bullets weighing close to 250 or 300 grains that are more accurate and far out-range round rifle balls from traditional muzzle-loader shooters using patched, round rifle balls.
The "playing field" can easily be leveled by causing in-line users to fire patched, round rifle balls just like the traditional shooter do and limiting the powder load to "100 grains or less".
The ballistic inefficiency (the rapid slowing down of the projectile due to air friction) of the patched, round rifle ball
definitely "level-the-playing-field" causing those objectionable "differences" between the "traditional" and "in-line" rifles to quickly fade into "nothingness".
If all States would set up their deer seasons in the above suggested way, the controversy between the traditional and in-line muzzle loader shooters would disappear in all likelihood and if the in-line users wanted their own season, then so be it.
If there is any other "problems" in doing this... I'd appreciate your posts telling me what they are.
Jus' my 2�...
Strength & Honor...
Ron T.