........all the states would get together, and ban scopes, sabots, and smokeless powder in muzzleloader seasons.

Yeah, i'm biased, and it felt good saying this.

Let the flames proceed. My skin is thick.

How am I supposed to shoot a good buck across a Soybean field with iron sights ?

You'll need to address that question to Daniel Boone.

I heard he is unavailable.. . I wish all hunting was a little less simplified and commercialized. I do like the idea of scope sights for someone that has older eyes.

My eyes are 70 years old. I was given a special license to use a scope in ML season here which is iron sights only. I felt horrible about it, and never could bring myself to use it.

Last week I decided I didn't even want the license on my record, and told the DOW to take it off.

I use a peep which help very little, but does give me a faster sight picture. I just get closer now.

The whole idea of the ML season is to accept it's restrictions. That's why we get to hunt in the rut here in Co. We're suppose to be at a disadvantage to the rifle hunters. With today's technology in ML. We're not at any disadvantage to at least 200yds, and some guns much further than that.

Hard for me to accept.

To be quite honest if I were to muzzle load hunt Elk in Co again, I would have zero problems using iron sights(peep sights)... I have never had more then a 50-60 yard shot on them anyway . Deer hunting where I live though is a bit more complex...most shots are 100 yards or more.

Why?

RUT coincides with muzzleloader season. There are a lot of agricultural fields in the area and in 2 areas I hunt/ed there are sanctuaries next to the fields and or posted property that we are not allowed to hunt. Closest shot I had last year on a deer was 100+ yards and I was lucky to have that shot. If I had a different property I could hunt woods and staging areas but not on these properties. Since they are well pounded from archery season going forward they come out at the last possible light which makes it more difficult for me to align iron sights on.

What would you do if scopes weren't legal?

Find another property with better access. Easier said then done

I guess that's my point. I have to pass up tons of longer shots to use iron sights, but that's what muzzleloader hunting should be about.

A ML has limitations. Accept them, and find a way to make them work.

Sounds good to me. Our rut is basically over by the time ML season comes around. I will just fill more tags early and relax during the ML season or shoot some coyotes.

I think it should be round ball only too and unlimited tags just like in the Daniel Boone days. Let them take deer all year. Why wait for a season or even have a hunting permit to put food on the table?

As dark as it is where I hunt deer I would have to pass up 50 yard chip shots at deer using iron sights.

Ahh..you haven't seen our dark timber where I hunt. I have to use a ghost sight. Any aperture won't work.

I was thinking of trying one of those low light brass apertures to see if it will work, but to be honest. The ghost sight works pretty good in low light.

I wish grown men would quit crying...

I hate "high horse" "Selfish" attitudes. Why would you want to ban any type of hunting that is ethical and accepted by most?

Cuz.

So's your head...

ML season gives me two more weeks to hunt. I dont care about nostalgia, etc. I use a scope, sabots, etc..to give me the most chance available to take a deer in the limited time I have. To be honest, I wish Oklahoma would do like Missouri, and allow centerfire pistols during ML.

Our rut is basically starting during Muzzleloader season

Start a wish thread.

If you guys look at my first post. You'll see what I wish is already in place in my state.

We get along just fine, and kill lots of game. I guess most of the other states don't think you guys are as good hunters.

I'll be 70 next August. In the last two years, my eyesight has diminished to such an extent that even with a Ghost ring or large aperature, I cannot get the front sight into focus.It's pretty much of a big blur.I can put 1:25 reading glasses on that help some ,but that makes the target a big blurr. Going up to 1:50's and the target is a complete blur. I would need to get within 25 yards of an elk to insure a proper bullet placement wearing those type of glasses

I will be trying to get a special permit for CO CPW this year to put a scope on my ML.

My lungs are in such a bad shape that I can't effectively hunt the timber all day anymore and it's pretty much find a place I can ride close to get off and sit. I want to be sure,I can place bullet where it needs to go. If I have to use a scope to do that,I am willing to sacrifice that.

You won't see CO ,or in fact any other states restrict there methods of hunting any more than what they are at present. Having more restrictions on muzzle loaders has about as much chance of happening as there is the possibility of not permitting archers to use compound bows.

My wish is for CO CPW to reduce the archery season to a ten day hunt just like all other means of hunts. Break the season down like the rifle hunts and make the archers pick a season and require a draw for tags. Also omit the requiremnt that ML hunters were orange, or make archers wear it.If ML hunters are in danger of getting shot then archers are in the same danger with the present seasons of archery and ML going on at the same time.

Anyone should be able to hunt with thier chosen means of killing as long as it is legal.

I have the same problems. I turn 70 tomorrow. I don't have a mule anymore, so you're one step ahead of me there. I have to hunt, and haul out the meat on foot myself.

As a still hunter all my life i'm used to getting close, so a peep isn't as of a handicap as it for those who take long shots.

I agree the bow season is too long. At least don't let them hunt during muzzleloader season. That still gives them a long season.

Hunter orange I can't agree. I'd wear it even if wasn't the law. Too many wackos out their with guns.


btw If you all haven't figured it out. I was bored yesterday when I started this thread. I was curious what reaction this would get. I could care less how you hunt. I'm going to do it my way no matter how you do it.

I figured as much that you were tongue in cheek and only posted my ribbing reply after JSC's inspired me but you snuck a reply in between as I was posting.

The muzzle loader season here is not at all about having a primitive season for hunters. It is again all centered around money. The state makes cash on taxes. This includes scopes, powders, pellets, saboted bullets, etc, and all other muzzle loader accessories as well. They even put the season AFTER the rifle season and rut so handicapping oneself to shorter ranges is compounding an already big enough problem. A long shot is more likely after the rut and the deer have been spooked from 4 weeks worth of "warfare" (by the sounds of it anyway ) in the woods so a scope makes more sense for our ML season.

If you like to handicap yourself, or make it a challenge, this is honorable, but the need to enact a change in, or more laws, I'll pass on that vote and opt as you, to do it on a personal level, if the desire so happens to overwhelm me. But then, I'd probably get rid of the inline and pellets, and pick up a Kentucky rifle and some Goex if I felt so compelled.

I understand the money deal. Colorado tried to ban inlines for one year. They got so much pressure they gave in. I think they realized how much money they would lose. The same thing with BH 209. They tried to ban, but gave in again.

I don't expect much to change with the regular ML season here. It would be nice to also have a real primitive ML season, but I don't see that happening either, because they think the season is primitive now.

It is what it is. I'm sure longbow hunters would like a primitive season too.

We no longer have a muzzleloading season in Missouri. A few of us, for our own satisfaction, still enforce one on our own property and hold to the original intent of primitive seasons. Works pretty good for me archery season too. Don't see any cam actuated arrow launching devices or in-lines on my place.

As to Hunter Orange I agree. If an archer hunts in any of the firearms seasons it should be worn at all times but I have no objection to full camo in strictly archery season although I wear or have with me something with a bit of orange in the pattern so other hunters can spot me.

Sharps,
If you have everyone on a level playing field that is fine. This would keep things more peaceful in the woods and the game would not spook as bad as we have it here.

Putting a muzzle loader season AFTER the high powered rifle season is making things more difficult for the smokepoler to get in close enough to the already spooked deer / game. If they reversed the seasons then I could see limiting it to more traditional or primitive weapons and sights.

M99, it's just something a very few of us choose to do on our own property. Most would probably laugh at the geriatric group that does it. We continue to enjoy it, however. We'll set up a primitive camp and do the best we can to remake it the earliest 1800's of Missouri. I don't know how many more years I'm going to be willing to sleep on a bed of leaves wrapped up in wool blankets under a diamond fly....it ain't as easy as it used to be. Even when the time comes I'm just not willing to camp like that I still won't forego my flintlock. There's always smoothbores shooting PRB's for up close and personal.

I feel the muzzleloader season ought to be more like a traditional season. No inlines, or modern bullets in sabots, and scopes need to be traditional.

I suppose Pyrodex would need to be OK as there are too many places BP isn't available, or too hard or costly to get.

I just received a Lyman's Deerhunter for Christmas. Maybe not exactly traditional, but somewhat old fashioned.

I wish percussion caps were outlawed and we had to make our own powder, build our own rifle , mine and cast our own lead, or stay home.
Smooth bore matchlocks, that it!

As for getting all the states to agree, We can't even get people on the fire to agree... Ah well.

P.S. Happy B-Day MauserHunter!

Thanks.

That, or the value liberty, free choice, or the decision of the sportsman more than you do.

Let the flames continue. ;-)

All I use is iron sights, round balls and real black powder. Outlaw scopes, inlines and sabots to your hearts content and it wouldn't bother me in the least. You want/need to use those crutches you've got the general firearms season to get your jollies and here the general season is before muzzleloader.

why use a gun as your crutch? Fashion your own long bow and be a real hunter. No?

I just dont get the divisive nature of complaining about who uses what. Shoot the gun/bow/speer you prefer, and leave the next guy out of it.

why use a gun as your crutch? Fashion your own long bow and be a real hunter. No?

I have done that. And my own arrows using turkey feather for fletching. At the time flint arrowheads were unavailable and I haven't learned to knap flint, nor did I know anyone who did. That has since changed....I'd like to use them some time.

Anytime a we as a group make a move to diminish opportunities to partake in our sport, we set hunting back. I used to fight changes that didn't fit my style of hunting or fishing. Then I read the statistics on how fast the outdoor sports are shrinking in participation.

As we move to a more urban society and each time a Psycho shoots up a Mall or a School we are loosing ground and opportunities.

Why not have both? Here in Pennsytucky, we have a modern in-line season for doe in Oct, then a primitive flintlock only season in Dec-Jan for either sex. They do allow conicals and peep sights on the flintlocks now.

I am relatively new to ML hunting, but its great. I use my flinter in both season. Usually have some good tracking snow for the late season, but the deer are spooky.

Already been there and done that too. If you'll notice I didn't say I wished they'd outlaw scopes and inlines, I said it wouldn't bother me in the least. I really don't much care what anyone else uses.

That's exactly what i've asked the DOW for. I'm not trying to take anything from the inline shooters. I'd like to see them have their own season. Let them even use sabots, scopes, and smokeless powder if they want. Call it Modern Muzzleloader season.

Then let us traditional types have a Primitive Muzzleloader season. Flintlocks/caplocks, PRB, and primitive sights.

Everybody is happy, and on the same page. The DOW doesn't lose any money, but will probably gain some in tag sales.

I wasn't serious with my first post, but I am with this one.

The CO DOW likes to cram all the hunting seasons in from Sept thru the last of Nov. They are even not all that crazy about the Sept. hunts as grazing leases are still in effcet and the DOW caters to the AG community or they would lose the witer feeding grounds. After Nov 31,they don't want to be out rescuing stranded hunters due to the weather. Where would another season be placed?

Is there something a person can treat their musket caps with to waterproof them?

After bow season, and before 1st rifle season for the primitive season. There wouldn't be that many hunters, so it shouldn't upset the rifle hunters that much.

Guaranteed the DOW is not going to establish any more special season hunts.

After bow season, and before 1st rifle season for the primitive season.

I would be all for that even though i might not hunt it. I can still get the extra days after rifle season if i wanted with an inline. It might also generate a little more revenue and interest in traditional guns.

I know, I talked to them. I can wish though.

The funny part is they really think they have a primitive season now, because they don't allow scopes, pellets, and sabots.

exactly.

You guys who live in wilderness are blessed, but on the other hand you dont seethe declines on a first hand basis like city/suburb hunters do. A way of life is disappearing. In a building with 75 employees I am the only one hwo hunts. that is down from 5 a couple years ago.

hunt with what you want, but if you REALLY want to be a hunter, find someone to pass it on to.

watch what you wish for guys. when obama get thru we'll have to hunt with blow guns and sling shots