Does anyone.............

4197 Views 51 Replies 38 Participants Last post by Quack Addict, 3 mo ago

ENCORE

Discussion Starter · 4 mo ago

Does anyone even hunt with a muzzleloader anymore down below?

Seems like everyone jumped into the straight wall cartridge thing and their muzzleloaders became safe queens. To me, that's sad.
Now I'm certainly not one of the die hard traditionalists and demand muzzleloader season is a primitive season only but, its just my personal opinion that they should have never opened up CF during muzzleloader season. There are ways to control the doe populations besides using CF's.
Just an opinion from a long time muzzleloader. Not banging on anyone who hunts with a 450 Bushmaster or the like. I just like seeing more hunters involved with muzzlelaoders.

After not hunting at all last year. First season I didn't buy a license in 56yrs, and with all the medical issues that both the wife and I have had, I was finally in good enough shape to get into and out of the blind. So earlier this month I ran down to the store and bought a single tag. It paid off.

After a solid week of hunting, seeing a few does and spikes, I finally had a better buck come through.
It made for a great day for both the wife and I. Boosted spirits.

I was able to field dress it myself and pulled it out with the Ranger. I went inside and filled out my harvest report for the DNR, then it was off to the processor.

Snow Dog breed Carnivore Freezing Working animal

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Waif

· #2 · 4 mo ago

Congrats!
A dandy buck , and for a bonus you could get to it with a gas powered mule to recover it.

Have not muzzleloader hunted in quite awhile. Snow often shuts my hunting off. A mobility thing.

Do have a .62 trade gun that needs some range time.
That's one I'd like to thump a deer with next.
Though a proven on deer .50 percussion I built from a kit back in the early eighties would like to go again.

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Luv2hunteup

· #3 · 4 mo ago

I still hunt with an ML even when not required. I do not feel it’s a burden since velocity is higher than straight wall with heavier bullets.

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welder72

· #4 · 4 mo ago

ENCORE said:
Does anyone even hunt with a muzzleloader anymore down below?

Seems like everyone jumped into the straight wall cartridge thing and their muzzleloaders became safe queens. To me, that's sad.
Now I'm certainly not one of the die hard traditionalists and demand muzzleloader season is a primitive season only but, its just my personal opinion that they should have never opened up CF during muzzleloader season. There are ways to control the doe populations besides using CF's.
Just an opinion from a long time muzzleloader. Not banging on anyone who hunts with a 450 Bushmaster or the like. I just like seeing more hunters involved with muzzlelaoders.

After not hunting at all last year. First season I didn't buy a license in 56yrs, and with all the medical issues that both the wife and I have had, I was finally in good enough shape to get into and out of the blind. So earlier this month I ran down to the store and bought a single tag. It paid off.

After a solid week of hunting, seeing a few does and spikes, I finally had a better buck come through.
It made for a great day for both the wife and I. Boosted spirits.

I was able to field dress it myself and pulled it out with the Ranger. I went inside and filled out my harvest report for the DNR, then it was off to the processor.

View attachment 868547

Nice job on a GREAT BUCK!

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GuppyII

· #5 · 4 mo ago

I haven't hunted with a muzzy in a few years, still building them and shooting them though. Got into the smokeless game about 15 years ago and have enjoyed long range shooting and building those since. You can't even come close to a SMZ with any legal straightwall gun when you talk long range. If I were to go back and hunt a couple downstate farms I would tote one of those over any cartridge gun. That said HECK of a buck Encore!

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ENCORE

Discussion Starter · #6 · 4 mo ago

GuppyII said:
I haven't hunted with a muzzy in a few years, still building them and shooting them though. Got into the smokeless game about 15 years ago and have enjoyed long range shooting and building those since. You can't even come close to a SMZ with any legal straightwall gun when you talk long range. If I were to go back and hunt a couple downstate farms I would tote one of those over any cartridge gun. That said HECK of a buck Encore!

If ........ yup, a lot of If's....... I'd like to try and get a SML 1K shoot going for next summer. I've had initial discussions with MTC and they're listening

GregRM

· #7 · 4 mo ago

Myself personally.. I continue to hunt with my 220 slug gun during muzzleloader season and will continue to do that while its legal. I don't even own a muzzleloader. I used to borrow one from a family member when I needed it.

But if the DNR reverts back to the muzzleloaders only season, I will pick up my own. Until then I'll take advantage of being able to use the same gun throughout the entire season

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Matt V

· #8 · 4 mo ago

I kind of miss hunting with a muzzle loader, but sure don't miss cleaning them!

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Chessieman

· #9 · 4 mo ago

Nice Buck Encore, I am assuming you got that with your new shooting rod? There are very few that hunt with a ML during our second gun season. It comes to the ease and assurance of use. I still practice with a Black Diamond I want to tune in. The RUM I built now is a expansive closet queen.

The point you guys up in zone 2 and 3 do not realize is we lost a sport season that was different days then yours.
We had a 7 day quiet period then a 14 day long season. I use to enjoy going up to the UP for ML then coming back here for our season. Just like I am sure after your season ended a few come downstate to try for a farm Buck. But as the DRN said it was for the guy that could not afford a ML and only had a shotgun so the poor fellow could not go out. Have you ever figured out how many millions of dollars of ML are obsolete down here for us. I am just wondering when the DNR is going to open up zone 2 and 3 to all firearms for the ones that do not have a ML.

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ENCORE

Discussion Starter · #10 · 4 mo ago

Chessieman said:
Nice Buck Encore, I am assuming you got that with your new shooting rod? There are very few that hunt with a ML during our second gun season. It comes to the ease and assurance of use. I still practice with a Black Diamond I want to tune in. The RUM I built now is a expansive closet queen.

The point you guys up in zone 2 and 3 do not realize is we lost a sport season that was different days then yours.
We had a 7 day quiet period then a 14 day long season. I use to enjoy going up to the UP for ML then coming back here for our season. Just like I am sure after your season ended a few come downstate to try for a farm Buck. But as the DRN said it was for the guy that could not afford a ML and only had a shotgun so the poor fellow could not go out. Have you ever figured out how many millions of dollars of ML are obsolete down here for us. I am just wondering when the DNR is going to open up zone 2 and 3 to all firearms for the ones that do not have a ML.

I don't have a lot of faith in some of the reasoning of our DNR.

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Chessieman

· #11 · 4 mo ago

We better watch it, I know a couple members here that know the DNR is wise in everything!
To bad they do not look at the tourism money for hunting.

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ENCORE

Discussion Starter · #12 · 4 mo ago

Chessieman said:
We better watch it, I know a couple members here that know the DNR is wise in everything!
To bad they do not look at the tourism money for hunting.

Let them believe it. LOL

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fred1

· #13 · 4 mo ago

Hunting in the UP. I carried my muzzle loader everyday except yesterday, I carried my 300 BO.

It didn't change my luck. I'll go back to the muzzle loader.

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Luv2hunteup

· #14 · 4 mo ago

ML season should be good in da UP this year. Lots of deer around and the migration may hold off since I’m not seeing brutal weather patterns shaping up.

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pgpn123

· #15 · 4 mo ago

Still use my Encoe for muzzy. Very accurate and want to get some use out of it.
Think the DNR wants more deer killed down here than anything else, they didn't call for a 1 chambered shell limit. Doubt that would have gone over well anyways lol.

On Target

· #16 · 4 mo ago

I missed a doe with my 450 I just bought, not sure why. Needless to say it's back in the safe waiting for range time. Now I'm back to my old faithful muzzy for the rest of the year. It was my exclusive deer gun for the past 6 years until this year. I may cheat tonight though and use my 270 on a big open field. Are regular guns allowed down here in Southern Michigan this year? Just last night my buddy said he didn't see it in the handbook. I didn't personally look. By the way great buck.

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pgpn123

· #17 · 4 mo ago

ENCORE said:
Does anyone even hunt with a muzzleloader anymore down below?

Seems like everyone jumped into the straight wall cartridge thing and their muzzleloaders became safe queens. To me, that's sad.
Now I'm certainly not one of the die hard traditionalists and demand muzzleloader season is a primitive season only but, its just my personal opinion that they should have never opened up CF during muzzleloader season. There are ways to control the doe populations besides using CF's.
Just an opinion from a long time muzzleloader. Not banging on anyone who hunts with a 450 Bushmaster or the like. I just like seeing more hunters involved with muzzlelaoders.

After not hunting at all last year. First season I didn't buy a license in 56yrs, and with all the medical issues that both the wife and I have had, I was finally in good enough shape to get into and out of the blind. So earlier this month I ran down to the store and bought a single tag. It paid off.

After a solid week of hunting, seeing a few does and spikes, I finally had a better buck come through.
It made for a great day for both the wife and I. Boosted spirits.

I was able to field dress it myself and pulled it out with the Ranger. I went inside and filled out my harvest report for the DNR, then it was off to the processor.

View attachment 868547

Heckuva buck, glad you got out.

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Badfishmi

· #18 · 4 mo ago

I just got my first muzzleloader last year to extend My deer season. Zone 2 I’ll use it for the season. Bh209.

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Chessieman

· #19 · 4 mo ago

On Target said:
I missed a doe with my 450 I just bought, not sure why. Needless to say it's back in the safe waiting for range time. Now I'm back to my old faithful muzzy for the rest of the year. It was my exclusive deer gun for the past 6 years until this year. I may cheat tonight though and use my 270 on a big open field. Are regular guns allowed down here in Southern Michigan this year? Just last night my buddy said he didn't see it in the handbook. I didn't personally look. By the way great buck.

Our ML season in zone three is a extended gun season, all the same as the first gun season.

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jd4223

· #20 · 4 mo ago

Last time I got ready to use my MuzzleLoader, I was trying to sight it in and ran out of powder/ammo before realizing the scope was broke Ended up buying a new scope and had it mounted and bore sighted from where I bought it (Shupacs in Jackson). Bought some more powder and ammo and when I went to sight it in, it wasn't even on paper. Ended up using my fire sights on the gun and by the time I was close to bullseye, I was dead center but about 7 inches high and ran out of powder and ammo. Haven't finished sight in with scope or fire sights as of yet plus lost my hunting location after 50 years (my brother sold his property). I own a beautiful T/C 50cal. Stainless Steel Black Diamond XTR.

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