Help! Late season confusion...

[FFJoey]

Hey y'all,

I am new to the muzzleloading community and am looking for some help on how the late elk and deer seasons works. It looks like the late elk and deer seasons overlap which is pretty awesome! The only problem is it looks like there are only a handful of GMU's that are open for it. Is that correct or am I reading the regs wrong? I have always hunted elk during the modern season in GMU 516 Packwood and wanted to do the late hunt up there. According to the way I'm reading the regs 516 doesn't look like it's open for either of the late hunts... Do I need to find a new place to hunt if I want to try my hand at muzzleloading?

Thanks for the help guys,


Joey

[bobcat]

There are very few units open for late muzzleloader. And none of the best units are open.

You might be better off staying with the modern seasons. Unless you want to try to learn new areas.

[FFJoey]

That's what I was afraid of!

Thanks Bobcat

[ghosthunter]

Consider early muzzy. If you can get the time off.

[FFJoey]

I was thinking about that ghosthunter, but I don't know if I will be able to pull it off in time. This hunting season has really snuck up on me! Haha

[FFJoey]

Although, looking at the regs right now it looks like GMU 516 isn't open for the early elk hunt either...

[bobcat]

Although, looking at the regs right now it looks like GMU 516 isn't open for the early elk hunt either...

Nope. The same thing I said about the late season is true about the early season. Very few units open.

You might consider trying muzzleloader for deer, rather than elk. There are some really good opportunities, both early and late.

[FFJoey]

Yeah, that might be the way to do it.

[Heredoggydoggy]

The area I'm scouting is only open for Early Season, too.  I'm still trying to decide if it's worthwhile to get a muzzy tag.  Time is getting short....

[busterbrown]

Bobcat has the right answers.