Thinking about switching to Muzzy

[Bookworm007]

I just started muzzleloading this year and let me tell you depending on where you hunt it can be a challenge, you effective range is shortened down to about 10 yards, if it rains where you hunt you get the lovely joy of trying to keep your powder and cap dry, and most of all when considering a muzzleloader remember how often you have to clean it. If you don't clean it after every session of shooting it will corrode up into a useless steel pipe. Also the newer muzzleloader designs often allow a removeable breech plug making cleaning much easier. 

I will say that in my unit I did not see any other hunter for the entire season which was spectacular. Unfortunately muzzleloader is only a 1 week season in my unit with no late season. So check the regs make sure that you will get enough time in the woods.

10yds! I must not be a very ethical hunter because I've shot ten times that far with my muzzie.

My bad I meant to type 100 yards. At least that is what I have been told. With more practice and experimentation with loads I'm sure you could extend that distance. 

[Rooster1981]

I hunt with a investarms hawkens by cabelas. Investarms is made by Lyman & Lyman makes really nice well built rifles. + 1 for track of the wolf website. I use them alot as well.

Actually Lyman rifles are made by Investarms, not the other way around.

 Ahh damn I had it backwards, anyways thay are very nice rifles.

[Hilltop123]

Is there anyplace on this big wide web, to find out how many muzzy tags are sold, in Wa. ? Compared to the other weapons?

[Sitka_Blacktail]

I've seen people make 100 yd shots with a muzzy, longest was about 150. But you'll be a lot happier if you figure you need to get into bow range before you shoot with your muzzy. So many variables I try not to make a first shot over 50 yds. Had a string once of 5 deer in a row at 10 yds or less with my muzzy. It will make you a better hunter.

And don't believe the rumors of muzzy seasons being crowded. Especially the late seasons. We used to hunt Lincoln Cr for late muzzy season and would rarely run into other hunters. Still go out with my dad as his designated hunter and competition is negligible.

[Rooster1981]

Is there anyplace on this big wide web, to find out how many muzzy tags are sold, in Wa. ? Compared to the other weapons?

Statewide General Season
 Deer Harvest Statistics  2012
   






Weapon Type        Deer Tags Purchased             Deer Hunters            Antlered Harvest       Antlerless Harvest       Total Harvest       Hunter Success

Archery                     23,651                             19,395                            2,898                        2,255                      5,153                    26.6%

Modern Firearm        109,385                             88,516                          21,811                        2,114                    23,925                    27%

Muzzleloader                9,621                               7,542                           1,499                           567                      2,066                    27.4%


Statewide Total         142,657                           115,453                          26,208                        4,936                    31,144                    27%
 

[oneshot12]

  yep got to agree with these Fellers   Muzzle loader  shot en an hunt in is the only way to go these days   seems theirs lots of folks out there but the ones you run in to are in the woods and not riding in  trucks  and for the most part are  more willing to give a feller a hand rather then just shoot in the direction of a noise    give it a try you might just find you like it a bunch

[BoomWhop]

Muzzy Season can get crowded as well.  Fewer open units.  I saw a huge increase in hunters in my units. 

[adamR]

I have the multi season deer tag this year.  Saw more people in my hunting area than I ever have during archery and especially muzzleloader.   I will say that opening day of modern was 3 times as many people as muzzleloader but it didn't matter, still tagged out at 8 am.  My point is, every season has a relatively equal amount of hunting pressure and you will never be happy. Hunt with what you know not what you think might be better.

[RadSav]

After spending a few days in the Toutle I believe to muzzy elk hunt, regardless of gun, you have to drink Bush Lite beer.  It must be a requirement or something.  I'm also starting to believe that it is a requirement that no muzzy elk hunter is allowed to take their Bush Lite empties out of the woods.    Usually one must travel the Chiwawa to find this much trash in the woods.   Next weekend we will be bringing extra Hefty bags with us.  Might take us longer to pick up beer cans than we will get time to hunt.

Sorry, just had to vent!  It was horrible up there.

[RG]

Track of the wolf web site has tons of build your own kits. They have a lot more then the ones you see at all the big stores.

First of all, great idea to switch to black powder.  I hunted a week this year and saw nobody in the woods.  I like Track of the Wolf products but it may be a little more ambitious of a project than a beginning muzzleloader shooter wants to tackle.  I've also had good luck with Lyman or Thompson Center guns on the factory built, traditional side of things.  The Lyman Great Plains Rifle is a little more authentic in styling.  My gun is a Track of the Wolf flintlock, it was the third gun I've built from Track of the Wolf parts.  It took about a year to finish though.  I've killed 3 elk and 3 mule deer with it, missed this year but that was me not the gun.

In-line guns work fine but there's something a lot more satisfying about using traditional ones.

[Sitka_Blacktail]

RG That's a beautiful gun.

[shorthair-on-point]

Every year I see more people muzzy hunting. This year there was a huge jump in pressure. Talking to guys it was due to the multi season tags.

[RG]

We hunt Manastash which has very little pressure. There are some people around but you don't bump into them in the woods very often. Right now the hill is turning into a parking lot as the rifle season is approaching.

[erk444]

RG, What is the twist on your rifle?

[Patarero]

You might want to also consider weight if you're going to be putting some miles in.  Hawken style rifles can be heavy.