Muzzleloader Hunters

Equipment & Gear > Guns and Ammo

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BnB:
Should have said I might be tempted to get one if they are legal here.

WDFW-SUX:
I went on a AHE elk hunt at the Julia butler hansen wildlife refuge and hunters were alloud to use any ML that they could find. At least half of the hunters had sealed breach weapons that were using 209 shotgun primers. The warden who administered the hunt said they were OK because the hunt was on federal land and being federally administered. They were also aloud to use scopes. You can use a smoke pole during modern season so long as you have a modern tag. I have seen it many times and been told that it was ok by game wardens and the folks on the phone at WDFW that lesser weapons were fair game. There are a few exceptions like crossbows and snares for big game but for the most part they dont care what you use.

bobcat:
I have always thought it was as Billy is saying, that any muzzleloader could be used during modern firearm season, but after taking a quick look at the regs, it seems that BnB makes a good point. The way it is written it DOES appear to say that muzzleloaders must ALWAYS meet the muzzleloader restrictions.

As BnB said, on page 13 for modern firearm deer season, it says "modern firearm, muzzleloader, and archery equipment must meet equipment regulations on page 55." It says the same thing on page 33 for modern firearm elk seasons.

For bears it says "hunters may use any lawful big game modern firearm, archery, or muzzleloader equipment." So the question there would be, what is "lawful?" I would take that to mean that even for bears, muzzleloaders must meet the restrictions listed on page 55.

But, knowing that the rules in the regulation pamphlet are NOT the actual and complete laws, I think I would take a look at the WAC's and/or RCW's, and find out what the law really says regarding this. I suspect it is just as Billy says. But, to me it really doesn't matter, in the case where a rifle is not allowed, I would use a scoped shotgun with a rifled barrel, rather than a muzzleloader.

BnB:
Bobcat. Thats the way I read. There might be other laws not in the pamphlet but I cannot imagine them saying one thing and allowing another and not putting it in the regs. LOL, well I guess I can. Hey, if you really want a discussion how about a guy shoots a deer with a sealed breech, 209 primer ML and back at camp has the head off and his tag on the antlers. Game warden drives up. How many tickets?

bobcat:
My guess would be none. My cousin has a co-worker who just started hunting the muzzleloader season a couple years ago. He went out and bought a T/C Encore. If you don't know, that is a sealed breach inline M/L with a 209 primer ignition. He got checked last year by a game warden, and nothing was said about the muzzleloader not meeting the requirements. The game warden even asked to see it, and the guy handed it to him, he looked at it and said nothing. Apparently, some game wardens do not know how to tell a legal muzzleloader from an illegal muzzleloader. And with the Encore, it should be obvious. :bash:

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