muzzleloading and small game

[Forrestrover]

This is why I wish I had a muzzleloading shotgun as well as my my muzzleloader. Someday I'll get one. This year I'll be carrying the .357 on  my side for sure.

[bobcat]

When I'm hunting deer or elk the last thing I want to do is be shooting at grouse with anything.   

[grundy53]

Are you talking about carrying it in your vehicle or on your person while out hunting? If in the vehicle it's fine. You're not wanting to walk around carrying a muzzleloader for deer and elk, and a rifle or shotgun for grouse are you  

It may be fine to have a rifle or shotgun in the vehicle, but I bet a warden will ask you 20 questions and may even write you up.  I'd leave the shotgun and .22 rifle at home......  Carry a .357 or whatever for personal protection, but leave the .22 pistol at home too...   There's my 4 cents worth.

  
what would they write you up for? your not breaking any laws.besides we have a little thing called the second amendment. I always have a 20 gauge in my truck from September 1 - December 31.

[FC]

You certainly wouldn't be violating any of the rules by using a 22 or a shotgun to shoot grouse while out for deer/elk during muzzie season, if you actually SHOT a deer or elk with your 22 or shotgun you would be in it pretty deep if caught. So as long as you are just carrying it for the small game you are fine.

I really can't believe how many are confused by this...

[ML_Hunter]

I really can't believe how many are confused by this...

I can not believe how many WDFW officials are confused by this!!  I've called WDFW several times to have this cleared up. lol.  To me a wile to get a straight answer as well.

[FC]

I can not believe how many WDFW officials are confused by this!!  I've called WDFW several times to have this cleared up. lol.  To me a wile to get a straight answer as well.

That doesn't shock me a bit.

[Curly]

You certainly wouldn't be violating any of the rules by using a 22 or a shotgun to shoot grouse while out for deer/elk during muzzie season, if you actually SHOT a deer or elk with your 22 or shotgun you would be in it pretty deep if caught. So as long as you are just carrying it for the small game you are fine.

I really can't believe how many are confused by this...

I know it sounds ridiculous but they could write you up for hunting with an illegal firearm.......and tell you to go argue it in court.  Just like when someone last year asked the WDFW about the legality of having his brother hunt bears with him (w/ a rifle) while he was archery deer hunting.  They told him they better  hunt separately or risk being written up for hunting deer with a rifle during archery season.  It's stories like that, that would make me not want to even have anything that they could question me about.  It seems like they will write a person up without any evidence from the stories I've heard........

Besides, I agree w/ Bobcat......I don't want to be shooting grouse while out deer hunting.  (Although, I did shoot a grouse once w/ the .54 ML about 20 yrs ago after hiking around all day deer hunting.  (But I was done deer hunting by then and needed to unload the ML for the trip home anyway, so what better place to unload it than into a grouse head...? )

[Forrestrover]

When I'm hunting deer or elk the last thing I want to do is be shooting at grouse with anything.   

Me too, but for some reason, I feel like I should have the option!

[Moe the Sleaze]

Where I hunt, late fall Turkey is open at same time late muzzleloader deer is open.  Just because late muzzle deer is open does not mean the entire unit is closed to anything but muzzleloaders.  Though I'm sure a lot of muzzleloading hunters wish it were.  This year is compounded because open cougar season (with dogs) also overlaps the muzzleloader deer hunt starting Dec 1st.  I'm not enthused by the thought of a string of dogs running through and flushing a nice buck I'm working.

I carry a modern shotgun in my vehicle just in case I see Turkey, but I have always wanted to pack it up the hill with it slung across my back (yes, while carrying my muzzlelaoder for deer) because I always see Turkey up on top of the hill I hunt.  If I'm just carrying the shotgun I see deer.  If I'm just carrying the muzzleloader I see Turkey.  Go figure.

They need to allow us muzzle hunters to shoot turkey with our muzzleloading rifles during these overlaps!