Washington Hunter
Well-known member
January 12, 2007
Modification of traditional muzzleloader made them too effective, Idaho commissioners decide
If you own an in-line muzzleloader, you probably won't be hunting with it next year under new rules the Idaho Fish and Game Commission unanimously passed on Thursday.
Muzzleloaders are single-shot rifles loaded with black powder. They are similar to the guns mountain men and frontiersmen used during the 1800s.
Modern in-line muzzleloaders, when used with modern hunting bullets, increase the range, effectiveness and reliability of the weapons. That's one of the reasons commissioners decided to change the rules — too many animals were being killed during muzzleloader seasons.
"We can't biologically afford some of those success rates," state F&G big-game manager Brad Compton said.
During their regular meeting in Boise, commissioners redefined which muzzleloaders, powder and bullets will be allowed during muzzleloader-only seasons. The new rules will relegate most in-line muzzleloaders to general "any weapon" seasons and special "short-range" seasons. Muzzleloader seasons start in the fall.
The new rules include:
• Muzzleloaders must be loaded with a bullet of at least .490 or minimum weight of 240 grains for deer, pronghorn or mountain lion (.45 caliber is legal for those species if it meets minimum bullet weight.) Bullets must be .490 or larger and at least 300 grains for elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat or black bear.
• Bullets must be patched round balls or conical, nonjacketed bullets comprised wholly of lead or lead alloy. Sabots, which allow hunters to shoot a smaller bullet out of a larger diameter barrel, are not allowed.
• Muzzleloaders must be loaded with loose black powder, Pyrodex or other synthetic black powder.
• Muzzleloaders must be fired by flint, musket cap or percussion cap.
• Rifles must be equipped with an exposed, pivoting hammer and have an exposed ignition system, which means the percussion cap must be exposed.
• Other rules, such as iron sights, number of barrels and other previous rules remain in place.
"It wasn't something commissioners took lightly," Compton said. "They fully recognize the impacts of their actions."
Compton said the goal of the new rules is to provide more muzzleloader hunting opportunities in the long run.
"The fundamental basis for this is to maintain a relatively inefficient weapon," he said.
More accurate and efficient muzzleloaders have led to more animals being killed during muzzleloader seasons, which leads to fewer seasons.
"We're seeing a continual decline in the number of muzzleloader seasons offered," Compton said.
There's been a corresponding decline in hunter participation. He said about a decade ago, 10,000 hunters used muzzleloaders. That number has dropped to between 6,000 and 7,000.
He attributed the decline to two main factors: fewer mule deer and advances in muzzleloader technology.
Muzzleloader manufacturers now advertise effective ranges out to 250 yards.
Those weapons have become more popular in the last decade, and Compton estimates about half of muzzleloader hunters use in-line style rifles.
Anthony Acamica, hunting manager at The Sportsman's Warehouse in Meridian, said they typically sell more in-line muzzleloaders than traditional muzzleloaders. But since F&G started hunts specifically for traditional muzzleloaders in the last few years, he's seen sales of those increase.
Acamica said he thinks the new rule will result in a net loss of muzzleloader hunters because people will quit doing it rather than change equipment.
"I can speak from experience," he said.
Acamica said he killed a deer with a muzzleloader in 2003, but when F&G started added "traditional" muzzleloader hunts that restricted equipment, he quit hunting with his muzzleloader.
Mike Murray of Nampa, past president of the Idaho Muzzleloaders Association, said the group has been trying since the early 1990s to get similar rule changes.
"We're happy as pigs in mud," he said.
The attraction of muzzleloader hunting is the challenge it provides and the opportunity for special seasons, including late hunts. Technology takes away some of that challenge and means fewer special seasons, he said.
F&G collected about 4,000 comments on changing muzzleloader rules. On two key questions, hunters favored tighter restrictions.
When asked whether Idaho should change the definition of traditional muzzleloaders to only allow sidelock muzzleloaders, like the popular "Hawken" style rifles, 48 percent favored and 41 percent opposed.
When asked whether Idaho should restrict all muzzleloader hunting seasons to traditional muzzleloaders, 48 percent favored it and 44 percent opposed.
To offer story ideas or comments, contact reporter Roger Phillips at [email protected] or 373-6615.
Modification of traditional muzzleloader made them too effective, Idaho commissioners decide
If you own an in-line muzzleloader, you probably won't be hunting with it next year under new rules the Idaho Fish and Game Commission unanimously passed on Thursday.
Muzzleloaders are single-shot rifles loaded with black powder. They are similar to the guns mountain men and frontiersmen used during the 1800s.
Modern in-line muzzleloaders, when used with modern hunting bullets, increase the range, effectiveness and reliability of the weapons. That's one of the reasons commissioners decided to change the rules — too many animals were being killed during muzzleloader seasons.
"We can't biologically afford some of those success rates," state F&G big-game manager Brad Compton said.
During their regular meeting in Boise, commissioners redefined which muzzleloaders, powder and bullets will be allowed during muzzleloader-only seasons. The new rules will relegate most in-line muzzleloaders to general "any weapon" seasons and special "short-range" seasons. Muzzleloader seasons start in the fall.
The new rules include:
• Muzzleloaders must be loaded with a bullet of at least .490 or minimum weight of 240 grains for deer, pronghorn or mountain lion (.45 caliber is legal for those species if it meets minimum bullet weight.) Bullets must be .490 or larger and at least 300 grains for elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat or black bear.
• Bullets must be patched round balls or conical, nonjacketed bullets comprised wholly of lead or lead alloy. Sabots, which allow hunters to shoot a smaller bullet out of a larger diameter barrel, are not allowed.
• Muzzleloaders must be loaded with loose black powder, Pyrodex or other synthetic black powder.
• Muzzleloaders must be fired by flint, musket cap or percussion cap.
• Rifles must be equipped with an exposed, pivoting hammer and have an exposed ignition system, which means the percussion cap must be exposed.
• Other rules, such as iron sights, number of barrels and other previous rules remain in place.
"It wasn't something commissioners took lightly," Compton said. "They fully recognize the impacts of their actions."
Compton said the goal of the new rules is to provide more muzzleloader hunting opportunities in the long run.
"The fundamental basis for this is to maintain a relatively inefficient weapon," he said.
More accurate and efficient muzzleloaders have led to more animals being killed during muzzleloader seasons, which leads to fewer seasons.
"We're seeing a continual decline in the number of muzzleloader seasons offered," Compton said.
There's been a corresponding decline in hunter participation. He said about a decade ago, 10,000 hunters used muzzleloaders. That number has dropped to between 6,000 and 7,000.
He attributed the decline to two main factors: fewer mule deer and advances in muzzleloader technology.
Muzzleloader manufacturers now advertise effective ranges out to 250 yards.
Those weapons have become more popular in the last decade, and Compton estimates about half of muzzleloader hunters use in-line style rifles.
Anthony Acamica, hunting manager at The Sportsman's Warehouse in Meridian, said they typically sell more in-line muzzleloaders than traditional muzzleloaders. But since F&G started hunts specifically for traditional muzzleloaders in the last few years, he's seen sales of those increase.
Acamica said he thinks the new rule will result in a net loss of muzzleloader hunters because people will quit doing it rather than change equipment.
"I can speak from experience," he said.
Acamica said he killed a deer with a muzzleloader in 2003, but when F&G started added "traditional" muzzleloader hunts that restricted equipment, he quit hunting with his muzzleloader.
Mike Murray of Nampa, past president of the Idaho Muzzleloaders Association, said the group has been trying since the early 1990s to get similar rule changes.
"We're happy as pigs in mud," he said.
The attraction of muzzleloader hunting is the challenge it provides and the opportunity for special seasons, including late hunts. Technology takes away some of that challenge and means fewer special seasons, he said.
F&G collected about 4,000 comments on changing muzzleloader rules. On two key questions, hunters favored tighter restrictions.
When asked whether Idaho should change the definition of traditional muzzleloaders to only allow sidelock muzzleloaders, like the popular "Hawken" style rifles, 48 percent favored and 41 percent opposed.
When asked whether Idaho should restrict all muzzleloader hunting seasons to traditional muzzleloaders, 48 percent favored it and 44 percent opposed.
To offer story ideas or comments, contact reporter Roger Phillips at [email protected] or 373-6615.
