Idaho Muzzleloader rules may change again

[Washington Hunter]

I don't believe this has been posted yet...looks like in-lines may be legal in Idaho again in 2008.

IDAHO FISH AND GAME
HEADQUARTERS NEWS RELEASE
Boise, ID

Date: March 12, 2007
Contact: Ed Mitchell
(208) 334-3700



commission to take second look at muzzleloader rules


Idaho Fish and Game commissioners Thursday, March 9, agreed to take another look at controversial definitions of muzzleloader weapons adopted in January.

The new rules have raised a furor of complaints from some hunters whose modern inline weapons no longer are legal in muzzleloader-only hunts. The rules require muzzleloaders have a pivoting hammer, an exposed ignition with only flint or percussion caps, use only loose black powder or loose synthetic black powder, and bullets must be within .010 inch of the bore diameter.

So-called modern inline weapons still are legal in short-range weapon and other hunts.

Those complaints led commissioners Tony McDermott of the Panhandle Region and Alex Irby of the Clearwater Region to propose the commission examine in more detail the technology and data on which their January decision was made.

The decision to reexamine the muzzleloader issue was not in response to complaints, McDermott said. But if that decision was based on inaccurate or incomplete information, perhaps it should be changed.

But any changes would not take effect before the 2008 hunting seasons.

In setting big game hunting seasons, McDermott and Irby proposed changing several muzzleloader hunts to short-range weapons hunts in their regions that would allow the use of inline weapons. Short-range weapons include many modern inline muzzleloaders, archery and shotguns.

The commission adopted the big game seasons with the changes to short-range weapons hunts over the objections of commissioners Randall Budge of the Southeast Region and Wayne Wright of the Magic Valley Region. Budge and Wright resisted the change, saying it essentially sidestepped the new muzzleloader rules in two individual regions without any discussion of the issue.

McDermott agreed it was a band-aid solution and suggested the commissioners reexamine the evidence on which they had based their January decision. He suggested the commissioners invite some technical experts to present data on the differences between more traditional muzzleloaders and modern in-line weapons.

"We need to quantify the effectiveness," Wright said.

Budge noted that the line between the weapons was not so clear after all. The commission needs to clearly define what short-range means and then set hunt opportunities.

Other commissioners agree they need to examine how they have allocated the opportunities to hunt in this state. They agreed to take another look at the technology and to determine whether they made the right or wrong decision in January.

No date was set for further discussion.

 

[Moosie]

I heard they are going to change it back. Will be interesting to see. there wasn't much outcry till the Inlines were banned. It might wake people up to start fighting for what they like to do before it gets taken away.. not after .. ?

 

[Washington Hunter]

I don't think it was right to ban inlines, not after so many people had invested in them. If they limit other things, like Washington and Oregon do, such as no jacketed bullets, no 209 primers, no scopes, no smokeless powder, etc, that will pretty much put everybody on a level playing field, whether they shoot an inline or a sidelock.

 

[IdahoMuleyMan]

I don't think it was right to ban inlines, not after so many people had invested in them. If they limit other things, like Washington and Oregon do, such as no jacketed bullets, no 209 primers, no scopes, no smokeless powder, etc, that will pretty much put everybody on a level playing field, whether they shoot an inline or a sidelock.

Actually before the 2007 change, Idaho already did not allow 209 primers or scopes. they did allow jacketed bullets though

 

[Washington Hunter]

Yes, I realize that, just had to include those in the list. One I forgot that is the rule in both Washington and Oregon, is that the cap must be "exposed to the elements." At least that is the way it is worded in Washington's regulations, and I believe Oregon is the same. So, no Omegas or Encores, Savages, etc.

 

[IdahoMuleyMan]

Yup thats the same as here... " the cap must be exposed"
I understood why you posted it. I was agreeing

 

[TheTone]

Gotta love a couple of the commisioners that did nothing but give in to whiners when it came to season setting time this year. Changing muzzleloader hunts to short range weapon hunts to keep inlines legal (plus they can be scoped, plus shotguns, and archery now in those seasons). Nice to see them working for all the people of Idaho. I can't wait for a few of these guys to get off the commission, hopefully real sportsmen (or women) will replace them.

 

[shoots-straight]

Wasn't the reason the Game dept. have had primitive weapons season's in the first place was because the recreation value coupled with low impact on the species. Isn't it true that inline's are almost as acurate as a modern firearm, say a 30-30 somthing in that area that only a decade ago was more the normal for a big game hunt.

With the technology that evolved, don't you agree that inlines have made them harder on the resource which was the opposite reason that such seasons were set in place.

 

[Washington Hunter]

I don't believe there is any difference in potential accuracy between inline muzzleloaders and traditional muzzleloaders. The increased accuracy, if any, mostly comes from better quality bullets, which can be used in either style of muzzleloader. Some inlines may be capable of handling higher pressure, which means more powder, and more velocity, but if jacketed bullets are not legal, velocities will have to be kept down to the same velocities that sidelocks are capable of anyway. The biggest advantage of most inlines has got to be the sealed ignition, so a guy never has to worry about the powder getting wet and having a misfire, or hangfire. But, if only inlines that have the cap exposed to the elements are legal, they won't have that advanatage either.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

I have both types of muzzleloaders and cant get any good accuracy from my inline when using all lead conicals,I prefer to use my lyman great plains side perc as its alot more accurate shooting all lead conicals as required in oregon. any body looking for a .54 traditions inline?