Muzzleloader season opens this weekend

Muzzleloader season draws increasing number of hunters.

This Saturday, Oct. 19, is the opening of the special muzzleloader season in the northern zone. This is a special one-week season for the privilege of those purchasing the muzzleloader tag in addition to their regular hunting season. It allows those hunters to take an additional deer of either sex in most management units. Be sure to check the regulations for the unit you are hunting in.

In much of the Northern Zone, you may take a deer of either sex during the Muzzleloading Season (Oct. 19 to 25). However because of lower populations, only antlered deer are permitted in Management Areas 6N, 6J, and 6F (Tug Hill and western Adirondacks). You may also use a crossbow during the northern or southern muzzleloading seasons.

An increasing number of northern zone hunters are enthusiastically taking advantage of this opportunity. A surprising number of hunters are successful in bagging a deer with a muzzleloader according to the annual DEC Deer Harvest Report.

The blackpowder seasons in New York State are an outgrowth of the popularity of shooting primitive, muzzleloading firearms such as flintlock or percussion cap rifles that fire a single bullet propelled with black powder. During the Bicentennial celebration in 1976 Bill Lloyd of Newport organized a group from Herkimer County to re-enact the march of the Tryon County Militia to relieve the siege of Fort Stanwix and the ensuing Battle of Oriskany.

This event led to the formation of the New York State Muzzleloaders Association. This organization and others successfully lobbied for the extra season privilege of those holding the muzzleloader tag. In the Southern Zone this season is held at the close of the regular firearms season in December.

There are several reasons for the attraction and popularity of the muzzleloading season. One big reason is the opportunity and enjoyment of being out deer hunting while the weather is usually milder and the deer are relatively undisturbed. It provides a good opportunity to hunt by traditional methods such as still hunting.

There is also the challenge of bagging a whitetail with only one shot which places a premium on getting close and accuracy of shooting. It gives hunters an extra week to pursue their sport, and of course a chance at possibly taking an extra deer.

Originally, most of the shooting was done with reproductions of percussion cap rifles which were similar to weapons of the Civil War era. Today most hunters use the inline muzzleloaders which use shotgun 209 primers and superficially resemble modern rifles. However they are still propelled by black powder or pyrodex pellets and shoot a single lead ball or bullet. They must be loaded from the muzzle and the powder and ammunition tamped into place by a ramrod.

Today, more people are using the modern in-line muzzleloaders because they are easier to use and you can remove the primer to disable the weapon without firing it every time. The bolt or hammer are easier to use and keep dry than a traditional style percussion cap rifle.

When using the 209 primer and pyrodex pellets you will minimize, or probably eliminate, the chance that bringing a cold muzzleloader in from the cold woods to a warm camp will cause misfires. The belief was that rapid temperature changes would cause condensation and misfires. But tests have shown that this is not the case.

Some traditionalists hold firm to the belief that loose powder is more accurate than pellets. Others like to customize their loads for each gun or bullet used. Tests have shown that heavier or custom loads of loose powder may increase bullet velocity but there is no appreciable increase in accuracy over pyrodex pellets.

Although you do have to clean the gun, it is not necessary to clean it immediately. Modern powder and nitride-treated gunmetal reduce the urgency. Modern style inline muzzleloaders such as the CVA Wolf have easily removed breech plugs which make unloading or cleaning much easier.

Modern in-line muzzleloaders design make them more reliable even in rainy conditions. You still need to keep your powder dry but a balloon or electrical tape over the muzzle should prevent most problems unless it is a long pouring rain.

The Southern Zone does not have an early muzzleloader season due to conflict with the archery season there. The Southern Zone has a special post season muzzleloader hunt that will run after the close of regular firearms season, Dec. 9 to Dec. 17. The extra deer tag or any unused permits such as Deer Management Permits may be used at that time.

SHORT CASTS

H.I.P. Number: A recent arrest of a guide and his clients for hunting waterfowl without a HIP number serves as a reminder to all those who hunt migratory birds, which includes woodcock as well as waterfowl, that you need to apply for your H.I.P. number. This number is assigned free but must be registered anew each hunting season. You can do this by calling toll-free 1-888-427-5447. This number must be written on your hunting license. H.I.P. is “Harvest Information Program” and the numbers collected are used by the federal govt. to determine seasons and limits for the following year.

Gunworks CNY: Hunting season is just around the corner so you should be sighting in your guns, practicing, and making sure that everything is in order. If you need any work, now is the time to have it done. With blackpowder opening this weekend, many people are getting their last minute supplies. Gunworks of Central New York have recently added blackpower supplies and accessories as well as license sales, and regular firearms and ammunition.

The staff at Gunworks of CNY shake their heads and smile politely when they thinks of many hunters who wait until the last minute and then rush to have their gun adjusted or repaired. The Gunworks, located on Rt. 31 in Verona, offers full service gunsmithing, as well as sales of licenses, firearms and ammunition. Call 363-7041 for more information.

Salmon Fishing Report: Reports from the Lake Ontario tributaries about the Salmon run are mixed, but anglers and charter captains on the lake indicate that there are a lot of salmon still waiting to make the spawning run. There were also sightings of many fish jumping in Oswego harbor over the weekend. As Captain Andy Bliss of “Chasing Tails” Charters said, “we are still waiting for the mother lode to show.”

On the Salmon River there were a lot of fish following the rain last weekend but most of the action at Douglaston Salmon Run was in the lower section with a mixture of king salmon and steelhead and brown trout. The upper part of DSR was slow.

The upper river has a lot of salmon in the Pineville to Altmar area but many fish are starting to spawn in the gravel areas. Whitakers Sports Shot said that there was a lot of pressure in that area last weekend but anglers had good results. Angers were taking fish on estaz eggs, glo bugs, egg sucking leeches, or wooly bugger flies.

VNSP Pheasant Hunts: Vernon National Shooting Preserve at Vernon Center (315-829-2529) announces that it is booking now for pheasant hunts and days of sporting clays. There are a variety of packages available so if you are interested call for details. On October 20, it will be Ladies Day at the Range.

Walleye: Those anglers who eagerly fish the shoreline of Oneida Lake for walleye in autumn are getting excited. Lately walleye have been hitting along shore just before dark. Casting stickbaits just before dark in areas where there is an onshore breeze is producing nice fish. Those anglers who are still pursuing walleye by boat are having decent luck using jigs or blade baits in deeper areas.

Leo Maloney