Muzzleloader season offers extra opportunity

This Saturday, October 16, 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.

This year the new regulations by the DEC restores the possibility of shooting an antlerless deer with a muzzleloader in WMUS 6A, 6F, and 6J.

An increasing number of northern zone hunters are enthusiastically taking advantage of this opportunity. Last year the number of muzzleloaders increased six percent to more than 253,600 hunters. A surprising number of hunters are successful in bagging a deer with a

muzzleloader according to the annual DEC Deer Harvest Report.

According to DEC estimates that 18,131 deer were taken on the special muzzleloader tag, compared to the 5 year average of 14,454.

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 northern zone this held the week before the regular firearms season while 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 northern 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 in-line 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 inline 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.

SHORT CASTS Seasons Changing

A simple reminder that the northern zone turkey season closes today, October 14. The southern zone turkey season opens on Saturday, October 16 and runs until October

29. Limit is one bird of either sex.

Trout season closes on most waters tomorrow, October 15. However the catch and releases will be in effect on streams October 16 until next April

1. You must use artificial lures only and it does not include lakes or ponds This does not apply to steelhead on tributaries of Lake Ontario.

Crossbow Coalition

The NY Crossbow Coalition is holding an early bird membership drawing on October 31 to give away a Sniper Elite 385 with a complete package of accessories.

Anyone who joins or renews their membership prior to the drawing, including those already signed up for 2022 is automatically entered in the drawing.

The goal of the coalition is full inclusion of the crossbow as archery equipment as it is in the majority of other states. To help reach legislators they are asking everyone to make a short video including your name, where you are from, if you are a bowhunter, and for how many years, and why crossbow full inclusion is important to you. If you are not familiar with making a video ask your grandchildren or neighbor for assistance, and upload the video to info@ nycrossbowcoalition.com.

Fishing Lure Shortages

Many of us have experienced shortages from ammunition to appliances and similar items. Be prepared for a similar shortage in fishing tackle, especially lures. One friend who is familiar with things in the fishing industry said to be prepared for shortages or lack of brand names. The same issues that have plagued many items (lack of manufactured products, diversion of resources, lack of shipping from overseas, not enough trucks to unload cargo at the dock will be hitting brand name lures over the next two to three years. There will probably be knock-off lures made in America, but if you want the real brand names, you had better stock up a bit while the opportunity exists.

Salmon River Update

The salmon run continues on the Salmon River despite the warm weather and lower water flow. Douglaston Salmon Run reports that there has been a steady run of kings. The middle and upper river had the best fishing action early last weekend but by the end of the day the action evened out. It was mostly king salmon but there were big browns and a few coho and steelhead. Nearly everyone was able to get into fish.

Whittakers Sports Shop in Pulaski (315-2986162) said the high average temperature was expected to continue. Best action has been in the early morning in the mid and upper sections. Good action was reported at the Ballpark, Rt 2A, Sportsman’s Pool as well as the upper and lower fly areas. Their advice was if you want relative solidtude try the mid section of the river and be prepared to walk.

Hot lures were Comets (size 4) in hot pink, orange and chartreuse and egg sucking leeches in black and purple. Also working well were beadhead wooly buggers (size 6)in black, orange, olive and red. Best nymphs were steelhead hammer size 8 or 6 and Estaz stone flies in blue, purple, red, or chartreuse. Anglers also had success using Estaz eggs in orange, pink and chartreuse or Glo Bugs in chartreuse, pink, and orange.

H.I.P. Number

Just 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 1-888-4275447. This number must be written on your hunting license. H.I.P. stands for “Harvest Information Program” and the numbers collected are used by the federal govt. to determine seasons and limits for the following year.