BC Muzzle loader Hunting Season?

tootall can you remember why they took the ML out of that season though?
Heck if I didn't write down my user name and password I would be lost nevermind the things that happened ten years ago :eek:
 
tootall can you remember why they took the ML out of that season though?
Heck if I didn't write down my user name and password I would be lost nevermind the things that happened ten years ago :eek:


When peopel using muzzleloaders found that they could use scopes, pellets, bullets and inline primers instead of round balls and black powder, they decided there wasn't much difference between a modern muzzle loader and a single shot centerfire, so they punted it. That's what I understand, anyway.

Probbaly woudl have been better to outlaw modern ML's in the first place.
 
Shortly after the ML season disappeared, I put forward a motion at the club I belonged to then, to ask the BCWF to ask the Ministry to re-instate the ML season. Apparently, the motion went nowhere.

I would still like to see a separate season for traditional pattern ML.

It is my impression that the BCWF has been opposed to special seasons, for many years. Their attitude seems to be that special methods such as archery and muzzle loading is something you do after you get your moose or elk with a modern rifle.

cheers mooncoon
 
It is my impression that the BCWF has been opposed to special seasons, for many years. Their attitude seems to be that special methods such as archery and muzzle loading is something you do after you get your moose or elk with a modern rifle.

cheers mooncoon

BCWF isn't opposed, rather they don't support a season over another season, just because of the weapon you happen to be using.

You guys might want to check out BC' premier hunitng forum, huntingbc.ca

Lots of info about BCWF, special seasons etc..
 
BCWF isn't opposed, rather they don't support a season over another season, just because of the weapon you happen to be using.

You guys might want to check out BC' premier hunitng forum, huntingbc.ca

Lots of info about BCWF, special seasons etc..

As I recall about 3 years ago the subject came up at the annual convention and they were categorically opposed to special seasons.

cheers mooncoon
 
Roundball Only Muzzle Loading Season

I understand that there are seasons in the states that allow muzzle loaders but with rounball only. i think Penselvania and maybe Kentucky have this. It would take out the inlines as the rate of twist they have is designed for conicals and the large charges of powder they use would be pointless. Any boby know or have any ideas were we could get info on these rounball seasons they have? The info could be used as a model for piloting a test season in BC. It is my understanding that these hunts are very popular.

Bush Ratt
 
The late season muzzleloader/archery seasons we used to have around here went the way of the Dodo with the popularity of in-lines. Years ago I asked the local CO's why they were eliminated and was told the was the success rate sky rocketed and defeated the objectives of the hunt. It's no great trick to locate moose in snow conditions during December and coupled with the ability to reach out with a scoped in-line, the pressure on the local moose populations was too great. I think they should offer primitive weapon only seasons and restrict them to archery & black powder rifles (side lock/open sights) throughout the province on deer, elk, moose and black bears. It would add more options and likely increase hunter recruitment.
 
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I would still like to see a separate season for traditional pattern ML.
I believe the State of Pa. has a sidelock FLINTLOCK only season. Since flintlocks fall under a different catagory ( no reg./licences) than other firearms here in Canada, maybe it could work here. Special primitive seasons are used in the USA to provide more hunting ops without killing a lot more game.
 
As Yodave pointed out, there was a 2 week early season for muzzleloaders and bow & arrow at least in M.U. 2. I used to hunt with T.C.Hawken in it for several years. When they cancelled it I phoned the C.O. office in Surrey for an explanation and the C.O. "assistant" basically told me it was the archers who wanted the change. I wasn't satisfied with the answer so I wrote a letter to Victoria asking for reasons but thet never replied. 1 or 2 years later they cancelled it for the area B.C.Bigbore mentioned.
 
To be honest, BC has such a massive amount of public, huntable area, that if a guy wants to use a fllintlock or whatever, he should be able to do it by getting off the beaten track a wee bit.:)
 
To be honest, BC has such a massive amount of public, huntable area, that if a guy wants to use a fllintlock or whatever, he should be able to do it by getting off the beaten track a wee bit.:)

The same could be said for archers, I guess. I think the best case would be to have primitive hunts before the regular seasons so the game isn't spooked by hundreds of vehicles and random gunshots.
 
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The same could be said for archers, I guess. I think the best case would be to have primitive hunts before the regular seasons so the game isn't spooked by hundreds of vehicles and random gunshots.


I agree that most bowhunters could hunt during the GOS just fine-- if they were to get off the beaten track.

You won't get much support to introduce ML's into archery seasons. Id' say you would get close to zero, and you'd get HUGE opposition from bow hunters.

If you are hunting where there are hundred s of vehicles and many random gunshots, you should change areas to increase your odds. Last year in the middle of the rut, with hunters pounding it every day, I could have killed at least one legal buck per day, at ML distance...Because I went a few yards off the road.

And I'm not even that good a hunter...:)
 
I don't think archers should have to compete with MLs. They get the first 9 days of the deer season, here in my area. General open deer season then runs for about 70 days, then 9 more days of 4 point or larger in most MUs. Moose hunters get about two weeks less, GOS. Archers get the first 9 days of moose season.
That is a very long open season for all guns. I would support using some of the rifle season for a primitive hunting only season. I don't think primitive hunters should have to compete with long range centerfire hunters, or move over for those who have a distinct advantage, just as archers should not have to find a quiet spot without gun hunters.
Personally, I don't really hunt much anymore. The last deer I killed was with a bow, (after several days of hunting the archery season, I scored on the first day of gun season) but I would not consider myself an archery hunter either. I do remember when they opened a late season moose hunt for ML in the interior some years ago. I had hopes it would expand to more oppertunities. IIRC the ML moose season took place in a few MUs and the temperatures dropped to minus double digits.
 
Maybe if hunters didn't see it so much as a competition. Isn't there some irony or hypocrisy in choosing a weapon that is more challenging, whether bow, ML and then asking for special privileges to hedge your odds. It's not all about success.

On the otherhand, as I've stated before, if it is about creating an opportunity that didn't exist before, or can't be done or be feasable as a general season then by all means go for it.
 
I don't think archers should have to compete with MLs. They get the first 9 days of the deer season, here in my area. General open deer season then runs for about 70 days, then 9 more days of 4 point or larger in most MUs. Moose hunters get about two weeks less, GOS. Archers get the first 9 days of moose season.
That is a very long open season for all guns. I would support using some of the rifle season for a primitive hunting only season. I don't think primitive hunters should have to compete with long range centerfire hunters, or move over for those who have a distinct advantage, just as archers should not have to find a quiet spot without gun hunters.
Personally, I don't really hunt much anymore. The last deer I killed was with a bow, (after several days of hunting the archery season, I scored on the first day of gun season) but I would not consider myself an archery hunter either. I do remember when they opened a late season moose hunt for ML in the interior some years ago. I had hopes it would expand to more oppertunities. IIRC the ML moose season took place in a few MUs and the temperatures dropped to minus double digits.


You may support it, but you are one of the few in BC, and you won't get BCWF support.:)
 
Why a separate opening for muzzle loaders...is there a disadvantage for muzzle loaders? I've been hunting with my Hawkin 54 cal for years.
lots of kills. In the bush in the Coastal Mountains you normally only get one shot up close anyway. I've never shot anything outside 75 metres.
 
Why a separate opening for muzzle loaders...is there a disadvantage for muzzle loaders? I've been hunting with my Hawkin 54 cal for years.

On Vancouver Island at least, there are very few deer except in town. In a good year it takes an average of 19 days hunting to get one deer versus I think 27 days in a poor year.

cheers mooncoon
 
ML season

You can thank NDP Premier "do-see-do Dosanjh" for killing the ML rifle season in BC.
He blamed it on the advent of inlines that were being touted as being effective out to several hundred yards with scopes.

It would have been easy to stipulate side hammer, patched round ball rifles or smoothbores, but that would have been too easy.
 
muzzel Loading season

Gents there used to be one in BC during the bow hunting season and both were classed as a primitive weapons season. Why not put it in with the bow season again?
Weather your a bow hunter muzzel loader or modern you must identify your target and whats beyond. Inline should be classed with modern so it would be simular to hunting with say a Ruger single shot. Muzzel loading and archery is primitive so it would be Side Lock either percussion or flint. I don't know why they stopped it before, but with all their crap decisions no wonder there are less hunters, less revenue for them, now they infringe on the regular season by introducing a youth season.
In my day my dad took me out and I had like a learners or now the juniors but during the regular season so it didn't screw anybody out of a few more days afield. This Government (Gordns Gang) has their heads up their asses and to let some one off for drunk driving shows you just how bad their thinking is twisted.
Wow that felt good to rant. If you need a name for a petition for a primitive muzzel loading season drop me a line. I am a bow hunter as well, I just like getting out weather its with sharp lil sticks or charcoal.
Jack
 
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