It is my understanding that in Pennsylvania, it is called a "primitive weapons" season and is PRB, open iron sights and flintlock or earlier. It depends on the reason for the "special" season. Some "special" seasons, usually ML and shotgun are implemented to reduce the range due to acreages and such and have not g to do with "history". However, just like the biological men that want to "identify" as a woman so they can compete with an unfair advantage in women's sports, the guys shooting high powered gun s that "identify" as a ML so they can compete with other ML and shotgun hunters in these special season zones will eventually find their so-called ML guns whose "smokeless sabotless builds would put most CF guns to shame at 300 yards" will either be disqualified from the season OR the whole special season will be shut down for everyone. Every sport has those that will cheat any way they can to gain an unfair edge over those that just train hard to be the best they can be within the rules and intentions. This is how it has always been and how it will always continue to be. Human nature.