Can you believe that the early muzzleloader season is only a few weeks away? I can’t help but wonder how many hunters have checked out the sights on their guns. They can so easily be knocked out by accident. A few minutes at the gun range may be the insurance you need to make that first shot count.

Any muzzleloader, be it inline or side lock, and regardless of the type of powder you use, must be cleaned. All the oils should be swabbed from the barrel so that the powder stays dry. I had that lesson come home on a bear hunt in Canada several years ago when damp powder caused a misfire and the loss of a nice black bear.

I usually run several dry patches down the barrel and then fire at least one cap to clear the nipple. Hold the gun toward the ground: if the grass moves when you set off the cap, the gun is clear. Now you can load your hunting load and are ready to hunt.

The first shot is important because the sound will cause the deer to run. I don’t care what type of muzzleloader you use, it still takes some time to reload. Even if you have a good hit, it pays to reload as soon as possible. One hunter relayed a story to me of shooting a deer and reloading as fast as possible only to have another deer show up. By reloading he was able to take two deer from the same stand only minutes apart.

The season opens Oct. 22-24, during which time you can take either buck or doe. From Oct. 26-31 you may take doe only. The late muzzleloader season is Dec. 19-Jan. 2.

During these seasons all hunters are required to wear fluorescent orange. Written permission is also required on all private lands.

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