Muzzleloader season in your state

What's the muzzleloader season like in your state? How long is it, and when is it open relative to gun season? Do you have a muzzleloading handgun so you can hunt it?

If you want to handgun hunt in my home state of Tennessee, you have about a month and a half to do it, from the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving to the first Sunday in January. However, if you want to hunt the majority of the rut, muzzleloader season (usually) starts the first Saturday in November, which expands your season by another two weeks. Worth it, in my opinion.

In missouri we dont have a "muzzleloader" season we have an "alternative" season", basically you can hunt with anything except a center fire rifle, muzzleloader, handgun, any type of bow, atl-atl, we have even had a couple folks take one with a spear for the last couple seasons. It starts two days after the regular season on the 22nd of november, we also have an "antler less season" and two short youth seasons, one at the begining and one at the end. You may hunt with a handgun during any of our seasons except of course bow season.There, have I said season enough times.

Alabama

SPECIAL MUZZLELOADER
Privately Owned or Leased Land and U.S. Forest Service Land - Stalk Hunting Only (No Dogs) Either sex: November 12-16, 2018

My only muzzleloader is a Remington 700ML rifle. I'm not ruling out cutting the barrel to 15" and seeing if I can find a pistol stock or modify a Choate.

Here in Oklahoma our season starts this coming Saturday and runs for nine days. I have a 15 inch 209x50 TC Encore that have hunted with and will hunt with this year also. I've killed deer and hogs with it.

In Indiana muzzleloaders may be used during the firearms season 17 Nov- 2 Dec, and the muzzleloader season 8-23 Dec and the special antlerless season 26 Dec - 6 Jan. I use a flintlock when the weather cooperates. I do not have a legal deer muzzleloading pistol.

In NH, Muzzleloader is a 11 day season before the rifle opener. It starts next Saturday. You can use a muzzy during the regular firearm season which is 25 days long. In NH when you get your license you get a regular firearm deer tag. If you shoot a deer during muzzleloader season, you are done hunting with a firearm unless you have specially permitted antlerless tags for certain Wildlife Management Units.

No muzzleloader season in Montana. There are a few areas that are restricted to muzzleloader, traditional handgun or archery. They are mostly management areas with homes nearby. Other than that I just choose to hunt with traditional muzzleloaders in general rifle season.

I do have two muzzleloading handguns. One is a .32 and the other is a .54 cal. I've used both for small game including grouse, cottontail and snowshoe hare. The .54 has enough power and accuracy for deer but I have never tried taking one with it.

Maine:. Nov.26-Dec.1 Some W.M.D.s {that's wildlife management district not weapons of mass destruction ;)} add Dec.3-Dec8. no Sunday hunting, {thats just fine} this is after archery, expanded archery, and firearms season. 40 cal. or greater firing a single charge loaded only through the muzzle. scopes, inlines, etc. are all okay.

No point in GA... Archery is Sep. 8 - Jan. 13 (All Deer Season)... Primitive Weapon is Oct. 13 - Jan. 13... Rifle is Oct. 20 - Jan. 13... So Muzzle Loader season is only 7 Days. Might as well just bow hunt those extra 7 days and then break out the Handguns and Rifles for the rest of the season.

In Illinois we can use a muzzle loader during the shot gun seasons,
which are the first weekend before Thanksgiving, and the first four day weekend after turkey day. Then the following 3 day weekend is a muzzle loader only season.

I plan on using my Encore with a 9" MGM barrel in 357 for my first deer. Then I will switch to my brand new CVA Optima 50 cal muzzle loading handgun.

Check your laws first. If Illinois hasn't change their law in the last couple years, your CVA handgun is not legal to use. If not change, the law stated that a muzzleloader had to have a minimum of 16" barrel; It also specifically stated "rifle".

Yep, you are right, I can not use it. Darn, I thought they changed it to allow them. Looks like my 357 Encore and 5" SRH 44 will get used during the firearm season and my Encore rifle for the muzzle loader season.