Muzzleloading: Best of Both Worlds?

[CrzyTrekker]

Had a great time hunting with my Ultra-Light in Colorado's GMU 76 (San Juan Mountains) this year. Hunting with a muzzleloader in September seems to offer the best of both worlds; speed and accuracy of a short-range rifle, and the ability to hunt vocal elk. I think I'm hooked!

Does anyone know what the overall success ratio is between muzzleloader, archery, and rifle hunters? Seems like muzzleloading must offer a pretty fair advantage over other methods, everything else being equal.

 

[dotman]

I don't know but my deer hunt hooked me.

 

[ckleeves]

I'm not sure on the success ratio, but I know if I had a muzzleloader in my hands I can't think of a year when during muzzleloader season while archery hunting I couldn't have killed a 320+ bull. I like to think of them as cheating that being said I'm probably gonna start putting my wife in for mz tags.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

I know if I had a muzzleloader in my hands I can't think of a year when during muzzleloader season while archery hunting I couldn't have killed a 320+ bull.

That's exactly what I mean! I think I'd rather fill the freezer every year than "challenge" myself just a little more with a bow.

 

[TraderMike]

I couldn't agree more... I would like to hear about your hunt in 76 and tried sending a PM but apparently the server is "having issues" so I don't know if those PM's made it to your inbox or not..

 

[CrzyTrekker]

I couldn't agree more... I would like to hear about your hunt in 76 and tried sending a PM but apparently the server is "having issues" so I don't know if those PM's made it to your inbox or not..

PM sent.

 

[MuleyFever]

I think muzzy hunts are a great medium between the rifle and bow. Usually a muzzy hunt offers just enough challenge to keep it really fun while offering a good chance at success.

I am hooked on muzzy hunting and love my ULite.

 

[robby denning]

many muzzleloader seasons offer a pretty good chance at some good bucks, either early or late in the season and is why I love smokepoles

 

[jim thorpe]

Had my first elk hunt ever in GMU 12 with a ML. I'm definitely hooked. Drew a cow tag right off the bat and was able to harvest one. Epic adventure...

 

[Elkfitness]

So for those in colorado, what are good options for colorado legal muzzleloaders? I have a 25yr old CVA hawken in the safe.

 

[dotman]

I highly recommend the Knight Ultralite, it is very accurate and probably 2lbs lighter then the Mountaineer. I'm really liking my Knight!

 

[CoHiCntry]

So for those in colorado, what are good options for colorado legal muzzleloaders? I have a 25yr old CVA hawken in the safe.

Lots of good options out there. Knight, CVA, T/C and a few others. Really comes down to personal likes and dislikes along with your budget. No "illegal" muzzleloader's for Colorado except those electric ignition ones that came out a few years ago and of course the "smokeless" jobs. Open sites, no sabots and no powder pellets is all I can think of off the top of my head as far as restrictions. That old Hawken you've got will get the job done too. Just heavy and a few more obstacles compared to some of the new inlines.

 

[MuleyFever]

I would stay away from T/C for a CO gun. There are a lot of accuracy issues with T/C's and full bore conicals. I sold my T/C Pro Hunter after it would not shoot well and got a Knight Ultralite.

 

[5MilesBack]

That's exactly what I mean! I think I'd rather fill the freezer every year than "challenge" myself just a little more with a bow.

Beyond the "challenge" factor, I just much prefer an entire month to hunt over just a week every year. However, I'm saving points for my girls for when they can draw my hunting unit with a ML. If I'd had a ML tag this year I'd have either one of two 350+ bulls on the ground that I chased with the bow. Within 75 yards of both, but worked for a better angle on one and closer on the other before all heck broke loose. Ya, definitely an advantage.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

Beyond the "challenge" factor, I just much prefer an entire month to hunt over just a week every year. However, I'm saving points for my girls for when they can draw my hunting unit with a ML. If I'd had a ML tag this year I'd have either one of two 350+ bulls on the ground that I chased with the bow. Within 75 yards of both, but worked for a better angle on one and closer on the other before all heck broke loose. Ya, definitely an advantage.

I respect your preference to have an entire month of hunting. However, I know that, on balance, I can get it done in far less time with a ML. I guess I prefer to be successful than have a full month out there.

 

[COlineman78]

I would stay away from T/C for a CO gun. There are a lot of accuracy issues with T/C's and full bore conicals. I sold my T/C Pro Hunter after it would not shoot well and got a Knight Ultralite.

We have 7 out of 8 people in our group that run T/C Triumphs and all but one is the Bone Collector. We all use Power Bealts as you are right, it's the only non-sabot that shoots well out of a T/C. Everyone on here seems to love the Knight Ultralight, but I have a bad taste in my mouth with Knight and an old T-Bolt we had that was a piece of crap. Knight does shoot full-bore conicals much better than T/C. The major advantage of the Triumph is the tool-less breach with the ability to just run a bore snake or do quick field stripping if your powder got wet (which I have never had happen; others have especially those with a hawkin) or forgot powder and dropped a bullet in.

 

[MuleyFever]

Also some of us cant hunt a full month anyway, especially on out of state hunts. Locally I will still put in for archery over ML but for out of state hunts I would rather have a ML tag.

I do wish the Knight had a tool-less breach.

 

[Elkfitness]

sounds good. I got the hawken years ago as a gift from my dad. Man, 25yrs. Would love to take a elk with it. He's got an old TC hawken. One of the items on my bucket list is to take him an a elk hunt. Just now realizing it's been 27 yrs since my dad took me in my first elk. 10 days with horses in the backcountry. Hooked ever since!

 

[Elkfitness]

Colinemen78,

I was typing at the same time. I'll keep the tc's in mind.

 

[CoHiCntry]

I wouldn't discount T/C altogether, although the QLA does make it a challenge to find a conical that works good. My Omega really liked the 250 grain Thor. Very accurate! What I like about T/C is what's been mentioned... drop down or break action and easily removed breech plug. What I don't like about Knights is the hard to remove and clean breech plug, the bolt, and the double safety thing. If Knight would dump the bolt and go to a break or drop down action along with an easy hand removable breech plug, I would be sold! Knight is still a solid choice though and I was actually just talking to sabotloader about getting a new spider web black ultra light with the bare 209 and open sites!