West Virginia Mountaineer Heritage Season

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

I have a small hunting camp in Pendleton County, WV. I have taken a couple of deer off of the place the last couple of years.

WV has a special season in January for four days called the Mountaineer Heritage Season. You are required to use a traditional muzzle loader or bow. There will likely be snow on the ground at my place.

I am thinking of trying to hunt the this special season this year. I do not presently own a traditional muzzle loader, but I am up for buying one. I have killed many deer with an in-line.

Does anyone have experience with this type of hunting? What kind of rifle do I want? Some kind of Hawken clone? Kentucky rifle? Is patched round ball the way to go or some kind of mini ball? What kind of powder? Just stick with pyrodex?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

good luck, one of the toughest hunts around

 

[jrbarnes9972]

I hunt this season in Jefferson County every year! I personally like to go as traditional as possible. Real black powder with a patched round ball. I have a traditions ky flintlock

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[Jrkotz]

A buddy and I based out of Charleston have gone a few times. He has a flint lock kit gun (traditions or CVA) I have a 50 cal percussion. We haven't got one yet, they've been thinned out pretty well by that time of year. Best of luck this year!

 

[WVelkhunter]

The biggest problem I see with our heritage hunt is that alot of bucks have already lost their horns. Killing any deer with traditional equipment is a true trophy, but I really hate the thought of killing a buck that's already lost its horns. I normally use that season to explore a public hunting area that I normally don't hunt. (Kill someone else's hornless buck!)

 

[Treeratslayer]

The biggest problem I see with our heritage hunt is that alot of bucks have already lost their horns. Killing any deer with traditional equipment is a true trophy, but I really hate the thought of killing a buck that's already list its horns. I normally use that season to explore a public hunting area that I normally don't hunt. (Kill someone else's hornless buck!)

My dad experienced this a few years back, actually in regular muzzleloader. Deer here just drop antlers much earlier it seems. He shot a nice 10 point, when he walked up, one side was gone! Confused, he grabbed the remaining side to lift it up, and it popped off in his hand.

Heck of a set of rattling antler though!


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[BAKPAKR]

The biggest problem I see with our heritage hunt is that alot of bucks have already lost their horns. Killing any deer with traditional equipment is a true trophy, but I really hate the thought of killing a buck that's already lost its horns. I normally use that season to explore a public hunting area that I normally don't hunt. (Kill someone else's hornless buck!)

I really babied the antlers on this Heritage Season buck because of my concern that they might pop off. I have shot other deer and some elk with muzzleloaders but this was my first (and still only) patched round ball kill.

 

[brancher147]

I hunt that area sometimes. It’s a fun season. I bought a cheap Traditions deer hunter I think it’s called. I shoot pyrodex and a sabot. It was dead on out of the box with no adjustments needed. I have killed a few deer with it but it did take a bit of trial and error…mostly with the powder/load combo and getting it firing consistently.

Snow is a blessing and a curse that time of year. You can find deer easily and see them better but they are super spooky after rifle, muzzleloader and bear seasons. They can see you better too and depending on snow conditions it can be very loud and crunchy. I find it’s best to sit and wait near feeding areas. Sunny slopes can be good if it’s cold. Anytime you are hunting that late you could have shed bucks-just is what it is-at the range you are shooting you should be able to get a good look at the deer before you shoot.

 

[Trapyotes]

I also have a camp in Pendleton county wv. I’ll be carrying a longbow on a sunny southern slope. Good luck