It’s the muzzleloader season for anyone and everyone.
With this season there is no need to deal with snow, ice and single-digit temperatures — or the worry of keeping priming powder dry — associated with Pennsylvania’s post-Christmas flintlock season.
And while those who fought for that special season to be established, expanded and maintained for the last 40 years continue to embrace the challenges it presents, many who once rejected the special statewide antlerless muzzleloader season see its merits.
Beginning Saturday, Oct. 17, Pennsylvania’s seven-day, statewide antlerless muzzleloader season gets under way when properly licensed hunters can take an antlerless deer with any and all types of muzzleloader rifles — regardless of ignition systems. For the diehards, they can tote their trusty flintlocks; for others, it’s an opportunity to use a rifle with traditional percussion ignition for something other than target shooting; and for those who simply want to hunt, there are “modern” muzzleloaders — known as inline rifles because of their sealed ignition system.
It is the percussion and inline ignition systems that give the antlerless season so much merit because — especially with an inline — using these rifles is no more challenging than hunting with a single-shot cartridge rifle. All of that makes it the ideal way to introduce a newbie to the unique satisfaction that comes with taking any deer with a rifle one loaded similar to those who explored and hunted Pennsylvania’s woods in pre-Colonial times.
And, based upon observations while being an instructor at youth events, that is especially so when the first-time muzzleloader hunter is a youngster. Most kids are fascinated when they get the opportunity to shoot a flintlock rifle because they have seen similar rifles in films, but almost all of them need time adjusting to the flash of pan powder.
Put a percussion rifle or an inline in a kid’s hands, however, and one can see their confidence — as well as ear-to-ear grins — grow shot after shot, especially if the rifles are equipped with a low-power scope. For those who have never shot a rifle previously, the learning curve is a bit wider, but there is just something special about building what amounts to one’s own “bullet” and hitting a target the size of a deer’s vital area offhand at 25 yards.
In addition to using rifles with more modern ignitions than flintlocks, there are several other differences between the regulations for the post-Christmas season and the upcoming antlerless season. Most important is the requirement for both muzzleloader hunters and archery hunters to wear a combined minimum of 250 square inches of fluorescent orange on the head, chest and back that is visible from all directions while hunting.
This safety regulation is especially important during the last three days of the special season because any sporting arm — including center-fire rifles — are permitted for specific hunters, including those holding Junior and Senior licenses. In addition, those with both muzzleloader and archery stamps are permitted to carry both sporting arms that allows the taking of a buck with a bow.
For those bowhunting only, it is permissible to remove fluorescent orange clothing when taking up a stationary position in an elevated stand or on the ground. Archery hunters who remove their orange clothing, however, are required to post 100 square inches of orange that is visible in all directions 15 feet of their locations.
For those who enjoy taking some venison for the freezer, there is no better time to take an antlerless deer than during the upcoming special muzzleloader season before the peak of the rut. And, really, hunting with a percussion or inline muzzleloader is no more challenging than using a single-shot cartridge.
All of which makes it the perfect season to expose a youngster to deer hunting.
(Dietz is outdoors editor)
October antlerless firearms seasons
A wildlife management unit-specific antlerless license or Deer Management Assistance permit is required for each antlerless deer taken during the following statewide antlerless firearms seasons:
• Muzzleloader: Saturday, Oct. 17, to Saturday, Oct. 24; inline, percussion and flintlock ignition systems are permitted for use by all properly licensed hunters.
• Firearms: Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 22-24; any legal firearm may be used by Junior and Senior License Holders, Mentored Youth Permit Holders, Disabled Person Permit Holders and Pennsylvania residents serving on active duty in U.S. Armed Services or in the U.S. Coast Guard and includes persons who have reached or will reach their 65th birthday in the year of the application for a license and hold a valid adult license.