Montana Heritage Muzzleloader Season

We are doing some research on the new Montana heritage muzzleloader season. Did any of you hunt it last year and if so, what are your thoughts?

I didn't hunt it, but it was the springboard that has gotten me into blackpowder and I plan to this year. It's late season for MT. I see you are from Oregon, so most likely expect cold and snow in most areas, higher elevations will be tough to access. You might be catching tail end of whitetail rut in some places. Bulls will be in their bachelor pads this time of year. Hunting seasons are long here, so this hunt is a clean up and animals will have been chased/shot at for almost 3 months at this point, so expect tough hunting/jumpy critters. It will be the least hunted season at least for awhile... I don't know a whole lot of hunters who went last year.

Rileybassman said:

I didn't hunt it, but it was the springboard that has gotten me into blackpowder and I plan to this year. It's late season for MT. I see you are from Oregon, so most likely expect cold and snow in most areas, higher elevations will be tough to access. You might be catching tail end of whitetail rut in some places. Bulls will be in their bachelor pads this time of year. Hunting seasons are long here, so this hunt is a clean up and animals will have been chased/shot at for almost 3 months at this point, so expect tough hunting/jumpy critters. It will be the least hunted season at least for awhile... I don't know a whole lot of hunters who went last year.

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Thank you for the info!

Not many of out local group hunted the special season, as all had pretty much tagged out in regular season.
We are working on putting together some classes for new black powder shooters in the Kalispell area. There was a lot of interest from people who wanted to hunt, but had zero knowledge of the firearms, and how to use them properly. We want to get them up to speed on proper loading, cleaning, and safety.

waksupi said:

Not many of out local group hunted the special season, as all had pretty much tagged out in regular season.
We are working on putting together some classes for new black powder shooters in the Kalispell area. There was a lot of interest from people who wanted to hunt, but had zero knowledge of the firearms, and how to use them properly. We want to get them up to speed on proper loading, cleaning, and safety.

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That would be pretty sweet! I'd enjoy participating. I sold a muzzleloader to a local fellow this week and he had 0 idea of what to do with one and it was this hunt that was spurring a lot of this on. It think this heritage season is going to get a lot more locals interested in black powder.

I for one am in, it's going to be cold, two weeks after the general season close's, which will be early Dec. Depends on the year, cold and snowy would be great. Clear out the out of state POS !

I took 5 days and hunted the new season. Was able to harvest the beautiful buck pictured below. First deer I'll be getting shoulder mounted. The story of the rifle and hunt is something a lot have loved to hear.

I got the Missouri River Shooters Association in Great Falls, MT to add a black powder discipline to the roster that I am heading off called the Frontier Riflemen. I know interest in BP in the state is only going to rose and wanted a place for anyone who shoots BP or wants to learn to gather and become proficient in the skill that is traditional BP.

That's one fine whitetail. We'll done.

To far away to come shoot with you.

Hammer1Down,
I say that is one MONSTER whitetail you have there!
..

My wife and I hunted the late season. We both had elk tags and she, a buck tag. We just take one rifle. I carry it. Sometimes I get to shoot it. This time neither of us shot it. There was an uptick at the range, before and during, with people preparing for the new season. I personally talked to two who filled buck tags. None who filled elk tags. If a person who wants to fill a tag can't do it during regular season with a scoped high power rifle, not much chance they will do it at the end of the season with a smokepole. Here, the weather was cold, there was good snow, and it was a great time to be out. If I'm still kicking this year for the late season, I'll be out there.

A couple anecdotes. One person who got a buck is an old timer, in worse physical condition than me. He really just wants "one more" elk. He didn't get it last year. After listening to all the fresh muzzleloading chatter, he dug his .54 out and went and shot a small buck, just for sausage and pepper sticks. The pepper sticks were great.

The other person was a young man (25) who I met at the range the first Sunday of the season. He was looking for help. He obviously knew very little about "black powder" and muzzleloaders. He wanted to know why his rifle, using Pyrodex, didn't always go off "immediately" when he pulled the trigger. He had killed a really nice whitetail the first day of the season when he and his friend had drift floated down the Bitterroot River, in the snow, and found his buck on the bank. He may not have known a lot about "black powder" but he has a hunters spirit and I would have loved to have been with him on that little trip.

Couldn't agree more and it will be cold and snowing. .

muzzle-loader said:

We are doing some research on the new Montana heritage muzzleloader season. Did any of you hunt it last year and if so, what are your thoughts?

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I've hunted it all three years..(going out again tomorrow). I have thoroughly enjoyed it because of the lack of competition at least at this point. A lot of the game has relaxed a little making it a little easier to get shot opportunities without the competition of the general season. I would be very concerned if the State of MT tried to allow modern MLs/in-lines and other than round ball projectiles...actually you can use lead slugs now, but not skirted/saboted gaschecked or otherwise modified bullets. To do so would defeat the whole purpose of this heritage season. To be honest I submitted comments years ago when the State was considering a season like this and indicated at that time, I did not believe it was necessary. I was already hunting the general season with a traditional ML and had plenty of opportunities. Now that it is in place, I like it.

I totally agree, keep it Tradition only.

Mtman725

have hunted it since it started and hunted BP back in the 70s , love the season but my problem is old age and bad legs, can't walk far. In the swan valley they close the roads on december 1st for snowmobilers witch forces me to travel a long ways to get access , either that or buy a damn snowmobile and i ain't keen on that. Got lucky for awhile last year ,lack of snow kept the roads open and i was in the Elk every morning and night for 4 straight days (no shooter bulls) then when i had there movements figured they closed the damn roads, go figure. Love the fact its been traditional and i hope it stays that way but i did see 3 dudes that were not following the rules, 2 with breach loaders and one with a damn scope , warden didn't seem to care. Going to hunt the regular season with BP this year really love these rifles compared to the one i used in the 70s .

Mtman725 said:

I for one am in, it's going to be cold, two weeks after the general season close's, which will be early Dec. Depends on the year, cold and snowy would be great. Clear out the out of state POS !

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Just curious, why are the out of state hunters "POS"? I have hunted the state of Montana quite a few times over the years. I'm strongly considering the heritage season to enjoy some of that cold snowy weather while carrying one of my beloved traditional muzzleloaders. POS Hmmmm. Let's see , I'm a US Marine Corps Veteran, I'm a retired Deputy Sheriff of 30 years and oh yeah, I'm currently working in the organ transplant arena. Pretty big piece of Sht if you ask me. It didn't seem like the Hotel owners, Bar owners, Gas station owners, restaurant owners and definitely Montana fish and game had any problems taking my money that I freely pumped into the local economies of the counties that I hunted in. POS, well maybe one just needs to take a good long look in the mirror?

Had surgery last November so missed out. but looking forward to this season. Got a antelope buck tag starting October 12 trying my luck with my Browning 50

harleysboss said:

Just curious, why are the out of state hunters "POS"? I have hunted the state of Montana quite a few times over the years. I'm strongly considering the heritage season to enjoy some of that cold snowy weather while carrying one of my beloved traditional muzzleloaders. POS Hmmmm. Let's see , I'm a US Marine Corps Veteran, I'm a retired Deputy Sheriff of 30 years and oh yeah, I'm currently working in the organ transplant arena. Pretty big piece of Sht if you ask me. It didn't seem like the Hotel owners, Bar owners, Gas station owners, restaurant owners and definitely Montana fish and game had any problems taking my money that I freely pumped into the local economies of the counties that I hunted in. POS, well maybe one just needs to take a good long look in the mirror?

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Because they think they own the place and they know everything just wait a minute they tell you and their so important, I did this and I did that we don't care !!! Who you are or what you were, or where your from, there's more Vets in this state per capital then any another. Just read what you said and yes I own a small business and make money off you, it use to be that way but not anymore,we're over ran. YNP has set records the last 5 years in a row for Turons like yourself and that's what we call you people. If you don't like what I said don't seat on my fence, and I think you would fit in better in ID,The mirror I look in is the rear view to see your truck going home.

LOL!