After returning home from a hunt

[paulvallandigham]

Be very careful about game laws- particularly those relating to " Animal parts". You have state laws that protect " Song Birds,", and both state and Federal laws that protect " Endangered Species". Then you have Federal laws that protect migratory Waterfowl, Crows, and a few other species.

It can drive even a lawyer nuts keeping up with the stuff. I always have to look up state laws on this issue when the question is raised, and I have been doing this work for 39 years+. In my home state of Illinois, for instance, there are only three(3) unprotected bird species: Pigeons, English Sparrows( Yeah, you have to know the difference of those sparrows from half a dozen other species of sparrows), and Starlings( Black birds about the same size as Grackles, with red dashes on their wing tips.) In my experience, the Pigeons produce the only feathers with thick enough stems to be of use for TH plugs. :hmm: Coincidentally, pigeon feathers are also colorful enough, and common enough, that they are easily recognized, even by Conservation officers new to the job. :shocked2: :surrender: :thumbsup:

 

[Caterpillar Hunter]

One hundred years ago (and less), people shot nearly any bird species. They ate them, used parts of them, mounted them,or shot them for "sport". As a result, many species were in peril of extinction, thus the strict Federal and State laws we have today. Legally harvested waterfowl, turkeys, domestic chickens, starlings, pigeons(now called rock pigeons), and some others (check the regulations) might provide feathers to stick into a touch hole.
The smartest tool I ever bought was a CO2 ball discharger. It's a cheap and silent way to discharge your muzzleloader.

 

[Archer 756]

:hmm: Just wonder what did one do days pass? I have had loaded flinters for up to a mounth, dry location when storing and just took a pick to the flash hole and then primed and make sure to get some new powder into flash hole. Also I put hamber down and put a frizzen stall on frizen.I always store all my guns with muzzle down.In 30 plus years never had a miss fire. Oh and I do run a patch down befor storing till next time hunting Day's pass, I bet they sure did not off load each day !