HiDesertHunter
40 Cal
This thread has really got me to thinking.
While I am a new member here - I am not new to muzzleloading and am in the somewhat more 'mature' category !
There have been a lot of good opinions and ideas expressed about the interest in muzzleloading - some I have already thought about and considered and some entirely new to me and have made sense.
Personally I tend to believe one enters into a sport or hobby that relates to their lifestyle and interests.
With regard to muzzleloading everyone I know who is involved with it is typically very outdoors oriented and has an interest in history and traditional 'Americana' in general and muzzleloading is simply an 'extension' of this.
The movie 'Jeremiah Johnson' has been mentioned often and many of us in the 'age category' when the movie was made were no doubt influenced by it. Let's face it, the movie is a bit cornball in some ways but the important parts are the scenery, the clothing, the hunting scenes, the talk - are the aspects that appealed to us who 'identified' with the characters and in a way wanted to emulate them.
An important part of this is having a way to 'extend' this interest into a certain amount of 'reality'. For some (like myself) I have always had the outdoors close to me - minutes literally and vast amounts as well as in National Forests. So I have never had to limit myself to shooting at ranges only, driving long distances or paying any fees.
Not only muzzleloading, but any outdoor interest, sport or hobby can be seriously inhibited if one cannot regularly partake in it.
I have read of the serious limitations gun owners and shooters have in some countries and quite frankly if I were faced with some of the restrictions I have read about and the limited shooting opportunities I might not shoot at all.
Bottom line is I believe part of the limited interest in muzzleloading is due to a dwindling interest and appreciation for history with younger people, less outdoor opportunities and considerably less 'generational' hand down of any outdoor sports or hobbies in general from parents to children.
As I said however in one of my first posts I was glad to read posts from those who are expressing interest and getting into muzzleloading and this has restored my faith in the sport and that it may not be 'dying off' as dramatically as I once thought!
While I am a new member here - I am not new to muzzleloading and am in the somewhat more 'mature' category !
There have been a lot of good opinions and ideas expressed about the interest in muzzleloading - some I have already thought about and considered and some entirely new to me and have made sense.
Personally I tend to believe one enters into a sport or hobby that relates to their lifestyle and interests.
With regard to muzzleloading everyone I know who is involved with it is typically very outdoors oriented and has an interest in history and traditional 'Americana' in general and muzzleloading is simply an 'extension' of this.
The movie 'Jeremiah Johnson' has been mentioned often and many of us in the 'age category' when the movie was made were no doubt influenced by it. Let's face it, the movie is a bit cornball in some ways but the important parts are the scenery, the clothing, the hunting scenes, the talk - are the aspects that appealed to us who 'identified' with the characters and in a way wanted to emulate them.
An important part of this is having a way to 'extend' this interest into a certain amount of 'reality'. For some (like myself) I have always had the outdoors close to me - minutes literally and vast amounts as well as in National Forests. So I have never had to limit myself to shooting at ranges only, driving long distances or paying any fees.
Not only muzzleloading, but any outdoor interest, sport or hobby can be seriously inhibited if one cannot regularly partake in it.
I have read of the serious limitations gun owners and shooters have in some countries and quite frankly if I were faced with some of the restrictions I have read about and the limited shooting opportunities I might not shoot at all.
Bottom line is I believe part of the limited interest in muzzleloading is due to a dwindling interest and appreciation for history with younger people, less outdoor opportunities and considerably less 'generational' hand down of any outdoor sports or hobbies in general from parents to children.
As I said however in one of my first posts I was glad to read posts from those who are expressing interest and getting into muzzleloading and this has restored my faith in the sport and that it may not be 'dying off' as dramatically as I once thought!