Maybe a Stupid Question??

[Rat]

Oh Swamp Rat...how could you dishonor the proud name of RAT with an INLINE!!!

:crackup:

In Washington state, there are separate ML, and modern-rifle seasons, and when you buy a deer tag for instance, if you want to hunt the ML season you get a ML deer tag. However, if you buy a modern rifle tag, you can use a ML during that season, but not visa-vera...can't use a modern rifle during ML season. And of course if you buy a modern tag, you can't then hunt the ML season with anything...but again can use the ML during modern rifle season. What I like is that if I want to hunt with friends that use modern firearms, I can get that tag, but still use my ML. And you can mix them up...get a Modern Rifle deer tag, but a ML Elk tag, or visa-versa.

Some animals are not ML or modern rifle specific. Bear is open to any firearm...so you just bear hunt with what you want. Same with Turkey...if you want to use a ML you can, but of course it would have to be a smooth bore, as turkey is open to shotguns only. Deer and Elk both have Archery, ML and Modern Rifle specific seasons with archery opening first, then closing, then ML, it closes and then Modern Rifle. During this late ML season, both deer and elk will be open at the same time, in many game management "units" or areas. The late ML seasons open up after the modern rifle elk and deer seasons have run out.

I have gone mostly ML for all my hunting...but since my other firearms interest is military surplus rifles, I did take a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 out one day for bear hunting. Other than that one day, I hunted bear, turkey, grouse and Elk with Bloody Bess during the early seasons. This late Elk season I will be taking my 1861 Springfield. Next year it will be the Jaeger for elk and deer...YEAH BABY!! Will probably sitll take Bess out for bear now and then, especially in the thick stuff.

I have really been having a blast hunting forest grouse with Bloody Bess since I got her.

I probably won't get rid of my three or four center fire modern hunting rifles...but they will be gathering a lot of dust in the future.

Rat

 

[Bill Bounds]

Great question:
I have been trying to convince myself to take the flinter out for buck this season. (also from PA). I'll have junior use the centerfire. He hasn't got a buck yet, and he still gets first crack at any buck we see anyway . And I doubt we'll be run down by herds of bucks, but as he is guttin the deer I can stand guard with my flintlock.
I'm takeing a walk tomorrow with the .45, I'll be after turkeys. Hopefully I can connect with a flock that will cooperate.
Bill

 

[Randal Zartman]

Coalkickin, First, great question as defined by all the responses. Second, which part of this great keystone state you from? Third, please, please, please update your member profile to include PA for your location so that the next time MM does one of those surveys PA still comes out on top as having the most members.
The only problem you will have in regular rifle season with a smokepole is all the congratulations from these guys around here when you tell us you made meat for the first time with you M/L. Buy the way, have you named it yet?
Zman

 

[Bill Bounds]

Hey Coalkicken:
Ya only have a few more days to get a turkey, depends on what part of the state tho, different areas-different end of hunting days. goes by WMU's Somes the 13th somes the 20th some have no fall turkey hunting and last but not least some are shotgun and bow only. Went out today, got a beauty of a stump, seen more deer than I did during early muzzleloader season.
Bill

 

[madstone]

I've used my ML's during regular season for years. I must confess I usually take the ctg gun along though. The main idea is not letting a wounded beast get away to suffer. The general rule seems to be you can use a more primitive weapon than the season demands but not other way. Some states have handicap/retiree arrangements to let old folks like me "fudge" some of the regs.

 

[KyFlintlock]

Heck yes! I took my 06 out once in the last 3 years and I felt like I was a cheatin' on my wife :winking:

I get so much more enjoyment out of the flintlock, even packin' it around gives me a rush.

...and you said that you REALLY want to take a deer with it. The best way to do that is hunt with it as much as possible.

GOOD LUCK
Wess