Michigan's improved ML regulations

[petemi]

Until a couple of years back, Michigan had a minimum .44 cal restriction in place. It quitely disappeared about two years ago. It was ridiculous. My .44 cap and ball revolvers won't shoot through both sides of a 55 gallon drum, while my .32 cal. rifle loaded with 75gr FFF and a 103 gr. cast bullet shoots much like my old .30-30. I have always wanted to take a deer with the .32, now that it is legal, all I have to do is wait for the perfect, close in, no pilot error shot.

 

[Russianblood]

Even a 103gr bullet backed by 75gr powder won't have much energy beyond 25yds. Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. Is the .32 cal the only ML rifle you have? What kind is it?

 

[petemi]

hawkeye, you're absolutely correct. That's why it has been 2 years without taking the shot. I have a .45 Seneca, 2 .50 Hawken caplocks, 1 .50 Hawken flintlock, a .50 Kentucky pistol and a 54 Hawken caplock in addition to the .32 Cherokee. I'm 66 years old and I have taken deer with all of them, except the .32.

Run the 103gr cone and 75gr FFF through the chronograph. You'll be surprised. It doesn't drop off half as fast as a round ball.

 

[Russianblood]

I can understand wanting to take a deer with it but when it comes to muzzleloaders, cronographs are about worthless. Ballisticly speaking, a round ball stinks but we all know they are very effective.

Shooting a deer with a .32 muzzleloader is the equivalent of shooting one with a 22 rimfire magnum. It will kill them but it's not the best choice. Keep it to 25yds or less and aim for the head and you should be OK. I personally would stick to squirrels ,rabbits and woodchucks with a .32 though. Just my humble opinion.

 

[Flint311]

I understand your feeling. I have a Pedersoli (.36) I wanted to take 2 years ago, but couldn't get the patch regulated well. Switched to homemade flintlocks in a .45 and .50 instead. My feeling on the new regs. were that anyone that shot a muzzleloader got a commercial one, usually for deer as a season extender (.45 cal or more). Anyone that had anything less, knew what they were doing and would/wouldn't use it for deer. I've known of one guy that used a .36 in the UP, cause in the cedar swamps, you only shot 20 yds.
At the time, there was talk of having a flintlock season, in October, anything new about that? Haven't heard in a while.

 

[d slocum]

when did you hear about the flintlock season? i would like to see ml season put back to what it was ment to be.

 

[petemi]

I hven't heard anything about a flint season, but I wrote the DNR a letter about it two years ago requesting one. They are pumped up on deer herd management and finances you think they'd welcome the extra harvest and the revenue. I'd be willing to buy an additional tag. I never got a reply.

I get private land and management antlerless tags, so it isn't a question of getting deer, it boils down to when and wth what. I wouldn't mind a late season, even after muzzleloader. The deer have migrated down from the Lake Superior region, there are lots of good bucks around, the air is dry, even if it is snowing, and the flinters work well.

We have a three month archery season, you'd think they could spare two weeks somewhere to run concurrently.

 

[Flint311]

I used to subscribe to a little internet email service about hunting, etc. in Michigan. The site has since gone under (much like the economy in MI). The guy I had talked to was working with a CO and some higher ups to bring it together. I'd look up the email, but don't have that computer anymore. That was the last I heard. A season like this would have made perfect sense IMHO. Maybe with the budget cuts, etc. they can't put the $$ into researching it (?).

 

[Russianblood]

The reason Michigan dropped the .44 cal or larger rule was to accommodate the in-lines. A .45 cal in-line uses a bullet that is below .44 caliber.

I would love to see a flintlock only season run concurrently with bow season. Heck, those bows with training wheels shoot just as accurate at 50yds as my smoothies do! Maybe they should make bow season doe only unless you apply for a "buck permit". :hmm:

 

[petemi]

Great idea. I bow hunt too, but I feel the season is too long and a lot of the good bucks are taken out early...a lot of them just wounded by people who won't take time to learn their own and their weapon's capabilities and limitations. Our wolves and coyotes eat pretty well around here in the fall.

 

[Ron LaClair]

I would love to see a flintlock only season run concurrently with bow season.

I would like to see a flintlock season in Michigan also, but not to run concurrently with bow season. If it was during the last week or so of the month of December then yes.

Michigan is BIG on bowhunting with traditional archery gear. There's THREE Traditional Bow Hunting organizations in the state.

#1 Michigan Longbow Association
#2 Michigan Traditional Bow Hunters
#3 Compton Traditional Bow Hunters, which is a National organization based in Michigan.

On top of that there's the Michigan BowHunters Organization founded in 1946. These bowhunting groups are STRONG guardians for bow hunting in Michigan and would never allow a black powder season in with the bow season.

These groups will be represented this month at the annual Traditional Archery Expo on January 25-27 at the Kalamazoo Fair Grounds (same place they have the Living History Black powder event in March.

 

[Ron LaClair]

Like I said, I'd love to have a flintlock season in Michigan but I know what would happen if we had one.....other Muzzleloaders , caplocks and INLINES would start whining and want to hunt then too. It happened with the regular BP season and it'd happen again. :cursing:

 

[petemi]

I may be wrong, please correct me if I am, but as I recall, the old .44 cal. restriction was on bore size, not bullet size.

 

[Flint311]

I agree with the remarks about the inline crowd.

PS-Can't wait 'til the K'zoo Show in March. It's been a couple years, but I'd like to get back there for parts and supplies!

 

[Poor Private]

Flint,
Last years show was kinda sparse (about 3/4) on vendors and customers. This is what i WAS TOLD ANYWAY--Last year the dad said he was tired of presenting the show and was discountining it. So alot of the vendors found other places. Next a son said wait a minute I can do this and sent out the press releases and and the invites. So I look forward to a bigger and better event this year. I already have my moola saved up!

 

[Ron LaClair]

Last years show was kinda sparse (about 3/4) on vendors and customers. This is what i WAS TOLD ANYWAY-

PP Somebodys :bull: 'in you, I've been going to that show since it started back in the 70's. Last years show was NOT sparse. I bought a hand made wood folding chair to have something to sit on and rest my old feet. It took me several hours and many $$ to get through the three big rooms and see all the stuff and buy what I needed.

Here's some of the stuff I bought.

 

[lonedave]

Pete

A little of topic, but it's nice to see a familiar name once in a while. I still have the Cherokee you sold me a couple of years ago and managed to find a steal of a price on a NIB .32 barrel for it. It's a great little gun.

Dave

 

[Flint311]

I had heard there were problems like Poor Private said, but I'm glad that's not the case! I figured if I didn't go and many like me, there's no reason for vendors to either, so this year I'd really like to make the 'pilgrimage'. Have a son's birthday to deal with, but may be a good time for a father-n-son type thing :thumbsup: . I've got to ease them into some things, but so far it's working well :grin: . Starts with a trip to a "Tandy Leather" store (they say "Indian store"), then ask if they want to see more? :grin: :grin: