Whats Your Top Muzzleloader Hunt in the Lower 48

[Atfulldraw]

Howdy,

Would like to do a one or two week muzzleloader hunt next fall with my traditional equipment and possible in PC outfit. Multi-species would be a plus. Chances of drawing a tag are paramount (or OTC). Would like to do the hunt on my own (and a couple hunting buddies) -- without a guide.

Fewer people is more important than the success of the hunt -- up to a point. Not real particular on the type of critter and not real particular about having to do some work to get there and get a critter back out.

What is your favorite muzzleloader hunt? Given those parameters above what would you suggest I consider? Just fishing for info. Thanks and God Bless.

 

[RussB]

Atfulldraw...Welcome to the forum. From your name, I suspect you are a bow hunter...headed in the right direction.
Pull up a log and sit fer a spell.
It seems you may be looking for a "big game" extended hunt, and I can't offer any suggestion for your neck of the woods, However, I'm sure there are others here who can.

The Triejueao Ranch, pronounced tree-who-ho, in Northern New Mexico (Eagle Pass area) used to offer Muzzleloading "packages" for several weeks at a time, but that was some time back and I'm not sure they are still doing that. Try "googling" up Triejueao Ranch, or TJ Ranch.

Again, Welcome to the forum. :thumbsup: Some of the "official" fellers will be along directly and help you out.
Russ

 

[54ball]

Hello,
Alabama may be worth a look. We have the one most liberal bag limits of any where in the country for whitetail deer. This varys from region to region in the state. In the southern counties its 2 a day one of which can be an antlered buck. You can take 2 does or a buck and a doe a day from Nov.20 until Jan 31. This is regular gun season. Muzzleloading season is 11-15 to 11-19 2004. Bow season is 10-15-04 to 11-14-04. You can Bow and muzzleload hunt durring regular gun season. Rabbit and squirrel,Oct.1 til Feb.28.
Bag limits and season dates are different in the northern counties.
I think a good era hunt for you would be in the Bankhead National Forrest and the Black Warrior Management Area. The Sipsey Wilderness is located there and it is known for it's old and second growth forrest. For instance Big Tree Hollow in the Sipsey is named after a giant poplar tree. It was named by the Cherokees. Two 2 day muzzleloading hunts are scheaduled for this season on the BWWMA. This area includes the Sipsey. You cannot camp in the Sipsey durring deer hunt days. This is what I planned to do but never got around to it. Primitive camp in the Sipsey durring squirrel-rabbit season while in the woods scout for deer sign. When the deer days arrive move the camp to the designated campsights and hunt deer in the areas I scouted while rabbit-squirrel hunting the previous days. I cant see how anyone can deer hunt in the very middle of the Sipsey because no vehicles are allowed, you cant camp overnight, the terrain is rough and its 40 square miles. You cant walk it in a day much less hunt in the more remote middle. It would definately be a challenge. The link to the Alabama Game and fish is in the links section. Look under Wildlife Management Areas and National Forrest Lands. The Talledega National Forrest is also worth a look. Check em out.

 

You might also take a look at the North West. Idaho has one of the biggest wilderness areas in the lower 48.Mosy outfitters here do drop camps fly in or horse back. Don

 

[Randal Zartman]

Atfulldraw, I am kinda in the same boat as you. A thought, what about doing a test run near your favorite hunting spot or some other area closer to home. Then you could work out some bugs, make a checklist and maybe even find some good or not so good hunting partners for your next trip.
Zman

 

[Atfulldraw]

Test run would be a great idea, Plan to do that for a weekend down around the Hoosier National Forest. Public land in Indiana is more or less a joke though -- only 5% of Indiana is Publically owned and boy that Public Ground gets hammered -- tons of hunters. Thanks for all of the input so far. Hope to hear more from others.

::

 

[musketman]

Though not big game, I still like to hunt squirrels with muzleloaders...

Something about taking them with a smokepole just seems right...

 

[RussB]

Though not big game, I still like to hunt squirrels with muzleloaders...

Something about taking them with a smokepole just seems right...

:imo: you couldn't be righter! (how ya like that fer a word?) :crackup:

Other than my mind, I guess squirel hunting is what I miss[url] most.....Ain[/url]'t a lot of that in my little corner of the world, but the memories still hang around.
Squirrel hunting seems to be a "gentlemens" game, kinda laid back, easy going, a real leisure sport, and a real fun sport.
The days in life that are spent squirrel hunting are not held against you when it's time to tally the final score.

Russ

 

[Randal Zartman]

MM, I thought you had another post where that squirrel sitting on your roof was considered very big game? :hmm:
Zman

 

[musketman]

MM, I thought you had another post where that squirrel sitting on your roof was considered very big game? :hmm:
Zman

Depends on the size of the squirrel...

 

[Atfulldraw]

How much is that tag Musketman?

 

[shmrck1]

MM,
i agree with you on the squirrel hunt my main reason to hunt tree rats is to scout for deer. although i love to eat squirrel just as much venison :imo:
snake-eyes :m2c: eace: :thumbsup:

 

[RussB]

How much is that tag Musketman?

I would suppose "the tag" for a squirrel that big would weigh about 3 pounds, or close to it....... :crackup:

 

[musketman]

How much is that tag Musketman?

$1,000,000 deposit, if you survive through the hunt, you get it back... :crackup:

 

[Randal Zartman]

MM, okay you got my interest up. Let's see now :hmm:, I am going to need to borrow the $1,000,000. I will need an F-250 and a trailer to haul the 12 pounder cannon that I will need to borrow. I need the instructions from that other posting for gutting and skinning that there squirrel. Even in 4X4 dragging may be tough. Better plan on quartering or deboneing the meat. Note to self "save liver for LEJ". Need to contact NMLRA, this should surely get me in the record book, inline or not. Anybody know a good taxidermist/tipi maker? I think that skin ought to be big enough. Okay, I think I am ready. :youcrazy:
Zman