is it worth it??

Question

is black powder guns worth hunting with??i don't think they are ...what do you think??

Answer 1

I've hunted with black powder rifles for a lot of years. I really enjoy the challenge of the hunt, the simplicity of the equipment, and the feeling of history that comes with it.

Answer 2

Sure. For deer, as an example, you actually have to hunt them and not just snipe from the next county, but that's what an ethical hunter wants to do anyway. And that big slow chunk of lead is actually more effective at short range than modern spitzers in small-bores. You give something up, you gain something else. Plus there's the extra time in the woods. I even still use real primitive weapons, though at my age I've moved on to a peep sight with my eyes not wanting to focus with regular iron sights. The only thing I really miss is the easy clean-up afterwards. I feel much like cpttango.

Answer 3

I think that it takes a person with a certain mindset, integrity and courage to venture into the woods with a single shot, black powder weapon in search of big game. Frankly, the thought of facing down a 400 pound bear, for example, with only this type of weapon, both frightens and excites me. I've never tried it and I'm not sure I'd care to. But it's an ancient and time honored form of hunting. I envy those who do it.

Answer 4

Depends on you purpose. Where we have land in Pike Co. Illinois, we were taking 7-10 deer a year there. My brother-in-law and I were usually the only ones to butcher since we are both basically retired. We also felt we were taking way too many deer, other than the logistics hassle of butchering.

Both my bro in law and I decided to cut the "production " down a little by using muzzleloaders. (Hawken knock-offs)

It has made the desired affect. We have both taken deer but less and it makes us take our shots more carefully. The rest of the lads are still using shotguns so we have plenty of butchering but only about 6 instead of 9 to do.

( Not to mention we are old farts and like old timey ways)( even start our camp fires with flint and steel)

Answer 5

i live in maryland and all we can hunt w/ is archery, blackpowder, and shotguns. i hunted w/ a muzzle loader for 6 years until this year. they are such a pain in the ***. u are constantly cleaning and unloading them, and when you shoot at an animal you cant even see if you hit it because of the plume of smoke. i bought a 12 ga. 11-87 slug gun last summer and on opening day i killed a 140 class 8 pt, my biggest buck ever and only buck taken with a gun. i hate muzzle loaders. they are so hiped up but they suck. the only reason i tried one in the first place is for the extended black powder season.

Answer 6

My black powder gun is a replica .44 Remington New Army percussion revolver. I haven't gotten that deer with it yet, but it has accounted for several smaller animals.

Shooting it is a ball. I just hate the cleaning part.

Answer 7

Now do you mean primitive black powder or in-lines?

I love hunting with both of them. I always take them out at least once in the snow for nostalgia's sake.

Answer 8

If you are going out with a breach lock or flint lock or other type of firearm made to operate like historic firearms I am all for it. I for one think muzzloader season is null and void when you get a bunch of city folks spending $900 on the super mag in line muzzel loader shooting shotgun primers and 150gr of black powder and using sabot rounds shooting high end hunting bullets all topped off with $1500 of Tactical rifle scope. You should be limited to cloth patch and either round balls or maxi balls made of lead or a nontoxic lead replacement.

In-lines are taking away the sport in black powder hunting.

Answer 9

In Arkansas the bow hunters and black powder folks get the woods before all the crazy city folks come out and spook everything by shooting modern guns all day and night. So yeah, its worth it.

Answer 10

In my state you can start hunting several days earlier with a muzzle loader than with a rifle.