Post by Decatur on Oct 9, 2006 12:43:11 GMT -5
Legislative Watch
Which State Has The Worst Muzzleloader Hunting Regulations In The Nation?
Well, it's that time of year again to see what kind of idiotic thinking within some game departments continues to keep serious muzzleloading hunters somewhat oppressed. Fortunately, the list of backward and discriminatory muzzleloader hunting regulations tends to slowly shrink with each new season, and there have been a few small changes in several states that could lead to even bigger changes within the next couple of years. Rest assured that whatever performance-positive changes that have been made to muzzleloader restrictions, they were forced by the muzzleloading hunters within the state to do so. Simply put, game departments do not show the willingness nor the expertise to make such changes on their own.
Beginning this year, HIGH PERFORMANCE MUZZLELOADING has decided to recognize the state game department with the absolute worst muzzleloader hunting regulations in the Nation with a special award - "The Limber Ramrod Award".
And in the running for the 2006 award were two state game departments - the Colorado Division of Wildlife...and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
SCOPES - Neither state permits the use of telescopic rifle sights (scopes). In Colorado and Oregon, the muzzleloading hunter MUST use only "Open Sights" (which include aperature "peep" sights). Oregon's regulations goes a step further, making it illegal to even use fiber-optic open sights. In fact, the muzzleloading hunter here could take a Coke or Pepsi can, use a pair of scissors and whack out a crude front blade and simple rear notch sight...use a little duct tape and attach these to the barrel...and the sights would be welcomed with open arms by the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. But not a set of quality fiber-optic sights that can be easily seen in dark timber.
PROJECTILES - Neither Colorado or Oregon permits the use of modern saboted bullets, although hunters across the country have proven them far more accurate and effective than simple pure lead round balls or bore-sized conical bullets. Since this time last year, Colorado has taken out of their muzzleloader regulations the requirement that a bore-sized concial bullet has to be less than twice its diameter in length. (Or, if they still have the restriction, they've hidden it real well.) Oregon still has this ludicrous requirement on their books. Additionally, the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife DOES NOT permit the use of a bore-size concial bullet that utilizes a plastic base, such as the CVA "Power Belt" or the Harvester Muzzleloading "Saber Tooth".
POWDER - Neither Colorado or Oregon permits the use of pelletized powder. ONLY loose grain black powder or a recognized black powder substitute may be used.
IGNITION - While Colorado permits the use of closed-action, primer ignited in-line rifles, Oregon does not. No closed ignition rifles, such as the T/C Encore or Knight Revolution, are permitted during the Oregon muzzleloader seasons/hunts.
Overall, the hunting regulations in these two states are extremely complicated and next to impossible to comprehend. And as poor as the muzzleloading hunting regulations are in each of these states, you can see that the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife is far more restrictive than the Colorado Division of Wildlife. And for that reason we sadly award them the 2006 HIGH PERFORMANCE MUZZLELOADING "Limber Ramrod Award". And as the first runner up, the Colorado Division of Wildlife recieves only the tip.
While sorting out the "do's" and "don't's" of muzzleloading in these two states, we came across a center-fire rifle requirement in Colorado that we would love to see imposed on muzzle-loaded rifles as well. That requirement states that, in order to be legal for big game, a modern center-fire rifle MUST retain a minimum of 1,000 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards. Now, if the questionable professional game managers within this department were to impose the same restriction on muzzleloaders, it would basically eliminate the use of patched round ball rifles...and take the Colorado State Muzzleloading Association purists out of the regulation making equation. Like it or not, this is the group of traditional muzzleloading shooters (and a few hunters) who keep the muzzleloader hunting regulations in this state less than what they should be.
Other contenders for the 2006 "Limber Ramrod Award" were the Idaho Game & Fish and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Neither of these departments permit the use of a scope or primer ignition rifles. And, like Oregon, Washington's game department requires the use of an "open ignition system" that subjects a standard percussion cap to the elements. And in this part of the country, the weather is known to be extremely damp.
Change in current muzzleloading regulations in Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Oregon is way past due. These game departments are totally out of touch with muzzleloading today, and decision makers within these states are not practicing sound game management. - Toby Bridges, HIGH PERFORMANCE MUZZLELOADING
Today's performance minded muzzleloading hunter wants to down game as quickly and humanely as possible - Oregon and Colorado muzzleloading regulations prohibit that.
Neither Oregon or Colorado permit the use of saboted bullets, even though millions of muzzleloading hunters nationwide have proven they are the most effective choice.
For best performance and consistent ignition, loose grain Triple Seven must be compacted when loaded. Yet, "pre compacted" pellets are not allowed in Colorado or Oregon. Just another POOR muzzleloading regulation.
A "belted" bullet, such as the Harvester ML "Saber Tooth" can be used in Colorado since the base is not a sabot. Oregon regulations make such bullets illegal.
Last year, the Colorado ML regulations prohibited using a long conical bullet, which was more than twice its diameter in length. Oregon still does not allow this very traditional projectile.
The Following States Still Do Not Permit The Use Of Magnifying Optical Sights (Scopes) During The Muzzleloader Seasons - Even Though The Average Age Of Today's Big Game Hunter Is Now In The Late 40s, When The Eyes No Longer See Open Sights Well Enough For Precise Shot Placement. It Is Time Top Put An End To Such Discrimination! If You Feel Discriminated Against By Your Game Department - File A Law Suit. It's Time They Knew We Are Serious.
ALASKA
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
GEORGIA
IDAHO
KANSAS
MINNESOTA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NORTH DAKOTA
OREGON
SOUTH DAKOTA
UTAH
WASHINGTON
WISCONSIN
If You Have Any Comments, E-mail Us At: toby@hpmuzzleloading.com
Published 7-14-06
Which State Has The Worst Muzzleloader Hunting Regulations In The Nation?
Well, it's that time of year again to see what kind of idiotic thinking within some game departments continues to keep serious muzzleloading hunters somewhat oppressed. Fortunately, the list of backward and discriminatory muzzleloader hunting regulations tends to slowly shrink with each new season, and there have been a few small changes in several states that could lead to even bigger changes within the next couple of years. Rest assured that whatever performance-positive changes that have been made to muzzleloader restrictions, they were forced by the muzzleloading hunters within the state to do so. Simply put, game departments do not show the willingness nor the expertise to make such changes on their own.
Beginning this year, HIGH PERFORMANCE MUZZLELOADING has decided to recognize the state game department with the absolute worst muzzleloader hunting regulations in the Nation with a special award - "The Limber Ramrod Award".
And in the running for the 2006 award were two state game departments - the Colorado Division of Wildlife...and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
SCOPES - Neither state permits the use of telescopic rifle sights (scopes). In Colorado and Oregon, the muzzleloading hunter MUST use only "Open Sights" (which include aperature "peep" sights). Oregon's regulations goes a step further, making it illegal to even use fiber-optic open sights. In fact, the muzzleloading hunter here could take a Coke or Pepsi can, use a pair of scissors and whack out a crude front blade and simple rear notch sight...use a little duct tape and attach these to the barrel...and the sights would be welcomed with open arms by the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. But not a set of quality fiber-optic sights that can be easily seen in dark timber.
PROJECTILES - Neither Colorado or Oregon permits the use of modern saboted bullets, although hunters across the country have proven them far more accurate and effective than simple pure lead round balls or bore-sized conical bullets. Since this time last year, Colorado has taken out of their muzzleloader regulations the requirement that a bore-sized concial bullet has to be less than twice its diameter in length. (Or, if they still have the restriction, they've hidden it real well.) Oregon still has this ludicrous requirement on their books. Additionally, the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife DOES NOT permit the use of a bore-size concial bullet that utilizes a plastic base, such as the CVA "Power Belt" or the Harvester Muzzleloading "Saber Tooth".
POWDER - Neither Colorado or Oregon permits the use of pelletized powder. ONLY loose grain black powder or a recognized black powder substitute may be used.
IGNITION - While Colorado permits the use of closed-action, primer ignited in-line rifles, Oregon does not. No closed ignition rifles, such as the T/C Encore or Knight Revolution, are permitted during the Oregon muzzleloader seasons/hunts.
Overall, the hunting regulations in these two states are extremely complicated and next to impossible to comprehend. And as poor as the muzzleloading hunting regulations are in each of these states, you can see that the Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife is far more restrictive than the Colorado Division of Wildlife. And for that reason we sadly award them the 2006 HIGH PERFORMANCE MUZZLELOADING "Limber Ramrod Award". And as the first runner up, the Colorado Division of Wildlife recieves only the tip.
While sorting out the "do's" and "don't's" of muzzleloading in these two states, we came across a center-fire rifle requirement in Colorado that we would love to see imposed on muzzle-loaded rifles as well. That requirement states that, in order to be legal for big game, a modern center-fire rifle MUST retain a minimum of 1,000 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards. Now, if the questionable professional game managers within this department were to impose the same restriction on muzzleloaders, it would basically eliminate the use of patched round ball rifles...and take the Colorado State Muzzleloading Association purists out of the regulation making equation. Like it or not, this is the group of traditional muzzleloading shooters (and a few hunters) who keep the muzzleloader hunting regulations in this state less than what they should be.
Other contenders for the 2006 "Limber Ramrod Award" were the Idaho Game & Fish and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Neither of these departments permit the use of a scope or primer ignition rifles. And, like Oregon, Washington's game department requires the use of an "open ignition system" that subjects a standard percussion cap to the elements. And in this part of the country, the weather is known to be extremely damp.
Change in current muzzleloading regulations in Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Oregon is way past due. These game departments are totally out of touch with muzzleloading today, and decision makers within these states are not practicing sound game management. - Toby Bridges, HIGH PERFORMANCE MUZZLELOADING
Today's performance minded muzzleloading hunter wants to down game as quickly and humanely as possible - Oregon and Colorado muzzleloading regulations prohibit that.
Neither Oregon or Colorado permit the use of saboted bullets, even though millions of muzzleloading hunters nationwide have proven they are the most effective choice.
For best performance and consistent ignition, loose grain Triple Seven must be compacted when loaded. Yet, "pre compacted" pellets are not allowed in Colorado or Oregon. Just another POOR muzzleloading regulation.
A "belted" bullet, such as the Harvester ML "Saber Tooth" can be used in Colorado since the base is not a sabot. Oregon regulations make such bullets illegal.
Last year, the Colorado ML regulations prohibited using a long conical bullet, which was more than twice its diameter in length. Oregon still does not allow this very traditional projectile.
The Following States Still Do Not Permit The Use Of Magnifying Optical Sights (Scopes) During The Muzzleloader Seasons - Even Though The Average Age Of Today's Big Game Hunter Is Now In The Late 40s, When The Eyes No Longer See Open Sights Well Enough For Precise Shot Placement. It Is Time Top Put An End To Such Discrimination! If You Feel Discriminated Against By Your Game Department - File A Law Suit. It's Time They Knew We Are Serious.
ALASKA
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
GEORGIA
IDAHO
KANSAS
MINNESOTA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NORTH DAKOTA
OREGON
SOUTH DAKOTA
UTAH
WASHINGTON
WISCONSIN
If You Have Any Comments, E-mail Us At: toby@hpmuzzleloading.com
Published 7-14-06
