Should I go for a Muzzy General Buck Tag??
waspocrew
2/8/12 4:01pm
I've been toying with the idea of getting into muzzleloading , but I haven't really had to chance to mess with one much. I went scouting for elk on the opener for muzzy deer in what is now the Cache unit and I only ran into 2 hunters that morning... I'd rather take that crowd than the one I witnessed daily during the general rifle hunt.
Has anyone had decent success in the North region with a muzzy before? Also, I don't really know too much about them. What should I look for in a muzzle loader if I decide to purchase (assuming I draw the tag)? Any info would be great!
Has anyone had decent success in the North region with a muzzy before? Also, I don't really know too much about them. What should I look for in a muzzle loader if I decide to purchase (assuming I draw the tag)? Any info would be great!
28,771
I love the muzzy hunt... mid-week opener tends to decrease crowds a little bit, but it could just be that we're all wearing camo instead of hunter orange so it's tougher to notice! The weather is still good, perhaps a little too good the last two years. And the food is fantastic... but that's what I get for hunting with a brother that doesn't care about the hunting and loves to cook.
I personally shoot what most would consider a "budget gun," a Remington Genesis that I picked up a couple years back from Cabela's for $100. Since then budget guns have really turned south and have gotten uber cheap on the accessories (no fiber optic sights, plastic ram rod which makes a quick reload impossible). You're better off now looking at a price point a little higher, maybe closer to $200, or perusing the internet or gun shops for a used one.
Three make or break things (IMO) that I believe I've mentioned before:
1 - fiber optic sights. If you're going to shoot open sights and not buy a scope these are a must. My dad's "budget gun" (Timber Ridge from Cabela's) does not and he won't hunt with it. It will cost us ~$30 to get fiber optic sights put on it.
2 - aluminum ram rod (or whatever other metal). The Timber Ridge has a plastic ram rod that under the downward pressure of starting a bullet will bend and flex making loading impossible. Another ~$30 to get a decent ram rod for him.
3 - easy to clean. On my Genesis I back out the breech plug and start cleaning, but on the Timber Ridge you have to take apart the "action." I'm done cleaning and on my second plate of dinner (that my brother so graciously came back early and started cooking) and my dad is still trying to take apart his gun. Have the guys at the shop show you how to clean it or have a look at the owner's manual.
I never understood how guys could say that shooting a gun was fun... until I shot a smokepole (I now appreciate other firearms much more as well). I don't know how muzzy tags are going to be handled under the new system. In prior years muzzy tags came out the pile as rifle tags, I don't know if there will be designated muzzy tags now or if they will still all come from the same allotment.
I have a dedicated tag and before that I took my 2 boys hunting with the muzzy. They both tagged out each year we hunted muzzy. I have not tagged on the muzzleloader only because I have the rifle then the Achery extended hunt.
there are lots that think you need the most expesive weapon but really I would take a CVA wolf as a great begginers gun. easy to break down shoots 209 primers and you can take the breach plug out with yout fingers. best of all you can pick them up new for about 180.
here is a picture of my boys sunday morning bucks just so you knoow muzzy season opens on Weds. So they had been pushed a bit but we tagged both by 10:30am
this is a picture of my buddy and his son's first buck the same season. We took him out after school opening day. Just so you know he shot the small one in the group.
Good looking bucks One Hunting Fool. That last buck looks nice and heavy.
I use a Thompson Omega. It has a little higher price point, but I have been very happy with it. I got mine on sale for about $300 and switched out the rear sight for a peep. 2010 was the first year I hunted with it, but it was an absolute blast. We saw a lot of deer and everybody had opportunities. We saw a few other elk hunters, but not a single deer hunter. Hunted the same area this year with a rifle and ran into other hunters nearly every day.
The more I think about it, the more I get excited. It seems like a blast! I think I'm sold on it, so I'll be putting my application in soon!
Thanks for the replies and advice!
PM sent!