Published: October 04, 2008 11:59 pm         

Md.’s early muzzleloader hunt is what you make it

We have it in our sights now, Maryland’s early muzzleloader season for deer.

In talking with hunters, as I do, it isn’t uncommon for one or more of them to tell me that the early blackpowder hunt is the highlight of their hunting year.

I understand what they are saying.

The first such hunt was conducted in 1994. Its proposal generated a bit of controversy. Busloads of bow hunters traveled from throughout Maryland to attend a raucous meeting in Mount Savage at which questions were asked and answered about the hunt. There was a lot of yelling.

Archers were concerned that people with smokepoles would take out the biggest and the best bucks before the rut happened. Not only would that keep them from using bows and arrows to hunt those same bucks during the rut, they said, but it would kill the bucks before the animals had a chance to procreate, thus reducing the next generation of deer.

Those arguments were made when muzzleloaders were still basically the kind that used loose powder and roundballs and had accurate ranges out to 50 yards... maybe. There were no inline, black powder rifles yet, though it wouldn’t be long before Remington introduced its bolt-action inline.

Then we rode a regulatory see-saw during which scopes were made legal and then outlawed and then made legal again.

Things seem to have settled down now. There have been no outcries from certain user groups claiming that the early hunt is the ruination of the deer herds. There have been no prohibitions against certain kinds of equipment, even though the new muzzleloaders are as effective as a single-shot, centerfire long gun.

I know I very much enjoy hunting with my Ruger 77/50 and the 3x9 Swift scope that sits atop it, though the rifle is a pain to clean. This summer I patterned Powerbelt’s 295-grain, hollow-point bullets and was astounded by the accuracy.

I use only 100 grains of powder in the form of two Pyrodex pellets. Because of the results that combination has generated, I have never felt the need to shoot 150 grains of powder as many riflemen do.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Unless we get one of those rainy three-day spells that sometimes takes place in October, the early muzzleloader hunt can be a Nirvana of a deer experience with its warm afternoons, colored leaves and top rate expectations.

I agree with a lot of bowhunters who say they see a lot of bucks in September, a lot of bucks in November, and hardly any bucks in the in-between month, which is October.

Thus, muzzleloader hunting during the early season is no sure-fire thing. As those who opposed the hunt at its beginning have learned, bagging a big buck with powder and ball in October is not all that easy.

During last year’s early hunt, there were 464 deer taken in Allegany County, 295 of which were bucks. The numbers in Garrett County were 571 total and 328 bucks.

Like all other deer hunting regulations in Region A (Garrett and Allegany counties) the rules for this hunt are more restrictive than the rest of the state.

This year the hunt takes place Oct. 16-18, a Thursday through Friday.

Out here in Almost Maryland, we have two sets of rules, one set for public land and one set for private land.

Let’s look at public land, places such as state forests and wildlife management areas. On those parcels, a hunter may shoot only an antlered deer.

On private land, a hunter may shoot any deer.

Only one deer is allowed in the bag during the early hunt in Region A. Us mountain folk are allowed another deer with muzzleloader during the December hunt, for a season total of two. One must be a buck and one must be a doe.

Compare that with Region B.

Region B hunters have a lot more early muzzleloader hunting. From Oct. 16-18, they may take only one buck. But can shoot up to 10 antlerless deer.

From Oct. 20-25, only hunting for antlerless deer is allowed.

In fact, if you take a look at all the seasons (bow, muzzleloader, modern firearm), you will see that Region B hunters are allowed to kill 36 deer, up to six of which may be bucks.

There is no differentiation of the rules between public and private lands in Region B.

So, as you can see, you can sort of pick and choose in Maryland to create the kind of early muzzleloader season that fits your fancy.

You can go for a lone-wolf day on a steep slope of public land in Garrett County, watching the hickories get a little more golden and the squirrels scurry in pre-winter mode. Or, you could head to the farmlands of Region B, say Washington or Frederick counties and, with appropriate permission from the landowner of course, whack and stack enough deer to supply your family and the neighbors with venison for the winter.

I’m figuring on trying for a buck on Thursday and Friday. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll go with the first adult deer I see on Saturday.

Horns make lousy soup.

Contact Outdoor Editor Mike Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.