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New Mexico has proposed a change to the definition of muzzleloaders to be without a scope. The comment period is open, and I'd love it if you'd comment. The web addresses are [email protected],[email protected], [email protected]. Please feel free to comment.
Below is what I sent in to NM Game & Fish:
The success rate for muzzleloaders has gone up consistently with the new technologies coming out with better rifles, powders, and ignition systems, and you want to lower that success rate. I am o.k. with that although is seems inconsistent with the increase in elk population.
Your proposed solution is to not allow scopes on muzzleloaders. This is going to make it very hard for older hunters with declining eyesight to hunt with muzzleloaders. I tried open sights on my javelina gun, and I wasn’t accurate much past 50 yards. Peep sights help, but won’t solve the problem, and peep sights aren’t effective in low light situations.
There are many other ways to decrease muzzleloader harvest that don’t punish older hunters. Baby boomers are the biggest population group, and this change will weed us out of hunting earlier than necessary. I am 68, and don't know how much longer I can hunt. I know I can't shoot open sights, so this year may be my last year. I hunt with a muzzleloader because I can draw a tag.
Scope technology hasn’t changed, rifle design, powders, and ignition systems have. High velocity and high B.C. bullets are what allow hunters to kill at long range with muzzleloaders. Options 2-8 below would all lower hunting ranges, and reduce the kill rate. Any of these options are preferable to what you have proposed.
I also recommend that the youth hunts should include anyone who is still a student at a NM college, and should be longer to accomodate not being able to take off from school.
Below is what I sent in to NM Game & Fish:
The success rate for muzzleloaders has gone up consistently with the new technologies coming out with better rifles, powders, and ignition systems, and you want to lower that success rate. I am o.k. with that although is seems inconsistent with the increase in elk population.
Your proposed solution is to not allow scopes on muzzleloaders. This is going to make it very hard for older hunters with declining eyesight to hunt with muzzleloaders. I tried open sights on my javelina gun, and I wasn’t accurate much past 50 yards. Peep sights help, but won’t solve the problem, and peep sights aren’t effective in low light situations.
There are many other ways to decrease muzzleloader harvest that don’t punish older hunters. Baby boomers are the biggest population group, and this change will weed us out of hunting earlier than necessary. I am 68, and don't know how much longer I can hunt. I know I can't shoot open sights, so this year may be my last year. I hunt with a muzzleloader because I can draw a tag.
Scope technology hasn’t changed, rifle design, powders, and ignition systems have. High velocity and high B.C. bullets are what allow hunters to kill at long range with muzzleloaders. Options 2-8 below would all lower hunting ranges, and reduce the kill rate. Any of these options are preferable to what you have proposed.
- Fewer tags. Not my first choice.
- Outlaw in-line muzzleloaders.
- Outlaw 209, Rifle, and Pistol primers. Require musket caps or #10 or #11 caps.
- Outlaw Blackhorn 209 and 777 powder.
- Require bullets to be 350 gr. or more (this would reduce loss of wounded elk)
- Require lead only bullets.
- Require full bore bullets.
- Outlaw bullets more than 1.25 times bore diameter.
- Require flat point bullets.
I also recommend that the youth hunts should include anyone who is still a student at a NM college, and should be longer to accomodate not being able to take off from school.