From the Field - Muzzleloader Regulations

By Jim Lukens - Idaho Department of Fish and Game Most of our any-weapon elk hunting is winding down but some units offer late muzzleloader-only opportunity. Consequently our office is receiving many questions about what constitutes a muzzleloader. Basically Fish and Game offers three opportunities to use a muzzleloader: any-weapon hunts, short-range weapon hunts and muzzleloader-only hunts. These are for rifles or muskets; no muzzle-loading handguns are allowed in any big game hunt except for mountain lions. In any-weapon hunts, the muzzleloader must comply with the same restrictions that apply to any centerfire weapon. These can be found on page 65 of the big game rules. In addition, the muzzleloader must be at least .45 caliber for deer, pronghorn or mountain lion and at least .50 caliber for bighorn sheep, elk, moose, mountain goat or black bear. No muzzleloader validation is required to use a muzzleloader in an any-weapon hunt. Muzzleloaders that comply with the above restrictions can also be used in short-range-weapon hunts. Again, no muzzleloader validation is required to use a muzzleloader in a short-range-weapon hunt. In muzzleloader-only hunts, the hunter must have a muzzleloader validation and the weapon must adhere to a number of requirements designed to maintain the primitive nature of the weapon, including:

• Capable of being loaded only from the muzzle.
• Equipped with only open or peep sights. Scopes and any electronics are prohibited.
• Loaded only with loose black powder, loose Pyrodex, or other loose synthetic black powder.
• Pellitized powders are prohibited.
• Equipped with a single or double barrel.
• Loaded with a projectile that is within .010 inch of the bore diameter. Sabots are prohibited.
• Loaded with a patched round ball or conical non-jacketed projectile comprised wholly of lead or lead alloy.
• Equipped only with a flint, percussion cap or musket cap; 209 primers are prohibited.
• Equipped with an ignition system in which any portion of the cap is exposed or visible when the weapon is cocked and ready to fire.

Anyone with questions about any of these restrictions, may bring their equipment to a Fish and Game office where staff can tell whether it complies with the rules. Also available are handouts with color photos that explain these regulations. Late muzzleloader-only elk hunts can be an enjoyable experience considering hunter numbers are low, and animals can be concentrated at lower elevations because of the winter weather. Jim Lukens is the regional supervisor for the Salmon Region.