Keeping in line with increased hunting numbers across the country, North Carolina is reporting that the 2020-2021 deer harvest was up 9.1%.

Most deer were harvested with a gun, 76.9%, 9.7% with blackpowder.

While the overall amount of deer taken in 20-21 was up, the amount taken with muzzleloaders was down. The 2019-2020 season reported 10.9% of deer taken were with a muzzleloader.

Does this mean less people are hunting with muzzleloaders?

This is totally opinion here, but I don’t think so. 2020 saw some serious supply shortages in the muzzleloading industry. If you were the type of hunter to buy supplies a few weeks before the season, sight in and go hunt, you were probably out of luck when it came to buying supplies.

Maybe, with the increase in the number of deer taken, there was an increase in hunters in the field. This could have pushed the deer a bit harder, keeping them on their toes across public and private land.

Could the center fire season affect muzzleloaders?

Not in North Carolina. From the looks of the North Carolina Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Digest, the muzzleloading/blackpowder season comes directly after archery, and BEFORE the modern firearms season. A really great deal for muzzleloading hunters in the state.

So, over all it’s great to see an increase in hunters in North Carolina. The taxes on supplies and licensing fees benefit sportsmen around the state. While muzzleloading numbers are slightly down over last year, I don’t think it’s an indication of the health of muzzleloading in the state. Muzzleloading around the country is becoming increasingly popular and that’s something we can get behind.

-I Love Muzzleloading