I want to note that I’m presenting this information in an unbiased manner with some personal thoughts on the state of muzzleloading in general towards the end of the article

Muzzleloading hunters in New Mexico will have to begin practicing with iron sights if they wish to hunt with their muzzleloaders next year. This week, the New Mexico Game Commission voted to ban scopes on muzzleloaders used in the New Mexico Muzzleloader seasons and tags. It should be noted that scoped, modern muzzleloaders are still allowed in the general firearms hunting seasons.

This is not a new shift in the muzzleloading community. Several Western States including Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Colorado have muzzleloader seasons that do not allow scopes or optics on their muzzleloaders. With this recent change in New Mexico, traditional muzzleloading enthusiasts are beginning to see more change in hunting regulation than anticipated.

As with any industry, the modern muzzleloading industry has advanced well past the ‘end’ of muzzleloading in the late 19th century. Modern manufacturing practices have crossed over into muzzleloader manufacturing since the mid 20th century and were popularized by Knight in 1985. Since, muzzleloading manufacturers like Traditions, CVA, and several smaller ‘custom’ shops around the country have pushed muzzleloading past it’s previous limits. Modern ‘inline’ muzzleloaders can indeed shoot toe to toe with modern center fire rifles, with the right shooter behind the trigger. Most recently, the CVA Paramount line boasts 400+ Yard shots, bringing ‘long range’ muzzleloading to a more budget conscious marksman.

This hasn’t been without pushback. Across the country, many ‘contemporary’ hunting seasons started as “muzzleloader only” because of the increased skill needed to shoot the “archaric” weapon system. My grandfather was drawn for the first Indiana Whitetail season many years ago and hunted with an original Civil War muzzleloading musket. Many muzzleloading enthusiasts still see this as the correct way for these seasons to be structured and lament the inclusion of ‘easier’ to use modern muzzleloaders. Often, the modification listed that makes hunting easier is the use of a scope. These same arugments were brought out during New Mexico’s discussion.

On the muzzleloader issue, the commission voted to approve a new, four-year  “manner and method” rule setting regulations on hunting equipment. It also gave final approval to rules governing elk and deer hunting. Earlier this year, it approved rules for pronghorn, bighorn sheep and exotic species.

All the rules specify that hunters in designated muzzleloader hunts may not use scope sights. Hunters may continue to use scoped muzzleloaders in “any-legal-weapon” hunts that are also open for use with centerfire rifles.

Stewart Liley, head biologist for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, told commissioners on Friday that recent improvements in muzzleloader technology have made the guns nearly as efficient as centerfire rifles. If the commission wanted to continue to allow the use of scoped muzzleloaders in designated muzzleloader seasons, he said the commission would have to reduce the number of permits it offers to avoid unsustainable losses to game herds.

“What we’re seeing biologically is that the harvest is going to be unsustainable,” Liley said of the prospect of continuing to allow scoped muzzleloaders during designated muzzleloader seasons.

Liley said he expects that loss of animals to wounding by muzzleloaders may decrease under the prohibition against scoped muzzleloaders. Although scopes allow hunters to hit animals at long range, he said the animals may not give any indication that they’ve been hit so hunters may not follow up all their shots.

The current issue of the New Mexico Hunting Rules and Information book describes the muzzleloader rules as follows:

Muzzleloader: Any sporting arm in which the charge andprojectile(s) are loaded through the muzzle. Only blackpowder, Pyrodex or equivalent blackpowdersubstitute may be used. Use of smokeless powder is prohibited. Scopes, sabots and in-line ignition may be used with muzzleloaders except during restricted muzzleloader deer hunts

Presumably, the only alteration we will see to this rule is something to the effect of “Scopes or telescopic sights may not be used on muzzleloaders”. Inline muzzleloaders, modern blackpowder substitutes, and blackpowder substitute pellets will still be allowed. This change does not make New Mexico’s muzzleloader season a “Traditional muzzleloader only” season.

I am not personally a resident or hunter in New Mexico and don’t have a ‘dog in the fight’ as it were, but I’m interested in the changes that we are seeing here because these changes have always been an option. I like to look at muzzleloading over the last several hundred years to see how much it has changed and how much our culture has changed around them. Change did stop with the invention of the wheellock, flintlock, caplock, or inline, the change is always happening whether we change to it or not. Thankfully, there is enough capacity out there for all of us to enjoy whichever muzzleloaders we choose- something many hobbies don’t have.

What we are seeing here is a state game commission reacting to that change and using the power they’ve always had to adjust the season based on the data they have, or are given.

Commissioner Roberta Salazar-Henry cast the lone votes against the change on muzzleloaders. She said she was dissatisfied with the game department’s public education efforts on the issue and said she was concerned that 17,000 muzzleloader hunters will find out next year that they don’t have a chance to use their scoped muzzleloaders anymore.

“On the other hand, I’m hearing that the elk population is growing all over the place,” Salazar-Henry said.

Already we are seeing traditional enthusiasts declaring victory and modern enthusiasts admitting they will need to change up their plans moving forward. Regardless of how you feel about it, change is change. Just like muzzleloaders change the laws and rules around hunting with them will change as well. I’m sure there will be some hunters opt to not remove their scopes and practice with irons and there will be some who do. Some will take their muzzleloader out during the rifle season, and some will sell them all together.

My hope is that we see continual growth in as much of the sport as we can, and that any animosity towards one another is quieted.

In the future, I think it would be interesting to have some more public data about the use of different kinds of muzzleloaders. How many hunters will this affect? Will we be able to see how it changes the method of take for New Mexico hunters over the next 2 years? The next 5 years? Information like this could be deduced from the game population data, but more accurate information would be nice to see. As much as I support all aspects of muzzleloading as a gateway to connecting with traditional skills and American History, I do wonder just how many hunters are taking these ‘infamous’ 800 yard shots at game with their rifles. Any insight is appreciated and welcome!

It was noted that the game deparment director has authority to provide reasonable accommodation to hunters with documented vision issues, but no accommodations were mentioned or discussed in the meeting.

Is this part of a nationwide trend as we ‘return to tradition’, or is it a predicted rule change as the population of game changes? As always, I’m interested in hearing what you think. Shoot me an email and let’s discuss.

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