New York sees an increase in Muzzleloading Hunters as Early Season grows

The Oneida Daily Dispatch is reporting the kind of news we love to hear, an increase in muzzleloading hunters looking to take game this year. The five year average is 15,000 deer taken, but last year an increase of 2,000 for a total of 17,000.

An increasing number of northern zone hunters are enthusiastically taking advantage of this opportunity. A surprising number of hunters are successful in bagging a deer with a muzzleloader according to the annual DEC Deer Harvest Report. Last year New York’s hunters took nearly 17,000 deer by muzzleloaders, down slightly from the 2018 season but above the five year average of 15,000.

The blackpowder seasons in New York State are an outgrowth of the popularity of shooting primitive, muzzleloading firearms such as flintlock or percussion cap rifles that fire a single bullet propelled with black powder. During the Bi-centennial celebration in 1976 Bill Lloyd of Newport organized a group from Herkimer County to re-enact the march of the Tryon County Militia to relieve the siege of Fort Stanwix and the ensuing
Battle of Oriskany.

This event led to the formation of the New York State Muzzleloaders Association.

This organization and others successfully lobbied for the extra season privilege of those holding the muzzleloader tag. In the southern zone this season is held at the close of the regular firearms season in December.

In an age where many lament the number of muzzleloading enthusiasts, we can turn to data from the state game commissions like this in New York and see some factual data. I’m a firm believer that muzzleloading isn’t dying, people are enjoying it differently than we have in the past. These folks should be welcomed into the community with open arms, that’s the only way we can continue to grow the sport and the community.