Virginia DWR Announces Proposed Changes to Muzzleloader Hunting Seasons - 4VAC15-90-80
Joining several other states this year, Virginia has announced some possible changes to its muzzleloader hunting season. Changes are normal, and pop up every few years, but after reading, it is apparent that the fury of new products in the muzzleloading industry are behind the push for change.
You can read the list of proposed changes to the muzzleloader hunting season here.
You can view all of the proposed VA DWR hunting season changes here.
The proposed changes will be featured below with the editor’s comments in italics
4VAC15-90-80. Game: Deer. Muzzleloading gun hunting.
Summary
The proposal is to (i) make both the early and late muzzleloading seasons full season either-sex deer hunting on private lands in Augusta County, (ii) add one either-sex deer hunting day on private lands in Dickenson County during the early muzzleloading deer season, (iii) clarify that four different types of muzzleloading guns are legal during the muzzleloading deer season(s), (iv) change the minimum caliber for muzzleloading rifles from .45 to .40 caliber and (v) address the pending change to the Code of Virginia which would require that only the projectile be loaded from the muzzle for muzzleloading rifles and muzzleloading shotguns.
Proposed Language
Note: In the “Proposed Language” document, underlined text denotes proposed new language, while text with a strikethrough denotes language that is proposed to be deleted.
Rationale
Defining legal muzzleloading guns. In the past, section H of the muzzleloading gun hunting regulation has been assumed to apply only to muzzleloading rifles. However, the Code of Virginia allows for four different types of muzzleloading guns for deer hunting in Virginia. The proposed changes will clarify what types of muzzleloading guns are legal for deer hunting during the muzzleloading deer season(s) and describe any special restrictions.
Changing the minimum muzzleloading rifle caliber from 45 to 40 caliber. This is a technical change that is not a substantive change, because in fall 2017 the Department changed the single projectile (or sabot) size for muzzleloading rifles down to less than or equal to 35 caliber. This change will accommodate a new 40-caliber muzzleloading rifle that has just come on the market (https://cva.com/product- line/paramount-htr-rifle/).
Because it is referenced by the DWR, I looks like the Paramount HTR, CVA, and it’s parent company BPI Outdoors are behind this change in Virginia and other states around the country. 40 cal muzzleloaders are legal in 26/50 states as of writing. CVA is the largest, but not the only company releasing a .40 cal muzzleloader this year. Knight’s Peregrine will go toe to toe with the Paramount HTR for hunters’ attention this year.
With the VA DWR approving 35 cal equivalent projectiles being approved in 2017, I imagine this won’t see much pushback. I’m not sure how many hunters in Virginia will have enough space to use up the HTR’s 400+ yd capabilities, but more rights for hunters is a plus!
New FireStick Muzzleloading Technology/Rifle. If passed, 2021 House Bill 2298 (https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+sum+HB2298) changes the legal definition of a muzzleloading rifle and muzzleloading shotgun to note that only the projectile (or projectiles) has to be loaded from the muzzle of the gun. Previously, both the propellant and projectile had to be loaded from the muzzle of the gun. This change will make a new Federal FireStick technology (https://www.federalpremium.com/firestick.html) legal for muzzleloading rifles in Virginia (https://www.traditionsfirearms.com/category/nitrofire-muzzleloader-series) where the propellant is loaded from the rear of the barrel.
No doubt this is Traditions working on adding more states that can use the Nitro Fire to their portfolio. This new rifle caught the eye of many at SHOT Show 2019 and has been heavily promoted ever since. While it’s not been very popular among traditional muzzleloading enthusiasts, and many are tired of hearing about it, the Nitro Fire is serving as a great introductory tool to bring centerfire shooters into the muzzleloading community.
Indiana recently denied the use of the Nitro Fire in the muzzleloader season, but to our knowledge it can be used during the normal rifle season. The Nitro Fire Rifle, like many modern muzzleloaders in the last year, have been plagued by primer and powder shortages, leaving many hunters and shooters waiting for restocks. Being so new, the Federal Fire Stick, made with Hodgdon’s new “Triple 8” Powder seems to be low on the priority list when it comes to restocking over the last year. In good news though, the Fire Sticks have began to appear in stores and online as of April 2021.
These aren’t huge changes for muzzleloading hunters, and importantly they don’t limit muzzleloading enthusiasts rights when it comes to hunting with their muzzleloaders in Virginia. If you watch the hunting rules for many states, you’ll find similar, if not the exact boiler plate changes as CVA and Traditions work to make their new muzzle loaders legal to use in more states.
I for one, would be excited to see 40 caliber muzzleloaders become legal to hunt with, it would allow me to use my target flintlock for some hunting if I ever wanted to. Maybe a trip to Virginia is in my future!
