5 Tips for Muzzleloader Efficiency & Effectiveness
It’s nearly 10:00am on day 2 of your 4 day hunting trip. You’ve been in your set up since 6:00am. You are tired, cold and your focus is running on fumes as you drift in and out of a nap you desperately want to take. But better judgment prevails as you can’t stand the thought of a deer walking by while you sleep.
As if out of nowhere, finally a deer! First a small spike horn buck emerges from the timber into the pasture you are positioned over, and behind him… the shooter your buddy told you about! Your heart is racing, your thought processes are teetering on the edge of sanity threatening to handicap all motor skills.
In this moment your weapon, a muzzleloader, can either make the day or break the day. You have one shot, that shot packs a lot of energy, but you better be dead on accurate otherwise you will have a long day of waiting and searching for blood.
I have five tips I think all muzzleloader hunters should rehearse in their minds throughout every hunt that they are using a smoke pole.
Muzzleloaders require a small mountain of supplies and components. Have a well practiced process for packing and double checking all of the necessary gear needed to fire at least 3-4 shots while you are hunting.
Be sure your gun is ready to be lethal… when it’s time to be lethal. When you are leaving your truck go ahead and load your powder and your sabot, but hold onto your cap. You should never have your cap in your breech plug until you are in a position to fire your weapon- whatever that means for the type of hunt you are doing. As soon as you are in your position for making a kill be sure to load the cap so you don’t get caught “unarmed” by your first game encounter.
When you are hiking in to your set up keep your scope dialed down to a low magnification. Muzzleloaders are incredibly inflexible in a moment’s notice without messing with your scope. Once you are settled into your set up, bump up your magnification to a mid level so you can save some adjusting once you spot your target.
Have your follow up shot planned out. If you use speed loaders have one that is ready to go as soon as you fire your first shot. There is nothing worse in hunting than wounding game and not being in a position to finish the job.
Remember once you fire there will be a huge cloud of smoke blocking everything from your view. When you hunt with a gun you will always blink and flinch a bit after every shot. With a rifle or a slug gun this isn’t as big of deal because their is no cloud of smoke, but with your muzzleloader you will have to be especially conscientious of what happens following your shot to be sure you are able to collect your game. I have often thought if hunting on the ground you should take a lateral step immediately following your shot to try and see around the smoke.
Hunting with a muzzleloader is a nice in-between challenge for archery and gun hunting. If you add a well thought plan to a few hours of practice before hunting season, your chances of achieving success will improve significantly.