Opening day poacher?

[jetwrnch]

I'm on an ATV trail taking a break on opening day when a guy passes me with a muzzleloader on his back. Is there any reason he could have legally been carrying a muzzleloader on the opening day of archery? Or is he just that brave?

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I would guess poaching. But with a good back-up excuse.

From the hunting guide:

"During an archery only or muzzleloader/archery only deer, bear or elk season, furbearers may not be taken with rifles and handguns using centerfire ammunition."

Doesn't say anything about taking furbearers with a MZ. So, unless he was caught red handed, he was "just coyote hunting."

 

[fairchaser]

Maybe he had a CWP and that's his carry gun for self defense. Not!

 

[THEdonkey0515]

I'm still not convinced all the rifle shots I hear at first daylight throughout bow season is just people sighting in at 6:45am :shock:

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I'm still not convinced all the rifle shots I hear at first daylight throughout bow season is just people sighting in at 6:45am :shock:

Whaaaaat? I always sight mine in with a one-shot group at or near first light in a wooded or partially wooded area. Is there another way to do it?

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I was thinking small game can be hunted with a muzzleloader and there's no caliber restrictions.

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[THEdonkey0515]

I'm still not convinced all the rifle shots I hear at first daylight throughout bow season is just people sighting in at 6:45am :shock:

Whaaaaat? I always sight mine in with a one-shot group at or near first light in a wooded or partially wooded area. Is there another way to do it?

Lol :-D

I was hunting public first day of bow....I bet it had not even been shooting light for 45 seconds when BOOOM high power rifle sounded off close, about made me jump outta the tree.

 

[jetwrnch]

I was thinking small game can be hunted with a muzzleloader and there's no caliber restrictions.

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Nuthin' like a 50 cal for squirrel! Bark 'em!

 

[TheLBLman]

Our suspicions are likely correct,
but it's also likely the guy is just a muzzleloader enthusiast, and that could have been a muzzleloading shotgun?
He seriously could have been squirrel hunting.

Also, if someone is a convicted felon, while they may not be able to own a modern firearm,
can't they still legally own/carry a muzzleloading one?

 

[Btsmith2416]

Cleaning the deer the other night around 9pm and heard a rifle go off about 1/4 mile away. Got finished real quick and drove to the road but no one was there. Prob got the big buck I've been waiting on! Been a lot of poaching in this area historically


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[TheLBLman]

To me, it makes little sense that a poacher would be carrying a muzzleloader instead of a centerfire rifle.
More I think about it, more I think this guy wasn't a poacher.

 

[ronnycl]

Probably squirrel hunting

 

[KJK]

Small caliber squirrel muzzleloader could be his angle. My dad and brother both only hunt (and head shoot) limb rats with .32 cal muzzleloader. They are dead accurate and add a degree of difficulty to their hunts.

 

[TheLBLman]

Small caliber squirrel muzzleloader could be his angle.
My dad and brother both only hunt (and head shoot) limb rats with .32 cal muzzleloader.

Exactly what I was thinking earlier.

Also, over the years, there have been quite a few deer poached with rifles during archery season, with the poacher then simply sticking a broadhead tipped arrow thru the hole. TWRA has developed methods for figuring out whether the deer died from an arrow or a bullet, but it would be harder to make a .50 caliber hole into an arrow slit than say a .223 hole, at least to an average observer?

But most of these poachers are not visibly walking around with their rifles for anyone to see. They're more typically shooting from their truck or car window, or behind their house, etc.

If you see the guy again, why not ask him what he's hunting? :)