Muzzleloader deer season getting popular

Beginning Saturday hunters will have the first opportunity to head to the woods with a firearm, as well as the opening of one of the best kept secrets in deer hunting—the annual deer muzzleloader season (also known as the Primitive Firearms Season).

Set to run Oct. 26 to Nov. 3, statewide, the muzzleloader season attracts fewer hunters than the regular deer gun season that opens in late November. Still, last year over 85,000 hunters harvested 15,466 deer by muzzleloader. This was up from the previous year but well below the record harvest by muzzleloader hunters was back in 2006, when nearly 30,000 deer were taken.

Weather impacts this season more than any other, and when the weather is good, hunters usually head to the field. Warm weather is great for hunters, but deer activity slows. Late in the week did offer some good days in the field. The forecast for this year is similar – warm and dry.

Deer muzzleloader season is going to be a great time to hunt and harvest deer. And hunters needing any motivation to go muzzleloader hunter need to look no further than the Wildlife Department’s Facebook and Twitter pages, where numerous photos display the successes already had by hunters participating in the deer archery and youth deer gun seasons.

The muzzleloader harvest makes up just over 15 percent of the overall deer harvest in Oklahoma, and it can be tough hunting, with just a 22 percent success rate for this season, but that number could increase with a good weak of weather.

Hunters need to remember that there is a combined season limit for deer – this includes deer archery, youth deer gun, muzzleloader and gun seasons – six deer are allowed, with only two antlered.

The time of year also makes muzzleloader season the perfect time to head to the woods. With cooler temps and deer activity increasing, a few days in the woods this time of year may be some of the most productive of all of the seasons.

According to research, mature bucks may put on as much as 30 pounds of body weight in preparation for the rutting season, when food becomes less attractive than female deer. Much of that weight comes from eating mast foods. Hard mast such as acorns, pecans and other nuts and seeds are well known by hunters, but don’t overlook the soft mass such as pears, apples and persimmons. Find the food, and find the deer this time of year.

Hunters participating in the primitive season must wear the required amount of daylight fluorescent orange clothing, this being a hat and outer garment totaling at least 400 square inches of orange.

Hunters should also remember that only primitive firearms loaded from the muzzle are allowed during this season, and laser sights and other light enhancing devices are illegal.

Unfilled antlered licenses for the primitive season will be allowed to harvest an antlerless deer on the last day of the muzzleloader season in zones open to antlerless harvest.

Hunters are also reminded to read the complete details and regulations for deer hunting found in in the current “Oklahoma Hunting Guide,” which is available free online at wildlifedepartment.com.