Hunting Colorado - Choosing A Muzzleloader & Projectile

***WORK IN PROGRESS***

In this article, I hope to clear things up by offering an easier, straight forward explanation to the Rules & Regulations during Colorado's Muzzle Loading Season.

If you planned on using a scoped in-line muzzleloader spittin pellet powder and sabots, sadly for you, you are about to find out how restricted you will be when you draw a Colorado Muzzleloading big game tag!

Muzzleloading Rifles & Smoothbore Muskets

 Only legal muzzleloaders allowed in muzzleloading seasons.
In-line muzzleloaders are legal
Must be a single barrel that fires a single round ball or conical projectile.
To hunt Elk or Moose, Conical bullets must be a minimum caliber of .50 caliber, and round ball bullets must be a minimum of .54 caliber.
From .40 caliber to .50 caliber, bullets must weigh a minimum of 170 grains.
If greater than .50 caliber, bullet must weigh a minimum of 210 grains.
Shotshell primers and B.O.R Lock MZ System bullets are legal.
**Pelletized powder systems are prohibited during muzzleloader seasons**
**Cannot be loaded from the breech during muzzleloader season**
Only open or iron sights allowed during muzzleloading seasons. Fiber Optic & fluorescent paint incorporated into or on open sights are legal.

**Scopes or any sighting device using artificial light,batteries and electronic gear are prohibited during muzzleloader season.**
** Sabots are Prohibited during muzzleloading seasons.**  Cloth patches are not sabots.

**Smokeless powder is prohibited in muzzleloading seasons.**   Black Powder & black powder substitutes are legal.
**Electronic or battery powered devices cannot be incorporated into or attached to muzzleloader during muzzleloading seasons.**

Now just in case you are a scan reader, let's offer an actual picture of CPW's rules & Regulations pertaining to muzzleloading season.

Now, We'll go and discuss some areas that are usually a head scratcher for some black powder hunters.

Deer, Bear & Antelope. Must be at least a .40cal shooting a minimum bullet weight of 170 grains. This means, you'll have to be shooting a conical bullet.

Sadly, CPW changed muzzleloading caliber restrictions. For elk and moose when using a patched round ball, we now have to use a .54 caliber as a minimum caliber.

Why? After 50 some odd years, CPW finally became booksmart ( Pencil pusher sitting behind a desk all day ) and figured out that their original rule of allowing a .50cal round ball, wasn't exactly a true .50cal ( .500" ) but yet a .490 - .495" ball wrapped in a .010" or thicker, cotton patch. Which in their eye... After 50+ years.... is not a true .50 caliber. So, lets up the caliber restrictions and now make you use a .54cal or larger for elk and moose when using a patched round ball.. Whew!!! Still following along?

No scopes!!
Now this is an area I have no problem with! It's muzzleloader season! And muzzleloader season is meant as a tradition, which is why Colorado places strict rules  & regulations during this hunt to limit your shooting distance.

After all, if you are using a scope, smokeless powder, sabots, you may as well be hunting during rifle season right?

***For those of you that DO in fact have a serious eye sight problem and require a scope, you can get a permit from CPW that allows you to mount a scope on your muzzleloader.***
Powders:
Goex, Olde Eynsford, Swiss, Pyrodex, Triple 7, Alliant Black MZ, Blackhorn209,  American Pioneer Powder. All of these powders are legal during Colorado's muzzleloader season. Smokeless powder is NOT!