Muzzleloader: Rules and Regulations

These rules and regulations apply to all hunters using a muzzleloading firearm.

• Muzzleloading firearms are loaded with a powder charge and projectile from the muzzle. The powder charge can be black powder or a black powder substitute. Muzzleloading firearms must be wheel lock, matchlock, flintlock, or percussion.
• Sights must be open, peep, of other open sight design, or scopes not exceeding 1x magnification. Fiber optic sights and red dot or similar electronically powered scopes not exceeding 1x magnification are also legal. Telescopic sights more than 1x are prohibited.
• Muzzleloading firearms for deer hunting must be at least .40 caliber. However, buckshot, size #1 or larger, may be used in a smoothbore of .60 caliber or larger.
• Muzzleloading firearms used for all other big game hunting must be .45 or larger.
• Only one barrel of a double-barrel muzzleloading firearm may be loaded while hunting big game during any muzzleloading season.
• A muzzleloading handgun used for big game must be .45 or larger, with a rifled barrel length of at least eight inches, and capable of being loaded with 45 grains or more of black powder or a black powder substitute.