Wyoming Elk Hunting With a Muzzleloader
If you've considered venturing west to Wyoming for some of the best elk-hunting in the country, but the frontiersman inside of you considers high powered rifles and long-range scopes a bit "tenderfoot," the historic one-shot challenge of muzzleloader hunting might be just the thing. Unlike other Western states, Wyoming does not have a special muzzleloader season, so an elk-hunting license is all you need. Licenses are issued separately to residents and nonresidents through a lottery system. Non-residents can apply for either a limited quota license, which restricts hunters to certain areas, or a general license, which allows greater access.A guide service is required for nonresidents who wish to hunt in designated wilderness areas.
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Things You'll Need
- Wyoming elk hunting license
- Muzzleloader rifle (40 caliber or higher)
- Musket balls
- Black powder
- Cloth patching
- Flint or percussion caps (depending on your type of rifle)
- Ramrod
- Muzzleloader accessories
- Guide service (for restricted areas)
Instructions
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Equipment Preparation
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1
Choose your muzzleloader rifle; Wyoming requires a minimum 40 caliber rifle.
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2
Pack musket balls, powder, ramrod, special priming powder, wiper tip, patch bore, worm or bullet puller, and powder measurer.
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3
Clean your rifle. Black powder and modern equivalents such as Pyrodex leave a great deal of residue that will affect firing and accuracy. Remove coarse residue from the barrel with a wire brush attached to a ramrod. Soak a cotton patch with gun cleaning solution and use the ramrod to clean the barrel. Repeat until the patch comes out clean. Then oil the inside of the barrel with a cotton patch.
Regulations
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Apply for a Wyoming elk hunting license from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (see References). Two-tiered licensing fees make it possible to improve your chances in the drawing, so if you can afford the higher priced special license, you'll have a better shot.
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Hunt during Wyoming elk season, which runs through October and November, with a special limited second season in January. The type of license you receive will determine the dates available to you.
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Enlist a guide service if you want to hunt in designated wilderness areas (see References.)
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Tips & Warnings
Choosing between a flintlock or cap lock rifle is a matter of personal preference. A cap lock rifle more closely duplicates the experience of a single shot cartridge firing rifle, but a flintlock is more similar to frontier authenticity.
Because muzzleloader hunting is a one-shot, close-range experience, you may also want to consider carrying an elk bugler or cow call, which will draw the elk within shooting range.
Shooting range with a muzzleloader is much less than with a standard hunting rifle. While they can shoot up to 200 yards, try to get within 100 yards prior to taking your shot.
An express loader, which holds a bullet and pre-measured powder charge, will make it easier for you to take a second shot should you need one.
When applying for your license you will have to select specific zones in which to hunt. Some of these zones are in designated wilderness areas, in which nonresidents are not allowed to hunt without a guide.
Wyoming requires all hunters on public land to carry with them a certificate of competency. If you do not have one issued by the state of Wyoming or a state recognized by Wyoming, you must take a hunter education course and pass a written test with a minimum score of 70 percent.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit elk image by Melissa Schalke from Fotolia.com
