Art Lander’s Outdoors: A look at Kentucky’s early muzzleloader deer season opening Saturday

Hunters take to Kentucky’s woods and fields as the state’s early muzzleloader deer season opens tomorrow.

The two-day early season, which debuted in 1990, continues through Sunday, October 20.

Kentucky’s rich heritage of hunting and target shooting with flintlock and percussion (caplock) rifles was a driving force behind the establishment of a special season for those who wanted to hunt white-tailed deer with traditional firearms.

Several muzzleloading clubs lobbied the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission, and in November, 1985, a two-day muzzleloader deer season was held in 52 counties. Hunters could take only antlered deer. Through the years the so-called late season was lengthened, the bag limit was liberalized, and eventually the season was moved to mid-December.

By 2004, the late season had expanded from seven to nine days, was open statewide and hunters could take deer of either sex in all four of the state’s deer management zones.

The 2024 late muzzleloader deer season dates are: December 14-22.

2024 Muzzleloader Deer Season Regulations:

• Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

• In the Zone 4 counties antlerless deer may not taken during the early muzzleloader season or the first six days of late muzzleloader season.

• All hunters must comply with the hunter orange clothing law.

• Youth hunters 15 years old and younger hunting deer with a muzzleloader must be accompanied by an adult who shall remain able and in a position to take immediate control of the youth’s muzzleloader at all times.

• Legal firearms include: muzzle-loading rifles or handguns of any caliber, with flint or percussion ignition (including in-line ignition), shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.

• Muzzle-loading firearms may be equipped with open sights or telescopic sights (scopes).

• Muzzle-loading shotguns are legal, if no larger than 10-gauge, shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.

The complete deer season regulations are available online at fw.ky.gov/deer

Muzzleloader season deer harvest

In the past 10 seasons, the number of deer taken with muzzleloaders has been trending in a range from a low of 9,246 in 2021 to a high of 18,663 in 2015.

Last season hunters reported harvesting 10,177 deer, which is 792 below the five-year average of 10,968.

The 10-year average, dating back to the 2014 season, is 12,535.

The record muzzleloader harvest of 18,663 occurred during the 2015 season.

Factors that contribute to high harvests are typically mast failure and optimal hunting weather during the season.

The liberalization and lengthening of crossbow season, and a 16-day modern gun season that is now in all 120 counties (Zones 1-4) may be contributing factors in the lower muzzleloader deer harvest in recent years.

The flintlock longrifle, often referred to the Kentucky Rifle, is at the roots of the state’s storied hunting culture.

To take a deer with a reproduction of an early flintlock hunting rifle, or caplock target rifle, is a wonderful way to connect with the early explorers and settlers who crossed the Appalachians to reach this “Happy Hunting Ground.”

The post Art Lander’s Outdoors: A look at Kentucky’s early muzzleloader deer season opening Saturday appeared first on NKyTribune .