The Evolution of Muzzleloader Hunting in Iowa
The Evolution of Muzzleloader Hunting in Iowa
A group of does meandered their way through an open field past the edge of a tree line. They were now about 50 yards away from my Dad and me. One doe stopped broadside. I placed the crosshairs behind her shoulder, that’s where my Dad had been telling me to aim, and slowly squeezed the trigger of his Knight Rifle Muzzleloader. The muzzleloader kicked back into my shoulder and a cloud of smoke briefly obstructed my view of the doe running away. Within a few short seconds, I realized I had harvested my first deer.
Muzzleloaders have been a key part of Iowa’s hunting history. Well before accurate shotguns, early Iowa settlers were using muzzleloaders, Kentucky rifles, to harvest game in Iowa. I am sure you have heard of the term “pea shooter” referencing a firearm. This term was derived from settlers loading dried peas down the barrel of their muzzleloader to shoot small game like squirrels and rabbits. Iowa also has a claim to fame when it comes to producing the first modern inline muzzleloaders. Tony Knight knew the challenges of flintlock muzzleloaders, and set out on a mission to improve and solve these problems. In 1985, Tony Knight began building muzzleloaders with the nipple located behind the powder charge to make the ignition reliable. This completely changed modern muzzleloaders and revolutionized the industry.
Innovations and improvements were made and Tony Knight began mass manufacturing the groundbreaking rifles in my hometown Centerville, Iowa. The work performed by Tony Knight laid the path for other manufactures to innovate and improve the inline muzzleloaders and changed the way we muzzleloader hunt today. Now, popular brands like Thompson, CVA, Traditions, Arrowhead and other muzzleloader accessories are sold in reliable sporting goods shops such as Bear Creek Ballistics and Generational Guns.
The foundation laid by Tony Knight led to new and existing companies trying to make muzzleloader hunting even more accurate and reliable. For instance, Arrowhead Muzzleloaders, which also used to be an Iowa company, builds precision muzzleloaders made for accurate shooting 500 yards and even beyond with .5MOA. Arrowhead Muzzleloaders use a bullet that is sized specifically for your bore, so sabots are not used with this gun. One aspect unique to Arrowhead Sporting Goods, LLC. is the slotted bolt face for quick module loading. Arrowhead Sporting Goods, LLC. builds some of the highest quality and accurate muzzleloaders on the market today. They have improved on Tony Knight’s original inline muzzleloader and use top-notch materials to make the guns lightweight and above all, accurate at long distances.
As a kid, I remember my Dad and uncle hunting with their Hawkins flintlock muzzleloaders. To fire, the hunter would pull the trigger releasing the hammer. The hammer would strike flint creating a spark which would hopefully ignite powder to discharge the load. I say hopefully because if the powder had drawn moisture, it would not go off. Several big Iowa bucks walked freely past flintlock muzzleloader hunters back in the day, as the guns were not as reliable as modern inline muzzleloaders.
Today, most inline muzzleloaders will go off even when moisture is present in powder. However, I was hunting in a rainstorm one day, a downpour that has you completely soaked in a matter of seconds. After a couple of hours, I saw a deer I wanted to harvest. I pulled the trigger and after a millisecond delay, the gun went off, the load discharged slowly and the bullet missed the deer completely. Even though the load went off, the powder was not efficiently burned, nor the energy created to effectively harvest the deer.
Thus, I lost most of my momentum which caused the bullet slowly project and miss the deer completely. Even though the load will discharge from most inline muzzleloaders, this does not mean the gun and powder will perform the same way as it would dry. For this reason, Federal Ammunition has created the Fire Stick. Fire Stick is a design to encapsulate the powder shielding it from any and all moisture. Traditions Rifles teamed up with Federal Ammunition to create a muzzleloader, the Nirtofire Series muzzleloaders which are compatible with usage of the Federal Fire Stick Ammo.
The Nitro series breaks open at the breach to accommodate the Fire Stick. It is simple and safe. The powder is pre-measured, sealed, and loads from the breach while the sabot is still loaded from the muzzle of the gun. The performance of the gun with the Fire Stick promotes more consistency and accuracy from shot to shot. This gun is great for the hunter that will be hunting in all kinds of conditions that Iowa has to offer from humidity and rain during Iowa’s early muzzleloader season, to sleet and snow during the late muzzleloader season.
Another way muzzleloader accuracy is improved is by using improved bullets. It wasn’t too long ago that most muzzleloaders were using a ball and patch. The lead ball was not aerodynamic and shots were not consistent at long yardages. The variety of aero-tipped sabots, as well as hollow point sabots aid in improved accuracy over the lead cast balls once used. For instance, Bear Creek Ballistics has a solid copper sabot for muzzleloaders equipped with an aerodynamic design and aero tip. The 240-grain bullet is ideal for long-range hunting as it is copper and will expand well creating lethal damage. The design of the bullet paired with the aero-tip allows it to find it’s mark with accuracy and has a high ballistic coefficient to give hunters confidence in long-range accuracy.
Even though today’s muzzleloaders are far more accurate, you might want to become familiar with a gun smith for some minor adjustments. Muzzleloaders are great guns for youth as they have less recoil and provide only one shot. My Dad used to tell me “You have one shot, make it count” as he handed me the gun. I knew I needed to take my time and think before squeezing the trigger. Sometimes stocks are too long for youth hunters. For this reason, a trip to a knowledgeable gunsmith such as Generational Guns in Altoona, Iowa might be in order.
The Carpenters, owners of Generational Guns, often shorten stocks, add more comfortable recoil pads, and can even swap out triggers with a lighter trigger pull. All these things will lead to a more enjoyable hunting experience for Iowa’s youth. Should you choose to use an older muzzleloader, they have experience working on antique and unique guns as well. Another benefit of getting familiar with a knowledgeable sporting goods shop, like Generational Guns and Bear Creek Ballistics, is that you will have contact with a professional who can help improve your shooting abilities and experiences.
Modern muzzleloaders have come a long way in technology. The combined innovations from the muzzleloaders, powder options, and bullets have worked together to create a reliable and fun gun. Even with all the improvements, you still only have one shot, and still must practice to ensure ethical hunting. During Iowa’s gun seasons, some prefer to use a traditional flintlock muzzleloader. That is completely fine, as the primitive hunting adds another challenge in harvesting a deer. It also is nostalgic for a lot of hunters. Muzzleloader hunting is probably the most overwhelming sensory hunting, combining the puff of smoke briefly blocking your vision, the smell of the sulfur powder, and the excitement of harvesting a whitetail during Iowa’s early or late muzzleloader season or gun season.
By Jessica Graham
December 2021
