Three Tips for a Successful Muzzleloader Season

Three Tips for a Successful Muzzleloader Season

By Jessica Graham

One of the most exciting times to harvest a deer is in the snow, during the late muzzleloader season. It’s during this time that I eagerly grab my muzzleloader and go on a mission to harvest does. These does, will be transformed into a batch of mouthwatering jerky that inevitably disappears all too quickly. My muzzleloader holds a special place in my heart, as it was my very first firearm.

Know your Muzzleloader
A muzzleloader was my very first gun, and I loved that firearm so much! I shot it and became fairly comfortable with my shooting abilities while using it. For instance, I sighted in my muzzleloader at 100 yards, I knew that it would drop about 4 inches at 150 yards. I know a lot of people that do not shoot their modern in-line muzzleloaders every year at all, and are not confident in their shooting abilities past 100 yards. That’s fine, if that’s what you deem as your comfortable effective range, and I commend you for knowing and setting that boundary. However, the rifled barrels of the muzzleloaders give us a pretty flat trajectory, and I encourage you to try shooting past 100 yards and evaluating your groupings.

You might benefit from shooting a different weight of a sabot or a different powder or more powder. I suggest you shoot your muzzleloader. Choosing the right powder is an essential decision that directly impacts accuracy, power, and overall success. You can experiment with various powder charges to find the perfect balance of power and accuracy for your specific muzzleloader and hunting conditions. There are also a plethora of options for sabots. You can buy Powerbelts, with a plastic jacket built onto the bottom of the sabot. Or you might use a sabot paired with a plastic jacket. A lot of people prefer the separate sabot and jacket for optimal performance. You will want to shoot your muzzleloader and see how each combination patterns for your specific gun.

Make a solid Shot
The rifling of barrels makes modern day in-line muzzloaders effective out to long distances. It’s not unheard of for hunters to shoot and harvest deer 200 yards away. Our shooting capabilities will often limit how far we can effectively and accurately shoot. To make the best shot possible, you should have some sort of anchor to steady yourself. This is especially important if you have to wait. The cold weather of December can zap your strength, so having some sort of support will help make a solid shot.

While walking, it’s easy for anyone to bump deer. It happens. When this happens, there are times where you will have to use your surroundings to make the best possible shot. Kneeling can provide stability while keeping you relatively low to the ground, minimizing your profile. Find a suitable spot, kneel down, and use your knee as a rest for your muzzleloader. This position is excellent for shots at moderate distances. You can also rest your firearm on a solid surface, like a tree trunk or a sturdy fence post, to stabilize your shot while in a standing position.

If you are using a blind and can use a rest, this will help you make the best solid shot. There are various types of gun rests and shooting sticks available on the market, each designed for different shooting scenarios and preferences. The best option for you depends on your shooting style, intended use, and personal preferences. Bipods and tripods provide stable platforms, are adjustable in height and easy to attach to the firearm. Monopods are lightweight and compact. You will probably find them easier to pack around than bipods and tripods, but may not offer as much stability as bipods or tripods. Shooting sticks are also versatile and lightweight. They can be adjusted for sitting, kneeling, or standing positions and are excellent for hunting in diverse terrain. However, they may not offer the same level of stability as bipods or tripods. Sandbags are stable and customizable rest for your firearm. They are versatile, but heavy. Additionally, there are a lot of variations of shooting vices. Some are compatible for treestands, others are made for blinds.

The best option depends on your shooting needs. For hunting, lightweight and versatile options like shooting sticks or bipods are often preferred. For precision shooting, tripod-mounted rests or vice rests may be more suitable. Consider factors like weight, adjustability, and ease of use when choosing the right gun rest or shooting stick for your needs. Additionally, testing different options to see which one suits your shooting style and preferences is a good practice before making a final decision.

Hunt Food
At this time, we’re post-rut and post-gun seasons, so the deer are all about the food. The first step is to find the best food sources—think standing beans or corn, turnips, rye, or winter wheat fields. Once you’ve got that, check out the heavily traveled trails. Set up game cameras to spot potential bucks and track their travel times. They become very patternable again, so gather any intel you can. Use trail cameras and monitor them in the same wind conditions you’d hunt in. This keeps you from spooking any deer in nearby bedding or staging areas. Once your cameras show some potential targets, the next crucial step is choosing the right stand or blind locations to maximize your shooting opportunities.

Time for Blinds
Sometimes you have to throw caution into the wind and move in a bit closer to seal the deal. It’s no secret to anyone that late season hunting in Iowa is the best that there is, but it’s typically the coldest time of year as well. I’ve had plenty of luck sitting on the ground, or in a fence line this time of year.

The biggest challenge is staying warm. This is the time of year that tower blinds with a heater become invaluable. However, there are times when you want to hunt in places other than your permanent blind. You might explore some pop-up blinds, or soft sided blinds. These offer mobility, and when you bring your heater, a blanket, or a thermal suite, you can sit comfortably and safely for quite a while. If you’ve been seeing a buck come out in a field with some cornstalk or hay bales in them positioning yourself in a haybale blind is a no brainer. Using a bale blind in the field can give you the edge you need to get that buck.

Most pop-up blinds have straps that can hold grasses, tree branches, or other vegetation. into them to help cover them up and disguise them. Set up your blind on the edge of the cover, just as you would with a tree stand, making sure that you use the brush to camouflage in your blind. In Iowa, I often find setting up close to the food or even in a staging area can give you some good shot opportunities.

As you wrap up the late seasons, be safe and good luck!