During the New Mexico Muzzleloader Hunting Season, muzzleloaders are rifles and shotguns in which the charge and projectile are loaded through the muzzle. Only black powder, Pyrodex or an equivalent substitute may be used. Smokeless powder is illegal. Legal muzzleloading shotguns are those capable of being fired from the shoulder only. Muzzleloaders may use in-line ignition, pelleted…

During the New Jersey Muzzleloader Hunting Season, a muzzleloader is considered unloaded when, in the case of a percussion cap rifle or shotgun, the percussion cap has been removed from the nipple; in the case of a flintlock, when the powder is removed from the pan and a boot or cover made of nonmetallic material is placed…

During the New Hampshire Muzzleloader Hunting Season, to hunt deer a person needs a Regular NH Hunting License, plus a Muzzleloader License. A muzzleloader is defined as a single barrel, single shot firearm (40 caliber or greater) that can only be loaded from the muzzle. Only one deer may be taken with a muzzleloader or…

During the Nevada Muzzleloader Hunting Season, a type of hunt that is restricted to muzzle-loading firearms, a person may hunt a big gam mammal only with a muzzle-loading rifle or a muzzle loading musket, and may use only a lead ball, a lead bullet, a semi-jacketed bullet or a metal alloy bullet that expands. The…

During the Nebraska Muzzleloader Hunting Season, muzzleloading rifles .44-caliber or larger muzzleloading muskets .62-caliber or larger, firing a single slug Muzzleloading rifles, muzzleloading handguns and muskets as defined above. Sights — It is unlawful to use any electrical device to amplify natural light or to project a light beam or image to a target, including…

During the Missouri Muzzleloader Hunting Season, muzzleloading with a cap and ball must have a .40 caliber or larger and capable of firing only a single projectile at one discharge; in-lines and scopes are allowed. Multiple-barrel muzzleloading or cap and ball firearms and/or larger, are allowed and may be carried in addition to a muzzleloading or…

During the Mississippi Muzzleloader Hunting Season, primitive firearms for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double barreled muzzle-loading rifles of at least .38 caliber; single shot, breech loading, cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions or reintroductions of those type rifles; and single or double-barreled muzzle-loading, shotguns with single…

Firearms for taking big game must meet the following criteria: Minnesota Muzzleloader Hunting Season 2025-2026 2025 Deer Season 09/13/25 – 12/31/25 Deer – Archery Statewide 10/16/25 – 10/19/25 Deer – Early Antlerless 10/16/25 – 10/19/25 Deer – Youth Statewide 11/8/25 – 11/23/25 Deer – Firearm (Season A) 100 Series permit areas 11/8/25 – 11/16/25 Deer…

During the Michigan Muzzleloader Hunting Season in December, muzzleloading deer hunters can carry afield and use only a crossbow (except in the Upper Peninsula) or a muzzleloading rifle, a muzzleloading shotgun, or a black powder handgun loaded with black powder or a commercially manufactured black powder substitute. Only certified hunters with a disability may use…

During the Massachusetts Muzzleloader Hunting Season primitive firearms (muzzleloader) part of the open deer season, muzzle-loading primitive firearms must be of a type similar to those in common use during the mid-1800s, and which meet the following criteria: loaded from the muzzle, fired from the shoulder, has either a caplock or flintlock ignition system. Massachusetts Muzzleloader…

During Maryland Muzzleloader Hunting Season, Muzzleloading rifles may be used to hunt all game mammals (except beavers, weasels, mink, muskrats, and river otters), turkeys during the fall season only, quail, pheasants, ruffed grouse, crows, nutria, and woodchucks. Muzzleloading shotguns may be used to hunt all game birds, game mammals (except beavers, weasels, mink, muskrats, and…

Maine Muzzleloader Hunting Season Maine Muzzleloader Hunting Season – Only muzzleloading firearms that are 40 caliber or greater and capable of firing only a single charge. Muzzleloading firearm means a firearm that is capable of being loaded only through the muzzle; is ignited by a matchlock, wheel lock, flintlock, or caplock, including an in-line caplock…

During Louisiana Muzzleloader Hunting Season, Legal Primitive Firearms for Special Primitive Firearms Season include: rifles or pistols, .44 caliber minimum, or shotguns 10 gauge or smaller, all of which must load exclusively from the muzzle or cap and ball cylinder, use black powder or approved substitute only, take ball or bullet projectile only, including saboted…

During Kentucky Muzzleloader Hunting Season, muzzleloading rifles or handguns of any caliber, with flint or percussion ignition (including in-lines), shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets. Muzzleloading firearms equipped with open sights or telescopic sights (scopes). Muzzleloading shotguns no larger than 10-gauge, shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets. A muzzleloading rifle of…

During the Kansas Muzzleloader Hunting Season, muzzleloading rifles or muskets that can be loaded only through the front of the firing chamber with separate components and that fire a bullet of .39 inches diameter or larger; muzzleloading single-barrel pistols having a barrel length of 10 inches or greater that can be loaded only through the…

During the Iowa Muzzleloader Hunting Season, flintlock or percussion cap muzzleloading rifles or muskets between .44 and .775 caliber shooting single projectiles; muzzleloading pistols .44 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches and no shoulder stock or long barrel modifications. Muzzleloaders equipped with electronic ignition are not allowed. There are no…

During the Indiana Muzzleloader Hunting Season muzzleloading long guns and muzzleloading handguns are legal during the firearms and special antlerless seasons. Only muzzleloading firearms are legal during the muzzleloader season. Hunters may carry more than one type of legal firearm when hunting during the firearms and special antlerless seasons only. Indiana Muzzleloader Hunting Season 2025-2026…

Illinois Muzzleloader Hunting Season – Landscape diversity provides ample opportunities for hunting or trapping a variety of species in Illinois. From hunting ducks along a Mississippi River backwater slough to bow hunting deer in the forests of the Shawnee, Illinois has a variety of opportunities and experiences available. Hunting and trapping play important roles in the…

During the Idaho Muzzleloader Hunting Season, including general any-weapon seasons and short-range hunts, it is unlawful to pursue or kill big game animals with any muzzleloading rifle or musket that is less than .45 caliber for deer, pronghorn, mountain lion or gray wolf; or is less than .50 caliber for elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain…

Hawaii Muzzleloader Hunting Season Muzzleloader Hunting Regulations During the Hawaii Muzzleloader Hunting Season a muzzleloading rifle or shotgun means a rifle or shotgun that must be loaded through the discharged end of the firearm or the barrel and that employs flint or percussion ignition. Muzzleloading rifles and shotguns must have a shoulder stock and a…