They made that decision for several reasons, but I discovered later that the muzzleloader suffered from overall poor quality and subpar performance afield. When I was ready to make the purchase again a couple of weeks later, I discovered that the manufacturer had discontinued the model I was about to buy during the interim. Fortunately, I’ve generally had very good results with the muzzleloaders I’ve hunted with, though I’ve had some close calls.įor instance, I was on the verge of purchasing a particular northwest legal muzzleloader to hunt with up in Washington several years ago, but some unrelated life events intervened before I could actually buy the muzzleloader in question. I’ve used several different muzzleloaders since I first started hunting with a smoke pole many years ago. Additionally, one of the few constants in this situation is the fact that it can be really tough to cut through some of the marketing speak a lot of companies use to sell their products.įrom one hunter to another, trust me when I say that I’ve experienced a lot of that same frustration myself. So, there can be a big swing in which muzzleloaders are legal to hunt with from year to year. To make the situation even more bewildering, not only are the big manufacturers constantly discontinuing old models and rolling out new muzzleloaders each year, but it also seems like many states are continuously updating their regulations as well. This is particularly true for hunters just learning how to hunt with a muzzleloader or those hunting in a particular state for the first time. I think most hunters will likely agree that the wide variety of different muzzleloader options currently available, combined with the confusing hunting regulations in many states, can make choosing the best muzzleloader for hunting season an overwhelming task. What is the best muzzleloader for you in 2024 ?

Thompson muzzle loader