What’s the reason for more muzzle loader days vs shotgun

[mike033089]

What is the states reasoning for giving some zones way more days with permit muzzle loader vs shotgun?  Do they feel like all those shotgun days would be drives?  Curious to the “science” behind it.  

[Lunatic]

I don’t know but shotgun permit is a complete waste of money. I only get it if I score early with a muzzy. 

[mazzgolf]

57 minutes ago, mike033089 said:

Curious to the “science” behind it.  

Don't assume there is any science behind some of this.

I once asked DFW why muzzleloader season is a separate season from shotgun season ("Why not just have a single firearms season so we don't have to pay extra $$ to buy separate permits and buck tags for both?"). I was told muzzy is a separate season because the first dates of muzzy season occur prior to shotgun season dates in order to give the traditional shooters a "first chance" at deer before the shotgun people get into the woods. There was no science-related reasons given for that decision.

[mazzgolf]

And before anyone says anything - I think that answer is bogus too! They want to simplify the regulations, but yet want to keep muzzy and SG seasons separate rather than combine into a simpler "firearm" season? Perhaps, maybe, it could possibly be because by splitting them out like they do they can get $112 from dual-muzzy-and-shotgun hunters as opposed to $56 if the seasons are combined? Just thinking off the top of my head....  

[estimator]

Exactly what mazzgolf said. It's all about the $$$

[Recurve hntr]

Definitely about the money! 

[Livesintrees]

Once in lines and scopes rolled in, the primitive aspect was gone. No reason to have early muzzleloader days. The first deer gun season should be 6 day. And in certain zones (not all) many of the days are during the week only. Look at zone 2 shotgun and muzzleloader. If you want to be able to hunt the weekends, you have to purchase both. No rhyme or reason. 

[Rjtfd]

One bow season, one gun season. Done….All the special seasons and dates are 100% about generating more money. They want to reduce the amount of deer than why charge for all the zones, permits and weapons? 

[bushden]

5 hours ago, mazzgolf said:

Don't assume there is any science behind some of this.

I once asked DFW why muzzleloader season is a separate season from shotgun season ("Why not just have a single firearms season so we don't have to pay extra $$ to buy separate permits and buck tags for both?"). I was told muzzy is a separate season because the first dates of muzzy season occur prior to shotgun season dates in order to give the traditional shooters a "first chance" at deer before the shotgun people get into the woods. There was no science-related reasons given for that decision.

It is the science of money only. NJ just bleeds the states residents dry in every way they can weather it be hunting and fishing or taxes however they can get into our pockets!

[gregtpal]

Their conumdrum is they give lip service to simplifying the regs & increasing recruitment of new hunters but they refuse to reduce their budget so money trumps everything & we end up paying far, far more than residents pay in any other state.  Typical NJ bs....

[Greybeard]

They keep dissecting the permits to make more money because they would have to go through legislation and prove there is a need to raise the cost of the license.  Surprised they haven't come up with a way to charge extra to use a crossbow yet.

[electric10162]

Have a $75 license to hunt firearm season and another $75 to hunt archery. Done

[Devil Horns]

Muzzleloader used to be something special. Sidelock muzzleloaders with iron sights were much different than todays scoped inlines. The separate season came from a time when the guns were much different. Now there isn’t much difference between an inline or slug gun, other than shot capacity. 

[NotJust22s]

Make muzzleloader primitive again. No inlines, no scopes, no sabots, no Blackhorn 209.

[Farmingdales Finest]

6 minutes ago, NotJust22s said:

Make muzzleloader primitive again. No inlines, no scopes, no sabots, no Blackhorn 209.

Once something becomes law it almost never gets reversed. That being said it would be an easy change to make the early muzzleloader days as primitive only.