California Muzzleloading Enthusiast petitions for “Heritage Only” Muzzleloader Tag

Muzzleloading forum member NutHatch published this notice in February. Nut Hatch is seeking to bring a “Heritage Only” muzzleloader tag to California’s A, B, or D zones, similar to the “Heritage Only” season we just saw completed in Montana. Read more about his proposal and how you can help below

Petition 2022-02 proposes to create a new deer tag, Heritage Only, which would allow holders of the tag to adapt to local fire closures by allowing them to hunt any A, B or D zone as long as they abide by a method of take restriction that limits them to using only traditional archery during the archery seasons or traditional muzzleloaders during the general seasons. Season dates and bag limits would remain the same, as is the norm for our Archery Only tag. This stands to benefit rifle hunters the most since hunters using traditional archery already have this option under the AO tag.

The FGC will recognize it at the Feb meeting, which all CA hunters should attend to oppose the HSUS petition to ban bear hunting. Then, in April, they'll act on it, meaning they'll either deny it or slate it for further discussion. If you support this tag idea, then please attend the FGC meetings in Feb and April (https://fgc.ca.gov/Meetings/2022) or email them at fgc@fgc.ca.gov.

Many enthusiasts are fond of the earlier “Primitive” muzzleloader only seasons that have been changed over the years by state wildlife agencies. While the goal of the changes has been to increase the number of hunters, many feel the traditional sense of muzzleloading is being lost. NutHatch here is taking action into his own hands, working locally to try and bring the change he wants to see to California’s hunting regulations.