Washington State Keeps Traditional Muzzleloading Sight Rules, votes to not allow Scopes
Last week, the Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioners rejected proposals that would have allowed slight modernization to the muzzleloading rules.
Currently in Washington State, sights must be open, peep and can include fiber optic inserts. Using any sort of sight with telescopic abilities or any type of glass is against the law. It is also against the law to have any kind of electronic device attached to your muzzleloader, like a camera or range finder.
The proposed rule changes read as follows (proposed removed language is crossed out, proposed new language is italicized)
(a) Ignition is to be wheel lock, matchlock, flintlock, or percussion. Primers designed to be used in modern cartridges are legal.
(b) Sights must be open, peep, ((or)) of other open sight design, or scopes not exceeding 1x magnification. Fiber optic sights are legal. Telescopic sights ((or sights containing glass)) are prohibited.
(c) It is unlawful to have any electrical aiming device ((or equipment)) attached to a muzzleloading firearm while hunting except for red dot or other similar electronically powered scopes not exceeding 1x magnification. It is lawful to mount a video camera to your muzzleloader while hunting provided it cannot be used for aiming the firearm.
(d) Those persons lawfully hunting big game with a double barrel muzzleloader may only keep one barrel loaded.
(4) Muzzleloading firearms used during a modern firearm season are not required to meet ignition, sight, or double barrel restrictions.
The proposed rule changes focused on the following:
1. Allowing the use of 1x or red dot scopes on muzzleloading firearms.
2. Allowing video-cameras to be mounted to muzzleloading firearms.
3. Clarifying that the term “load” refers to the powder charge and projectile and that both must be loaded from the muzzle. (Possibly to restrict the use of the “Federal Fire Stick” during Washington’s Muzzleloading season, though it looks to be allowed in the rifle season)
Public comments were submitted and boiled down to the following:
Common themes:
• General support for rule changes
• General disagreement about rule changes
• Desire to maintain primitive weapon types
• Concern about increased hunter participation in muzzleloader seasons
• Concern over availability of 1x scopes
• Support for rule change due to improved shot placement
• Support for 1x scopes on muzzleloading firearms because it enables hunter participation (e.g., poor eyesight may restrict participation with this weapon type)
• Concern over ethical shot placement – perception that scopes may enable long- distance shooting
GMAC input: 92 (11/12)% agree with proposed changes
Concern over scope availability
Support for allowing 1x scope due to improved participation
Read the full presentation here
On April 7, the commission was split on modifications to the rules that would have allowed muzzleloaders to attach 1-power or red dot scopes to their guns or attach video cameras to their guns. Similar modifications were proposed for archery rules as well.
The commission ultimately rejected the muzzleloader scopes, range-finding bow sites and video camera proposals.