by John E. Phillips

Hunting with black powder is one of the fastest-growing shooting sports in America today. Many states don’t require a separate license for black-powder muzzleloader hunting. I’ve enjoyed hunting with black powder and a muzzleloader for more than 3 decades.

The black-powder hunter basically falls into three general categories and has three separate reasons for wanting to hunt with black powder.

The Muzzleloading Purist

He may be a buckskinner who wants to relive the experiences of Jeremiah Johnson, Jim Bridger and many of the mountain men of old. He will dress in buckskins, sleep on the ground and try and hunt much like the early pioneers did. He is a purist – a man obsessed with the history of the sport and the men who lived this way.

The All-Year Hunter

The second type of black-powder shooter is a man who is looking for any opportunity to extend his hunting season. By shooting black powder, he often has a longer season or starts his season earlier than a conventional-weapon hunter. Many times by shooting black powder, he can hunt on prime deer lands he can’t hunt on with his modern weapons. This outdoorsman wants to hunt as many days as he can in any area possible. If using a black-powder gun will provide that hunting opportunity, he will hunt with black powder.

The Advanced Hunter

The third kind of black-powder hunter is the man in search of a challenge. This outdoorsman has taken all the deer he needs to bag to prove his prowess as a hunter. The thrill of taking monstrous-racked deer or a limit of deer during the season is not the challenge it once has been. He knows he can take deer and does it consistently each season. This hunter is looking for a more-exciting sport that will add a new dimension to his deer hunting and will provide more satisfaction than what he previously has experienced hunting with modern weapons. This shooter is proud of the limitations imposed with black-powder hunting. He feels if he can take animals with a black-powder gun, his hunting experience will be far more rewarding than if he bags those same animals with a conventional weapon.

To have a longer hunting season, be able to take more game and hunt in the tradition of the early Americans, then the sport of black-powder hunting is for you.

Safety is extremely important with muzzleloading rifles. Because of the nature of their design, hunters must take additional precautions with muzzleloading rifles than with standard firearms. Hunting and shooting with a muzzleloading rifle is a rewarding and fun experience. In order to fully enjoy your CVA muzzleloader, safety is the first priority. Implementing the following safety precautions will ensure that you and your friends stay safe and enjoy your muzzleloader to the fullest.

20 Safety Rules for CVA Muzzleloaders

Never smoke when loading your CVA muzzleloading rifle

Ashes or loose sparks from a lit tobacco product could cause the powder or caps to ignite.

Always wear eye protection

Debris can fly due to the firing of a muzzleloader. Eye protection will ensure that your eyes are not injured while firing your rifle.

Never pour powder into a muzzleloader from any type of large container

Any hot embers in the barrel could cause the gunpowder to ignite and then cause the container to blow up

Always keep powder storage containers and caps away from the general shooting area

Incidental sparks from your CVA muzzeloading rifle could cause a cap or gunpowder container to ignite.

Only use black powder or an approved black powder substitute for you CVA muzzleloader

Using any amount of modern smokeless gunpowder will cause extreme pressure during ignition and can cause serious injury or death.

Make sure that your CVA muzzleloader is in good condition before use

Always check the hammer, trigger, and breaching lever before loading your rifle.

Always use the loading date for the exact rifle model you are going to use

Muzzleloaders are all different, and using the improper amount of gunpowder can be dangerous.

Never prime or cap a firearm until you are ready to use it

Always remove the primer cap whenever you are moving or the rifle is unattended. Unpredictable events can occur causing the cap to ignite.

Don’t lean your gun on anything

If your CVA muzzleloading rifle falls while leaning on a car or building, it could accidentally discharge. An accidental discharge could cause you or someone else to be seriously injured.

Do not transport a loaded CVA muzzleloader in any vehicle

A muzzleloading rifle is considered unloaded only after the powder, bullet, and percussion cap are removed.

Never exchange a loaded rifle with another person

Only the person who loaded the rifle should be the one who fires it. This practice helps to prevent double loading and increases general safety.

Never store a loaded rifle

Do not load a rifle without double checking to ensure that it is unloaded

Be sure to use extreme caution with hunting with a CVA muzzleloader from a tree stand

Dropping a rifle from a tree stand could cause an accidental discharge resulting in the injury or death of you and your hunting partners.

Never allow the hammer or bolt to rest against the cap

Any impact to the hammer could cause the rifle to fire accidentally. Leave the hammer in the cocked position.

Do not rely solely on the mechanical safety

Always keep your CVA muzzleloader unloaded until you are ready to use it

Proper cleaning procedures help to prevent mechanical failures

Mechanical problems with your rifle could cause injury when firing.

Ensure that the projectile is firmly seated against the gun powder charge

If there is a space between the powder and projectile in your CVA muzzleloading rifle, the rifle could blow up upon firing.

Always point your rifle in a safe direction while loading

Be sure not to have the barrel pointing at yourself or anyone else.