Muzzleloader Elk

[Amahnee]

Anybody had any luck buglin in the big guy's in mid-October over east? I'm gonna give it a try this year after 16 years of packing a bow. I have the points and should get a tag easy. I bought a Winchester X150 .50 cal and have been pleased with its performance.

[JCJ]

You might want to check if that Winchester is legal during Muzzleloader seasons.Not sure but I think the sights and the ignition are illegal to use.

[SLEDDER]

Oregon has some hokey laws regarding muzzle loaders, goose hunting, cougars and bears and the list goes on and on and on ect. Go Oregon Lets let Multnomah county rule the state. :whazzup:

[Amahnee]

At least somebody replied! I appreciate your response. This muzzleloader is legal cuz I switched out the breech-plug and got rid of the fiber optics. I'm legal to kill!! Just wanting to get some input on bugling success that time of year? Thanks.

[Hey Man]

Don't know anything about hunting elk during the muzzleloader season either because I archery hunt them.

But, I have a question for you, what loads have you had the most success with through your winchester X-150?

I just purchased the same gun and haven't had a chance to play with it yet. I plan to use it for deer this year.

[Amahnee]

My buddy and I bought muzzleloader kits and shot what was in them. I don't think that they were legal in Or. Go to www.winchestermuzzleloading.com they recommend Powerbelt slugs. I haven't purchased any yet. As the sun starts to show itself more I will spend more time playing with this thing. I've been shooting 150 grains of Hodgdon Triple Seven powder through it. The thing is pretty accurate I have found. Shooting good groups at fifty yards with the open sights. 2"-3" with a good rest. Good Luck and let me know how you do this fall. Boy they are a bugger to clean though.

[Lured In]

While possible, I am doubtful you will get much bugling activity that late. Unless something is really different in rut timing, the eastside shouldn't be that much different than the westside.

[Artwo]

We had elk bugling all over the place this year during the Eastern Oregon first rifle season over in the Fossil unit. Mostly heard them at night way up the ridge behind our camp. Had a small spike right up the hill behind our camp screaming his head off opening morning. We kept hitting him with the cow call and he would squeel back at us, we nic-named him squeaky. We ended up with a large spike and our good freind from Washinton took a beautiful 6x7. Out of the last three years we've hunted this location this was the first year we have heard them bugling that late in the season.

[Amahnee]

I've had'em screamin while rifles were boomin all over the place during deer rifle season in first week of Oct. and had friends tell of bugling up into first season bull. Just wondering from the rest of you guy's. Thanks for the input!

[Hey Man]

Amahanee,

I am pretty sure the powerbelts that Winchester reccommends are not legal in Oregon. I contacted the company via e-mail before I purchased my muzzleloader and they were the ones that told me this based on Oregons definition of legal loads. It's worth looking in to though because I have read nothing but good things about them. If you find out different let me know because I would like to use them.

[Amahnee]

You got it. I've got to find a good legal load and quick too. I understand that they do make a llegal bullet for Oregon. It has to be solid lead. No Sabots, no jacketed slugs. I'll let you know when I find out. I want to make sure I get the tag before I go get all excited and start shooting every weekend. In the meantime I'll keep shooting arrows.

[TAILOUT]

Ive seen and heard elk bugling the first week of Oct. in Central Oregon in the sage and juniper, it seems as if the hotter it is later in the summer ie. indian summer the more active they are later in year. Its like the mating season goes on longer because the hot weather keeps the elk less active, or maybe not longer but cows that dont get screwed will go into heat a second time.

[sunshinefisherman]

Per Oregon regs:
No sabots
No jacketed bullets
No scopes, Open or peep sights only
No fiber optic, illuminated sights, etc.
No centerfire primers
No revolving actions
No pelletized powders

[Radke]

If the powerbelt slug you mentioned has that little plastic thinggie on the bottom, it isn't legal either. Your selection is limited to solid lead slugs that are no longer than twice the diameter, and round ball.

If you are hunting the east grant county hunt, I've tried it twice, and elk bugled both times. They responded to a hyperhot better than a bugle or typical cow call.

[Amahnee]

Bought a box of 385 grain Buffalo Bullets. Pre-lubed. Has anybody shot these? if so, whatcha think?

[1LuckyDog]

Powerbelt does make a 50 cal solid lead bullet. We shoot them in Washington and they are also legal in OR

Gonic 50 cal

[Fish Hawg]

1LD,so they dont have a plastic base on them?


Amahnee , Yes they work awesome, I have got somme good groups with them. My dad shot a cow elk @ 70 yards and it blew her off her feet, it went through both sholders :shocked:.....Ross

[1LuckyDog]

The do have a plastic cap on the bottom, but that doesn't make them jacketed.

[Fish Hawg]

Thast what I thought, but in oregon they said no plastic base. round ball or similar to a buffalo bullet.

[Amahnee]

SHWEET! I'll get to shootin right away. Thanks FH

[Fishbone]

OAR 635-065-0705 "Muzzleloading Rifles"

paragraph 2) "Hunters shall use only round ball, conical lead or lead alloy bullets whose length does not exceed two times the diameter."

Interestingly, sabots and plastic appurtenances are not mentioned. Maybe a .429-.430 cal conical lead bullet in a .50 cal gun (with sabot) is legal for deer during muzzleloader-only seasons?

http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/...5/635_065.html

[Fish Hawg]

If you read on page 14 of this link you will see what I'm talking about (no plastic bases) LINK

[Amahnee]

Here is the official scoop from the regs. Now can we stick to the topic? Sheeesh! Hunting experiences, bugling, etc...

Muzzleloader
• Scopes (permanent and detachable), fiber optics sights, sights that use artificial light or energy, and sights that enhance, gather, or concentrate natural light are
not allowed during muzzleloader-only seasons and 600 series hunts where there is a weapon restriction of shotgun/muzzleloader only or archery/muzzleloader
only. Open and peep sights made from alloys, plastic, or other materials that do not have the properties described above are legal sights.
• It is illegal to hunt with jacketed bullets, sabots, and bullets with plastic or synthetic bases during muzzleloader-only seasons and 600 series hunts where there
is a weapon restriction of shotgun/muzzleloader only or archery/muzzleloader only. Round balls and conical lead or lead alloy bullets with a length that does
not exceed twice the diameter, and cloth, paper or felt patches are allowed.
• It is illegal to hunt with centerfire primers as an ignition source during muzzleloader-only seasons and 600 series hunts where there is a weapon restriction
of shotgun/muzzleloader only or archery/muzzleloader only.
• It is illegal to hunt with pelletized powders or propellants during muzzleloader-only seasons and 600 series hunts where there is a weapon restriction
of shotgun/muzzleloader only or archery/muzzleloader only. Granular (loose) black powder and black powder substitutes are the only legal propellants
during muzzleloader-only seasons and 600 series hunts where there is a weapon restriction of shotgun/muzzleloader only or archery/muzzleloader only.
• No other firearm may be used for hunting during a muzzleloader-only season (See definition page 10).
• Muzzleloading firearms with revolving actions are prohibited during muzzleloader-only seasons and 600 series hunts where there is a weapon restriction of
shotgun/muzzleloader only or archery/muzzleloader only.

[Fish Hawg]

Amahnee, How did you copy and paste that? I could not get it to do any thing.....Ross

[Amahnee]

OK, here you go. If you are in this window, hit "control" & your "N" key. That will open another window of this page. If you want to copy something from another site, go there and highlight what you want to copy then go click on "Edit" and click "copy". Go back to the other window Ifish post page, your e-mail message page, etc.. Just left click your mouse where you want the copy to go, then click "edit" again and hit "paste". BAM! There you go. Good Luck! I hope I explained so you can understand. :smile:

[Fish Hawg]

Yes, Thanks for the help.....Ross

[Amahnee]

Chew gottit mang!