Tracking Dogs & Muzzleloader Scopes

This is part three of three of our deer hunting series. A couple of new laws that are interesting and important this year have come to my attention. Number one:

Tracking with Dogs

Tracking with dogs is now legal in Minnesota for both deer and bear hunting. There are a few rules that you should know if you plan to track with dogs.

The person attempting to locate the animal must have in possession a valid license to take the deer or bear. If you’re party hunting, in my interpretation, that would mean that the person whose tag you’re using must be present when tracking with a dog and have that tag in their possession. Dog handlers who do not have a valid license must be accompanied by a licensed hunter with the license in possession. The licensed hunter and dog handler must be on foot and must wear blaze orange or pink. Now remember, that means 50% above the waist must be blaze orange or pink and that is measured by each square foot of the clothing above the waist.

Any light used must be an artificial light carried in the hand or attached to the person. I don’t know what other kind of light you would use (a torch?!) but those are the rules. The dog must be on a leash no longer than 30 feet. The hunter or dog handler must physically control the leash at all times. So, keep that leash in your hand at all times! The dog owner’s name and telephone number must be on the dog while it is used to locate a wounded deer or bear.

I’m a big fan of this law because it’s really just designed to locate the wounded animal. After all, the goal is to have a nice clean kill and have the animal suffer in the least possible manner and to get that meat on the table! Don’t waste that meat! This law will help hunters find the wounded animal. Keep in mind that we’re still not allowed to pursue wild game with a dog, just to track a wounded deer or bear as outlined above. A lot of other states are doing it. Some states have done it for a long time. I’m happy to see Minnesota on board with this sensible new law!

Scopes

The next new law is a lot more controversial. This new law allows for the use of scopes on muzzleloaders. Muzzleloading has traditionally been seen as a primitive weapon sport. In reality, not many people muzzleloaded traditionally because it was so primitive that you’d have to stuff the barrel with gun powder and plug it with a bullet. The typical old muzzleloader would only shoot about 50 yards and they really weren’t that accurate. Even archery hunting soon became more accurate and allowed more range than muzzleloading for a period of time there. Within the past ten years or so, new technologies such as an inline barrel with black powder pellets has entered the scene. This new technology in muzzleloading made it so hunters can shoot a lot farther, even as far as 150 yards! This range is challenging with open sights and without a scope. However, the woods have really gotten crowded in the past ten years with this new technology!

I agree that a scope will likely allow for less wounded animals, which is a good thing! However, this new law is sure to bring even more muzzleloaders into the woods! With the scope, it’s darn near equivalent of shotgun season because slugs can go about 150 to 200 yards max with a scope accurately. This means hunters can shoot about the same range and about the same amount of accuracy as a shotgun slug, the only real difference is a single shot versus several. Of course, you are required to use a muzzleloader with the added advantage of a scope. You can have any magnification that you want, so go ahead and affix any magnification you desire! Consider staying far away from my hunting grounds!

Stay safe out there, avoid a ticket, and good luck hunting!

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