Posted on 02/03/2006 3:43:43 AM PST by freepatriot32
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association has announced the appointment of Dave Ehrig as chairman of the Longhunter Committee and the NMLRA Longhunter Muzzleloading Big Game Records Program.
Since 1988, the NMLRA Longhunter Committee and staff have maintained a trophy measuring, scoring, and record-keeping program for North American big game animals taken with muzzleloading firearms. The fourth edition of The Longhunter Muzzleloading Big Game Record Book, which includes all qualifying animals taken since the program’s inception, was recently released.
Mr. Ehrig is well known among muzzleloading enthusiasts and others in the black powder shooting industry. Known as "Pennsylvania’s Mr. Black Powder," he is the author of six books on the subject, host of six black powder videos, contributing editor for PA Game News, Maryland Deer Hunting Guide, Cabela’s Outfitters Journal, Deer and Deer Hunting Muzzleloading, correspondent for the Tines/Shamrock Newspapers and Allentown Morning Call, and a contributor to numerous outdoor magazines.
"The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association’s Longhunter Muzzleloading Big Game Record Book has been one of the best-kept secrets in the muzzleloading hunting fraternity," said Jim Fulmer, NMLRA immediate past president. "With the appointment of Dave Ehrig to Longhunter, we are confident that an entirely new generation of muzzleloader hunters will soon be involved in this exciting program."
Scoring for The Longhunter Muzzleloading Big Game Record Book uses the same system as Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young, as well as certified scorers from those organizations. However, minimum scores for most species are unique to the NMLRA Longhunter program.
"I am extremely optimistic about the growth potential we have with the Longhunter program and record book," Ehrig said. "First and foremost, it is the goal of my committee to see that the program is inclusive of all muzzleloading hunters, and to dispel the misconception that the big game awards program is designed exclusively for traditional flintlock and percussion guns. We want all black powder hunters to know us and share in the recognition."
The original vision of the Longhunter Committee in 1988 was to establish a big game awards book for successful muzzleloading hunters. To increase hunter awareness of the NMLRA/LH program, the program needs media visibility, and hunters need to identify with the program’s goals.
Visibility comes from attending every major hunting convention: NSSF SHOT Show; NRA Convention; SCI Convention; RMEF Convention; B&C Convention; P&Y Convention; NWTF Convention; plus major hunting Expos like those held in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Cincinnati, and elsewhere. Hunter identity with the NMLRA/LH comes from what hunters wear, what they hang on the wall, and what gives them pride of ownership.
Thanks to the board’s approval of new initiatives for the Longhunter, we will now include all muzzleloading hunters (NMLRA members and nonmembers alike) into a big game recognition program by proclaiming their success through a newly designed pewter pin. To earn this recognition, hunters are asked only to submit a photo of themselves and their muzzleloading gun of any ignition type, and a ten dollar fee. The circular pin will have "NMLRA" around the top of the circle and "Longhunter" around the bottom. The inside will contain a game animal symbol, initially including deer (1400+ entries in the Fourth Edition Longhunter Muzzle Loading Big Game Record Book), pronghorn (500+ entries), elk (300+), and bear (200+), plus other North American species as the program evolves. The pin will quietly and proudly proclaim the hunter’s success and our association sponsorship.
There will be no additional record keeping, notarized date of kill, witnesses, or statements to deal with, because these "trophies" will not be of record book status. Animals that achieve minimum record book scores will still need to be entered through the appropriate application to the NMLRA Longhunter Director Joyce Vogel at Friendship, Indiana for consideration in the Fifth Edition Longhunter Muzzle Loading Big Game Record Book (2008). The LH Committee will accept the hunters’ word as their bond for all pewter species pins.
This Muzzleloading Big Game Pin will be proclaiming two much needed things to the rest of the North American hunting fraternity:
1. The recipient is a proud and successful muzzleloading hunter of the species recognized; and
2. The NMLRA/Longhunter Big Game Records Program is alive and well on a national scale, and it offers to successful hunters the recognition they deserve from the appropriate national association.
Hunters will be allowed to buy one pin for each muzzleloading animal that they have harvested, even in years prior to the pin program.
Muzzle Blasts will print a Muzzleloading Big Game Pin photo collage page including some of the successful hunters. This page will be composed of the pictures submitted from those who receive their pins. Once the program has received enough entries, Muzzle Blasts will begin a photo collage for the following issues on an annual basis:
February – photographs of elk, caribou, moose, bear, muskox, and bison successfully hunted by muzzleloaders.
May – photos of the five subspecies of wild turkey successfully hunted by muzzleloaders.
August – photos of pronghorn, goat, and sheep successfully hunted by muzzleloaders.
November –all subspecies of deer successfully hunted by muzzleloaders.
Moreover, the LH program is taking another bold step forward in the recognition of an overlooked but extremely popular big game animal: the American wild turkey. The Longhunter Muzzleloading Big Game Record Book will not be impacted by the wild turkey recognition program, because there will be no world records involving these feathered giants. Instead, the LH will provide recognition – in the form of a pin, certificate, and for some, a plaque – to successful muzzleloading hunters.
Recognition of muzzleloading hunters’ success can be accomplished with a pin and certificate for each bird harvested. Proof will again be by photograph and the hunter’s word.
But in an effort to bring big game honor to hunters who pursue this big game bird in all of its sub species (Eastern, Osceola, Rio Grande, Merriam’s and Gould’s), the Longhunter Program will offer a special series of awards.
A "Triple Trophy" plaque will be presented to muzzleloading hunters who harvest three subspecies from North America. This event will need to be certified with both a photograph and written description of who/what/when/where, and how to the Longhunter Program Director.
A "Grand Slam" plaque will be presented to successful muzzleloading hunters with the proper documentation for four subspecies from North America.
A "Royal Slam" plaque will be presented to successful muzzleloading hunters with the proper documentation for five species from North America.
Because of the difficulty and rarity of these turkey harvests, honorees and other Longhunter Big Game Record holders will be invited for recognition to the annual Fall Banquet at Friendship. This initiative will propel the NMLRA/LH forward with a group of big game hunters who have long been overlooked.
There will be no reduction in the honor of having an entry recorded in the Big Game Record Book. But by having the Longhunter become a more inclusive program, we will be spreading the word that the NMLRA/LH is the organization that promotes and gives recognition to muzzleloading hunters!
These two initiatives, the pins and wild turkey recognition, plus the ultimate Longhunter Muzzleloading Big Game Record Book, will generate enthusiasm and prestige among the nation’s three million hunters and twelve million muzzleloading gun owners. The new era for the NMLRA/LH Big Game Records Program and Hunter Recognition Programs will move the organization forward into even more exciting opportunities in the future, as well as fulfilling the vision for the Big Game Record Book program.
These proposals were accepted, moved, and passed by the NMLRA Board of Directors on September 12th, 2005 at Friendship, Indiana.
In addition to the black powder records program, the NMLRA Longhunter program works to improve and expand muzzleloading hunting seasons and hunting opportunities, and provides access to the NMLRA Stolen Gun Registry.
Since 1933, the NMLRA has worked to preserve, promote, and support the rich muzzleloading heritage through recreational, educational, historical, and cultural venues – including match competition, hunting, gun-making and safety, historical re-enactments, exhibits, museums, libraries, and other programs.
if you belong to any gun groups you should check these guys out
ping
I hope those inline modern guns that they call 'muzzle loaders' are not included...might as well use your 30-06.
When I do use my muzzleloader to hunt it is with a side lock....I consider that cheating cause it is a cap and ball rifle.....I hope to get a flinter one day......
Pennsylvania is one of a few states still with a "traditional" muzzleloader season.
and that is a correct call on PA's part.
I didn't even know there was such a thing as the NMLRA...and I've been hunting with muzzle-loaders since I was 10 years old. I guess I ought to join.
Nothing like that buck coming in range, raising that big old kentucky longrifle, flint stikes steel, and sending that patched ball through a cloud of smoke into the lungs of that deer. At least that is what's supposed to happen(damn missfires). I am already a member of that group. I do not belong to the NRA.
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the inline muzzle-loaders as less-than-authentic. Saw a local outdoors show a few years back and a muzzle-loading enthusiast made the point that these types of arms have been around for longer than most believe.
I've got side-hammers and one in-line. Several years back I missed a large buck at 20-yards from a tree-stand. Watched him coming down a trail, rack out past his ears. I didn't bother counting points. I did have him down and processed and mounted before he stopped on the trail, a few branches in the way. Gun is already up, hammer back, lining up sights...click...the hammer fell by itself but the #10-11? cap didn't go off. His ears are up, tensed, I pull back again, sight quickly...he must be ready to bolt...and fire...bang...ka-boom! and off he goes in the direction he came from, stops 100 yards off. I begin to reload. Getting dark, I get down, and see a big hole in the ground...delayed fire. Ouch.
http://www.hunting101.com/gunsandbows/muzzle/the%20complete%20hunter%20muzzleloading002.htm
Cool!
I don't know I kinda like the new inlines for hunting.I use to have a .50 cva staghorn 209 magnum inline muzzleloader. (I stupidly sold it to a friend then went to replace it and found out they discontinued that model:-( I m still kicking myself daily.) Its a lot easier to drop three pyrodex pellets into a 209 magnum gun and put a power belt bullet in and fire with greater accuracy and kill power and at much much greater distances then it is to get out the powder horn measure the powder pour it in then get a patch oil it up get out a round ball bullet lube it up and put it in then worry about how much the wind is going to effect it and be limited to shots of less then 100 yards.
For target shooting I use the old style sidelocksi have a .50 cva bobcat I shoot targets with since its cheaper to shoot.(.50 caliber power belt bullets around here are about 1.25 each and .50 caliber round balls are 100 for 4.99)and kinda fun to shoot at targets the way the old civil war soldiers would have done it.I am absolutely in love with the old style cap and ball black powder revolvers they are a blast to shoot.I ve never shot a flintlock or a musket but hope to try those out when I get enough money to get one of those guns and see how they are.
I think if we attract a new generation of muszzleloaders with the modern day in lines they will eventually gravitate to using the older style purer muzzloaders out of curiosity. but you gotta get them interested in muzzloading over all first and if it takes the modern era rifles to do that its still going to end up being a good thing.The more gun owners of any kind we have joining any gun organization the harder it will be for the demonrats to get any form of gun control passed.
yes you definitly should join the more the merrier:-) they have shooting and hunting events and recreations all over the country as well as monthly postal matches if you like muzzloading you ll love these guys i dont belong to the nra becasue they are way to liberal for me but i am a member of nmlra thay arent really a activist lobby group they mainly just stick to holding thier events and publishing thier magazine but they do get a lot of people introdused to muzzleloading and the more gun owners of any kind that are out there the harder it will beto get any gun control laws passed
Yeah if we get people interested in inline...shotgun primer, sabot jacketed round...muzzleloaders we will get people to gravitate toward the traditional...????
..kind of like all the folks that gravitated to long bows after using compound bows.
aint gonna happen.
these muzzle loaders are not primitive weapons and should not be allowed in primitive weapon season big game hunts. It defeats the purpose.....they should only be used in the regular gun season.
I like a patched round ball, but I must say I've had outstanding results with Power-Belt bullets. Anything that drops the deer in its tracks is OK with me.
I have taken deer with 'Buffalo Bullets', using a TC Renegade in 54 caliber....this gun shoots into a 1 lb coffe can lid at 100yds off a rest. I use 100grains of ffg and hope it goes off.
I had a cap go off when shooting at a deer once....but with no boom.....
...after that I got in the habit of pulling the nipple and putting a light charge of fffg under the nipple to aid in ignition...
the fun part with BP is waiting for the smoke to clear to see what the heck you shot and where did it go????
I've found the Pyrodex pellets to be convenient. 2 of the 50-grain pellets produce very good results for me in both my .50-caliber guns. Never a misfire, and never a missing deer. When the smoke clears, I see a carcass on the ground. Very gratifying sight.
I know I'm not strictly traditional, but I'm quite fond of venison...eat it 3 or 4 days a week...I stick with what works.
I enjoy black-powder shooting quite a bit, and wish I had more time to pursue it. I've started Cowboy Action Shooting, and one day, I hope to be able to compete in the "traditional" (black powder) category. Nothing like the boom of a black-powder gun.
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