Hello. I would like to start…

Hello.

I would like to start by saying that I fully agree with this change in opportunity to extend the firearms season for deer in WMUs 39, 41 and 42, at least as they are the ones surrounding where I live.

I have been saying for years, that they should have been changed to the current proposal.

I also like the fact of adding a muzzleloader season, although I might not participate in that as I do not currently own a muzzle loader.

I would like to see muzzle loader seasons across the province to be re-classified as either "black powder" or "primitive weapons" seasons and include either muzzle loaders as is currently the regulation, as well as SINGLE SHOT firearms designed and chambered for black powder cartridges, whether they shoot black powder, black powder substitutes (ie, Pyrodex Triple 7, et al) or smokeless powder using loads that duplicate the original black powder loadings. If approved, my suggestion would allow owners of such firearms as Snider-Enfield (.577 Snider), 1871 Mauser (11mm Mauser/.43 Mauser), Martini-Henry or even more modern break action rifles chambered to cartridges that were originally loaded as black powder, such as .38-40, .44-40, 45-70, etc., whether loaded with black powder or modern smokeless powder to hunt in the extended currently designated muzzle loader season. I would not be objectionable to keeping them iron sights only.

I currently own an 1871 Mauser, single shot in .43 Mauser that I load with black powder. I see no advantage to shooting that over a modern muzzle loader with modern 209 shotshell priming system and powder pellets of modern black powder substitutes using optical sights. If anything, modern muzzle loaders would be more accurate for longer ranges. Introducing older "antique" status firearms would be more challenging, I think.

I think that by using the current federal government definition of an antique firearms would cover what I am suggesting, with the following information copied from the RCMP website with respect ti antique firearms:

"Rifles

Rifles manufactured before 1898 with the following characteristics:

able to discharge only rim-fire cartridges, other than:
.22 Calibre Short
.22 Calibre Long
.22 Calibre Long Rifle cartridges

able to discharge centre-fire cartridges (whether with a smooth or rifled bore), have a bore diameter of 8.3 mm or greater, measured from land to land in the case of a rifled bore, with the exception of a repeating firearm fed by any type of cartridge magazine."

Due to the fact that rimfire cartridges are prohibited for hunting big game, that leaves single shot rifles made before 1898, shooting cartridges with an 8.3mm or larger bullet.

I would appreciate any feedback on my suggestion to modify the muzzle loader season at the email you have on file.

Thank you.