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• MUZZLE-LOADING RIFLE DEER SEASONS <br />Primitive Weapon Seasons were started in 1969, and allowed hunters to use <br />bows and arrows or muzzle-loading rifles, with a season set for August 16 <br />through September 14, 1969, on the Tamarack Wildlife Area for 10 archers and <br />30 muzzle-loaders. Five deer were killed by 26 muzzle-loader hunters. <br />In 1970 the Primitive Weapon season was opened in seven areas beginning <br />in mid-September when 269 muzzle-loaders killed 52 deer of hunter's choice. <br />Eight areas were open to primitive deer hunting in 1971, August 21 through <br />September 12, when 424 muzzle-loaders harvested 76 antlered deer. <br />A muzzle-loading rifle season, as such, was initiated in 1972 in 12 areas, <br />subject to the then-new "one and only hunt" concept. A total of 637 muzzle- <br />loader hunters harvested 188 antlered deer. <br />Pfuzzle-loading rifle deer hunters only used 1,489 of 1,621 licenses sold <br />to kill 531 deer of hunter's choice in 13 areas in 1973. <br />1974 marked the first year in which [he numbers of muzzle-loading hunting <br />licenses were limited. Eleven areas of the state were open to hunter's choice, <br />• resulting in a harvest of 211 deer by 974 hunters, though 1,390 licenses were <br />available. <br />In 1975, 12 Big Came Management Onits were open for a total of 1,225 lic- <br />enses. Of the 1,021 licenses sold, only 881 muzzle-loader enthusiasts hunted, <br />harvestins a total of 130 deer of hunter's choice. <br />In 1976, 19 Big Game Management Units were open for a total of 1,500 author- <br />ized muzzle-loader deer licenses, of which 1,356 were sold. One hundred and fifty- <br />two deer, all bucks, were killed, yielding a success rate of 11 per cent, the <br />lowest in the eight years of muzzle-loading deer hunting. <br />A significant change was implemented in 1977 when 2,000 licenses were author- <br />ized for a statewide deer hunt. Only units 23, 24, 39, 391 and 40 were excluded. <br />One thousand eight hundred and four hunters harvested 588 deer for a 33 per cent <br />success. <br />In 1978, the authorized licenses (2,000) and excluded units stayed the same <br />as in 1977. A total of 1,789 hunters took 645 bucks for a 38 per cent success <br />ratio. Like archery, 1978 was a record year for harvest and success ratio for <br />muzzle-loaders and was indicative of the better deer herd conditions in 1978. <br />• <br />