rkba2nd wrote on Dec 20
th, 2022 at 2:07pm:
It is my understanding that the reason for a primitive "traditional" big game season, was to allow those to hunt with said rifles, without the woods being overrun by hunters with high powered rifles. Thus giving those hunters a more level playing field and enjoyment of a beautiful time of year to spend in the outdoors and enjoy their choice of firearm(an inch)and they will find a way to take (a mile). My definition of primitive does not include saboted bullets, primer ignition, bolt action breech loading, modern high power scopes and on and on. I believe that some of the blame rests with the game departments, as they see it as a way to sell more licences to bring in more revenue. That not being the original intent for their existence. Some still hunt with a traditional rifle, and I applaud them.
Here in Oregon traditional ML season was simply to allow people who hunted with ML to actually use 100% true originals, or replicas of the same. It required the hunters to use iron sights that were traditional, and also rifles of percussion or flintlock, with open ignition systems.
So a number of people hunting this season were challenged by what our typical November/December rainy weather could add to the challenge. Most had no problem with the sight rule, but both flintlocks, and percussions could result in missed shots when those types of ignition systems got wet. I have a friend who hunts this season every chance he gets and told me he uses a piece of masking tape over the muzzle, and some saran wrap over his cap and nipple when he's hunting in wet weather. He removes the saran wrap to shoot, but just lets the powder bow the tape off the crown.
I'm not sure if our rules allow sabots now that they're relaxed or not? They changed a couple years ago, and again for this year to loosen up rules some more. But still have to use a muzzle loader, so there's nobody running around this season with cartridge guns.