I liked that alot. That guy cut the argument to the quick for certain. And of course a crossbow is a bow in all of the important aspects. Anyone that argues otherwise surely has some type of bias towards them. I also know there is a big difference in the muzzleloaders reliabilities. Of course a flinter will not be as reliable in bad weather. Had one and it was a bear to use. I also know the reasons that the traditionalists in Pa feel the way they do...but you have to admit that the season wasn't set up just to provide muzzleloading hunters a chance to use their flintlocks..It was set up so people could have another season to hunt deer. The state, in it's ignorance, decided that the hunters had to use a Flinter...almost all the other states seasons were set up to use any muzzleloader. There were inline rifles way back in the 19th century...as well as underhammer rifles. The whole reason for the season is to be able to hunt. Let the traditionalists do it their way and the modernists do it theirs. The differences really aren't all the much different than the bow hunting crowds..longbows to recurves(with sights) to compounds with sights and releases, overdraws etc and the ultra modern 90% let offs with all the bells and whistles. Still though at the end of the day...a muzzleloader is just that..a muzzleloader...and a bow is a bow as long as it throws a stick with a string using limbs. And again...if the ol mountain men had the chance to use a modern inline...they woulda jumped at the chance without lookin back. Now days all the different kinds of primitive (even inlines) are used for a HUNTING season.
BTW Adam, I have talked to a lot of people who hunt with the flintlocks in Pa. It comes out that a lot of them seem to be mad over the fact that the flinter season is late and all the "best" deer are gone. I've actually heard the same arguments in Md from the firearm hunters...complaining that most of the big deer are killed earlier by the bow hunters and the early muzzloader season!
And to answer the last statement you made about reliability in bad weather just don't hunt in a hard rain...or if able to..use a caplock or inline when that type of day pops up. Admit that you won't hunt any differently..you'll just use a more efficient arm for the conditions. And I'll bet if you do bag a deer...it won't be at any different range than normal...you are after all an ethical hunter! I've read your posts and can tell.
