4 Tips For Late-Season Muzzleloader Hunting

However, hunting during the late season vastly differs from before and during the rut. Deer are very active during the rut, and many have not survived, making the survivors much more cautious. Therefore, you must be even more strategic with your hunts later in the season.

As you probably already know, bucks lose about 20% of their body mass during the rut. With that said, they aren't going to budge unless they absolutely have to travel because they are low on energy and very tense from all of the action early and mid-season action.

Late-season hunting is often the muzzleloader season for many states. How can you take advantage of this time of year and bring home a buck – especially if you've struck out so far in the early season? Check out our four tips for late-season muzzleloading hunting to increase your odds of success.

Muzzleloader Basics

First, let's cover a few basics for hunting with a muzzleloader.

What makes a gun a muzzleloader? A muzzleloader is any gun you load from the muzzle – or the part of the gun where the projectile exits at the end of the barrel.

A muzzleloader could be a rifle, shotgun, pistol, or revolver. However, the most popular muzzleloader is a rifle, specifically the long-barrel muzzleloader, for hunting.

When purchasing a muzzleloader, keep in mind that you will be buying more than just the gun and ammo. You'll also need accessories to clean and maintain it. However, using one of these firearms for hunting is an adventure and a rewarding experience!

4 Tips for Muzzleloader Hunting Success

Now that you understand how a muzzleloader differs from modern firearms, let's look at four tips to help you successfully bring home a buck using one for hunting.

1. Scout Again (Even Though The Rut Is Over)

Scouting during the late season is an often overlooked strategy, yet it is still just as important. Many hunters consider that they scouted all September and do not feel the need to re-scout the land they already know before heading out for a late-season hunt.

This can be a big mistake! Re-scouting later in the season can actually be very useful during muzzleloader season, especially when the rut is over.

So, before you head out to your land for the weekend hunt, set aside some time to re-evaluate your land. Some areas might be vastly covered in snow, allowing for great coverage. There could be highly used travel lanes that are even more apparent this time of year, or maybe some new buck rubs in your area.

Especially if you are hunting public land, you will want to take the time to scout and check up on your beloved bucks that made it through the rut.

2. As Always, Understand Your Scope

It may sound simple, but it is always smart to verify and re-check your scope before enduring late-season hunts. It is never safe to assume that your riflescope's hash marks are completely on.

After all, many of us haven't touched our muzzleloaders since the previous season. So, re-evaluate and practice before you head out for your muzzleloader hunt.

3. Make Sure Your Powder Stays Dry

Gunpowder can get wet in a number of ways. Considering it is now the late season, you could most likely be enduring some harsh conditions, whether rain, blizzard-like snow, sleet, or hail.

So, make sure you pay attention to one underlying problem: condensation.

Although it is not necessarily "unsafe" to have your charge in the barrel when you are not hunting, it is not ideal, as you are "fogging" up the barrel.

Either keep your muzzleloader at the same temperature as where you plan to hunt or completely unload your rifle and start fresh the next morning.

4. Locate Food Sources and Sit All Day Long

We've said it before and will say it again: locating food sources is one of the most crucial elements to finding the big boys.

Hunt a high-energy food source loaded with carbs like corn or soybeans. This can be very important to your late-season success. However, deer movement and activity are very minimal during these times.

That is why you must force yourself to sit all day. To catch all of the action, try sitting from sunrise to dusk and waiting for a buck to cross your path.

Enjoy More Muzzleloader Hunting Success with HuntWise

Ready for a bonus tip? Use HuntWise to improve your muzzleloader hunting success!

It's crucial to plan for your hunts, no matter which point you hunt during the season. The more you plan and evaluate your opportunities, the more likely you are to have success. The best way to plan is to use the ultimate hunting tool – HuntWise – to scout, mark your maps, and learn about wind, weather, and animal patterns.

If you don't yet have the app, download it today and explore every feature – free – for your first week.

Good luck out there, hunters, and shoot straight!

Content reviewed and updated July 12, 2024.