What was the first year of Muzzleloading season in New York?

[Pilgrim]

Does any one remember, what was the first year of Muzzleloading season in New York? I remember Sid Bell (The Alaskan Silversmith) being on a hunting stamp. Was that the first year?

I am trying to remember when I first started hunting muzzle. I believe it was between 1990 and ‘92. I think the year was the season after Sid Bell was on the New York State Muzzleloading stamp.

It was a strange coincidence because, it was my first time at “Whitetales Bluff” a camp in St. Lawrence County and I met Sid there. It was his first time there too. I was brand-new to hunting and all this muzzle loading stuff. The guys all laughed and broke my chops as it goes in most camps. To get them off my back, I told them to leave me alone, I’m just a pilgrim and the name stuck.  I’ve belong to that old camp ever since.

If any one could help me out here with a time frame, I’d appreciate it.  And if anyone knows of a website or place where I could find pictures of old hunting stamps from New York state that would be great too. If I see a muzzleloading stamp it might jar my memory.

Thank you much, keep you powder dry..  Pilgrim

[G-Man]

Muzzleloader season in ny started in 1971 or 73 can't quite remember which. You could try back issues of the conservationist for the old stamps.

[bubba]

special muzzleloader season started in 1983 in the northern zone. There were specific areas you could hunt, mostly in the dacks. 

[Daveboone]

You could use a muzzleloader at any time, but the ML season was implemented in the early 70s due to the resurgence in popularity around the bicentenial- 73-74 I recall.

[G-Man]

73  sounds right for the southern zone, i'll take bubba for the northern as i have no idea as i never hunt there..

[monza626]

i think early 1700 hundreds or were you talking about modern muzzleloading lol

[bigpaul]

Just looked it up in DEC's 5 year plan. 1973 you could use a muzzleloader in the regular season. 1982 was the first late muzzleloader season in the southern zone.

[bigpaul]

I'll have to look in the gun safe, I believe I saved all my old licenses. Those stamps were great, I just regreted signing my name across them.

[tughillhunter]

Im being told 1976, but became more statewide in 91.