Muzzle Loader Activities in AlaskaMuzzle Loader Activities in Alaska
Participants at the 2002 ASMLA Alaska State Rendezvous
The Alaska State Muzzle Loading Association is a statewide organization that provides, encourages and actively supports a direct and continuing means for responsible use, ownership, collection, trade, sale and display of muzzle loading firearms and all other associated items of historical and current interest. Although ASMLA has no shooting range of it's own it cosponsors the Alaska State Rendezvous and the Alaska State Shoot and NMLRA's Alaska Territorial match. Most of Alaska's muzzle loader and living history clubs are affiliated with the State Association, which plays a lead role in representing our interests in the political arena.
Similar to the annual rendezvous of the nineteenth century at which Rocky Mountain trappers exchanged their peltries for equipment and supplies and enjoyed a spree before their next season in the field, modern historical rendezvous are events where living history enthusiasts gather to celebrate the lifestyles of our historical frontier ancestors. Rendezvous usually include muzzleloader shooting matches and other contests where contestants pit their historical skills against those of others. At most rendezvous, vendors such as Nor' West Company and skilled craftspeople offer their historically authentic goods for sale. Participants of historical rendezvous wear the same clothing and use the same equipment and supplies as our historical ancestors while camping in authentic tents or other shelters.
Several historical rendezvous are conducted in Alaska each summer. The two largest of these are the annual Memorial Day Weekend Rendezvous, and the Alaska State Rendezvous.
The 2007 Memorial Day rendezvous will be held at Fort Wick, near Talkeetna. More information will be provided about that event as it becomes available. The 2007 Alaska State Rendezvous will be held the last full week of June at the Chena Lakes Flood Control Project near North Pole. David "Music Man" Underwood is the booshway of that event and can be contacted by Email.
The 2007 Fall Rendezvous will be at mile 152.5 of the Glenn highway at the home of Smitty and Jessie. You'll see a state outhouse on the opposite side of the road. There will be plenty of burnable wood. Creek is 50 feet from campsite (sanitize the water) There are fish in the creek. Dates are Sept 22 - 23. Early set-up is permitted on the 21st. Booshway Dennis 'Lightfoot' Midgely always has great events planned, plus Smitty and Jessie have been working on a trail-walk. For more info call Dennis at 907-895-4216.
The "Alaskan Lifestyle" largely centers around outdoor activities, especially fishing, hunting and trapping. It should be no surprise that many people enjoy these traditional activities using historically authentic clothing, equipment and supplies. 'Historical trekking' is the living history sport in which participants reenact the day to day lifestyles of historical frontiersmen and their families. The Coalition of Historical Trekkers maintains a very active state chapter in Alaska and CoHT activities include at least one formally organized trek during each season of the year, as well as other living history events and activities for our members. Nor' West Company proprietor Thom "Swanny" Swan is the current national president of CoHT.
CoHT Alaska chapter representative David "Music Man" Underwood publishes the Alaskan Historical Trekker newsletter for CoHT members quarterly. The newsletter includes a listing of upcoming historical treks, historical rendezvous, and other events of interest to those who reenact the frontier history of our Nation. The Alaska Chapter of CoHT is the most active chapter in CoHT's North West Territory and sponsors several historical treks and other events each year.
The Midnight Sun Muzzle Loaders club is located in Fairbanks, and conducts Wednesday evening and Sunday afternoon shoots throughout the warmer months, and indoor .22 rimfire rifle and pistol shoots during the "off-season". The club's muzzleloader-only range is located at 8.5 mile Chena Hot Springs Road. During the 2002 shooting season we will also hold some shoots at the South Cushman Street rifle range in Fairbanks. Contact president Jim Kruse by Email or telephone (907) 479-1290 or vice-president Bob Hunter, (907) 458-8343.
In Anchorage, the Mount McKinley Mountain Men Muzzle Loading Rifle Club holds a shoot on the second Saturday of each month at the Birchwood Shooting Park. More information about MMMLRC can be obtained from Joe Coe at (907) 688-9614.
Alaska has 12 species of big game animals spread across 365,000,000 acres — an area one-fifth the size of the entire United States. Big game densities are generally much lower than you are probably used to in more southern states. Many big game species in Alaska make long movements between seasonal ranges. The key to successful big game hunting in Alaska is in doing your homework to determine both the best areas and times to hunt the species you are seeking.
Alaska hunting regulations require that a muzzleloader used to hunt brown/grizzly bear, black bear, moose, bison, elk, muskox and mountain goat be a minimum of .54 caliber unless you are shooting an elongated slug. In that case the muzzleloader must be at least .45 caliber and the slug must weigh at least 250 grains.
If you wish to hunt during one our Alaska's very few restricted-weapons hunts, you must have completed an Alaska Department of Fish and Game approved muzzleloader hunter education course which includes ballistic limitations of muzzleloading firearms and a proficiency test. Most IHEA muzzleloader hunter education courses, including those taught by the NRA and NMLRA are acceptable for non-resident hunters. Restricted weapons hunts in which muzzleloaders may be used include:
Game Management Unit #8 - bow and arrow or muzzleloader only hunt for deer.
GMU #14A - bow and arrow or muzzleloader only hunts for moose.
GMU#14C - bow and arrow or muzzleloader only hunts for moose, blackbear, and small game.
GMU#20B - muzzleloader only hunt for anlterless moose
Muzzleloaders may also be used during regular rifle season hunts for all species, subject to the caliber restriction noted above.
A nonresident who hunts brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep, or mountain goat must be personally accompanied by a licensed guide OR by an Alaska resident over 19 years of age who is within the “second degree of kindred.” "Second degree of kindred” means a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, spouse, grandparent, grandchild, brother- or sister-in-law, son- or daughter-in-law, father- or mother-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepsister, stepbrother, stepson, or stepdaughter (5 AAC 92.990). A nonresident alien must be personally accompanied by a licensed guide to hunt ANY big game animal, including black bear, brown/grizzly bear, bison, caribou, Dall sheep, deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, muskox, wolf, and wolverine.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game website provides a tremendous amount of information useful to those who wish to hunt with muzzleloaders in Alaska.