When someone hears the word primitive weapon, it can conjure up different meanings. Many think of primitive weapons (blowguns, spears, bow and arrow, Atlatl, slingshot) as being something associated with cavemen of the past, and certainly many of today’s modern primitive weapons do date back to the beginning of mankind.

Today’s class of primitive weapons that are used for today’s big game hunting includes the bow and arrow, the crossbow and muzzleloading firearms.

The earliest primitive weapons were called Atlatl. This primitive weapon was used to throw arrows or spears by hand.

It was truly a very early primitive and inaccurate weapon and was soon replaced by the bow and arrow which was much more accurate.

One of the more accurate types of bow and arrow is the crossbow, and they date to the 5th century BC in China.

The first American colonists, the wilderness settlers, the Revolutionary and Civil war soldiers and the pioneers depended on Davy Crockett type muzzleloader or blackpowder guns to protect them and their families and to bring food to the table.

Today the “modern: muzzleloader has struck the fancy of many hunters who have been taken to this modern firearm built in some cases with similarities to the muzzleloading guns of years past.

The 2008 Primitive Weapons Season for deer in Georgia begins Oct. 11 and will run through Oct. 17. During this entire one-week season, hunters can harvest deer of either sex. Last year more than 61,000 muzzleloader hunters harvested approximately 16,133 deer. Also last year almost 94,000 archery hunters harvested more than 34,000 deer.

Muzzleloading rifles (.44 caliber or larger), muzzleloading shotguns (20 gauge or larger) and archery equipment (including crossbows) can be used during the primitive weapons season.

During the upcoming primitive weapons season, muzzleloader hunters may now use scopes, iron sights or peep sights (fiber-optic sights are also legal). In addition, crossbows with scopes may also be used during the primitive weapons season.

Hunters look upon the use of the primitive weapons whether it is a muzzleloader, a crossbow or bow and arrow as a real challenge to harvest wildlife.

Today’s modern primitive weapons are very accurate but the challenge comes from the fact that you normally only get one shot. An exception to that one shot rule might be the newer bullets that blackpowder hunters can reload in seconds.

In terms of accuracy of the various primitive weapons, I would place the muzzleloader first, followed by the crossbow and then the standard bow and arrow. In all cases success, distance and accuracy have a lot to do with the shooter’s understanding of his equipment’s capabilities and limitations and the hunter’s proficiency in using the primitive weapon.

Since hunters already enjoy a statewide four-week archery (including crossbows) season, the emphasis on the one-week primitive weapons season is mostly on the use of muzzleloaders. Hunters can purchase muzzleloaders fully assembled or buy kits and assemble them.

These kits further broaden interest in the muzzleloaders as it appeals to the hunter’s interest as craftsmen.

Most modern muzzleloaders fall into the $200 to $500 price range.

Today there are two distinct groups of muzzleloader hunters. First you have the “blackpowder traditionalist” whose guns are very similar to the blackpowder or smokepole guns used by frontiersmen like Davy Crockett in the early days of our country and second you have the “modern muzzleloaders” whose guns meet the letter of the law but have no level of traditional authenticity or similarity to original blackpowder guns.

Fortunately or unfortunately depending on the group you might fall into, the modern muzzleloader is now widely accepted after some initial controversy.

Some traditionalists insist the modern muzzleloader just does not have the charm or beauty of the original blackpowder firearms.

The modern muzzleloader does not shoot farther, until recently did not load much faster, and does not have any greater knock down power than the traditional blackpowder firearms but they are readily available to hunters. However the modern muzzleloader is very accurate.

Hunters are looking for a challenge and the modern muzzleloader can provide that challenge.

The modern muzzleloader looks very familiar to the modern cartridge hunting rifle and in fact handles much like a contemporary rifle.

Today’s modern muzzleloaders for the most part don’t look anything like the smokepole guns from the past. They are also much lighter by as much as two pounds, and in many cases they look like a modern contemporary rifle.

Also modern muzzleloaders are not limited to rifles but muzzleloading shotguns are also available.

So whether you fall into the category or traditional muzzleloader hunter and shoot a replica from the past or you fall into the nontraditional muzzleloader hunter and shoot the modern muzzleloader or you plan to continue using the bow and arrow, you need to prepare now if you plan to hunt during Georgia’s upcoming primitive weapons season.

Good hunting and see you next week.