One the eve of the muzzleloader deer hunting season, the Martha’s Vineyard Rod & Gun Club will sponsor a Black Powder Shoot that will provide an opportunity for hunters and primitive weapons enthusiasts to test their skills amid a cloud of smoke.
There are two elements that distinguish the muzzleloader deer hunting season from the shotgun season. A hunter must use a firearm that loads from the muzzle, and he or she gets only one shot.
Competitive events include loading, shooting, and reloading for accuracy and points in two categories, scoped or traditional.
There is a small entry fee for the event. The shoot will be held from 10 am to 3 pm at the club range at the end of Third Street in Edgartown off the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road. It is open to the public. Refreshments will be available.
The muzzleloader season begins one half hour before sunrise Monday, Dec. 14, and ends one half hour after sunset on Thursday, Dec. 31.