DICKSON, Tenn. -
Deer hunters spent much of Friday loading up for the opening of the muzzle loader season.
At Dickson's Sportsman Store, dozens of hunters filtered in and out, buying bullets and other items they will have when they officially start looking for deer on Saturday.
"It's the time of the year when the bucks are chasing the does in the next week or two all the activity happens in a two to three week period," Sportsman's Store Rick Dysinger said.
Muzzle loader is one of the oldest kind of shooting. It requires the hunter to load through the muzzle. Hunters will load the gun with gunpowder, then wadding which is often made up of felt, cloth or card. What follows is the projectile, typically a loose shot, solid lead ball.
Hunters will also use a ramrod to get all of these items through the muzzle and on the propellant charge.
Older muzzle loaders were slow to load and not as accurate as today's in-line muzzle loaders.
Muzzle loader opens earlier than gun season and is regarded as a favorite for hardcore hunters.
Donnie Craig was re-newing his muzzle loader license at the Sportsman's Store on Friday.
He told Nashville's News 2 he will be hunting early and often.
"Beginning tomorrow, probably two or three times a week," he said.
A full-time pastor, Craig said he is able to find time and has "lots of time to think" when he's waiting on a deer.
Some hunters leave their wives and families to spend time hunting between now and early January when deer season ends.
"Hunter's Widows" have their own Facebook page and a reality show reportedly in the works by the same producers of popular shows on The National Geographic Network, Discovery and A&E.
