The Nation - News from Dec. 20, 1988

Massachusetts’ three-day “primitive” deer hunting season opened with officials predicting 10,000 hunters armed only with flintlock or caplock muskets will take to the forests. “These guys are not out there trying to make it easy for themselves,” said Ellie Horowitz, spokeswoman for the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. “You get one shot. You don’t often get a second shot because it takes time to reload with your powder and ball, and you also have to worry about keeping your powder dry.” The primitive season began in Massachusetts in 1973, Horowitz said. The hunters must use a flintlock or caplock musket that existed before 1865, she said. Exact replicas of the muskets also are allowed, Horowitz said. Bow hunting is not allowed.