Hunt at night here and you'll end up in jail.

I never have taken questionable shots, with or without a scope. One could call me very patient and particular. As with szihn, the game always comes home whether flintlock, single shot, double rifle or repeater.

You hunt with a scope, fine, I'm glad for you. Your wants apparently warrant using a scope vastly more than mine. I neither need nor want one, not yet. I used to use one but, it was too easy. Shots that could easily be made with a scope were often impossible with open or aperture sights and, that's fine with me, I don't hunt for "easy", I hunt for the challenge. I WANT it difficult, it's vastly more rewarding, for me. I simply don't take those shots or ponder them later. If it's too dark for open sights I wait till later in the day or don't go. If it's evening, I simply walk back to my house. Tomorrow's another day and if I'm here, great. If not, I bet Heaven is even better than I imagine!!

My days of travelling to hunt are over. Small game and whitetail here on our property satisfy any urges I have to kill something or, there's wild boar down the road a piece.

I might have been on my last hunt. The fire burns pretty dim these days but, for the better part of 60 years it was nearly all consuming.

I agree with Daryl and others, new shooters should become proficient with open sights before ever being allowed a scope and, learning with an open sighted flintlock would be better yet. They would REALLY learn how to shoot.

So no, they aren't obsolete. People simply don't take the time to learn to use them, become proficient with them and STAY proficient with them. Were I still shooting 1000 yards Hi Power competitively I'd assuredly use a scope. For hunting, not yet.