[monsternav]

With all the hubbub about Vang, some questions I have always had about hunting "rules" re-surfaced.

I understand the bring enough gun rules (for the sake of the animal, or you, if you are hunting something dangerous, right?).

What about:

1. No FMJ.
2. Rounds in the gun limits.
3. Why the different times for different weapons? I can understand Bow season being seperate from firearms, but what's with Black Powder/Shotgun and/or Rifles being at different times?

Craig

[Art Eatman]

MOST STATES (but not necessarily all) require expanding bullets when hunting game animals. Same for a five-round limit for most rifles, although this seems less clear for such as lever-actions. Some states have a ten-round limit...One of those "It varies".

The feds require a three-round maximum for shotguns when hunting migratory birds. Easy enough to put a wooden plug in the forward part of a tube magazine, inside the coil spring, for high-cap shotguns (the venerable Winchester Model 12, for example). No plug needed for non-migratory birds or for deer either, SFAIK--might be different in a shotgun-only state when deer hunting.

Separate seasons for archery and black powder rifles are relatively recent ideas. Since these hunters need to be more up close and personal, the idea was to give them separate, earlier seasons with less disturbance in the woods from the larger groups of centerfire-rifle hunters. Another couple of factors, here, are the great increase in the numbers of deer during this last 50 years, and a desire to spread out the overall hunting load over time.

Hope this helps,

Just guessing: The lethality of Vang's SKS is rather surprising, but possibly more to be expected if he using expanding bullets instead of FMJ. I would have expected fewer dead and more wounded, all things considered. Then again, he might well be above-average in marksmanship...I dunno.

Art

[monsternav]

Art,Thank You for the reply.

1. Expanding bullets: Got it, I should have used some common sense before asking.
2. I know of the various round limits, what is the reasoning behind them?
3. Excellent info, Thank You.
4. I too wondered about the dead/wounded count. What you said, plus how long 'till help got to them?

[mustanger98]

2. I know of the various round limits, what is the reasoning behind them?

In GA, pumps and semi-autos are limited to 5rds to discourage spray&pray firing on deer and promote accurate aimed fire. The rationale is to make one shot count (works better some times than others). Basically, whether a semi holds 5rds or 30, it mostly just shows you how bad a shot the guy on the next ridge is.

Levers and bolts aren't looked at in the same way because they're not generally rapid-fired.

Regarding Vang, a deer hunt, regardless of when/where, ain't worth killing folks over. This sounds like a case where a hanging would be justified.

[gunslinger308]

In Texas there is no round capacity limit except for 3 shells on migratory game( federal law).

This is the only restriction on ammo:
white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope may NOT be hunted with rimfire ammunition of any caliber.

We have archery, muzzleloader, and youth seasons set aside from the rifle season to give these select groups a better chance at being successful. You can also use any of these methods and crossbows during the regular deer season. Don't worry, if there wasn't enough game to last thru all the diff seasons the Parks&Wildlife people wouldn't have the seasons open.

We have ferral hogs down here and they are a real pests, ruin crops and fences. I shoot them with my SKS w/20 rd fixed mag( I haven't got off more than 7 shots at a group of hogs yet). Soft point and FMJ do the same trick on pigs, a kill shot is a kill shot. There will be a day that I come upon a large herd and the high cap mag will be handy!( the TexasParks&Wildlife sometimes has helicopter shoots to control the ferral hogs, they might round up and kill 100 or 200 pigs in a field)

Deer, at most takes 2 shots. Only if you find the deer wounded and not immidiately dying.

The 6 dead hunters? Why did they only find one gun to 8 hunters? I realize most people don't think of being in a life or death situation but if I'm out of doors and not working then I'm carrying a gun. On the other hand the SKS is deadly quick and effective, even if there are countless better rifles on the market. That nut just cracked and I hope they import the death penalty for him.

[Art Eatman]

Gunslinger, let's don't go farther into the Vang thing here, okay? :) But, guessing, maybe all the wounded guy managed to say was "I'm shot!" and so the others just thought they were on a hunting-accident rescue mission. Again, just guessing...

Art

[tc300mag1]

Well here its limited to 5 round in the rifle
3 for a shotgun for mig birds doesnt say for deer but im gonna guess 5 again

As for a handgun it used to be 10 i was reading the rules this weekend as i like to carry my Hk on my belt when putting out heaters and such instead of the wheelie in the shoulder holster since im leaning over and such... So to be on safe side Since i can get 11 in the Hk or 13 in my 9 i reread rules and says nothing about Handguns anymore .