pistol hunting?

[theboyscout]

is it legal to hunt with a pistol, if so what caliber? if not, is it legal to carry your pistol still for protection while hunting?

 

[mljdeckard]

It varies by state. Are you talking about Florida?

 

[theboyscout]

yes I am in Florida, but to gain some knowledge of other states would be interesting too.

 

[psyopspec]

In addition to the state, it may also depend on what game you're out for.

 

[theboyscout]

hunting hog or deer? I also hunt small game... I hunt all seasons except for black powder

 

[brboyer]

is it legal to hunt with a pistol, if so what caliber? if not, is it legal to carry your pistol still for protection while hunting?

In "General Gun Season" in Florida centerfire pistols are fine, except for migratory birds.
Yes you may carry a pistol while hunting, regardless of the type of game you are taking and regardless of the season. For example, you can legally carry a pistol openly or concealed in Archery season, provided you do not attempt to take game with it.
Florida statute 790.25(3)(h).

Hunting Regulations

 

[bhk]

I frequently hunt with a handgun, both successfully for small game and mulitple deer. Totally legal in most states and quite common.

 

[Upstater]

In N.Y. One can hunt with a pistol and also legally carry a pistol during "gun" season but not during "archery" season for big game.

 

[pendennis]

In Michigan, you can hunt with a handgun, provided it's carried in the open. You may not carry any gun concealed unless you have a current CPL (Concealed Pistol License).

 

[robhof]

robhof

As a former long time Floridian, I never pistol hunted except rabbits in Fl., but here in Ky I've taken several deer with various pistols and rabbit and squirrel.

 

[suemarkp]

In Washington, you can hunt big game with a handgun 24 caliber or larger and that has a barrel length of 4" or more. So an old 32 S&W with a 4" barrel could be used for deer....

We used to have energy requirements, but it was too hard for anyone to figure out if your load was legal because many calibers were on the borderline and some bullets had the energy and some did not. Then you could handload. How do you prove to the game warden that you're using a powerful enough load in 357 or 44 special?

One plus here in WA for handguns is that it is illegal to have a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle (ever). But you can have a loaded handgun. So "road hunting" is much easier while carrying a load handgun.