Differences in state gun regs always interest me. You have to use a 30 cal or bigger on your deer. We have Oryx and Elk and we can use any centerfire 22 cal and up. Colorado used to require 24 caliber and up, but I don't know if that is still the law. This stuff makes no sense really.
It sounds like some .243 Winchesters, .25-06's, .257 Roberts', .250-3000 Savages, .270 Winchesters, 7mm Rem Mag's, 6.5 Creedmoors and .257 Weatherby Mag's have become safe queens all over this. Arthur Savage must have seen this coming when he invented the .300 Savage.
Except for muzzle-loaders, Oklahoma has no CALIBER restrictions for deer/big game. Rimfire rifles, that means 22's, are out for deer, however. No buckshot or birdshot for sending Sooner deer to the freezer and no air guns to boot.
ODWC Weapons Requirements for Big Game
Legal Means of Taking
Archery
This includes Deer Archery, Elk Archery, Antelope Archery & Bear Archery seasons.
Bow: Any compound bow of 30 pounds or more draw weight; any recurve, longbow or self-bow of 40 pounds or more draw weight. Hand-held releases are legal. Devices that permit a bow to be held mechanically at full or partial draw are allowed.
Broadheads: Arrows and/or bolts must be fitted with hunting type points not less than 7/8 inches wide, including mechanical broad- heads meeting this width requirement when fully open.
Crossbows: Minimum of 100 pounds draw weight and equipped with safety devices. Bolts must be a minimum of 14 inches in length. Leverage gaining devices are legal.
Firearms Restrictions: Unless otherwise provided by state law, no person may carry or use any firearm in conjunction with archery equipment during any archery season. Hunters are allowed to carry both archery equipment and a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season provided they have the appropriate licenses and follow other muzzleloader season regulations. Hunters also are allowed to carry both archery equipment and legal firearms during any modern gun season, again provided they have the appropriate licenses and follow other regulations to participate in those seasons.
Illegal Devices: Laser sights (unless certified 100% disabled or legally blind), thermal tracking devices, and light enhancement devices (including nightscopes) from sunset to sunrise.
Gun
This includes Youth Deer Gun, Deer Gun, Youth Elk Gun, Holiday Antlerless Deer Gun, Elk Gun & Antelope Gun seasons.
Rifles:
Centerfire rifles firing at least a 55-grain weight soft-nosed or hollow-point bullet. There is no restriction on magazine capacity regardless of caliber.
Shotguns:
Any centerfire shotgun firing a single slug, are legal.
Handguns:
Any centerfire handgun firing a single bullet with at least a 55-grain weight. Minimum barrel length is four inches.
Archery: Equipment described as legal in the archery section.
Muzzleloaders: Equipment as described as legal in the muzzleloader section.
Suppressors (Silencers): Hunters are allowed to use legally acquired and possessed suppressors on both private and public lands.
Illegal devices: Fully automatic firearms, laser sights (unless certified 100% disabled or legally blind) thermal tracking devices, and light enhancement devices (including nightscopes) from sunset to sunrise.
Muzzleloader
This includes Deer Muzzleloader, Elk Muzzleloader & Bear Muzzleloader seasons.
Muzzleloading Rifles/Pistols:
.40 caliber or larger, firing a single ball/bullet.
Muzzleloading Shotgun:
20 Gauge or larger, firing a single slug.
Unless otherwise provided by state law, no person shall carry or use any modern firearm in conjunction with any legal muzzleloading firearm during any muzzleloader season.
Archery: Equipment described as legal in the archery section.
Illegal devices: Blackpowder firearms loaded from the breech, laser sights (unless certified 100% disabled or legally blind), thermal tracking devices, and all light enhancement devices (including nightscopes) from sunset to sunrise.