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Dang Game Comission (PA; Question inside)..

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Allow me to open this thread by saying that I have a healthy respect for the game commission and the work that they do. However I have an honest inquiry and rant.

So I just started getting heavily into hunting and want to ask a couple questions. I love spending time outdoors in pursuit of squirrels with my .22 long rifle, but this leaves me kind of limited because every time I bring it with me I wind up seeing a whole bunch of shots overhead (in trees) and not being able to take them. So what I'm considering is taking my .22 rifle and an old revolver with me - loading the sidearm with snake shot. This gives me an opportunity to make those high shots I otherwise wouldn't be able to.

Question: Do you think I'll have any problems with this? Does this violate any rule? I've searched the game commission's website and my hunting manual vigorously with no avail.

My second (and less difficult question) is what are the magazine regulations? How many bullets can I have in loaded in my rifle or handgun?

I hope I'm not a bother or upsetting anybody, it just seems like there's a lot of questions these guys are leaving unanswered and I don't really want to break the law. Any help?
 
Read...

I already Read all of that, and then reread it after you posted it. It still doesn't fully answer my questions. Although I may bring my revolver, It doesn't address what is acceptable ammunition and it doesn't talk about magazine capacities (with the exception of autoloading shotguns).

I'm presuming if it doesn't specifically address something then it's free game?
 
I know of no regulation regarding magazine capacity in a rifle. Just make sure it's not a semi-automatic .22.

As for the snake shot, pretty sure that is legal too. I don't know the performance of snake shot though, so it might be worth seeing how it shoots on paper first to see if you can consistently shoot with it, and to see if you can get groups good enough to consistently kill a squirrel.
I don't know your financial situation, but another thing you might consider is buying a single shot or double barrel .410 shotgun. I've always enjoyed hunting squirrels with mine. Not sure where you are in PA, but Trop Gun Shop (in Elizabethtown, PA) has 2 used .410's listed on their website, each under $100. I'm just using them as an example since they're the only one I know of around here that lists used guns on their website. You should be able to find a used .410 relatively cheap.
 
Yeah, the first time I ever hunted squirrel was with a .410. It was a pretty fun time but I recall being slightly disappointed on how many shots were out of range. I'm a .22 type of guy when it comes to bagging squirrels. The biggest part of the fun for me while hunting them is landing those looooooooooooooong distance shots (and no, I generally do not use a telescopic sight).

What I like about toting the handgun over the .410 is that I have the ability to land both types of shots without the hassle of carrying two long guns.


Thanks for all the replies guys.
 
I see. So you want to carry the .22 for long shots AND the revolver for short, overhead shots? Misunderstood the original post. For that I'd say you have the right idea. I'd still practice a bit though, and make sure the snake shot will do the job. You don't want to go around wounding squirrels.
 
You can hunt with a .22lr rifle and handgun for squirrels.

If the revolver will be covered (concealed) by a hunting coat, etc.....you will need a Sportsman's Permit or a License to Carry.

I do not believe there is a mag capacity on the rifle, however you cannot use a semi-auto like a 10/22.....you must use a bolt, lever, pump or single shot rifle.

You cannot use a semi-auto pistol either, so your choices are either a 6-shot revolver or a single shot handgun.
 
Before you use a revolver w/ 22 shot.... pattern it. I think you'll find that anything more than 10ft from the muzzle will only be startled or possibly wounded. For overhead shots, a 22 short using the tree itself as a backstop might be wiser. I'd also agree with you on the "dang Game Commission" and their oh-so-confusing-and-overly wordy regulation "book"... Whoever put that together needs a lesson is organization and simplicity.
 
Bearhands beat me to it. I don't think you'll find snake shot from a .22 revolver sufficient. .22 shorts or .22 CBs might prove more effective.

Longer term, consider a combination gun. For exactly the application you describe, I settled on an early 1960s vintage Savage 24 with a .22WMR barrel over a 20 gauge. It's a marvelous squirrel gun. I'm constantly looking for a good .22LR over .410 to go with it. In my humble opinion, I don't think you can beat a good rimfire/shotgun combo for squirrel hunting!
 
d) Permitted acts. It is lawful to:

(1) Except in Philadelphia County, Ridley Creek State Park, Delaware County and Tyler State Park, Bucks County, hunt and kill deer through the use of a muzzleloading long gun or a shotgun, at least .410 gauge (rifled barrels permitted), including semiautomatics which, upon discharge, propel a single projectile.

(2) Take deer with a shotgun 20 gauge or larger—including semiautomatic—using buckshot in the Southeast area only.

(3) Take small game, furbearing animals, crows or wildlife with a manually operated rimfire rifle or handgun .22 caliber or less.
Click to expand...

Title 58 Pennsylvania Code
 
Legionnaire, I have 2 of those model 24's and I couldn't agree more( though they are kinda "clunky" for toting around)... both are 22mag over 20's. However, the 22 mag will destroy a squirrel w/ a body shot... head shots only brings home a lil meat LOL.
 
I doubt that .22 rimfire birdshot will reliably kill a squirrel any distance at all away from you.
Click to expand...

I fully agree. In my opinion, .22 rimfire bird shot is only suitable for things like butterflies and dragon flies. If you want to take a squirrel or small rodents with it, try to be no more than about 1 foot away and it should work fine.
 
Maybe if you look around, you'll be able to find one of the Savage over-under guns. One with a .22lr or .22magnum barrel over a 20 gauge barrel would give you exactly the combination for squirrel hunting. I have a .22magnum/20gauge example and it is the shiznit for such use.
 
Wow!

Thanks for all the helpful replies :).


And yes, I understand the limitations of the snake shot and will do some practicing before I go out - but am not anticipating shooting anymore than ten feet with it.

Here's what happened:

I borrowed a .410 bore shotgun for my very first squirrel hunt. I lied prone unsupported in a field which borders the woods (inches from the woods itself). Several squirrel began frolicking a distance away and I KNOW if I would have had my .22 I would be having quite a barbecue when I got home. I wasn't sure of the limitations of my weapon, and opened fire with my .410. This pretty much just scared everything away - hitting nothing (looking back I shouldn't have shot, it probably would have been better to not risk injuring one :( . But I didn't know it was so limited distance wise).

I did get two squirrel that day though, but just didn't get over how many I missed.

So I returned with my trusty savage arms "Warrior's Mark" model .22 (One of the most AMAZING guns I own - accurate, light, accurate, manageable, and accurate). I made some pretty good shots (missed a few too, I need to practice more :eek: ). But I'll never forget several squirrel sitting up in trees just a few feet above my head...just GAWKING AT ME. I almost tried using the tree as a backstop, but just didn't feel comfortable shooting a .22 into the air.

I then devised this plan to load the revolver with snake shot and carry the long rifle. Ideally I would take one of those single action .410 handguns with my rifle, but I'm in a financial situation where it's not happening right now.

Oh, and over the night I came up with two more questions.

My rifle doesn't have a strap, but my pistol has a holster. Is there I way I can draw my revolver and fire it two handed without dropping my rifle to the ground? The trail I'm taking will lead me through a small prairie, and know if I see anything snake shot would be best. Do I have to do this one handed or is there a method out there I don't know of?

Sorry for the stupid question ^^^.

My other problem is the bag limit. Ok - six squirrel a day and four rabbit per day. But what's the deal with this "possession" thing? I'm not quite understanding it. If I'm understanding it properly, says I can't have more then 12 in my possession after two days. I don't believe I read it right because - DUH, if you can only shoot six a day then after two days you can't have more than 12 :rolleyes: .

Thanks again for all the replies!
 
It just means you can't take more than 6 squirrel per day with no more than 12 in your freezer (or where ever). Keeps you from continuing to take game as long as you can find it. Of course, as long as you eat it as fast as you kill it you can keep limiting out until you shoot up all of the game. All of the bag limits for small game with which I am familiar - at least in Ohio and Illinois - have the same provisions.

Squirrel are pretty tough animals; I don't know how reliably you can depend on .22 shot sells to make a clean kill. Your .410 should be more than adequate as long as you are cognizant of the range at which you are taking shots.
 
It just means you can't take more than 6 squirrel per day with no more than 12 in your freezer (or where ever). Keeps you from continuing to take game as long as you can find it. Of course, as long as you eat it as fast as you kill it you can keep limiting out until you shoot up all of the game. All of the bag limits for small game with which I am familiar - at least in Ohio and Illinois - have the same provisions.

Squirrel are pretty tough animals; I don't know how reliably you can depend on .22 shot sells to make a clean kill. Your .410 should be more than adequate as long as you are cognizant of the range at which you are taking shots.
Click to expand...

Ohhh...

Thanks for clearing that up, you've been pretty helpful this whole thread.


The thing is, I do not have a .410 - I was only borrowing one from my friend the day I used it. And yes, as mentioned, the best tool for the job is a .410 pistol. I do not, however, have any money to go get one right now and I'll be hunting Monday.

I am just hoping the snake shot would be adequate....I don't want to merely wound something.
 
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