Hunting Deer in KY with an AK???

[Logistar]

I am trying to detemine if it is legal to hunt deer in Kentucky with an AK-type rifle. (Actually an SAR-1) I have friends who tell me NO WAY... OK as long as you use a 5-round magazine... and NO problem period.

I have tried to check on the web but really haven't found anything helpful. FWIW- where I will be hunting.... it would be short range - about 75 yards max. I am using a 40mm 3-9 scope.

Thanks!

Logistar

 

[MagKnightX]

I can't give you Kentucky law or anything, but let me just ask if you can actually achieve the accuracy with your particular rifle to ethically and cleanly kill a deer.

 

[TheOtherOne]

The only thing that might be restricted is magazine limit.

I would hunt with an AK just to piss off all the other hunters that would think it's not PC to hunt with a "homeland defense rifle".

 

[dangerousdude]

hunt white tail deer

Me and my dad hunt white tail deer in Michigan with are MAK90's, he has a scope. They don't allow 22's in MI including 223 REM so it has to be 7.62x39 and you can only use a five round clip. We hunt in some pretty dense woods so short range of MAK90's isn't a disadvantage. Huntings a sport an it's a greater challenge with those rifles compared to a nice bolt action 3006.

 

[Sir Galahad]

MagKnight, no offense, but I doubt you've fired an AK to make the statement you did. At 75 yards, I can hit a skeet or can every time first shot with my SAR-1 barely even trying. At 75 yards, I'd take a shot at deer with iron sights without any hesitation. The man here is using a scope. LOTS of deer fall to 5-round-magged AKs and SKSs. The 7.62x39 is fairly equal to .30-30. Of course, there are those who hunt deer with nothing less than .300 Magnum and a $5,000 rig to do what good stalking and an iron-sighted 7.62x39 can do just as cleanly. To each his own. But the notion that an AK is THAT inaccurate is simply incorrect and based more on bias than facts. The only reason I have 5 round mags for my AK is in case I ever decide to hunt with it, I have the mag to do so.


Logistar, if your local law allows it (just call and ask or go to a sporting goods store and find a copy of the game & fish laws or go on the net and find their site), and you have confidence in the weapon, use it.

 

[Logistar]

Thanks for the replies....

MagKnightX, I won't take the shot unless I know it will be a good one. That's why I said in my initial post that I would be inside 75 yards. I pretty well know my limitations with that rifle. If's it's out of my range, I will let it go.

Currently, the SAR-1 is the only long gun that I own (other than a .22). I have not been hunting for a few years (although I get to the range when I can). I was thinking about going deer hunting with my Dad this year but did not want to borrow a gun. If I get serious about it, I will buy a 30-06 or a .308.

- and I suppose that part of the "fun" would be the reaction I get from the other hunters. - even more reason for a quick kill.... otherwise they'd give me plenty of grief.

Logistar

 

[MagKnightX]

Sir Galahad: I meant no disparagement to the AK system, in fact, while I currently do not own an AK-based firearm, nor have I fired one, it is high on my list of must-acquires. All I was saying was that he must be sure that he is good enough with it, and it is mechanically good enough, to make a good hit on the deer. If it is, and hunting with it is legal in his state, he should go for it. If it is not capable, or it is illegal to hunt with it in KY, then he definitely should not. it's that simple.

 

[Logistar]

I reliably shoot tin cans (with no rest) at 25-35 yards with the SAR using iron sights. Beyond that, give me a scope and a rest and I can do it to around 100 yards. (I'm sure I'm not as good as Sir Galahad, but I know my range!)

It's not so much that I can state my accuracy as 2in at 100 yards but that ever since I was young I could just "tell" where the bullet was going. After I become familiar with a particular gun (and ammo) I just know about how far of POA the bullet is likely to go and I take/don't take the shot based on my gut instinct. I'm betting many of you do the same thing.

Anyway, I just thought someone here from KY might know about the legality of using a semi-auto for deer (NO - I am not going to start "bump-firing" at the deer ) I just wasn't having any luck looking on the Internet. I might check with a sporting goods store as suggested.

Again, thanks for the responses!!!

 

[repsychler]

From: http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us


Equipment Restrictions
Any caliber centerfire rifle or centerfire handgun is legal for deer hunting.

Semi-automatic and pump action rifles or shotguns able to hold more than a total of 11 rounds (10 in magazine and one in chamber) are NOT legal for deer hunting.

A fully automatic firearm capable of firing more than one round with one trigger pull, or using tracer-bullet, full-metal jacketed ammunition, buckshot or any other type of shotshell ammunition is not legal for deer hunting.

So, get a mag that holds 10 rounds or less and don't use FMJ ammo, and you'll be legal.

 

[Mark Tyson]

deleted

 

[Lancel]

According to the 2002 Edition of the Kentucky Hunting and Trapping guide page 10: "Any caliber centerfire rifle or centerfire handgun may be used."

But there are restrictions on number of rounds (more than 10 round magazine is prohibited in semiautos or pumps) and bullet type (eg FMJ is prohibited). Fully automatic firearms are prohibited too.

You can (and should) get a new edition of the hunting regs at Wal-mart and any other place hunting licences are sold.

Larry

edited to add:
I see that repsychler posted while I was composin'. OK Logistar, now you know.

 

[Logistar]

That's GREAT news. -Looks like I am all set with a 10-round mag and soft-points. (I don't own a 5-round mag.) I'll have to check the alignment on the scope and get a little practice in before I go.

To be honest, this is more about spending time with my Dad than getting a deer. - But if I get a really good opportunity....

Thanks to ALL for taking the time to post!

Repsychler and Lancel, that's what I was looking for!

Logistar

 

[Sir Galahad]

MagKnight, sorry about my misunderstanding. I apologize for that.

Logistar, practice, practice, practice. The 7.62x39 is cheap enough to do so. Challenge yourself with longer range targets. If you shoot your AK often, you'll be surprised at what you can achieve with it. The law is on your side for using your AK. Go to K-Var and get a 5 round or 10 round magazine. They're dirt cheap because people don't buy many of them. That AK will put meat in your freezr at a fraction of the cost of getting a "sporting" rifle. The more people hunt with AKs and ARs, the less argument the wack-a-doos in Washingtoon have for claiming these weapons have no "sporting" purpose. (Not that "sporting" is mentioned anywhere in the 2ndA anyway. Of course, any target shooting is SPORT. Is baseball less of a sport because kids play it in a sandlot?)

 

[TheOtherOne]

I decided to look up the hunting laws here in Utah, and here's all it had to say about long guns:

R657-5-8
(1) The following rifles and shotguns may be used to take big game:
(a) any rifle firing centerfire cartridges and expanding bullets; and
(b) a shotgun, 20 gauge or larger, firing only 00 or larger buckshot
or slug ammunition.


Nothing about magazine limits or anything like that, so it looks like I could go out with a 40 round AK mag with no problems here! My question though is what's an "expanding bullet"? Is hollow-point Wolf ammo an expanding bullet?

 

[Logistar]

My question though is what's an "expanding bullet"? Is hollow-point Wolf ammo an expanding bullet?

Technically, I'd say that you'd be safe using Wolf Hollow Points but I'd recommend something else since I have my doubts about how well the Wolf HP actually expands. I will probably use a more expensive Soft-Point round - for the Deer's sake.

My guess is that any HP or SP would be "considered" expanding where FMJ of course would not. - Legally, that is. Anyone else know better?

Logistar

 

[repsychler]

I'd tend to agree. Anything that isn't FMJ is probably considered expanding by the DNR. If one was going to hunt with 7.62x39, I'd suggest a soft point bullet rather than a hollowpoint of dubious quality.

 

[Hazwaste]

I'm glad this subject came up, as I was planning on deer hunting with my AK-clone as well.

But a friend dropped by my office last week complaining about how hard his SMLE kicks. So I offered him $50 for it and he accepted, and is even throwing in 400 rounds of hollowpoint .303 ammo. I think I got a good deal.

I'm going to let my son use the AK and I'm going to use the SMLE. It's good to know that I'm not the only guy crazy enough to hunt with milspec firearms.

 

[MAKOwner]

Last time I went deer hunting here in the Ga I was trapsing around with my MAK90 and a 30rnder, lol. Got some strange looks, but *** do I care... Only other time I've been hunting I was using a SKS...

 

[MagKnightX]

As to the ammunition, I would use Wolf only for practice and plinking. Any actual target competitions or hunting, I would definitely use something better.

 

[repsychler]

My first deer rifle was an SMLE. As a matter of fact, it was my first firearm period. As a newbie to shooting I was a bit aprehensive the first time I fired it. It was the first time I fired any gun and I hadn't fully convinced myself it was wise to fire an 83 year old rifle.

 

[Sunray]

Put up a 9" pie plate at 100 yards and practice until you can hit it every time off-hand with the ammo you will be hunting with. The scope won't make you shoot better. Just allows you to see the target better.
Hunting with an AK is really not much different from hunting with a Garand or an M1A. Especially as it's the only deer capable rifle you have. Mind you, if you take a stand and keep your shots within the 35 yards you're getting 2" groups at, you're set now. Of course, you can't expect the deer to cooperate and come within said 35 yards. Set up that pie plate and go shooting.

 

[Logistar]

I know what you mean, Sunray. The iron sights on the SAR are not the greatest for my eyes. The rear sight always seems fuzzy. - Not good for precision work (not for ME anyway). The scope takes care of that problem for me. (I am probably going to put a red dot on it soon but I figured the scope would work best for deer.)

Anyway, I will work on getting the scope aligned really well. -Then make sure I can make shots out to 100 yards but I am serious when I say that where I will be hunting, I doubt I will get a shot over 50 yards!

One of these days I ought to post how I learned to shoot. It is kinda funny.

Can anyone suggest some good, accurate, reliably-expanding ammo in 7.62x39? I am probably looking for American manufactured ammo. I am not that worried about cost since I don't plan to shoot that much of it.

Thanks YET again!

Logistar

 

[repsychler]

Federal sells a 123 grain Hi-Shok soft point. Should do the job just fine.

 

[Ian Sean]

But a friend dropped by my office last week complaining about how hard his SMLE kicks. So I offered him $50 for it and he accepted, and is even throwing in 400 rounds of hollowpoint .303 ammo. I think I got a good deal.

Hazwaste, good deal indeed, the ammo alone is worth more than 50 dollars! Where are these guys when I have money?

My friend has hunted with his SMLE exclusively for years and put meat on his table (and mine, generous guy) every year. He did use an SKS on a few occasions but prefers the .303.