Kansas caliber rule change

[wgp]

Kansas wildlife commission has voted to permit use of any centerfire rifle or handgun for big-game hunting. I assume this will be in effect for the fall deer season, but be sure to check regs at that time if you are wanting to go the .223 (or smaller) route.

 

[Fremmer]

They changed to allow crossbows too!

 

[95XL883]

That's good news. But don't tell my wife. I'm waiting on a Grendel for those KS deer.

 

[nickE10mm]

Really? Very nice! I suppose I can use my 10mm's for deer in KS like I do in MO.... sweet.

 

[wgp]

Quite a bit of chatter locally about the wisdom of the new rule, mostly fears that some hunters will try to take deer with a 9mm handgun, or smaller. I always assumed the main reason for the rule change was to make ARs, AKs, SKSs, etc. in .223/5.56 or such legal for deer, but the new rule goes much farther.

We do currently require that bullets for big game be hard-cast lead, soft point, hollowpoint or "other expanding bullets", and I have not heard that this will change, so you can't just use the cheapest plinking ammo on the shelf. Currently we don't have a magazine capacity limit for big game (we do limit capacity for shotguns on migratory birds), have not heard of any planned changes there.

As always, read the full regs when available. I understand these will be the rules for the 2013 fall big game season.

 

[Kachok]

The last thing we need is a band of new hunters trying to hunt deer with a 204 Ruger or 17 calibers. High powered 22 caliber certerfires are pushing the limit IMHO. The smallest I have ever used is a 243 and support that as the minimum caliber in for deer class game. Seen half a dozen small deer shot with 223s and the results are enough to keep me from ever using them. Some swear that if you neck shoot them with a 223 it is as good as any but I cannot vouch for that one way or the other.

 

[hirundo82]

Quite a bit of chatter locally about the wisdom of the new rule, mostly fears that some hunters will try to take deer with a 9mm handgun, or smaller. I always assumed the main reason for the rule change was to make ARs, AKs, SKSs, etc. in .223/5.56 or such legal for deer, but the new rule goes much farther.

Pretty much the worrying you see with any rule change that relates to firearms. "Oh no, they're going to allow permit holders to carry in restaurants! It's going to be drunken shoot-outs like the streets of Dodge City!"

This rule changes the rules in KS to be similar to those in TX (where I could legally use a .25ACP handgun to go after deer)--no significant abuse of that here, AFAICT.