Minimum hunting caliber for big game in your state?

[mini14gb]

Just wondering what the minimum requirements are for big game hunting in different states around the country.

Here in Montana and we have no minimum caliber standard. A lot of Elk are taken with .243 and sometimes lesser calibers. What about your state?

 

[jbkebert]

minimum of .23 caliber with a case length exceeding 1". And a min of .45 cal in muzzle loading equip for big game in Kansas. 20ga or larger for shotguns on big game including turkey which is no longer considered a big game animal.

 

[scythefwd]

.23 in VA in the areas where rifles are allowed. 350 ME for handguns. Shotguns are unlimited though (might be able to use a .410). Muzzle loaders have to be .45 caliber or larger.

Correction - shotguns must be 10ga or smaller

 

[Grunt]

In ND, deer can be taken with any centerfire cartridge with a .22 caliber bullet or larger. There used to be a 8-round magazine limit for semi autos until a few years ago when the SKS became more popular so they dropped that requirement so if you want to go hunting with say a semi-auto belt fed rifle in .22 Hornet, it would be legal.

 

[R.W.Dale]

minimum of .22 centerfire, handguns centerfire min 4"bbl

and for furbearers and coyote not larger than .30cal (retarded huh)

 

[willypete]

http://www.tn.gov/twra/huntweapons.html

Any centerfire cartridge in a rifle. .22 Hornet for elk, FTW!!!

 

[mini14gb]

Willypete,

Try 22lr for Elk. I know its been done. Its stupid but its been done.

 

[scythefwd]

Mini- - I wouldn't say it was stupid. If it is done right, .22lr is more than enough for elk.

Some Inuit use it. They wait for the deer to cross a river (where it has to swim), pull the boat up next to it and put one in the head from about 5 ft. Tie the beast up to the boat and head for shore.... they even float!

I believe it was Caribou who was describing it on here. It's illegal for not substanace hunters I believe.

 

[aroseli2]

In Illinois it's shotgun 10 through 20 gauge loaded with slugs only. Muzzleloaders must be .45 or larger firing a bullet .44 or larger. (The sabot doesn't count.) Handguns must be .30 or larger with at least 500 ft/lbs at the muzzle.
Whitetails are the only big game around.

 

[mini14gb]

scythefwd,

Yes some Inuit use it but the Inuit are known for being game losing hunters especially when hunting Walrus'. They had to send Wisconsin Game Wardens (Arthur Laha) to Alaska to teach them why they should stop using .22lr back in the 60's.

 

[zdc1775]

In alabama its rifles using centerfire mushrooming ammunition shotguns 10 gauge or smaller black powder rifles 40 caliberor larger pistols using centerfire mushrooming ammunition

 

[LoonWulf]

.223 or better for big game. Pistol, i cant remember off hand, .36 cap and ball or larger i thunk.

 

[Cryogaijin]

Some Inuit use it.

I don't know any Inuit that do it, but I've heard of Inupiat Eskimos doing it.

(most of my eskimo friends find the term Inuit offensive.)

 

[jerkface11]

.22 centerfire for deer out of a rifle .30 cal out of a pistol.

 

[Ole Humpback]

In Indiana, it depends on what you're hunting.

For coyotes, anything goes. For small game, fowl, birds, and turkeys its rimfires only or shotguns under a certain gauge & shot size depending on the game.

For deer its even wierder. Shotguns of 10, 12, 16, 20, or 410 with slugs. Rifles that shoot a bullet .357 or bigger from a case no shorter than 1.16" and no longer than 1.625" OR a rifle that shoots .357 Mag or larger rounds and approved rounds that include the 458 SOCOM.

 

[hirundo82]

No caliber requirement in Texas for hunting game animals, but rimfire isn't legal for white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope. With non-game animals, anything goes as long as you own it legally.

 

[DAP90]

From the Colorado DoW

"Rifles using center fire cartridges of .24 caliber or larger, having expanding bullets of at least seventy (70) grains in weight, except for elk and moose where the minimum bullet weight is eighty-five (85) grains, and with a rated impact energy one hundred (100) yards from the muzzle of at least one thousand (1000) foot pounds as determined by the manufacturer's rating providing that any semiautomatic rifle used shall not hold more than six (6) rounds in the magazine and chamber combined. "

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

For NE:

1. rifles that deliver at least 900 ft. lbs of energy at 100 yards;
2. handguns that deliver at least 400 ft. lbs of energy at 50 yards;
3. muzzleloading rifles .44 cal. or larger;
4. muzzleloadering muskets .62 caliber or larger, firing a single slug;
5. shotguns of 20 gauge or larger that fire a single slug;
6. crossbows that have a draw weight of 125 pounds or more.
7. Semi-automatic firearms capable or holding more than six cartridges are NOT allowed


So technically the .223 is legal.

 

[helotaxi]

The only caliber restriction that I'm aware of in NM is for oryx where .243 is the minimum.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

As zdc1775 said,Alabama has no caliber minimum for big game but must be centerfire using mushrooming ammo.

 

[BoilerUP]

Kentucky - any centerfire rifle or pistol, but a 10rd magazine limit; shotguns between 410 and 10 gauge with slugs only.

 

[Maverick223]

IIRC "centerfire" is the only rifle restriction on deer/bear in these parts. Not that I would use anything sub-6mm for said game.

 

[Loosedhorse]

.357 for black bear.

 

[kludge]

Indiana Whitetail Deer (our only "big" game)

Handgun: .243" minimum bullet diameter, 1.16" minimum case length
Shotgun: Slugs only, 12, 16, 20, or .410
Rifle: .357" minimum bullet diameter, 1.16" min/1.625" max case length
Muzzleloader: .44 cal minimum firing .357" bullet minimum
Muzzleloading handgun: .50 cal minimum firing .44 cal bullet minimum, 12" min barrel length.

 

[lizziedog1]

1. rifles that deliver at least 900 ft. lbs of energy at 100 yards;
2. handguns that deliver at least 400 ft. lbs of energy at 50 yards;

More handgun magic!