redneck2
Member
Governor just signed the law to allow 30-06, .308, .243, .300 and others for deer.
Not a good move IMO. Time will tell.
Not a good move IMO. Time will tell.
Rifles for Indiana deer
- Thread starter redneck2
- Start date
- Status
JohnnyFlake
Member
Is there a question here, or are you just making a statement?
If your making a statement, I agree with you. That state is far too populated for large caliber rifles.
Was it only shotgun before?
If your making a statement, I agree with you. That state is far too populated for large caliber rifles.
Was it only shotgun before?
Patocazador
Member
Florida is more densely populated than Indiana. We can use real rifle cartridges without wiping out the human population. I fail to see the logic in your objections. 
FL-NC
Member
I don't see a problem. Deer are typically shot (at) from an elevated platform, which means misses and pass thrus go down into the dirt. These engagements are typically by single shots, so less risk. Hunters are generally pretty good about identifying their target before firing in order to know exactly what they are shooting (at) and orient to a specific part of the target. This is the purpose of the exercise. Are there laws that prevent recreational shooters from firing bullets of any caliber at targets on the ground without a backstop, while the shooter is on the ground, with much higher round counts than 1? Because that is much more dangerous than a single shot or 2 from an elevated position to a target on the ground.
OP
OP
redneck2
Member
For years Indiana was shogun/black powder. Few years back laws passed that basically allowed rifles using pistol based cartridges.
There's a ton of difference between a .44 mag and a .300 Win mag
I hunt on our family farm. It's considered quite rural, but still there is a home in any direction you point a rifle. A slug, muzzle loader, or pistol round runs out of steam pretty quickly. A full blown rifle not so much.
I would guess about 1/2 of hunters shoot from a tree stand vs. ground blind.
There's a ton of difference between a .44 mag and a .300 Win mag
I hunt on our family farm. It's considered quite rural, but still there is a home in any direction you point a rifle. A slug, muzzle loader, or pistol round runs out of steam pretty quickly. A full blown rifle not so much.
I would guess about 1/2 of hunters shoot from a tree stand vs. ground blind.
FL-NC
Member
So no one shoots centerfire rifles for any reason (varmints, targets, etc.) prior to now?
horsemen61
Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2011
- Messages
- 6,755
Good for Indiana bout time
farmerboy78
Member
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2010
- Messages
- 946
Thinking a rifle will be bad is just ridiculous to say at all! A misplaced shotgun or muzzleloading round will do just as much damage. It's called training, you have to be familiar with any firearm and it's limits.
OP
OP
redneck2
Member
Sure. I have a .22-250, .223. But varmint hunters tend to be slow and deliberate. Target shooters virtually always have a back stop.
Everybody has their opinion.
I somewhat agree with R2, some days in deer season sound like a war zone with shotguns unloading 5-6 shots. Also tend to have quite a few road hunters that drive and shoot from the road, not enough LE to catch all of them to deter the rest. I have heard slugs pass over my head and am at least a half mile from another woods.
We have a few rifles that are within the state's regulations that are 400 yard guns, the wildcat .358 Hoosier. The hunters that build these pretty expensive rifles tend to be methodical hunters that know what they are doing. I use a 45-70 that is trimmed down to state regulation, get about 7/8 of the power of a full load. .458 SOCOM is another legal rifle with 9-10 shots out of an AR. There is no law saying you can't hunt squirrels with a .300 magnum either. Not saying that there will be problems when they open the season up to general high power rifles either, time will tell.
We have a few rifles that are within the state's regulations that are 400 yard guns, the wildcat .358 Hoosier. The hunters that build these pretty expensive rifles tend to be methodical hunters that know what they are doing. I use a 45-70 that is trimmed down to state regulation, get about 7/8 of the power of a full load. .458 SOCOM is another legal rifle with 9-10 shots out of an AR. There is no law saying you can't hunt squirrels with a .300 magnum either. Not saying that there will be problems when they open the season up to general high power rifles either, time will tell.
redbone
Member
I hunt in Harrison, Crawford, and mostly Orange County. Very different from where you are. It shouldn't be an issue here in southern IN.
OP
OP
redneck2
Member
I tend to agree with the regional thing. In the southern part of the state its wooded, hilly areas. North is flat and heavily populated
I would prefer something like Michigan. You can use rifles only in the upper 1/3rd of the state that has topography similar to southern Indiana.
Rifles are not allowed on public land here.
I would prefer something like Michigan. You can use rifles only in the upper 1/3rd of the state that has topography similar to southern Indiana.
Rifles are not allowed on public land here.
BudgetBucks1
Member
I live in North Carolina and we have always been able to use any caliber we choose. I have never heard of anyone being hit by a stray round from hunting. Maybe it has happened but I can assure you it isn't a regular occurrence. I shoot close to other occupied residences frequently with my 30.06 and somehow everyone around seems to live through it. I think this is a good thing for Indiana. Anytime there are less restrictions or government regulation is a win/win in my book.
People do sometimes get hit by stray rounds, but virtually all of them are in urban areas and from celebratory gunfire randomly fired into the air. Often on New Years. Most are minor wounds and not life threatening.
The only incident I'm aware of involving a hunting rifle was a guy who walked outside to unload his muzzle loader by firing it in the air. The bullet came down some distance away striking a young girl in the head and killing her.
Statistically it seems muzzle loaders are just as likely to do damage as center fire rounds. The good folks in Indiana are in no more danger now than before.
http://content.usatoday.com/communi...-death-ruled-a-homcide-in-ohio/1#.VvSA13qj9k0
The only incident I'm aware of involving a hunting rifle was a guy who walked outside to unload his muzzle loader by firing it in the air. The bullet came down some distance away striking a young girl in the head and killing her.
Statistically it seems muzzle loaders are just as likely to do damage as center fire rounds. The good folks in Indiana are in no more danger now than before.
http://content.usatoday.com/communi...-death-ruled-a-homcide-in-ohio/1#.VvSA13qj9k0
HB
Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2007
- Messages
- 2,376
Most hunting accidents are close range when loading/unloading around the trucks.
If you are trying to make hunting safe ban tree stands. Tons of people fall and break backs or legs. We hunt with rifles here and I can't recal a stray bullet killing anybody. Last year a guy asphyxiated in a box blind with heater though and I believe somebody was killed but forget how.
HB
If you are trying to make hunting safe ban tree stands. Tons of people fall and break backs or legs. We hunt with rifles here and I can't recal a stray bullet killing anybody. Last year a guy asphyxiated in a box blind with heater though and I believe somebody was killed but forget how.
HB
TooTall350
Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2017
- Messages
- 17
I have the same reservations as the writer. Now that season is over I didn't hear of any problems. I shot two does with a 30.06 I owed for 25+ yrs & had never shot anything but paper with it. I have never shot a deer with a shotgun that didn't run. Sometimes just a few steps but never drop straight down. They drop like a rock with the 30.06. So if the idiot's in the woods aren't spraying slugs at the running deer maybe it's good. My stand is right beside I69 very large 8 point buck stood between me & interstate giving me easy shot. I never thought about shooting him. I wish I knew everyone would make that same decision. And no I never filled my buck tag but I did fill my freezer.
DownInTheDark
Member
I came across 3 hunters this year in the National Forest. Its getting pretty crowded.
Ttexastom
Member
Same here in georgia, i live right off 1-85 corrridor in ne georgia. Our area is well populated thru here. Ga went to a hunter education law back in 1990's. Our accidental death rate is low. I can count 17 yard lights off my front porch, my stand is only about 350 yards behind my house. A hunting club borders my property, no problems from them. 270, 243, 30-06 7mm rem and many others used here.
- Status
