What are the deer hunting laws in your state?

[Grunt]

So with deer hunting season in full swing in some places, just what are the laws for hunting in your state? I'll start:

Here in North Dakota, a rifle has to be a minimum of .22 caliber centerfire (I think .22 Hornet is the smallest you can go here) or larger although .50 caliber and larger smokeless rounds (read .50 BMG) are not allowed. No FMJ or explosive tip ammo is allowed and if you are using a shotgun, it has to be single projectile so no buckshot here.
In regards to the rifle itself, no full auto is pretty much the only restriction. No magazine limits, and although it doesn't say suppressors are illegal for hunting so I guess they are allowed too.

ETA: I forgot to mention that barrel length has to be 16" for rifles as well, sort of along the lines with non-SBR rifles. Hehehe, kind of weird I guess, mention in the laws about minimum barrel length but no mention of suppressors. Oh well, not my thing but it wouldn't bother me if someone wanted to use one.

 

[MachIVshooter]

There are lots here.

Caliber/ammo-wise, it's .24 cal.+ with 1,000 ft/lbs @ 100 yards for rifle, .24 cal+ with 550 ft/lbs @ 50 yards for handgun. Rifles are limited to 5 rounds (last time I checked). Basically, .243 is the smallest "common" rifle cartridge allowed, and anything short of a very stout .357 magnum or 10mm auto is not enough in a handgun.

 

[sKunkT]

Here in North Dakota, a rifle has to be a minimum of .22 caliber centerfire (I think .22 Hornet is the smallest you can go here) or larger although .50 caliber and larger smokeless rounds (read .50 BMG) are not allowed. No FMJ or explosive tip ammo is allowed and if you are using a shotgun, it has to be single projectile so no buckshot here.

pretty much on par with Wisconsin. I believe rifle has to have a 16" barrel and be 26" overall.

I had the privilege of deer hunting in North Dakota last year in the North East, and had a blast. Shot a lot of rounds- it sure was fun.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I believe rifle has to have a 16" barrel and be 26" overall.

That's federal law for title I (Non-NFA) rifles.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Deer must be 22cal centerfire or larger. No fmj handguns must have a 4" or longer bbl and be centerfire no caliber requirements

Furbearers are any centerfire not larger than 30 caliber. (Stupid I know)

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[sKunkT]

In states that have energy requirements, how do they enforce those laws?

 

[MachIVshooter]

In states that have energy requirements, how do they enforce those laws?

Fear. Get caught using something below their minimums, risk losing your firearm, your truck, your hunting priviledges.......

CDOW does not screw around. I'd much rather get in trouble with regular LEOs.

 

[sKunkT]

I get that, but what if you reload? How would they actually test or measure energy? Or would they even at all if it met the caliber requirements?

Not that I would ever want to be undergunned, it is more of a curiosity thing.

 

[MachIVshooter]

How would they actually test or measure energy

Muzzle velocity and bullet specs entered into a ballistics program. All you need is a chronograph and a computer or smart phone.

If you use handloads that could be borderline, you'd better be sure to chonograph them and that your slowest load was up to par.

Technically, even a sidearm used for a coupe de grace has to meet the minimum, though I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for that. My sister used a 3" .357 that would have come up short. I carry a full size 10mm; it does meet the requirement with my loads.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Muzzle velocity and bullet specs entered into a ballistics program. All you need is a chronograph and a computer or smart phone.

If you use handloads that could be borderline, you'd better be sure to chonograph them and that your slowest load was up to par.

So they will actually set a chrony up and test your loads to see if they're up to snuff?

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[MachIVshooter]

So they will actually set a chrony up and test your loads to see if they're up to snuff?

They can if the officer believes that you're in violation. Unlikely? Yes. Worth the risk to say you shot a CO mulie with a .45? Don't think so.

 

[TexAg]

No rimfires in TX. And, ummm, yeah that's pretty much it!

 

[Carolina Kalash]

i live in upstat SC... season starts in september with bows only, then usually the first or second week in october is bow or muzzleloader... after that, you can use basically whatever you want, that's capible of killing it of course...

 

[Bobson]

Arizona deer hunters can't use rimfires. Centerfire rifles are limited to a 5 round magazine or less, on any action type. I'm pretty sure there isn't a minimum caliber, again, as long as it's a centerfire. Not FMJ rounds allowed.

For archery, any broadhead cutting blade that measures 7/8 of an inch or more. Minimum draw weight 40 pounds. Crossbows require a special license only obtainable by those with a legal handicap of some sort. I'm not sure what the laws are regarding muzzleloaders, shotguns, and handguns; but I know all three are allowed.

 

[Cougar]

Ohio - 'Gun Season' - No rifles. 'Slug shotguns' and handguns of straightwall caliber .357Mag or larger and at least a 6" barrel.

We also have a separate 'primitive weapons' (Black powder) season.

 

[Elkins45]

Kentucky:

Any caliber centerfire rifle or centerfire handgun. But, fire- arms may NOT be able to hold more than 11 rounds (10 in magazine and one in chamber), may NOT be fully-automatic (capable of firing more than one round with one trigger pull), and may NOT be shooting full metal jacketed or tracer bullet ammunition.
• Shotguns, no larger than 10-gauge, shooting slug ammunition (includes saboted bullets) ONLY.

Muzzleloading rifles or hand- guns of any caliber, with flint or percussion ignition (including in-lines), shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.
• Muzzleloading firearms equipped with open sights or telescopic sights (scopes).
• Muzzleloading shotguns no larger than 10-gauge, shooting round balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.

 

[waidmann]

TN is pretty much on par with ND. We dropped a .24 caliber requirement. We used to deny .30 carbine as well. No buckshot, 4" barrels on handguns.

We have/had(?) one county that managed to get a "slugs only" bill through for them only.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

in CA

it's pre-rut.
Since big state have different zones so it rolls out at different times
Each zone has rifle hunting for about 5 weeks
needs to be centerfire
Hunting time is half and hour before dawn and half an hour after sunset
No limit on magazine size for game animals (birds are a 2+1 limitation for the shotgun).
Oddly enough, despite CA being a nanny state, you do NOT need to wear hunter orange

Personally I wear hunter orange but then again I tend to be much more cautious about many things in life.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Ohio - 'Gun Season' - No rifles. 'Slug shotguns' and handguns of straightwall caliber .357Mag or larger and at least a 6" barrel.

We also have a separate 'primitive weapons' (Black powder) season.

With rifleled barreled shotguns being what they are these days, do folks find this to be a hinderance anymore?

 

[Sheepdog1968]

In states that have energy requirements, how do they enforce those laws?

Out of curiosity, how restricitve are those energy requirements?

Are there certain calibers that start to become borderline?

I often hunt with a 30-30 carbine lever action (16.75" barrel which should retain about 95% of the velocity)

 

[UpTheIrons]

Yup, no rimfires in Texas. All centerfire calibers are legal (.25ACP, really?!?). No laser sights for "game" animals, no magazine capacity restrictions except those for federal migratory birds.

 

[ghitch75]

Indiana....
Shotguns, handguns, rifles with pistol cartridges, muzzleloading long guns and muzzleloading
handguns are legal during the firearms season. Hunters may carry more than one type of legal
firearm when hunting during the firearms season only.

Some cartridges that are legal include the following:
.357 Magnum
.38-40 Winchester
.41 Magnum
.41 Special
.44 Magnum
.44 Special
.44-40 Winchester
.45 Colt
.454 Casull
.458 SOCOM
.480 Ruger
.475 Linebaugh
.50 Action Express
.500 S&W

 

[Timmypage16]

With rifleled barreled shotguns being what they are these days, do folks find this to be a hinderance anymore?

I am from Ohio and I find it a hindrance. I really enjoy rifles and I would like to use them. Considering the accuracy of modern shotgun and inline muzzle-loaders, I see no point not allowing centerfire rifles, even if only straight wall cartridges.

I just want to use my encore with a centerfire cartridge so darn bad and not with the 209x50 barrel.

 

[sKunkT]

Shotguns work great for killing deer, but it's still not a rifle.

 

[303tom]

http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/3csr/3c10-7.pdf