Your help interpreting caliber/gun restriction for groundhogs requested!

[Hokkmike]

My understanding of the text below from PA Game Commissions Regs., is that while you MAY use an air-pistol or a rimfire pistol to shoot ground hogs you MAY NOT use a 5.7x28 center fire semi automatic pistol for the same task. Does anybody read it differently?

(3) Take small game, furbearing animals, crows or wildlife with the following devices:

(i) A manually operated or semiautomatic rimfire rifle or manually operated rimfire handgun .22 caliber or less.

(ii) A manually operated or semiautomatic air rifle or manually operated air handgun between .177 and .22 caliber, inclusive, that propels single-projectile pellet or bullet ammunition. BB ammunition is not authorized.

Thanks very much for your response!

 

[Bfh_auto]

Yes, no semiautomatic, no center-fire

 

[FL-NC]

It doesn't say anything about centerfire, and 5.7 is bigger than .22.

 

[LoonWulf]

It reads to me that you can legally use ANY manual or semiauto air rifle in .177 or .22 , any RIMFIRE rifle .22 or smaller.
It also allows manual air pistols (I pump ups, but not the co2 semis) and any .22 RIMFIRE pistol.

No center-fire cartridge arms allowed.


That's how I would read it anyway.
I would highly recommend you call your local conservation office and request clarification. While we may well be right, taking our word for it will still get your gear confiscated or worse if we're wrong.

 

[entropy]

Since the heading might well say something other than "It is legal to", and you chose not to include it, no correct conclusion can be drawn from the part that you did post.

 

[Hokkmike]

Since the heading might well say something other than "It is legal to", and you chose not to include it, no correct conclusion can be drawn from the part that you did post.

The reference ARE in regard to what is legal.

 

[Hokkmike]

Yes, no semiautomatic, no center-fire

It clearly DOES permit semi automatics. It is caliber (centerfire) confusion beyond that. And then there is the rifle vs. handgun conundrum.

 

[Bfh_auto]

It clearly DOES permit semi automatics. It is caliber (centerfire) confusion beyond that. And then there is the rifle vs. handgun conundrum.

My bad. Miss read.

 

[Laphroaig]

As far as hunting groundhogs with a centerfire rifle in PA, it is legal. Semiauto centerfire rifles just became legal for varmints last year (but still no-go for big game). Not sure about semiauto pistols and air guns.

 

[jmr40]

It seems pretty clear to me. Unless there is something elsewhere in the regulations specific to groundhogs. It reads "small game, fur bearers, crows, or wildlife" can only be hunted with rimfire rounds 22 or smaller. Or with a 17 or 22 caliber air rifle. The word wildlife seems a little confusing. Wildlife could be deer or bear. I'm sure they didn't intend to make a 22 rimfire legal for bear.

The 5.7X28 is centerfire and over 22 caliber. The fact that it is a handgun or semi-auto seems irrelevant.

Hunting regulations are written by the state legislature, not the Fish and Game department. Sometimes laws are written in ways that are confusing, by people who may have good intentions, but don't truly understand the issues. That has happened several times here in GA over the years. Game wardens have to sometimes use a little common sense, and most do. At least until the next year when the law is re-written to make sense.

 

[entropy]

It also allows manual air pistols (I pump ups, but not the co2 semis) and any .22 RIMFIRE pistol.

Nope.

(i) A manually operated or semiautomatic rimfire rifle or manually operated rimfire handgun .22 caliber or less.

As written, and as incomplete as it is, semi-automatic .22 rimfire pistols are not legal.

Apropos of nothing, the way you used extra huge type and the manner you stated your question, hokkomike, it belligerently dares us to disagree with you. If it were verbal, it would be tantamount to starting a barfight.

Can't wait for Frank to chime in.

 

[LoonWulf]

Nope.



As written, and as incomplete as it is, semi-automatic .22 rimfire pistols are not legal.

Apropos of nothing, the way you used extra huge type and the manner you stated your question, hokkomike, it belligerently dares us to disagree with you. If it were verbal, it would be tantamount to starting a barfight.

Can't wait for Frank to chime in.

Your correct, I miss read.


And that's why I feel you should take this up with your state conservation office.....not that I intended to be the object lesson lol.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yeah the grammar in the regulation is quite poor, and unfortunately, the wording of the law IS the law. So it seems a semi-auto rifle or manually operated rifle in a .22 caliber rimfire cartridge or less is acceptable, but for a handgun only a manually operated handgun that shoots a .22 caliber, rimfire cartridge or smaller.

Maryland is even more poorly worded..., You're not allowed to hunt in some areas with a rifle or pistol with a larger caliber than .22. (No mention of rimfire.) So in some areas you couldn't hunt with a .243 Winchester, but you can use a .223 Remington, a .222 Remington, a .221 Fireball, a .220 Swift, a .22-250 Remington, a .204 Ruger, etc etc ???

LD

 

[Hokkmike]

Nope.



As written, and as incomplete as it is, semi-automatic .22 rimfire pistols are not legal.

Apropos of nothing, the way you used extra huge type and the manner you stated your question, hokkomike, it belligerently dares us to disagree with you. If it were verbal, it would be tantamount to starting a barfight.

Can't wait for Frank to chime in.

I prefer large font with my reading glasses. I also differentiated the size to set my comments apart form the quotes. Man - I don't even drink. I hope if it comes to a bar fight that you will back me up!

 

[entropy]

That's all well and good, but you must realize that in computer etiquette: LARGE FONT IS SHOUTING! Also, the phrasing used was that of a bully, particularly when rendered in large font. It made you come off like the swaggering drunk in a bar daring anyone to disagree with him. (I haven''t drank for 18 years, but I certainly remember them!) Since my comments (except the font demonstration) were typed in in the forums standard font, and you were able to reply, I can assume you read them. I fail to see where adding large font when posting could be a visual aid, for either of us.

I hope if it comes to a bar fight that you will back me up!

If you talk like you typed that, I might have to!

 

[Laphroaig]

OK, here's the deal from the short version of the regs:

"Arms & Ammunition 1) Manually operated and semiautomatic 10-gauge or less shotguns with a capacity of no more than 3 shells in the chamber and magazine combined; 2) Manually operated and semi-automatic rifles and manually operated handguns 22-caliber rimfire or less; 3) Air-guns for small game in calibers from .177 to .22, for woodchucks at least 22-caliber, that propel a single-projectile or bullet. BB ammunition is prohibited. 4) Muzzleloading rifles and handguns 40-caliber or less, and shotguns 10-gauge or less; and 5) long, recurve and compound bows and arrows, and crossbows. Single-projectile ammunition, or fine shot pellets no larger than No. 4 lead, bismuth-tin, or tungsten-iron, or other approved non-toxic shot or No. 2 steel. Note: Rifle and handgun caliber restrictions do not apply when hunting woodchucks."

I bolded the parts that were confusing (at least to me) previously. So any rifle, any caliber, no semi auto pistols, air rifles must be at least .22.

 

[Hokkmike]

Laphroaig - Thanks for your reply.