So what is the minimum caliber for deer in your state?
- Thread starter globemaster3
- Start date
bubba15301
New member
Pa. any centerfire cal . no semi -autos
globemaster3
New member
Shortwave, thanks for the words. Hunting methods and why will be a future installment!
Bubba,is PA still flintlock only for front stuffers?
Bubba,is PA still flintlock only for front stuffers?
Iowa:
Shotguns: 10-, 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge shotguns shooting single slugs only.
Muzzleloaders: Flintlock or percussion cap muzzleloading rifles or muskets between .44 and .775 caliber shooting single projectiles;
Muzzleloaders equipped with electronic ignition are not allowed. There are no restrictions on in-line or disktype muzzleloaders. Riflescopes may also be used.
Handguns: Center-fire handguns .357 caliber or larger, shooting straight wall ammunition with an expanding-type bullet. Minimum barrel length for all handguns is 4 inches.
muzzleloading pistols .44 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches and no shoulder stock or long barrel modifications.
Center-fire rifles: Rifles .24 caliber or larger
Shotguns: 10-, 12-, 16-, and 20-gauge shotguns shooting single slugs only.
Muzzleloaders: Flintlock or percussion cap muzzleloading rifles or muskets between .44 and .775 caliber shooting single projectiles;
Muzzleloaders equipped with electronic ignition are not allowed. There are no restrictions on in-line or disktype muzzleloaders. Riflescopes may also be used.
Handguns: Center-fire handguns .357 caliber or larger, shooting straight wall ammunition with an expanding-type bullet. Minimum barrel length for all handguns is 4 inches.
muzzleloading pistols .44 caliber or larger with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches and no shoulder stock or long barrel modifications.
Center-fire rifles: Rifles .24 caliber or larger
Lucas McCain
New member
In Minnesota the law is any 22 cal. centerfire cartridge or larger.
Common sense tells, me any rifle not being able to deliver a bullet with 1000 ft. lbs. of energy at a distance of 100 yards is not adequate.
Common sense tells, me any rifle not being able to deliver a bullet with 1000 ft. lbs. of energy at a distance of 100 yards is not adequate.
KeeperOath
New member
Deer Hunting in Indiana
I've had to give up hunting but my youngest Nephew has taken over my 1894 Marlin .357 Magnum. It's the smallest calibre currently allowed here in Indiana. It got the job done this season with two nice harvests.
I've had to give up hunting but my youngest Nephew has taken over my 1894 Marlin .357 Magnum. It's the smallest calibre currently allowed here in Indiana. It got the job done this season with two nice harvests.
I have mixed feelings about minimum calibers. On one hand, its a shame that all hunters are not responsible enough to choose a suitable arm for humane hunting, but on the other hand, there are always a number of people who believe that if their state government law has not specified otherwise, it must me a good deer round.
I find a number of dead deer in the woods during late (post-gun) muzzleloader season, and I think Ohio's minimums are pretty sufficient. I can't imagine what its like in places where a wider array of marginal or insufficient rounds are used.
I find a number of dead deer in the woods during late (post-gun) muzzleloader season, and I think Ohio's minimums are pretty sufficient. I can't imagine what its like in places where a wider array of marginal or insufficient rounds are used.
globemaster3
New member
Tim, we regularly debate what the minimum deer round should be. Just look at any "is .223 adequate for deer" threads and you will see.
As for hunters who do not practice enough, we are going to have them no matter what the minimum caliber is. One of our members has an interesting catch phrase along the lines of "I'd rather be shot with a .50BMG in the foot than a .22 Short to the base of the skull."
In other words, it doesn't matter what you shoot, shot placement will always be key. I have also found for the most part on that topic, you are preaching to the choir here.
As for hunters who do not practice enough, we are going to have them no matter what the minimum caliber is. One of our members has an interesting catch phrase along the lines of "I'd rather be shot with a .50BMG in the foot than a .22 Short to the base of the skull."
In other words, it doesn't matter what you shoot, shot placement will always be key. I have also found for the most part on that topic, you are preaching to the choir here.
Missouri: Allowed:, for firearms season, Centerfire pistols, revolvers or rifles using expanding type bullets. Shotguns (including .410 with slugs only), air powered guns of .40 cal or larger, Muzzleloading or cap and ball firearm of .40 cal or larger. Archery methods do not have a minimum draw weight.
Prohibited for firearms season. Selfloading with more than 11 round capacity (mag and chamber combined), ammunition propelling more than one projectile at a single discharge (i.e. buckshot), full hard metal case projectiles, fully automatic firearms, any device that casts a beam of light on the game, and electronic calls.
Prohibited for firearms season. Selfloading with more than 11 round capacity (mag and chamber combined), ammunition propelling more than one projectile at a single discharge (i.e. buckshot), full hard metal case projectiles, fully automatic firearms, any device that casts a beam of light on the game, and electronic calls.
ChasingWhitetail91
New member
I'm jealous shortwave. In ct a .410 slug isn't allowed for deer for reasons unknown to me. We are stuck with .20ga and up. As far as rifles I believe .243 is the smallest allowed caliber.
Well...IMHO if I had my choice between using any rifle from .243 on up or any shotgun, whatever the cal., I'd opt for the rifle hands down over the shotgun. Especially in the consistent accuracy and shot placement department when comparing shotguns to rifles.
Let me say this about the .410 and hunting deer.... but first, please understand my limited experience with using a .410 for deer hunting was done years ago with Foster style slugs. There may well be much better designed .410 slugs on the market today.
As long as the hunter shoots at a live animal knowing the limits of the .410 slug, they will kill deer. But IMO, in a shotgun only environment the 20,16 or 12ga. is better if for nothing else, a bigger wound channel.
To sum things up, again, IMO, same as I can't use a .22 for deer hunting, your not missing much cause you can't use the .410 for deer hunting.
I assume this is about the response I put in a post. Keep in mind that some laws change yearly ( my state has had numerous new laws this year regarding hunting). Also when you have a nuisance permit te law can be different, especially when there are homes nearby and the hunting is being done at night.
Dc777,
If you are talking about my above post, sorry my friend, I'm afraid you assumed wrong.
I was responding to ChasingWhitetail91 post just before mine...
Dc777,
Just went back through the thread and don't see where you posted anywhere.
What post are you talking about???
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@ JDOxO
Nope the .38 special is not legal in Indian. While it does meet the minimum rifle projectile diameter, It doesn't meet the minimum case length requirement for a rifle. The 30-06 is not legal, because not only is it not large enough in diameter...it is also over the MAXIMUM case length requirement for a rifle.
Just like an 18" barreled 30-30 lever action isn't okay to hunt with here, but a 22" barreled bolt action .35 Rem is
But you want to hear something REALLY stupid? Drop a 12" .300 win. mag barrel into a single shot pistol platform of some kind, and that just fine and dandy for deer. OR...How about all the caliber restrictions for deer due to "public Safety", but it's just fine and legal for any joe blow to grab their .338 lapua, go squirrel hunting...and be rocketing lead @ 3000 fps into the sky...Indiana...yeash
Sorry.....rant off LOL
Nope the .38 special is not legal in Indian. While it does meet the minimum rifle projectile diameter, It doesn't meet the minimum case length requirement for a rifle. The 30-06 is not legal, because not only is it not large enough in diameter...it is also over the MAXIMUM case length requirement for a rifle.
Just like an 18" barreled 30-30 lever action isn't okay to hunt with here, but a 22" barreled bolt action .35 Rem is
But you want to hear something REALLY stupid? Drop a 12" .300 win. mag barrel into a single shot pistol platform of some kind, and that just fine and dandy for deer. OR...How about all the caliber restrictions for deer due to "public Safety", but it's just fine and legal for any joe blow to grab their .338 lapua, go squirrel hunting...and be rocketing lead @ 3000 fps into the sky...Indiana...yeash
Sorry.....rant off LOL
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It would help when you post 33 posts into a discussion that your post not be as vague as it was so others here will know who/what you're talking about.
Maybe even addressing the OP in your post may help the rest of us pay attention and understand that you are posting something that was not relevant to what was currently being discussed in the thread.
globemaster3
New member
DC777, yep, your post put the bee in my bonnet to start this thread. Purely an educational move, as I discovered that perhaps some states have lower limits than I thought, and as I have hunted a few states, probably a lot of other folks would find it interesting to learn what minimums exist around the nation.
Yep, all your fault, look what you started!
Yep, all your fault, look what you started!
There are two questions involved, minimum caliber for clean kill and maximum distance of stray projectiles.
Indiana iirc recently allowed pistol caliber rifles/carbines for deer hunting. That is in keeping with previous regulations intended to limit the distance stray projectiles. It also explains why the is a .357 minimum for bullets.
I was raised for the first few years of my life in Northeast Ohio. Even in rural areas the population is relatively dense. Farms can be as small as five acres with neighbors being much closer than pistol shot distance.
Washington state has a .24 caliber limit as has been stated above. While Texas is any centerfire.
If we compare the game that the average hunter will meet in the two states the difference in regulations make a bit more sense.
While it is true that Washington state black tail deer tend to be small enough that a .22 caliber minimum might make sense, they are limited to half the state. The dry side deer tend to be a bit larger.
So it is easier and less expensive to have a minimum that covers the whole state rather than having two or more.
Indiana iirc recently allowed pistol caliber rifles/carbines for deer hunting. That is in keeping with previous regulations intended to limit the distance stray projectiles. It also explains why the is a .357 minimum for bullets.
I was raised for the first few years of my life in Northeast Ohio. Even in rural areas the population is relatively dense. Farms can be as small as five acres with neighbors being much closer than pistol shot distance.
Washington state has a .24 caliber limit as has been stated above. While Texas is any centerfire.
If we compare the game that the average hunter will meet in the two states the difference in regulations make a bit more sense.
While it is true that Washington state black tail deer tend to be small enough that a .22 caliber minimum might make sense, they are limited to half the state. The dry side deer tend to be a bit larger.
So it is easier and less expensive to have a minimum that covers the whole state rather than having two or more.
Thank You Berdan
The Missouri "Alternative Methods Season" aka Muzzleloader season in any other state now allows for "pistols". You cited what irks me about that.
IMO the Encore type single shot "pistols" are actually short barreled rifles without a stock. So, why do they have a place as an alternative method?
The Missouri "Alternative Methods Season" aka Muzzleloader season in any other state now allows for "pistols". You cited what irks me about that.
IMO the Encore type single shot "pistols" are actually short barreled rifles without a stock. So, why do they have a place as an alternative method?