? for pa hunters

[Dukebh40]

does anyone know if you need a special permit to hunt deer with a handgun. the handgun i was plannin on using is a smith and wesson 44 magnum revolver. its a 6 shot and i have a red dot scope on it but it doesnt cast a beam. thanks for the help guys.

[missed_another]

you do have to get a permit from your county sherrif's office. it is a handgun permit for sports or protection. it cost $25.00 for a five year permit. takes about 15 minutes. they do a search on you and take a picture. you also have to carry a copy of the permit when you are in the woods.

[PA Bow/Flinter]

learn something new everyday..i didn't think you needed to but i was wrong...you do need one

[patrkyhntr]

Actually there are two types of permit you can get. One is a concealed carry permit previously mentioned. You get this from your county sheriff. The other permit is a sportsman's firearms permit, which allows you to carry a handgun that is legal for hunting while hunting or fishing. You can get these at your county treasurer's office. Here is the pertinent section of the regulations:
"Firearms - Handguns: A Sportsman"™s Firearms Permit or a
License to Carry a Firearm is required to carry a handgun
concealed or in a motor vehicle. Licenses to Carry a Firearm
are issued by county sheriffs or the Philadelphia chief of
police. A License to Carry a Firearm does not entitle the
licensee to spotlight wildlife while in possession of a firearm.
County treasurers issue Sportsman"™s Firearms Permits. A
person holding a Sportsman"™s Firearms Permit may not carry
a loaded handgun in a vehicle."

Here is the law pertaining to the Sportsman's firearms permit:
"c) Sportsman's firearm permit.-- Before any exception shall be granted under paragraph (b)(9) or (10) of this section to any person 18 years of age or older licensed to hunt, trap or fish or who has been issued a permit relating to hunting dogs, such person shall, at the time of securing his hunting, furtaking or fishing license or any time after such license has been issued, secure a sportsman's firearm permit from the county treasurer. The sportsman's firearm permit shall be issued immediately and be valid throughout this Commonwealth for a period of five years from the date of issue for any legal firearm, when carried in conjunction with a valid hunting, furtaking or fishing license or permit relating to hunting dogs. The sportsman's firearm permit shall be in triplicate on a form to be furnished by the Pennsylvania State Police. The original permit shall be delivered to the person, and the first copy thereof, within seven days, shall be forwarded to the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police by the county treasurer. The second copy shall be retained by the county treasurer for a period of two years from the date of expiration. The county treasurer shall be entitled to collect a fee of not more than $6 for each such permit issued, which shall include the cost of any official form. The Pennsylvania State Police may recover from the county treasurer the cost of any such form, but may not charge more than $1 for each official permit form furnished to the county treasurer."

Please note that the Sportsman's permit does NOT entitle you to carry a concealed handgun, nor does it entitle you to take game with any weapon not legal for such taking, such as a semiautomatic handgun.

[Sniper151]

Something to remember. If you get the sportsmans permit it is assigned to your hunting license. You MUST carry you hunting license when carrying the handgun at all times in the field, even practice.

[missed_another]

if you are approved just get the protection/concealed carry permit. then you can carry it for hunting and protection on the same permit. no need to bother with the sportman's permit. the only thing if i remember right is that you have to be 21 years old for a concealed permit. if you are not 21 yet, but you are 18 years old you will have to go for a sportsman's permit.