RE: Rifles in IN
You can use a rifle, but it has to shoot a straight walled pistol cartridge.
Probably the easiest gun and ammo to find that will work well would be the 44 mag in a lever action.
Ballistically the 500 S&W would be better, I just don't know how hard it would be to find a rifle and ammo and what the cost would be.
If they allowed these in MI I would probably get a 44 mag myself. Just keep in mind they don't offer a huge advantage over a good shooting shotgun with modern slugs or an inline muzzle loader. You will probably still be limited to around 100 yards.
My opinion anyway.
Paul