I ground hog hunt in 4 states. WV, PA, OH, and MD. I was sitting in a field in PA last year. A state Trooper drove by and stopped. He then started talikng to me. I gave him a cold Pepsi and we chatted for about 15 minutes. He told me he thought I was a pretty good guy and that he was not going to arrest me. I was hunting with my RR AR15 Varminter. I never thought about it being illegal to use. I thanked him and put the rifle away immediately. I do not know if it was legal or not, and I did not care at the time. I was just glad that I did not get arrested and fined. Tom.