While I agree in principle with some of what you are saying, parts of your diatribe are misinformed.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>High-powered rifles are legal in some states but are involved in more incidents of poaching as well as hunting accidents and fatalities than any other hunting weapon, not to mention the lack of challenge that they present. So what has to happen...many states have gone to muzzleloader or shotgun only and have had to make high-powered rifles "illegal" to hunt with. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
The use of rifles, muzzleloaders, and shotguns has nothing to do with poaching in a states decision to prescribe certain firearms. Goodness knows if someone is going to poach no law would change that. The weapons allowed are usually based on the safety issues.
Take the State of Michigan for example. They annually have approximately 700,000 deer hunters during the gun season. In the southern part of the state where the population is more dense only shotguns (and Muzzleloaders) can be used. In the Northern part of the state where the population is more sparse, one can use a rifle.
In States like Iowa it is shotgun (muzzle loader)only. The first gun season started in 1953. Again shotguns were the only modern firearm allowed due to safety reasons. The shotgun was viewed as a short range weapon.
I would agree with more education and less legislation. It takes time but in the long run I think all of us would be further ahead.