HCTurkeyHunter

Hello all.

I am from Indiana. Our beloved DNR Director has issued a temporary rule change that will all archery hunter (turkey and deer) to carry pistols with them in the field if the hunter has a valid handgun permit. I am utterly in shock over this rule. I will guarentee that slobs will shoot deer with their pistols if given the chance. I am totally against this decision.

A licensed hundgun owner has the right to carry a gun. However, that same person does not have a right to hunt. Hunting is a privilage. If you want to carry your gun, then carry it. You just can't hunt with a bow if that is your choice.

Any discussion on this??

kenman

A slob hunter is gonna break the rules regardless. We have the right to bear arms regardless of what we are doing (within reason). I say if you wanna pack heat, pack the heat. Shame on the Indiana DNR for outlawing handguns while bowhunting in the first place.

Buck Huntin Girl

I'm from Indiana too... maybe they will attempt to or take a deer with their handguns, but if they are doing that, they are poaching anyway... you'll never know about it because the chances of them trying to pull that over at a check station is next to nil.

I'm sure it will be enticing for them if that buck is just out of reach for a bow, but like I said... it isn't going to matter anyway, anyone who would take a deer with a pistol during archery season is likely to bend and break the rules in other ways.... poacher.

But as a side note, what the heck does ANY Hoosier need a pistol for in the woods? There is absolutely NOTHING in any part of Indiana that is going to threaten their lives in the woods, unless it's a person, and you can take them out with a well placed broadhead anyway. I can see this being a sensible rule in states with bear and mountain lion populations, but INDIANA??? We have NOTHING threatening here...

HCTurkeyHunter

Yeah you got the right to bear arms, but not in all situations. Remember that hunting is a privilage regardless of what you may think. And privilages have guidelines that you must follow.

And as Buck Girl said, there ain't nuttin in Indiana but a few pineys to worry about when you are in the woods.

kenman

Rabid racoons perhaps?? A $0.50 bullet is cheaper than a fully equipped arrow.

Rick James

I think it's a great idea personally. I wish I could pack legally in PA and NY when bowhunting. I have sooooo many neighbors that illegaly trespass on the property me and my family work so hard to pay the taxes on.We posted the property last year for the first time in over 40 years and they don't respect it because they never asked permission or felt the need to. 1x of the neighborsis a convicted violent felon, and one of the others was busted for having a meth lab several years ago.Last season Itracked footprints from the core of a big bucks bedding area into one of their backyards during late season despite the posted signs and this year there were footprints all over and fresh breast feathers on the ground during turkey season. I haven't spent the time trying to catch anyone down there but will this season, and it is almost a definite that I will be running into them this year and confronting them.It would be nice to know that if I run into a problem alone and there are 2x of them I have a means to protect myself beyond a 2 way radio or bow.

rybohunter

I am all for it, I wish I could carry a handgun dirung our PA bow season. The areas I hunt are getting wierder and weirder, stories making the news every month. I also hunt one spot that has bear activity. I'm sure these guy aren't going to be strapping super redhawks to thier hip, more like a 9 mm or 40.

wis_bow_huntr

Wisconsin has allowed this for several years. Bow hunters are able to carry a hand gun as protection only. If we wound a deer with an arrow we are not allowed to shoot the deer withthe hand gun. I havent heard too many bow hunters that have broken this law in anyway in Wi. In Wi you must be over the age of 18 to carry a hand gun and it can not be concealed as Wi does not have the concealed weapon carry law at this time.

36fan

I am also from Indy. I think Kyle made a good decision to allow me the right to carry a handgun that I already have the right to carry and have the permit to carry. The permit is to carry a handgun - the only exceptions are on federal property, schools, and casinos. The permit does not say anywhere 'not legal while bow hunting'. As for nothing in the area that you would need a handgun for, meth is becoming quite a problem in the rural areas. If I happen upon a lab, I would much rather have my .357 w/ me than a couple of sticks w/ pointy ends.

Also, if we want to go from the poaching angle, why are pistols in centerfire rifle rounds legal? I know of someone that used a .270 rifle to shoot a dear. If he was questioned, he was going to claim that he used a .270 pistol.

If poachers were concerned about breaking the law, they wouldn't be poachers.

Buck Huntin Girl

Well, like I said, here in Indiana, ain't nothin' but homosapians to threaten your well being... even in that circumstance, unfortunately in Indiana, you have to practically prove you were next to death due to them before you can be found innocent of shooting for "self defense".

I couldn't care less personally, it doesn't make any difference to me, I'm not carrying one, but if they want to, to each their own. If it makes them feel better. I don't see the purpose, but that's JMO.