Not allowed to use rifles=which states ?
 

What states do not allow hunters to use a rifle for deer/bears and so on ? What do these folks use for hunting deer/bears ?
Do these states have a lot of ground hogs and deer ?
I am so glad i grew up in Pa.

Illinois is shotgun only, parts of ohio, south Carolina was shotgun only in the 70's, va east of the blue ridge is shotgun or was a few years ago, now most shotgun only areas allow a muzzleloader to be substituted for a shotgun. glad your happy with pa, I can't fathom a state that is so strict on semi-auto rifles you can't even squirrel hunt with a 10/22
RR

Ohio used to not allow rifles. SHotgun with slugs or a muzzleloader was your option. Now Ohio allows some rifles. Straight walled I believe is their requirements. So allot of people are shooting .44mags, .45-70, .444s etc
-Jake

There are quite a few places that only allow shotguns. Sometimes it is states and sometimes just parts of states. I hunted a lot of military bases before I retired and they usually only allow shotguns or muzzleloaders. I killed a lot of deer with a 12 gauge pump.

Like RR, I'm glad you love PA. I've hunted there twice myself but I like other states more for hunting but I still go to Lancaster every year on my way back from seeing the in laws in NH to buy some Amish specialties.

Almost all the lower half of Michigan is divided where there is a shotgun, muzzle loader or pistol zone till just a few years ago when they opened it up to rifles with straight wall pistol type ammo hunting.


Rest of the state is pretty much shoot what ya want.


:D Al

that's right parts of pa are shotgun only too! or were , haven;'t checked in a while, but the special reg's area of SE PA was all shotgun only in many parts for yrs and yrs
so, PA is all rifle, PA has flaws as do all states in rules
many would love SUndays hunting here as well as to be able to use semi rifles for small game ( like coyotes /squirrels )
and many would like to use them for big game too??

as I am sure many other states would as well

pro's and con's to all things LOL

Much of eastern and south/east VA is Shotgun only. You can use a ML. I rarely hunt over that way, but have a few times. A shotgun with slug or buckshot is certainly adequate to kill deer or bear, just not long range. Many of the area's that are shotgun only run dogs also. There are plenty of deer and other game. The bulk of the land is flatter, shotguns/ML's don't have the carry distance that a CF rifle does - in theory its safer.

Shotgun only seems to be more for East Coast & Mid West states and military bases. Ca requires "using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles" and so are most of the western states.

WV hunter, PA contracted to have a study done when a bunch of townships were lobbying the PA Game Commission to expand the shotgun only areas. Shotgun areas are now a misnomer because muzzle-loaders have been added as legal several years ago as legal sporting arms in those areas. The results of the study, paid for by the PA legislature were surprising to many. They were that rifled slugs are no more safe than rifle bullets because slugs have more of a tenancy ricochet off the ground and objects than bullets fired from rifles. The shotgun areas were not expanded! Of course, those in already in existence were not removed because they would have been riot at the next commission by those who live in the shotgun areas. I have no doubt that the results were correct because our officers had training on how to bounce a rifled slug off the ground to hit an assailant under certain circumstances. The more the angle the higher the slug will bounce. We were easily hitting silhouette inside the scoring rings by bouncing the rifled slugs off the ground in front of the targets. Do not try this at home, it is for information only in case the are you hunt wants shotgun only areas.

RR, How often do you need a second shot at the speed a semi can deliver it verses the speed in which you can cycle a lever, pump, or bolt? In my experience in small and big game hunting I have never needed that speed other than hog hunting sounders which is what my AR's are for. As far as for squirrels, my little Marlin lever .22L is pretty quick on second shots if needed.

As far as SG/ML only states, there are few that that restriction is state wide but there are MANY states that have that restriction in certain areas. With today's muzzleloaders especially, it's an outdated rule to say the least. Even some of the rifled sluggers are extremely potent out to 200+ yards! I don't push my 12 gauge barrel on my TC out past 150 usually but I don't think there would be too much involved in dropping a beast out to 200 with it. It's just my own personal restriction based on how far I feel 100% certain of my ability with that certain barrel.

I seldom ever need the speed of a semi for fast reloads
BUT it would be nice to have more use of semi rifles I own, or NOT having to buy other rifles when ONE can do more things
an AR say in .308 can be a great hunting rifle, home defense and target gun, all in one rifle
as would a .223 one for varmints and targets and home defense


so its not just about needing a FAST reloading gun to hunt with for follow up shots, its just getting more use out things you can do more with

rather hard to use a bolt action for self defense
a pump/lever?
OK< I guess but??
and YES a .308 -.223 isn't the best self defense calibers either
just showing an example of why a semi could be a PRO to have if, allowed to hunt with them

I cannot tell you HOW many times I have heard 5-6 + shots ring out as fast as a person can do in rifle deer season
so its NOT like going to a semi would make that any faster shooting going on's, as you said, you can shoot a lever/pump pretty fast!
and many pumps and levers can hold a bunch of rounds too
so it might even be easier to have a mag limit on ALL rifles then, if capacity is a concern!

IL is shotgun slug for deer.

you can use any rifle cartridge for coyote and small game etc...
I'm pretty certain you can hunt coyote 24hrs a day and any size magazine... kinda odd compared to deer season/slug.

I believe I read an article on how slug gun states tend to have bigger bucks...

I think you can use muzzle loader for 2nd deer season now.

I think the theory at least is, guys won't take 500yd shots and wound deer with a slug... 100yds is pretty far to most sluggers and probably 200 is close to the upper limit.

Also less chance of wounding a fellow hunter with a rifle bullet vs slug.

Where VA. is concerned, both residents and non-resident hunters would do well to pay close attention to the various reg's. wording. It's a common misconception that there aren't any or many areas east of blue ridge where rifles may be used. VA.'s reg.'s seem weird for many reasons. First, there are state ordinances and county specific ordinances. (and other types I won't mention) Laws vary based on a # of reasons: weapon range capability, population density, topography, species hunted and disability. VA. has a lot to offer the hunter. The laws can vary so widely that even residents miss out for lack of knowledge or deep study. As a quick example of species hunted: One of the regulations state that cf rifles may not be used in the county for deer. Yet, in that same county, cf rifles .22 and larger may be used to hunt groundhog or other wild species. I won't complain about the reg., but one has to wonder if that bullet knows the difference between a white tail, a turkey or a groundhog. Go figure!

That is the problem where a county or municipality can pass it's own laws regarding hunting. It creates a lot of confusion. One thing that PA did right was to give full authority over wildlife, hunting and hunting methods to it's game agency. No other government entity can pass valid laws or ordinances relating to hunting. The Game and wildlife code supersedes any laws passed by municipal entities with regards to hunting. It has been tried and failed because of the way the Game and Wildlife Code is written. We have 67 counties and each of those counties have townships and towns and villages and cities. To allow all those entities to pass their own ordinances relating to hunting would be a giant goat rope and a nightmare. The Capital city of Harrisburg not all that long ago had a mayor who didn't want hunters on the Susquehanna river hunting waterfowl because some of the river is within the city limits. He would sent the police out on the river to harass waterfowlers and tell them they were hunting within the city limits and discharging a firearm inside the city limits was illegal. The Game Commission received complaints from hunters and contacted the Mayor's office and told him the city had no jurisdiction over hunting or hunters and so long as they were 150 yards off shore they were perfectly legal. Finally, after another complaint the city attorney was contacted and told the next complaint of harassment by hunters who were being harassed while legally hunting on the river would result in the the PGC filing "hunter harassment charges against the police officers who were interfering with hunters and support any hunter who sued the Mayor and the city for harassment by testifying in the civil court for the hunters. finally, after several years of dealing with this nonsense, the harassment ended. I can't imaging living and hunting in a state that had a mish mash of laws passed by multiple government entities controlling hunting and trying to memorize or know all of them. PA may not allow semi auto firearms for hunting, but they are ahead of the curve on this issue.

need isn't the issue.
RR

I too have heard the opening day salvo in the PA woods many times and to be honest, I would be about frightened if half those idiots had semi's in their hands. If they are fast firing AND MISSING 60-80% of the shots they are attempting at running deer with manuals, imagine the horror and mayhem if you put semi's in their hands!!

I concur partially but in all reality there really is no need for semi's in 95% of hunting situations. The other 5% goes to wing shooting and multiple animal situations. Hell I hog hunted for many years with just a lever gun and was only marginally less successful in numbers of kills in comparison to my experience with AR's over the past 5 or so years. Got pretty sporty with a lever as can anyone with a little coaching and practice.

in the Special reg area in SE PA< they used to(and still might be able to)
use semi auto shotguns with slugs for deer hunting
so in an odd way, they are using semi's there
used to hunt that area back in the mid 90's
and I seen running for deer life with a army of orange hunters emptying guns at running deer.
It was like WW II D day on them there, LOL

I once seen 5 different guys all doing a drive, deer busted out from first guy and ran past all 5, I was 20+ ft up a tree and GLAD to be there when the slugs started flying LOL
last I seen that deer , its back legs looked like helicopter blades,
and NOT a single guy went to look to see if they hit it, just reloaded and kept going on there drive!
I felt bad for the poor deer
was the last time I hunted down there
too dangerous for my liking
used to hunt there due to unlimited tags and longer season, as I had the time off of work, so took advantage to fill the freezer

I am not a fan of the Michigan game commission at all. From what I see is appointments of friends of the governor or his friends set on it.
At one time I could fathom the shot gun only rule in congested areas of Michigan back in the day of smooth bore shot guns and foster type slug pretty much limited to 100 yards at best.


Today with muzzle loaders that shoot with a guarantee of being accrete to 200 yards and slug guns with rifled barrels (rifled barrels, would those not be a rifle really?) with 3 inch ammo, also good out to a couple hundred yards.


My 30-30, 32 Winchester special, friends 35 Remington all fit into that 200 yard at best category so I think the game commission should have hunters setting on that board who know about shooting the different shot gun, muzzle loader & pistol deer game loads make the rules.


As for semi auto rifles, there are 6 of us who hunt a lot of coyotes. All of us except Dean uses a single shot or bolt action rifle. For 2015 we all racked up double digit kills. Dean how ever with his semi auto rifle has doubled what the other highest count guy got.
He just about every time we are out gets doubles, but that is what he built his rifle to do score doubles on coyotes.


:D Al

I grew up in VA in one of those shotgun only counties. Everyone hunted deer with dogs and buckshot. It's just not my type of hunting. I met and worked for farmers in other counties that allowed deer hunting with a rifle so that's how I got to use mine. I laugh at the PA rule as I have plenty of buddies there but it just turns me off I couldn't use by browning bar there. I didn't get it to shoot fast I just liked the gun. Lol when I get to a place that's shotgun only I use my savage 220.

ive been hunting in Pa. since I started hunting at age 13. ill be 65 at the end of the this year, so I guess I can safely say that I'm glad that Pa. doesn't allow semi rifles for hunting. especially deer. if any of you have ever hunted the first day of deer in Pa. the woods are alive with blaze orange. almost someone behind every tree. if someone would open up with a semi someone's bound to get hurt or killed. as for small game I wouldn't mind a semi 22 rimfire being used for squirrels. as long as the hunter was not shooting into the tree tops. safety first. this is my opinion.

MA is shotgun only
NH is shotgun in the southeast portion of the state

My home state of Tennessee used to prohibit rifles for deer hunting. I know my dad used a shotgun to take his first deer. That all changed in 1978, when they legalized rifles and handguns for deer hunting across the state, barring a few public lands. Funnily enough, our buck harvest has steadily improved since then.

Uhhh Lone Wolf, you might want to do a little fact checking there. I know TN USED to have a season for SG only but as far as my memory goes, and this is back to the early 40's and 50's, rifles were NOT illegal. They had RIFLE season and a SG ONLY season. I think they dropped the SG ONLY season in 78. BTW I was hatched and raised in East TN.

Everyone I've asked said it used to be shotgun only. Wonder if it was by county? We're over in northwest TN.

Could have been. I hunted all over TN when I was younger. But I used a 30-30 or a .30-06 way back then. My old man used to use a Smooth bore with slugs during the SG season but me and that VERY light field gun he had did NOT get along well with slugs in it. I was a little fella till around 14 or so. That dang thing put me on my rear! My 16th B-Day was the one and ONLY rifle my old man ever bought for me that I didn't have to pay him back for. A brand spanking new Mod 70 Win .30-06. Still have it! Still will shoot the eyes out of a gnat with my pet loads. Killed a LOT of deer with that and my old .30-30 lever gun in TN so if they were illegal, I was most certainly a law breaker :busted:

Michigan changed the shotgun zone to limited firearm zone back in 2014 (I believe) for the southern half of lower Michigan. Now you can still use shotguns, muzzleloaders, etc..., but also straight walled cartridges 35 caliber or larger between 1.16" and 1.80" case length. This now allows guns like the 450 Bushmaster to be used along with some lever actions.


I have used a 257 wby mag in the rifle area up North and use Muzzleloaders, rifled slugs and this summer bought a 450 bushmaster to try out in the limited zone.

In New York part of the state is shotgun slug only. I am happy I moved to Mississippi.