deer hunting in WI question
 

Does anyone know the what the regs are for hunting whitetale deer in Wisconsin with a handgun? Is it legal and what caliber.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

check the Wisconsin DNR website.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

The last I knew was .22 caliber centerfire or higher, but this may have changed. Check the local DNR website.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

i did check there, but i can't find the regs on this topic.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

If you buy a license, or go to a place that sells licenses, they should have a regulation book there for you.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

2004 regulations book says:

To be legal for deer,centerfire handguns must use cartridges of .22 caliber or larger and have a 5 1/2 inch minimum barrel,measured from the firing pin to the muzzle with the action closed.

You must be 18 years old to hunt with or possess a handgun.

You may not possess a concealed handgun.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

Are you s*&%%&#g me. 22 caliber? Being native to Wisconsin I have been in denial for so long but 22 Caliber? How nuts is that?

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

The main reason that they allow a .22 is to put an animal down, if you injure it, without destroying the possibility of a mount. Any ethical hunter would not use a .22, a .38, a 9mm, ect for their inital shot, hugher power 'mag' calibers are the only things ethically that should be used in my opinion, and even those should only be used (again in my opinion) at a range of less than 75 yards, even with a scope.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

I beleive the regs state that it has to be .22 caliber or large CENTER FIRE cartrige. I assume from your reaction you thought they were reffering to the .22 rimfire cartrige.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

It doesn't specify in the handgun paragraph, but in the rifle paragraph it says you can't use a 22 rimfire for deer.

Going back to the 2002 book it says specifically in the handgun section that it is to be 22 "centerfire" or larger.

I'm sure thats what they mean in the '04 manual, but they should print it that way.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

Keep in mind... The reg's also state, that the pamphlet does not contain all the laws, and we are required to know those laws that are not in the book.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

KEEP IN MIND..... A 22 centerfire is a very powerful load, and its pretty doubtful that very many people on this forum has even seen a true 22 centerfire. They stopped being a mainstream gun in the mid 1930's, they shot a 45 to 50 grain bullet, at barrel speeds anywhere from 3000fps, to 3700fps, very similar to a modern .223, just a hair slower, and about 5 grains less lead. It is a pretty rare find to even be able to locate a reloadable shell, and as far as I know, Mainstream gun sales havnt offered the ammo since the late 50's or early 60's. fifty years from now they will be arguing about a .17 being a rifle, or an air-rifle caliber.

RE: deer hunting in WI question
 

Yeah I guess I fereeked a little. My bad. I was thinking more along the lines of Looney tunes Waco bunny huggers getting word of this, and then I thought they don't know diddley about knockdown power muzzle velocity and all that soooo....never mind[8D]