It is my belief that people should hunt deer with the largest cartridge they can shoot with accuracy and comfort, for some people, that's a 30-06, for some, like me, .308, others, 25-06, and still others, especially youth hunters, .243.

That's fine, go to your limit, and go no further, don't shoota big gun just for the sake of shooting a big gun, but at the same time, don't shoot the smallest possible centerfire rifle you can aim at a deer just for the sake of shooting a small gun.

Just my 2 cents.

Josiah

This is the email I got. copied and pasted.








The message you posted in Guns (http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tt.aspx?forumid=9),
titled: " .22 Hornet scores again (update)" has been deleted.
Reason:The reason if obvious....

In the majority of the USA using a .22 to hunt deer is illegal. I know that it is here in
WV and checked the data base for other states. Yep, across the board it is for the most
part illegal.

Interesting...Here in NC there is no mention of what is the smallest cartridge allowed for deer....Guess we like less government intervention...

You could even legally hunt deer here with a .22 rimfire....

Sort of makes you feel like a poacher even though it was legal doesn't it. If we can't post about things that are not legal in every state that sure doesn't leave a lot to post about does it. Since hunting regulations and weapons restrictions vary greatly from state state I am going to need a list of things I can and can't discuss. Can we talk about baiting? It is illegal in several states. What about shooting turkeys with a rifle, that is huge no no where I live. What about inline muzzle loaders, some states don't allow those either. Or crossbows for that matter. Heck we have a crossbow forum here and they are not legal in every state.

Younggun, I have no trouble handling the recoil from magnum rifles like a 7mm mag or 300 win mag, nor do I have trouble with 12 ga 3 1/2 inch magnum loads. Does that mean I should limit myself to a 300 win mag for all my centerfire hunting from varmints to big game and a 12 ga 3 1/2 inch load for all my small game hunting? I mean if I had only had a magnum load maybe that bunny would be just a bit more dead than it was with my 20 ga field load. Or maybe I should sell my non magnum inline 50 cal muzzle loader and get a 54 caliber magnum version. Obviously from your statement I am under gunned with my 50 caliber using 90 grns of powder. I mean it only develops 1700 ft/lbs of energy at 100 yards. I don't see how I have managed to kill deer up to this point. I mean that is only half the energy of a 30-06 or 7mm mag.

You must really get frustrated with people that use bows, traditional muskets, handguns and .410's to hunt with. All of which have killed tons of deer over the years.

Paul

this is simple .22 long riflelighter recoil high ammo capacity cheap ammo prices practice alot get off alot a rounds at the animal ok.

PLM, obviously, this thread is about ethical cartridges for deer, so don't be bringing other game, and non-cartridge weapons into an argument, just to prove your point.

If you want to talk small game go here:

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tt.aspx?forumid=11

Well, that's just plain silly. It was legal where it was used in that thread. Should we delete my thread about killing a buck with a .243, since rifle hunting is illegal in Illinois and other Eastern and Midwest states? Ridiculous. And, I don't think that "across the board" is even close to being correct. If the cartridge was legal where it was used then there is no good reason to delete the thread. If the deletion was the result of the name-calling by the folks who opposed the use, calling the user unethical and a poacher, then, fine, lock it up. But, not for using a legal cartridge and making a legal one-shot kill.

Back on topic... The "ethical calibers for deer" question is sort of misleading. State wildlife departments set the rules for legal calibers. The ethics question, when using a legal caliber, will vary depending on the cartridge chosen and will relate to the hunter's shot selection and range, NOT to the caliber of the round chosen.

I havn't read through this whole thread and its probably been mentioned but a head shot is by no means ethical.

You ever see a deer running around with its jaw blown completely off. Not a pretty sight. Most likely a failed attempt at a head shot.

I guess that the moderator isn't a big fan of the .22 Hornet, even where it is legal to use.[:-]

Scary. Please stay out of my neck of the woods. I don't want to get killed.