It would be a much shorter list to list any state that doesn't allow handgun hunting. Only an ignornat person would deny handgun hunting IMHO

JWP, there is just a handful of States that don't allow handguns for hunting. Delaware use to be one of them. We are now in our 3rd year of us being able to use handgun for hunting.

It is them legislators that held us up so long. And we had one hell of a fight, to get them to let us hunt with handguns.

quote:

Originally posted by WannabeBwana:
I carpool with a guy who works for our Natural Resources dept. He's currently surveying hunters on how to increase deer harvest in our area.

We've got a long bow and 3 separate one week bp seasons. I gave him a couple of suggestions, but I also told him that one way to increase the hunt is to allow handgun hunting.

Tonight, he said that he floated the idea by his District Supervisor, and was told that the only place that allows handgun hunting is Texas. I told him that his DS is full of crap and that a lot of states and countries permit handgun hunting!

He asked me what the effective range of handguns are, and I gave him some basic information. I also told him that they need to get past the idea that handguns are only useful for limiting the supply of drug-dealers and pimps, and that they are a perfectly legitimate hunting firearm.

So, fill me in, please:

Does your state allow handgun hunting? As well, if you're not in the US, please name your country, and whether handgun hunting is allowed.

What are the caliber restrictions?

I have no idea if this will make a difference, but I want to swamp his uninformed DS with information, so he doesn't spout his crap any more.

The obvious and easiest way to increase deer harvest is to increase the length of the seasons. I like hunting deer/hogs with handguns (as already mentioned legal in Texas, only restrictions for deer are same as those for rifles, that is no rimfires) but I don't think enough people use them or have them, especially in Canada, to make any significant difference. Don't misunderstand, I'm all for it, but I don't think it will really affect the deer population.

The other way to control the population, which I assume is the real goal, is to allow or increase doe hunting. I can't speak for the far North but in many warmer places with bucks only seasons, and most of them that have doe seasons as well, there are way too many does for the available forage.

Finally, as much as I dislike the concept, if both of the above ideas are non-starters, the next best would be to allow a shotgun only season in addition to bp. And, one more note, because of their history, and looping trajectory (making them short ranged in the eyes of the Wildlife Dept) in addition to BP, Louisiana allowed .45-70s and maybe one or two other antique calibers (38-55?, not sure) during their normal BP season last year. I didn't participate but I understand the rifle had to be a single shot. I hear it upped their harvest somewhat but don't have any figures to confirm it.

Nevada allows handgun hunting, both small ang large game. We have since I was a boy...And THAT is a LONG while!
Have fun,
Gene

quote:

Originally posted by TBEAR99:
as said ny allows it i would be interested in finding out what states in the us that don't allow use of handguns

New Jersey doesn't atleast not when I last checked.

You could search the state F&G websites, all 50 states have them.

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