The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Handgun Hunting Purpose of this regulation?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Purpose of this regulation? | Login/Join |
| one of us |
Today was the last day of squirrel season here in Pennsylvania. A bunch of snowmobilers invaded the area so I gave up before normal quitting time. While it was still quiet I gave some thought as to the Commonwealth's reasoning behind their permitted arms & ammunition regulations for small game. Here are the parts that apply: 1. Manually operated and autoloading shotguns with a capacity of no more than 3 shells in the chamber and magazine combined. 2. Manually operated rifles and handguns less than 23 caliber. 3. Muzzleloading rifles and handguns 40 caliber or less and shotguns; single projectile ammo or fine shot pellets no larger than #4 lead, bismuth-tin, or tungsten-iron, and #2 steel. 4. Long, recurve and compound bows and arrows. It wouldn't be very sporting, but perfectly legal for me to use my Browning BPS in 10ga. magnum. Also perfectly legal but not very safe if shooting up into the trees, would be my Browning 1885 in 22-250 Remington. But I am deemed illegal and could lose my hunting privileges if I used my S&W model 16, 6" revolver shooting homecast lead hollowbase wadcutter 32 S&W Long ammo. Of the 3 listed firearms, the latter is certainly the most sporting but is not allowed according to the PA Game Commission. Would anyone have an idea why? Now that the season is over, I'm going to fire off a letter to the PGC but I thought I'd ask here first to save me certain embarrassment if the answer is as plain as the nose on my face. I can't think of any reason why a 22 rimfire or centerfire revolver is legal but my pipsqueak 32 Long is not. This has got me stumped. | ||
|
One of Us |
In a word, ignorance. This is not an uncommon characterisitic among those of the political left. When you get bored with life, start hunting dangerous game with a handgun. | |||
|
| one of us |
No it's not ignorance! It's perfectly reasonable. You guys are looking at caliber. The Pa folks are looking at FIREPOWER. The issue is manually operated and magazine capacity. You guys are, again, looking at caliber. I hunted in Pa back in the 70's, and, even though on private land, I certainly do NOT want someone spraying shots from an autoloader at a fleeing deer. If you want ignorance then just look in the ranks of hunters. Every time when I walked into the woods IN PITCH BLACK, to find my spot, I would here shots being fired! Presumably these folks are on the political right? Peter. Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; | |||
|
| One of Us |
Ok ,violaters has what to do with semi-auto rifles??????I live in Wi.where semi-auto rifles are legal and in over 50 years of Deer hunting have yet to hear of one accident involving(someone spraying the woods woth gunfire.)Most accidents seem to involve unloading weapons.By the way in Pa. pumps and leveractions are legal and a good man can shoot one as fast as a semi-auto. | |||
|
| one of us |
To make it easy to understand, PA has always had a liberal government. Game wardens are used heavily like police in VA, to collect a lot of money. Even the game wardens can't interpret the game laws. Ohio is as bad. I knew a game warden that arrested his own cousin that flashed his light across deer eyes he did not even know were there as he was fox hunting. I seen him give tickets to a family man with a car full of kids because he kept his headlights on a few deer for a second too long so the kids could see them. | |||
|
One of Us |
It has been awhile since I lived in PA and I don't have a set of the PA hunting regulations but read the regulation carefully. Is it saying that that handgun and rifle calibers HAVE to be less than .230 or that they CAN be? Some hunters are not disciplined enough to be using a semiauto. Their approach is spray and pray rather than concentrating on making the first shot count. I like the option of hunting with a semiauto but a few of the spray and pray types bring the curtains down on everyone. Every deer season, a few hunters get tagged with bullets in PA. In fact one year, someone driving his vehicle was killed by a stray rifle bullet; I don't think the shooter was ever identified. | |||
|
One of Us |
Hunting is an extremely safe sport
http://www.lewrockwell.com/perry/perry37.html _____________________________________________________ A 9mm may expand to a larger diameter, but a 45 ain't going to shrink Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. - Winston Churchill | |||
|
| Moderator |
Peter, First off, I'd suggest you go back and actually read the original post. This about small game, not deer. Secondly, one's political views does not necessarily indicate a willingness to adhere or ignore the law. I agree with the original responder about the rules being driven by ignorance. Ignorance is the same reason minimum energy requirements are included in many game laws. That and a desire to complicate the issue to the point any hunter found in the woods would be guilty of a violation(s) and fine money will be generated. If ignorance is bliss; there are some blissful sonofaguns around here. We know who you are, so no reason to point yourselves out. | |||
|
| one of us |
the purpose of writing it that way is that if they had to make exceptions for every gun that fell into that catagory the law would be a nightmare to write. tell a guy he can use his 32 and the next gun would say why not a 38 ect. I think the law was meant to sway you toward a 22 rimfire. They probably figure not to many people are going to hunt squirrels with a 220 swift. | |||
|
| one of us |
Doctors kill more people then any other activity on earth! And doctors are against guns!  | |||
|
| One of Us |
100% agreed!!!!!!!!!! | |||
|
| Moderator |
There ought to just be a bag limit and how one achieves it is their business. If ignorance is bliss; there are some blissful sonofaguns around here. We know who you are, so no reason to point yourselves out. | |||
|
Moderator |
That's way too rational and logical. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
|
| One of Us |
Next time you get a cold or pneumonia, go talk to your gun. I know a doctor who is an avowed conservative (actually I know a bunch). One decided that since he was a conservative, he should join the NRA and buy a gun. He joined the NRA and bought a shotgun but to date, and it has been at least 7 years, he has never shot his shotgun. Another doctor e-mailed me a couple of months ago to tell me he had bought a DPMS assault rifle just in case Obama banned them. In fact, the majority of doctors I've known, and I've known a bunch, not only are not antigun but are actually progun. I could go on... | |||
|
| one of us |
Grumulkin, way too logical. I am expecting a call to boycott doctors because of their supposed anti gun stance! As a matter of fact I know one doctor and several lawyers who own class 3 firearms. Peter. Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; | |||
|
One of Us |
All of my doctors are pro-gun, that's part of my hiring process.  I enjoy going to the local gun shops when I'm in PA, there is a difference in thinking that I've not seen in other States. I like the people there but some of the laws make no sense at all.  | |||
|
| one of us |
The people are great but the government is corrupt! I have 1000 friends from PA and they all complain. It is the big cities that vote in the politicians. Same as O got in. Look at the voting map. Votes came from high crime areas and places with the largest number of lazy people on government dole. As far as doctors go, of course there are good ones but look at what the AMA spouts. | |||
|
| One of Us |
bfr, I hear the same thing from my in-laws about the large cities. Onefunzr, You find strange things in most states game laws. In WV you can't hunt small game during the first three days of deer season. If you're a dyed in the wool grouse hunter it's a no-no for the days leading up to Thanksgiving. In Texas you have to have your name and address listed on your arrows when hunting. "I shot an arrow into the air, the law suit came from over there"  | |||
|
| one of us |
Do they check? Can I put someone else's name and address on my arrows?!!! Peter. Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong; | |||
|
| One of Us |
Other than not allwing semi-auto's for hunting, something that is a VERY OLD regulation... I Think it dates back to discouraging the use of a Garand post WW2.... it is definatly not a "new" rule. The caliber limitation is to prevent people from "hunting" small game while ACTUALLY involved in poaching. Nothing in the rules prevents me from using my 223 bolt rifle to kill squirrels Semi-auto shotguns ARE specifically allowed for small game, but specifically prohibited for deer hunting. I'm not sure if that applies to the "buckshot only" hunting areas down near philly... I do know that buckshot is only allowed in the buckshot only areas  But it is also legal for me to use my 223 bolt rifle on deer. Other than the 22cal minimum for deer the only other caliber restriction is the minimum caliber (.277) and bullet weight (130grn) for Elk. Yes, pennsylvania has elk. AD If I provoke you into thinking then I've done my good deed for the day! Those who manage to provoke themselves into other activities have only themselves to blame. *We Band of 45-70er's* 35 year Life Member of the NRA NRA Life Member since 1984 | |||
|
| one of us |
| |||
|
| One of Us |
LOL Maybe i'd better qualify this. Twenty+ years ago when i resided in Tejas they would check your arrows for a label with your name and address. Hard to tell what's happened in the last two decades... | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Handgun Hunting Purpose of this regulation?
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia
