[Guest]

I've been sitting here thinking about how Missouri's deer hunting (firearms portion) rules are to laid back. I don't agree with some of it, like the fact that you can LEGALLY hunt deer with any centerfire  pistol, or an atlatl. An Atlatl? ([ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48xGVuzYJsY&feature=related[/ame])
So, how are your state's deer hunting regulations?  

http://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/deer-regulations/2010-firearms-deer-hunting

Methods allowed during all portions of the firearms deer season, except the muzzleloader portion.

   * centerfire pistol, revolver or rifle using expanding-type bullets. Legal ammunition includes lead bullets, copper bullets and bullets made of other material designed to expand.
   * shotgun (including .410) with slugs only
   * air-powered gun, .40 caliber or larger, charged only from an external high compression power source (external hand pump, air tank, or air compressor)
   * a muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearm .40 caliber or larger and capable of firing only a single projectile at one discharge; in-lines and scopes are allowed
   * multiple-barreled muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms and/or muzzleloading or cap-and-ball handguns, including revolvers, .40 caliber or larger are allowed and may be carried in addition to a muzzleloading or cap-and-ball rifle
   * a longbow, compound bow or recurve bow of any draw weight; hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes and quickpoint sights are allowed
   * crossbow
   * atlatl, which is defined as a rod or narrow board-like device used to launch, through a throwing motion of the arm, a dart 5 to 8 feet in length.

 

[Jdeere562]

I mainly have a problem with the Atlatl. That makes no sense.

The other was centerfire handgun. That would include .25 Cal? I'm your next door neighbor in Iowa, we have a .357 mag minimum. :-/

 

[lop]

Well, I happen do be a decendent of people who used spears to for hunting. I gotta tell you, when the atlatl came out that was a real improvement.
But really, have any of you used an Atlatl? The performance increas in very impressive. The effective ethical range is probably 5 or 10 yards, so the only ones who would use it and have any chance of hurting a deer are those who hunt alot, and are very good at it. The argument against using one is that it will injure critters and that is un-ethical, but how many animals does this represent? Remember, the atlatl user is not the tree-hugger who hates guns, it is the guy for whom bow hunting is no longer a chalange.

 

[TxCajun]

Atlatl? I'd like to see the deer, within close enough range, that stands still while the hunter readies, draws back his throwing arm, releases the dart, and the dart hits the deer.  I bet nearly zero are taken that way.  :-/

 

[lop]

That's my point. They used to have a thing called deer-slapping. If you were good enough to stalk a deer close enough to slap it, and had your famly feed well enough that you did not need the deer, it was considered high priase 'round the campfire. I don't think you have to worry about clowns maiming deer with atlatl's, only a trully fine hunter would have a chance, and lets hope that hunter has ethics along with his/her skills.

 

[Bert]

This is what happens when you try to slap a deer....

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/deer-attacks-big-guy/1jrmxld5x?q=deer boxing&FORM=VIRE3

~10 second commercial on front end..sorry.

B.

 

[burley]

Kansas ;

Legal Guns & Bows
Legal bow for deer-long bows, recurve bows, or compound bows that are hand drawn, that have no mechanical device that locks the bow at full or partial draw, that are designed to shoot only one arrow at a time and have no electronic or chemical devices attached to the bow or arrow, with the exception of lighted pin, dot, or holographic sights attached to the front of the bow. Arrows shall be equipped with a broadhead point that cannot pass through a ring thirteen-sixteenths-inch in diameter when fully expanded. Lighted nocks may be used on arrows. Crossbows shall not be considered a long bow, recurve bow, or a compound bow, and may not be used during archery season except by disabled persons, as permitted under KAR 115- 18-7, by application and special permit. Optical scopes or sights that project no visible light toward the target and do not electronically amplify visible or infrared light may be used.

Range-finding devices may be used or attached to the bow if the system does not project visible light toward the target.

Legal archery equipment as listed above may be used during the firearms season with a firearm or muzzleloader permit.

Archery-only permittees shall not have a firearm in possession while hunting big game during an archery-only season. Archery-only permittees may hunt only during archery season.

Legal rifle for deer - centerfire rifles that are not fully automatic and that fire a bullet larger than .23 inches in diameter, while using only hard-cast solid lead, soft point, hollow point, or other expanding bullets.

Legal crossbow for deer - (valid only with firearm permit during regular and extended firearm seasons) Crossbow must have at least 125 pounds draw weight, using arrows not less than 16 inches long, equipped with broadhead point that cannot pass through a ring thirteen-sixteenths-inch in diameter whe fully expanded.

Legal shotgun for deer - 20 gauge or larger, using only slugs.

Legal handgun for deer - centerfire handguns that are not fully automatic, fire a bullet larger than .23 inches in diameter, and use a cartridge case 1.280 inches or more in length, while using only hard-cast solid lead, soft point, hollow point, or other expanding bullets.

Legal muzzleloading rifle for deer - muzzleloading rifles and muskets that can be loaded only through the front of the firing chamber with separate components and that fire a bullet of .39 inches in diameter or larger. Range-finding devices and optical scopes or sights that project no visible light toward the target and do not electronically amplify visible or infrared light may be used in both the muzzleloader-only and regular firearm seasons.

Legal muzzleloading pistol for deer – single barrel muzzleloading pistols .45 caliber or larger, that have a barrel length of 10 inches or greater and can be loaded only through the front of the barrel with separate components. Only hard-cast solid lead, conical lead or saboted bullets weighing 210 grains or greater may be used with muzzleloading pistols. Range-finding devices and optical scopes or sights that project no visible light toward the target and do not electronically amplify visible or infrared light may be used in both the muzzleloader-only and regular firearms seasons.

Muzzleloader - only permittees may not have a rimfire or centerfire firearm in possession while hunting deer. The muzzleloader-only season is restricted to using muzzleloading equipment only.

Hunters with muzzleloader permits who do not fill their permits during the muzzleloader-only season are eligible to hunt, with muzzleloaders only, during the regular firearm season.

Hunters with a firearms permit may use a muzzleloader or bow during firearm seasons only

 

[rachm1986]

I live in MO too.  I don't have a problem with the regulations.  We definately have plenty of deer here.  Dept. of Conservation does a great job keeping the hunting season in check and monitoring the number of deer taken.  Deer have an even bigger advantage now with the antler restriction.

 

[gremlinmt]

I've had a chance to try on of those Atlatls. They can be very effective in the right hands. A friend of mine went round and round with the local FWP to try and get them approved for use during bow hunting season. Once rifle season starts the deer are so much more skittish and it's no longer safe to use camouflage, it makes an atlatl hunt a non-starter.

 

[guru2sum]

Wisconsin:

Shotguns:
• Must have an overall 26” minimum length with 18” minimum barrel length.
• Rifled shotgun barrels of at least 18” in length are considered to be shotguns for
the purpose of hunting deer if they fire a single projectile and are in the following
gauges: 10, 12, 16, 20 and 28.
• It is illegal to hunt deer with a .410 bore shotgun.
Rifles:
• Must have an overall 26” minimum length with 16” minimum barrel length.
• Are legal for hunting deer in areas not restricted to shotguns, muzzleloaders and
handguns only as indicated by the maps on page 19.
• It is illegal to possess any rimfire rifle larger than .22 caliber or any center-fire rifle
.22 caliber or larger during any gun deer season in shotgun only areas unless it is
unloaded and enclosed within a carrying case. Note: Rifled barreled shotguns and
muzzleloaders are not considered rifles for purpose of hunting deer.
• It is illegal to hunt deer with any air rifle, rimfire rifle, or any center-fire rifle less
than .22 caliber.
Muzzleloaders
• Muzzleloaders that are discharged from the shoulder must be at least .45 caliber
if smoothbore and .40 caliber or larger if rifled barrel, and must be loaded with a
single ball or slug to be legal for deer hunting. During the 10-day muzzleloader
only season (Nov. 29–Dec. 8), muzzleloaders must have a solid threaded breech
plug, only be able to be loaded from the muzzle. Telescopic sights are legal to use on
muzzleloaders during any firearm deer season, except the 10 day muzzleloader only
season. Note: Inline muzzleloaders are legal to use during the 10-day muzzleloader
hunt with black powder or any black powder substitutes.
• Muzzleloaders may be used statewide in all areas open to hunting deer with guns.
• Muzzleloading handguns must be .44 caliber and larger with a minimum barrel
length of 7 inches measured from muzzle to breech face, and fire a single projectile
weighing 138 grains or more to be legal for deer hunting.
• Black powder revolvers are legal but not for hunting deer during the 10-day
muzzleloader only season (because they are capable of being loaded by the cylinder
instead of the muzzle).
Handguns:
• To be legal for deer, handguns must use center-fire cartridges of .22 caliber or
larger and have a 5½ inch minimum barrel, measured from the firing pin to the
muzzle with the action closed.
• You may not possess a concealed handgun.
Bows, arrows, and crossbows:
• Bows must have a draw weight of 30 pounds or greater and metal broadheads must
be at least 7/8 inches wide and kept sharp to hunt deer.
• Crossbows are only allowed for hunters 65 years of age or older and any disabled
hunters with a Class A, C, B Crossbow, or crossbow permit. The crossbow must
have a minimum draw of 100 pounds, a working safety, and use at least 14-inch
long bolts or arrows equipped with broadheads (requires an Archery License).
• Compound bows equipped with a drawlock mechanism that is capable of holding
the bow at full draw without the aid of a hunter are considered crossbows. These
are exempt from the 100 pound requirement but must meet the 30 pound minimum
draw weight.
• You may not possess, while hunting, any poison, drug or explosive tipped arrow.