PA just shot down semis for Deer

[Yeti]

Might be kind of like the antler restrictions being pushed here in NY now.



Deer Hunters Relieved Over Semi-Automatic Weapons Law Change

TROUDSBURG -- Rifle deer hunting season ended in December, but talks about the sport are being brought back up.

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Game Commission made a last-minute change and decided not to legalize semi-automatic rifles for hunting big game like deer, black bear, elk, and turkey.


The change is a relief to some hunters like Alex Sotak from Stroudsburg.

"I think it's a great thing that they didn't pass it because it will keep population numbers going up and that's good for the area," said Sotak.

Last November, Governor Wolf lifted the ban on semi-automatic rifles for hunting.

The Game Commission gave preliminary approval to use semi-automatic rifles for big and small game back in January.

After further review, officials decided to only legalize the semi-automatic guns for small game.

"Most people don't see semi-automatic as something you need for big game," said William Broderick, a worker at Dunkleburger's Sports Outfitters.

Many of the hunters we spoke to are in agreement with the Game Commission's decision to remove large game from the list. Some other hunters we spoke to don't think semi-automatic rifles and hunting mix at all.

Robert Wetmore from Stroudsburg doesn't think the state should mess with tradition at all. He believes the use of semi-automatic rifles on any animal takes away from the experience.

"Where is the fun in just being able to shoot and you're going to get it. You're losing the whole thing. It's supposed to be a seek and destroy mission here. Where are you going? You're just going to destroy here. You're going to just destroy. It just doesn't make any sense, especially small animals. What are you going to eat after you shoot it?" said Wetmore.

Rifle season begins again in the fall.

 

[Bananabandit]

Noone needs a semi auto to hunt dddeeeuh.

 

[dubleuhb]

Pennsylfuddery

 

[Yeti]

News says hunters are happy,but I checked the PA hunter forum to see the reaction and they are divided just like antler restrictions.

Latest posts.

Semiauto rifles unanimous passage for big game - Page 27 - The HuntingPA.com Outdoor Community

 

[Marine Cpl]

The PA Fudd has been against this for years.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3171271/posts

The Fudd is the biggest reason why we lose our rights with the whole I don't need that, you don't need that nonsense. They are worse than liberals.

 

[Acer-m14]

Hope PA now starts a bill on only single shots for duck n goose .. only fair ..

 

[GOYABEAN]

The infection that plaques ny is spreading like wildfire across the plains ​

 

[NirvanaFan]

"I think it's a great thing that they didn't pass it because it will keep population numbers going up and that's good for the area," said Sotak.

No... population numbers going up is not good for the area. It's good for the hunter. There is a very big difference.


I've never had the need to have a semi-auto firearm for hunting season. That said, I really don't care what people use during it. Why do people think that hunters just randomly start shooting at animals 50 million times when they use semi-auto guns?

 

[Greywolf224]

@NirvanaFan I agree. Been hunting 35 years and always used a bolt action or carbine. That said, my hunting buddies always chose semi's. Can't ever remember anyone of them going trigger happy on a kill. We all take pride in clean one shot kills.

Not to mention, and this is my opinion, I think bolt action is much more accurate than semi's.

 

[capitalcrew]

Gay. I built my AR specifically to have a semi auto rifle to hunt with. I've never needed the follow up shot but it's nice to have, especially if you make a mistake and wound a deer.

 

[STS556]

I hunt with both semi and bolt and could also care less what other people use to hunt.

This is the stupidest statement I read in that story,

"I think it's a great thing that they didn't pass it because it will keep population numbers going up and that's good for the area," said Sotak.

You only get a limited number of tags so what difference does it make what type of gun you use. If you cant take an animal down with a couple of shots at most then you shouldn't be hunting. This is a perfect example of how all the Fudds and liberal New Yorkers moving to PA are ruining that state.

 

[Darth]

I often wonder if the FUDDS really are that stupid, or we're being put on.

Do these dumbfucks seriously think that if you take the semi auto rifle you already own, maybe the only one you've got, into the woods, you just start spraying like wildfire?

 

[capitalcrew]

Sure seems that way lol.

I did unload my shotgun at my first buck LOL. Fucker never flinched, never acted funny, or anything. Landed 3 out of 5 within a few inches of eachother, the two I missed I was trying to avoid obstacles in the way. That was an unusual case though

 

[ManrisFrack]

"You're going to just destroy. It just doesn't make any sense, especially small animals. What are you going to eat after you shoot it?"

WTF? The ignorance is staggering. Stuff like this makes me question if these people possess enough intelligence to safely handle any gun.

That's a great point capitalcrew: I take WAY less shots at deer now that I use a rifle than I ever did when I was forced to use a shotgun.

 

[Criticalt]

For almost 30 years ive used a single shot 12 gauge for deer. This last year I bought a .308 bolt gun.
Ive always liked the one shot idea and its worked. Ive killed over 30 deer and only 2 took more than a step after 1 shot.
That said, I know guys that use semi autos and they have the same results, 1 shot, 1 kill......usually.
I do occasionally hear a rapid 4-5 shots during hunting season but very rarely.
I say hunt with what youre comfortable with and what you can humanely kill a deer with.

 

[Phauxtoe]

never understood that.
I think law makers see the word "AUTO" and freak!

 

[NirvanaFan]

I do occasionally hear a rapid 4-5 shots during hunting season but very rarely.

I hear it all the time on the state land near my hunting property. I've heard 8 or 10 shots with 30-45 seconds before. You can tell which way the deer is running by the sound of gunshots.

 

[capitalcrew]

For almost 30 years ive used a single shot 12 gauge for deer. This last year I bought a .308 bolt gun.
Ive always liked the one shot idea and its worked. Ive killed over 30 deer and only 2 took more than a step after 1 shot.
That said, I know guys that use semi autos and they have the same results, 1 shot, 1 kill......usually.
I do occasionally hear a rapid 4-5 shots during hunting season but very rarely.
I say hunt with what youre comfortable with and what you can humanely kill a deer with.

See, this is one thing I don't get. I have killed plenty of deer and they NEVER drop on the spot. I've had lung/heart, double lung, etc shots and the only way they ever drop on the spot for me is if you spine them. I don't get how guys have them dropping in their tracks lol. I never shoot the front shoulder either though I guess. Oh well.

 

[MilesTeg]

See, this is one thing I don't get. I have killed plenty of deer and they NEVER drop on the spot. I've had lung/heart, double lung, etc shots and the only way they ever drop on the spot for me is if you spine them. I don't get how guys have them dropping in their tracks lol. I never shoot the front shoulder either though I guess. Oh well.

This has been my experience too. When I was a kid I used a 12ga and that would kill them dead. Then I switched to 20ga semi (different barrel on my brush gun), I only killed one deer where he stood with that gun. The 12ga I used the old style slugs and the 20ga I used lightfields which was suppose to be great slugs. I switched to a rifle this year so hopefully no more tracking.

 

[Darth]

What if I told you:

Semi auto guns are capable of being shot just a singe time.

 

[capitalcrew]

This has been my experience too. When I was a kid I used a 12ga and that would kill them dead. Then I switched to 20ga semi (different barrel on my brush gun), I only killed one deer where he stood with that gun. The 12ga I used the old style slugs and the 20ga I used lightfields which was suppose to be great slugs. I switched to a rifle this year so hopefully no more tracking.

12ga, .270, 6.8, and .50 are the calibers I've used to take deer, and they always run LOL. Except the one time I spined one with the 270 and the fragments hit the lungs, she dropped and gave up right where she stood. In my experience the 6.8 has been the most effective at putting them down, but he still went about 30 yards. They could have tracked that blood trail from an airplane though

 

[Magnus]

I see them mentioning big game and such, am I correct in saying coyote's can be hunted with an AR?

 

[ManrisFrack]

I hear it all the time on the state land near my hunting property. I've heard 8 or 10 shots with 30-45 seconds before. You can tell which way the deer is running by the sound of gunshots.

I used to hear it a lot - when it was all shotguns. It's definitely decreased in my hunting area since rifle was allowed but when I do hear it, it's usually from the guys that come up from downstate and Jersey.

See, this is one thing I don't get. I have killed plenty of deer and they NEVER drop on the spot. I've had lung/heart, double lung, etc shots and the only way they ever drop on the spot for me is if you spine them. I don't get how guys have them dropping in their tracks lol. I never shoot the front shoulder either though I guess. Oh well.

Yep, my experience too. Shot placement I suspect. Head, neck, high shoulder all disrupt the CNS and they go right down. I have seen them drop or stumble and drop with rifle shots to the chest cavity but most times they make it at least 50 yards even with a rifle. Hell, if I had to guess I'd stay average distance traveled after a hit is lower with the bow kills I've had and seen.

Incidentally, I've seen a guy blaze away with a bolt action too. Restricting semi's is next to pointless.

 

[Blimey]

It's true nobody needs one to hunt deer. It's also true that it doesn't hurt a damn thing. Fudds obviously see people with semis as sitting there dumping a mag at a herd of deer before the deer manage to run off. One could make an argument for semis being more humane because your follow-up shot is easier.

I hunted with a semi last year and had less rounds in the mag than I understand a lot of people do with bolt guns. I shot only once during all season.

 

[capitalcrew]

Yep, my experience too. Shot placement I suspect. Head, neck, high shoulder all disrupt the CNS and they go right down. I have seen them drop or stumble and drop with rifle shots to the chest cavity but most times they make it at least 50 yards even with a rifle. Hell, if I had to guess I'd stay average distance traveled after a hit is lower with the bow kills I've had and seen.

Must be. I've never actually hit a deer in the shoulder, always right behind it in that sweet spot. Don't wanna ruin that meat!

 

[Greywolf224]

Sure seems that way lol.

I did unload my shotgun at my first buck LOL. Fucker never flinched, never acted funny, or anything. Landed 3 out of 5 within a few inches of eachother, the two I missed I was trying to avoid obstacles in the way. That was an unusual case though

Did the deer you were shooting at look anything like this.

 

[capitalcrew]

Yes exactly like that. Little tough too

 

[Greywolf224]

Yes exactly like that. Little tough too

Ok...I understand now!

 

[Criticalt]

See, this is one thing I don't get. I have killed plenty of deer and they NEVER drop on the spot. I've had lung/heart, double lung, etc shots and the only way they ever drop on the spot for me is if you spine them. I don't get how guys have them dropping in their tracks lol. I never shoot the front shoulder either though I guess. Oh well.

If I can, I shoot their head or back of the neck. If I cant, in the lungs. The 2 that ran were both lung shots. One doe ran about 200 yards and dropped dead, almost no blood. The other was a huge buck in 2009. Got him through the lungs but he freakin ran!! There was a 6ft wide pink foamy blood trail for 100 yards, then into a 20 ft deep swamp. I saw him go in, never came up. I tried for two days with a treble hook on 200lb test line to get him but too much debris.
I don't need the meat that bad, Ill wait for the right shot, which is usally no more than 15 yards.

 

[MilesTeg]

Did the deer you were shooting at look anything like this.

I want to do a Yeti one and put it out 100 or so yards off by brothers tree stand. He would use every round he had at the thing.