Indiana House Bill 1231

[solo1]

Evidently it has passed both Houses and will be waiting for the governor's signature. A portion of the proposal would allow 'rifles' to be used in hunting deer in Indiana.

From what I read that would bring in every rifle from a .22 short up to and including any centerfire of your choice.

Just what we need. Newcomers to the hunting sport out there with 30/06's and up, in populated areas.

Yeah, I'm an NRA Endowment member and I don't like it.  It could open the door to the pols as soon as some numbnut with a 30/06 fires away and has never heard of, or doesn't care about the safety rule "Be sure of your target and beyond".

[Tx Bohemian]

Evidently it has passed both Houses and will be waiting for the governor's signature. A portion of the proposal would allow 'rifles' to be used in hunting deer in Indiana.

Hmmm...  (Maybe too much of Monday for me)

But what did y'all use in Indiana to hunt deer before this?

[Serk]

From what I read that would bring in every rifle from a .22 short up to and including any centerfire of your choice.

Reading the bill here: http://in.proxy.openstates.org/2016/bills/hb1231/versions/hb1231.04.engs

I find this part:

(2) The rifle must fire a cartridge that meets the following specifications:
12 (A) The cartridge must fire a bullet of two hundred forty-three thousandths (.243) of an inch in diameter or larger.
15 (B) The cartridge must have a minimum case length of one and sixteen-hundredths (1.16) inches.


Seems that would rule out a .22 short.

And I'm assuming Indiana already has laws about discharging firearms in populated areas, which would rule out someone wandering around the suburbs firing off a 30.06.

I'll also agree with my Bohemian friend and wonder, has Indiana been a shotgun/pistol and bow hunting only state or something?

[Serk]

In answer to my own query, it seems that Indiana currently doesn't allow rifles for deer hunting? That's just... odd to me....

"Under Indiana’s current regulations, hunters are restricted to muzzledloaders, shotguns, and a certain range of pistol and rifle calibers during deer season. Certain large-caliber rounds, such as .450 Bushmaster or .50 Beowulf, are allowed for deer hunting while most other calibers larger than .243 are not. "

Although I've never been hunting and have zero interest in doing it, when I hear the words "Deer Hunting" the first firearm that comes to mind is a 30.06, it's kind of the traditional deer hunting cartridge around here... Maybe a 30-30 for close in work.

[Gavin_Sons]

Evidently it has passed both Houses and will be waiting for the governor's signature. A portion of the proposal would allow 'rifles' to be used in hunting deer in Indiana.

Hmmm...  (Maybe too much of Monday for me)

But what did y'all use in Indiana to hunt deer before this?

Sling shots and long bows.  I do not agree with the rifles being used anywhere in indiana. Too many idiots. I also read somewhere that this would only include privately owned lamd and not state forest or government property. I mean yeah ill use a high powered rifle to give me an advantage on field edges but in the woods ill stick with my 44 mag. I still think the governor should throw this bill out.

[solo1]

Serk, you didn't read the fine print. The newest iteration to the bill to be signed stipulates that AFTER July 2016, the new change takes place. It would be in effect until 2020. The new wording states simply a rifle is allowed.  It does not go into specifics of caliber, etc. it.  It also would allow a 10 mm pistol cartridge in a pistol (10mm or .40 cal).

Indiana pols are sneaky.

[Gavin_Sons]

In answer to my own query, it seems that Indiana currently doesn't allow rifles for deer hunting? That's just... odd to me....

"Under Indiana’s current regulations, hunters are restricted to muzzledloaders, shotguns, and a certain range of pistol and rifle calibers during deer season. Certain large-caliber rounds, such as .450 Bushmaster or .50 Beowulf, are allowed for deer hunting while most other calibers larger than .243 are not. "

Although I've never been hunting and have zero interest in doing it, when I hear the words "Deer Hunting" the first firearm that comes to mind is a 30.06, it's kind of the traditional deer hunting cartridge around here... Maybe a 30-30 for close in work.

You're right serk, we were a shotgun, muzzleloader and handgun only state for years. Several yearsago they introduced the handgun cartridges in rifles. Since doing so my slug gun has been put away and I use my 44 mag leveraction.

[solo1]

Brought it back to the top

[BradValk48237]

In Michigan I believe you are not allowed to use a rifle in the lower part of the state for Deer hunting..... I think, as I was always told to use a Slug Gun down here... used 30.06 up north near our place in Grayling

I forget where the line is......

B

[solo1]

I think that it was roughly state road 10.

[Tx Bohemian]

In answer to my own query, it seems that Indiana currently doesn't allow rifles for deer hunting? That's just... odd to me....

"Under Indiana’s current regulations, hunters are restricted to muzzledloaders, shotguns, and a certain range of pistol and rifle calibers during deer season. Certain large-caliber rounds, such as .450 Bushmaster or .50 Beowulf, are allowed for deer hunting while most other calibers larger than .243 are not. "

Although I've never been hunting and have zero interest in doing it, when I hear the words "Deer Hunting" the first firearm that comes to mind is a 30.06, it's kind of the traditional deer hunting cartridge around here... Maybe a 30-30 for close in work.

Well that does clear it up for me too.

And like Serk that is odd to hear around here. I also don't hunt deer but almost everybody else does.  And seems the hunters have to have the biggest, baddest, longest reaching guns with the best scope!
Feed the deer for weeks before the season so their used to the area, etc...

I do have a few friends that Bowhunt and always thought that was a more challenging way to hunt.

Learning about this I do have admiration for the Indiana hunters!!

But, you know, to each his own.

[Gavin_Sons]

I am still very against high powered rifles in indiana. If you cant kill a deer with what is allowed now you definitely don't need to be using a rifle that will shoot 3-4 times further. There have been sever times while hunting tree lines or field edges that a huge buck has walked out at 300 yards and in the back of my mind I thought how nice it would be to have a rifle.

[Michvalk]

I think that it was roughly state road 10.

Actually, it's M-46. I think it has changed in the last few years. When I was a kid, We used shotguns where we hunted, it was too brushy to use much of anything else, anyway.

[ptgb]

Ohio changed from shotguns only to allow rifles as well a few years ago... don't recall any upticks in rifle-fueled stupidity.

Pennsylvania (I live 7 miles from PA), has used rifles forever. Never a problem there either.

[MP]

To those of us in Western states, not using a rifle? Heck, that is ALL we hunt with!

ND is .22 CENTERFIRE, and larger. i.e., .222, .22-250, etc. allowed, but most use larger.

[MarkT]

In answer to my own query, it seems that Indiana currently doesn't allow rifles for deer hunting? That's just... odd to me....

"Under Indiana’s current regulations, hunters are restricted to muzzledloaders, shotguns, and a certain range of pistol and rifle calibers during deer season. Certain large-caliber rounds, such as .450 Bushmaster or .50 Beowulf, are allowed for deer hunting while most other calibers larger than .243 are not. "

Although I've never been hunting and have zero interest in doing it, when I hear the words "Deer Hunting" the first firearm that comes to mind is a 30.06, it's kind of the traditional deer hunting cartridge around here... Maybe a 30-30 for close in work.

You're right serk, we were a shotgun, muzzleloader and handgun only state for years. Several yearsago they introduced the handgun cartridges in rifles. Since doing so my slug gun has been put away and I use my 44 mag leveraction.

Yep.  Several years ago.  Like about 135 of them.  The Winchester 73 was in pistol calibers.  In fact it was more true than not that your scabbard gun was chambered same as your Colt Peacemaker.  Commonly .45 Colt. Simplified your ammo supply. I liked the idea a lot so I picked up a Ruger carbine autoloader in .44mag to go with my Super Blackhawk around 1980.  Either one will put down a whitetail or muley in a heartbeat. Incidentally the Ruger 10/22 - world's most popular .22LR rifle - is modelled on the same .44mag carbine which has been out of production for quite some time and has become valuable. Recently I picked up a Henry lever in .45-70govt.  Yep this one is available in revolvers too.  Though why you would want that is beyond me.  The Henry kicks like a mule.  Bragging rights I guess.  Or the wifey's guess, "must be compensating..."

I'm expecting to take next season's deer with an M1A.  .308, long the basic sniper round, Marines & Army. Ballistics very close to the .30-06 - in fact the .308 was developed to replace it, specifically to provide the same capability but in a shorter action. Set up with a Nikon M-308 BDC scope.  Just dial in the range out to 800 yds and put the crosshairs right on target.  Not so much of the fieldcraft needed.  Even use your laser rangefinder, they are getting longer range and cheaper all the time.  Really good stuff for taking a Bighorn or trophy elk across a mountian valley.  Maybe not needed so much in the eastern woods...

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I knew about it and am not happy about it either.

Much of our hunting land in Indiana has very limited visibility and seldom are we offered shots of more than 200 yards while deer hunting. 40-120 yards is probably average for a gun hunter. Up until now the DNR has tried to limit deer hunting firearms to calibers whose bullets drop quickly after 200 yards and I've been very happy with this arrangement. I currently hunt with an AR in 450 bushmaster, a single-shot carbine in 460 S&W mag and occasionally a scoped handgun in 7mm/08 (most high-power rifle rounds are legal here when shot from a handgun). The reason I don't hunt with the 7mm/08 much is because there are so many deer I have to pass up because I don't have a sufficient backstop or field of view for that round. My fear is that many Indiana hunters don't have the ballistics knowledge or willpower needed to deer hunt with high-power rifles. The 450 hits like a ton of bricks but the bullets drop quickly at long range, ditto with the 460 and the 44 mag.

Last year on an Indiana firearms forum when this topic came up a Hoosier hunter was claiming 12 gauge slugs have flatter ballistics than a 30/06. Those are the people I don't want deer hunting with high-power rifles. We can use them for coyotes but the leaves are generally out of the trees and there are far less people in the woods during coyote season.

However, I think it's a done deal now just like the non-disabled using crossbows so I guess we should all hope for the best. I absolutely don't like the idea of a hunter 3 farms away shooting at a sky-lined deer on a ridge-top while lobbing 30 cal. bullets into my deer camp though.

[solo1]

I knew about it and am not happy about it either.

Much of our hunting land in Indiana has very limited visibility and seldom are we offered shots of more than 200 yards while deer hunting. 40-120 yards is probably average for a gun hunter. Up until now the DNR has tried to limit deer hunting firearms to calibers whose bullets drop quickly after 200 yards and I've been very happy with this arrangement. I currently hunt with an AR in 450 bushmaster, a single-shot carbine in 460 S&W mag and occasionally a scoped handgun in 7mm/08 (most high-power rifle rounds are legal here when shot from a handgun). The reason I don't hunt with the 7mm/08 much is because there are so many deer I have to pass up because I don't have a sufficient backstop or field of view for that round. My fear is that many Indiana hunters don't have the ballistics knowledge or willpower needed to deer hunt with high-power rifles. The 450 hits like a ton of bricks but the bullets drop quickly at long range, ditto with the 460 and the 44 mag.

Last year on an Indiana firearms forum when this topic came up a Hoosier hunter was claiming 12 gauge slugs have flatter ballistics than a 30/06. Those are the people I don't want deer hunting with high-power rifles. We can use them for coyotes but the leaves are generally out of the trees and there are far less people in the woods during coyote season.

However, I think it's a done deal now just like the non-disabled using crossbows so I guess we should all hope for the best. I absolutely don't like the idea of a hunter 3 farms away shooting at a sky-lined deer on a ridge-top while lobbing 30 cal. bullets into my deer camp though.

Frye, as an active hunter I'm glad that you backed me up.  I no longer hunt but I do know my ballistics and centerfire hi power rifles should not be used in Indiana.  I'm still active in shooting and online I'm constantly made aware of the johnny-come-lately's that know little and don't care to.

I wonder if this bill was pushed by some AR-15 owners using 5.56 cal, and, in the process, the definition was changed to 'rifle'   I'm with you , the present regs have worked ok for Indiana hunters. Also, like you, I'm not too much sold on the crossbow for non handicapped, but I'm an old (in more ways than one)bowhunter.

The last whitetail that I shot was taken with my .44 Super Blackhawk, open sights, 42 yards. and within a short distance from Perry Hill junior high school.  I remember at the time that the eight pointer  staggered a short distance and lined himself up with a camp ground some 400 yards away.  I did not shoot again, for that reason , and he fell.

I wonder how many will practice "Be sure of your target and beyond" when they have a 30/06 potentially in their hands.?

[threevalks]

I wonder how many will practice "Be sure of your target and beyond" when they have a 30/06 potentially in their hands.?

No less than did when they had a 12 gauge  in their hands.