What the heck is the DNR thinking on this one???

[Benny]

Out at the rifle sight in today, we had two people show up and ask to sight in thier handguns for deer hunting.Not a problem because that's why wewere open to the public, to sight in legal deer hunting caliber  rifles ,shotguns and handguns.

These guys get a bench and pull out two glocks and start shooting.
One of the range saftey officers asked them to pack up and leave because we were not allowing non legal deer calibers to shoot.

They said that thier 9mm's were legal per the rules in the book.

I pulled out my DNR Big game hunting rules book and found that they were right!!!!

The law says any .22 caliber center fire cartrage can be used, no case length requirement any more.

We had to let them shoot but asked if they were really going to hunt deer with a 9mm?
The one guy said he was just going to use it to shoot any wounded down deer they might get, but the second guy said he was going to use hid glock because it was the only weapon he has and he wanted to hunt deer.

ManI just can't fathum anyone really thinking a 9mm has enough knock down power even if the shot was a good vitals hit or a head shot.

I have seen deer hit with a 220 gn 30-06 that had opened up a foot ball sized hole travel 50 to 75 yards before colapsing.

That law would also mean someone could use a .25 acp to hunt with as well.

Am I missing some thing here or is this just a plain stupid mistake on the DNR to allow such calibers to take deer?

Benny

[BiggA]

That is not good. I thought there was different regs for handgun caliber than rifle but I could be mistaken.

[The General]

I wish they would have passed this law 5 years ago when I bought my 243.  I really wanted a 22-250 for yotes but then couldn't shoot deer with it if I chose to ever go rifle hunting. 

[stevejedlenski]

this was the DNR listening to the public and was a part of the "simplifacation" of the hunting regulations. yes i think it was a huge mistake. i have seen a police officer shoot a wounded deer that was hit by a car with a .40 and three shots in the vitals before it laid down and died. they are just hoping that hunters will be ethical in choosing calibers, which we know many just dont know stopping power of calibers different guns. and some just want to shoot somthing with a glock. i am hoping they can keep the rules simple and fix this law as they did the baiting laws the last few years.

[beeker]

you may want to contact the dnr for a better explanation.. it has always been my understanding that a handgun to be legal to hunt with in mn.. had to have a minumum of 6" barrel on it.

what range is that? I've been at the range before when they ask a guy to leave because he was rapid firing his semi auto... over and over and over again.

[Benny]

The range is Beaverbrook gun club in East Bethel, and yes you will get asked to leave if your just there to plink or show how fast you can empty a magazine.

If there is a barrel restriction itisn'tin the reg book,it may well be in the laws but not in the reg book though.

It still would be simple to add a case length to the caliber call out,a .357 or even the 30 carbine is a lot longer than the .40,or 9mm's are.

Benny

[beeker]

I emailed the dnr and asked them.. I didn't forward the email home I can post his exact response tomorrow from work .. but basically he said that as long as it's not a 22 rimfire your good to go (can't be smaller then a 22).. so... I have to go with WTF is the dnr thinking.. insanity

[beeker]

here is the exact unchanged response...



Any firearm, long gun or hand gun .22 caliber center fire or larger is legal for taking big game. Kevin

From: Snaza, Wayne [mailto:.org]
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 10:01 AM
To: Info (DNR)
Subject: question regarding legal firearms for deer

I have a question regarding the legal firearms for deer. Recently I was involved in a discussion where an individual stated that the new regulations do not specify the handgun cartridge as the old regulations did. It was my understanding that in previous years a handgun to be legal to hunt big game with in the state of MN. Must have a minimum of a 6” barrel and be 357 or larger.  Is this still the case? The individual stated that he could use his 9mm glock (short barrel) for deer because of how the regulations were worded? 

Can you please clarify?

Thank you.

[BiggA]

Thats great. Now we will have even more wounded deer running around. IN my opinion its bad enough people using assualt rifles now it will be like ganster hunting out there. The kid to the north will emptying his sks clip at the deer and the guy to the south will be rapid firing his Glock. It will sound like minneapolis on a friday night.

[Go Big Red!]

What is the range distance of a 9mm?  At what distance would this be effective on a deer?  I believe law enforcement uses this along with a .40 or a 10mm.

Any of you in law enforcement or know of anyone who could shed more light?

[FireRanger]

I think the DNR is jumping the gun on Darwin's theory of evolution. I am under the impression that the DNR have come to the conclusion that the local wildlife are evolving their own type of super thin hide and jelly like bones along with internal organs that will explode by the shear force of spitting a cherry pit at them!! I want to know when I'll be able to use my wrist rocket for moose and bear!! I can see it now....Minnesota man first to take down deer with wrist rocket! What's next........Early rock throwing season?
Where does the thinking behind a decision like this come from? I think it is almost unethical to use inappropriate calibers for certain game. I know there are people out there that would like to think that taking an animal by the most impossible odds is cool... example; "I shot a deer with my Deringer at 30 yds" kind of thing. Is this really ethical/appropriate/responsible? Where will it stop?

Just my opinion though.

[steiny]

"Any firearm, long gun or hand gun .22 caliber center fire or larger is legal for taking big game. Kevin"

I read this as you can use a .22 but nothing smaller.

It doesn't read larger than .22

Am I reading this right?

[HD]

Absolutly no rim fire, which the primer is hit on the outside edge of the casing
Center fire, which is hit in the center of the casing, .22 or larger can be used.

Do they even make a .22 center fire? 

[JoeFisherman]

They make a .22 hornet cartridge as shown in the picture.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[HD]

   yup, your right Joe....I forgot about that one....

[stevejedlenski]

GBR in my opinion a 9mm or a .40 handgun is about as effective as a .22 rifle. it will put a hole there and then you wait for it to die depending on where its hit will make a huge difference. not to mention a lot of people that own these guns that would shoot a deer with it probably are the "spray and pray" type of people that do not practice with their firearms. if i was gonna use my pistol i would not shoot over 15yrds and after practicing for 20+ consecutive days prior too. i have seen how "accurate" people are with these guns on the range and most will hit 60% in a human silhouette, of those making maybe 6 of 50 a lethal shot on a human. add that to a deer that runs and with a pin hole not leaving any blood your talking very bad odds of a kill.

i would bet 95% of people using these types of guns will not recover a hit deer this year.