Ohio Rifles for Deer Hunting

[ohiochuck]

COLUMBUS, OH – "The Ohio Wildlife Council approved new white-tailed deer hunting regulations at its meeting on Wednesday, April 9, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Among new regulations are decreased deer bag limits in many counties, and hunters may use straight-walled cartridge rifles during the 2014 deer-gun week.

The council also approved straight-walled cartridge rifles for deer hunting. The rifles are the same caliber and use the same straight-walled cartridges that are currently legal for use in handguns. The new regulation is designed to allow additional opportunities for hunters that own these guns or want to hunt with these guns. These rifles have reduced recoil compared to larger shotguns, and the rifles are more accurate than the same caliber handgun.

Legal deer hunting rifles are chambered for the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith& Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson.

A new regulation states shotguns and straight-walled cartridge rifles used for deer hunting be loaded with no more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. The current hunting regulation states a shotgun must be plugged if it is capable of holding more than three shells."

Now those of us who would like to use a drilling, etc. using a cartridge such as the 9.3 X 72 R and/or others will need to begin contacting the ODNR suggesting other cartridges be considered to be added to the list.

I believe it is possible to expand the list of approved cartridge next year 2015, etc. It will take a number of us to lobby for the changes.
Thanks!
Jim

[mikev]

From my conversations with Ohio Department of Natural Resource staff it does seem likely that the list could be expanded some next year. I attended one of their open houses last month and also commented online requesting that the 9.3 x 72R be included this year.
The process was too far along for revisions but I was told that we should try next year and that the 9.3x72R did meet the criteria used for selection. That was after I shared the ballistic info and an actual casing at the meeting. I would suggest that there is very little familiarity with the 9.3x72R or other possible European rounds among the decision makers and our job will be to educate them regarding ballistics, history and use of any round that you will want to request be included. The more information we can provide the greater chance we will have to include some of these great calibers.

As an aside, all my conversations with ODNR staff where very cordial and they all expressed willingness to consider additional calibers if this next season goes well.
My best,
Mike