Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Question for you guys in "shotgun only" regions.

Are there any "shotgun only" states or counties that restrict shotguns to smoothbore with non saboted slugs, or can you use rifled barrels and saboted slugs in "any" shotgun only state/county? thanks

IN allows rifled barrels with sabots in all legal gun zones.

Not in MN. We can run rifled slug barrels, muzzle loaders, and handguns, including rifle calibers. But we can't run rifles in handgun calibers.

Rifle/Sabot is legal in the shotgun counties of Pa.

Dale

Same in NY.

In Michigan in the "shotgun" zone you can run a shotgun of any configuration, muzzleloader and pistols. I'm not 100% on the definition of pistol as far as the chambering as in the T/C types that are chambered in rifle calibers. I think they may have to be straight walled cartridges .357 caliber and larger but, not sure. Heck, in the past ten years I could have easily dumped every deer I shot with my 44 mag with ease and in fact the last three have been by my 44. Texas may be a tough go with a shotgun in the open western and central parts. Might be OK in the hill country though. I will say this, you hit a deer with a chunk of lead/copper that comes out of a 12ga they don't go far if at all.

In Iowa it is any shotgun 20 gauge or large shooting single projectiles. your best be is to check out the DNR/ fish and game website for the state you are looking at going to. i know a lot of guys up home have switched to the rifled barrels but still use foster slugs, as the have a hard time with 3 bucks a trigger squeeze.

In the shotgun counties of WI, you can use any shotgun, rifled or smooth bore, no buckshot. Any muzzleloader above .40 cal. and any pistol chambered for anything .357 mag. or more powerful.

NJ has no restriction on type of slugs, but they do mandate adjustable sights on the slug barrel, smooth or rifled.

Buckshot is also legal, and is actually preferred in crowded areas that allow hunting.

In NC you can use rifled with sabot. On Ft Bragg there is no buckshot allowed.

Pretty sure that's correct...that's the way the law was written when I was still living there ~2 years ago.

In Iowa during shot gun seasons, any shotgun configuration goes as long as its a single projectile 20 gauge or larger. We can use any muzzleloader configuration 45 cal or larger. We can also use handguns as long as barrel max length is followed, the cartridge is 357 or larger, and must be straight walled.

Illinois' only regulation regarding shotguns for deer is the minimum of 20 ga, and single projectile only (no buckshot).

rifled or smoothbore, saboted or punkinball makes no difference to the state.

A good many of the more serious hunters use their muzzleloader in the regular season as well. once again, a minimum bore is specified but about any style of ML is allowed.

handguns are used in the regular season, as well as the handgun and late seasons.

that is false, in mn you can use any rifle .22 cal or larger with centerfire ignition for big game hunting. refer to page 56 in the hunting laws, old laws used to be 357 mag on up for rifles. but you could always use the hotter pistol rounds in a rifle 357 mag 41 44 mag etc. it was based on case length not cal that has all changed so now you can actually hunt with a 22 hornet if you wanted. as far as shotguns all may be used from 410 thru 10ga with single projectile only no buckshot shotguns with scopes and rifled barrels may be used. all types of muzzle loaders may be used during muzzle loader but scopes cannot be used during the muzzle loading season unless you have a permit. although you may use a scope on a muzzle loader during the rifle season. cross bows may be used in rifle season only for taking deer. handguns may be used in the shotgun zones and in rifle cals.

The thread is about the slug zones, not the rifle zone.

mn slug only area would be any shotgun combo you wish to use as long as it is single projectile. or any handgun 25acp on up if it is center fire if you wish to go that route in the slug zone.