Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Indiana and high power rifles

I hope it passes also. I'm tired of trimming down my 35 Rem. brass!

The biggest thing we noticed in the southern tier of NY when they made rifles legal is there was a lot less shooting because they couldn't work the bolt nearly as fast as they could a semi-auto 12, and every open field with a 300+ yd view would have at least one orange blob on it opening weekend. Seems rifles meant you could now shoot your deer at maximum ranges so there was no need to sit in the woods any more. Besides, what fun was it shooting your spike horn at 30 yds with a 7mm mag?

The theory was, rifles were more dangerous because the projectiles travel further. I never bought into it, but you'd be surprised how many people I've met over the years do buy into it. Kind of a lack of critical thinking skills....

What else would you use a slug gun for besides shooting deer? I've got a designated slug gun and I don't notice it kicking any harder than anything else.

I've never understood the thought behind not allowing a centerfire but allowing muzzleloaders and slug guns. Most hunters I know in Indiana hunt out of treestands which means they are shooting towards the ground. In cases like that a centerfire is no more dangerous than a muzzleloader or a slug gun. If they restrict it to "straight wall cartridges, I'd use a 450 Marlin.

I too have a designated slug gun and have been very successful with it over the years. I have gone to the Ruger 77/44 when they made rifles legal, it worked just fine on a 60yd. shot last season. I see no need for other than pistol cartridge chambered rifles in Indiana, most shots are well within their range and capability.

Man, you Yankees are easy to condition.

You might just get to hunt in IN if you are nice... grin

PS. Leave the 223AI at home...

I'd only use a slug gun, for anything, if it's mandated. If you can't tell the recoil difference between a 12ga slug and many more than adequate deer cartridges (260, 30-06, 30-30, etc) you are much less sensitive to recoil than I.

From what I've heard it's passed the vote, but can't/won't be implemented until 2015. So if you have a slugger to sell, sell it soon!

Anyone have a link to info regarding the passage of legislation allowing hunting with high power rifles and when the law takes effect?

Yeah, it sounds like somebody banging on the trees with a stick.....time to get small!

Why you callin' a Yankee? I live in AL but i have some nephews that live in IN.

Here's a link the to the rules that were voted on:
http://www.in.gov/nrc/files/item_7_nrc_sept_2014.pdf

It is my understanding that it was voted for by the Natural Resource Commission.

Will make it easier to take kids hunting. use a 243 with light loads, bingo!!!

Anybody know if a final decision has been made on this ?

Yep! I'm thinking of making a 6X204 Ruger for that purpose. My kids appear to be opposite handed shooters, so the single shot 357 Mag may be getting a new barrel.

That would be great news if it did pass! I was kind of bummed when I moved to Indiana from Pennsylvania to learn of no high power rifles for deer hunting but figured Indiana is kind of flat, wide open terrain thus figure the game commission was being conservative due to "safety" issues.

Having hunted Indiana successfully with my rifled barrel slug gun for 25yrs. I was very pleased when the DNR voted to allow rifles chambered for pistol cartridges to be used for deer hunting. I have retired my slug gun and now hunt with a Ruger 77/44 .44 Magnum which I feel is very adequate for the task. I am not sure how I feel regarding high powered rifles being made legal. I hunt the hills and hollows of Brown County almost exclusively and have not encountered a shooting situation there where I feel that a high powered rifle would be more effective than the .44 Magnum. Perhaps in other areas of the state that offer longer shots a high powered rifle would be more effective. I'll stick to my .44 Magnum while hunting in Brown County.

Brown County as you well know is the exception rather than the rule for the type of terrain that make up this state...

pointer,

as a transplant to Indian, what's the typical type of terrain? what you estimate the range/yardage?

I couldn't get over how flat parts of Indiana coming from western Pennsylvania. Our shots are usually under 100yards, even half that distance isn't uncommon unless your on logging road/power line or purposely overlooking farmers field.