Caliber regulations?

[FiveBillionAcres]

I currently live in Alberta Canada but my wife and I are planning on moving to Arizona* in the next 18 to 24 months (I have dual citizenship) and I was wondering what various states (not just AZ) have for limitations on what you can and can not hunt with.

Up here you can't hunt anything that isn't "problem wildlife" with a caliber of less than 0.3" which isn't so bad, but I don't see the problem of using a .223 or 5.56 to kill a deer, some people argue we have bigger deer up here but I doubt that's really matters all that much there are plenty of crappy big rounds.

It's not that I don't like any .3+ rounds or arms but there are some smaller ones that I really really like, I like the 5.56 and I like the idea of the 6.5 Grendel (though I haven't gotten to use one)

* The Mrs. is starting to talk about New Hampshire of late although moving from cold and snowy to cold wet and snowy doesn't sound appealing even if they do have a nice political climate there...

 

[Ridgerunner665]

22 centerfires are legal for deer in Tennessee...BTW, I like your username...

 

[FiveBillionAcres]

Thanks, it's the general area of both the US and Canada combined.

 

[Shawnee]

Caliber/weapon regulations in the States are a hodge-podge tangle of rules that in many cases defy Logic.
In the East they are often much more a product of political and bureaucratic unintelligence and manipulation than anything that even remotely resembles good public policy or good game management. Many areas in the East have had the "shotguns only" mentality institutionalized in their regulations since the 1930's, which is seriously flawed.... especially when used as a "carte blanche" rule.

Best course of action is to consult the Fish & Game websites for specific areas. Here is a link to the Arizone Game site: http://www.gf.state.az.us/

 

[Art Eatman]

Some states regulate against .22 centerfires because the regulations were written before the bullet folks developed "bigger than varmint" reliable bullets for them. Others merely wisely prohibit rimfires on game animals. Regulations are aimed at the average shooter, just as are traffic laws directed toward the barely competent...

 

[FiveBillionAcres]

The current obsession with game hunting game at long range disturbs me, part of the hunt is the sneak, it will probably lead to activists saying we're maiming baby deer at long ranges with small rifles for our own sick pleasure... Although if you want to hunt at longer ranges I wouldn't support any regulation to stop you nor would I object if you were doing it responsibly but I just fear some people will.

Long live the .22!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Up here you can't hunt anything that isn't "problem wildlife" with a caliber of less than 0.3"

Errm, you can't hunt squirrels with anything less than a .30 caliber?

Without reading the Arizona regs, I'd wager anything that you can use less than .30 cal on deer. Most "non shotgun-only" states will have a .22 caliber, 55 grain minimum for deer, and have a .24 caliber minimum for elk. I don't believe any state has a .30 cal requirement. There are a LOT of good centerfire rounds to choose from in the .23-.29 caliber range, obviously. But like the man said, peruse the Arizona specific regs. I'd go there over NH, though - more land to hunt per person - more isolation factor. I agree with you on the long-range hunting emphasis being an undesirable trend.

 

[ArmedBear]

http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunting_rules.shtml

Note that rules are different for different game.

I can legally hunt squirrels with a .17M2, but for deer I have to use a "centerfire with soft-nosed or expanding bullets". I can hunt deer with any centerfire handgun, again with soft-nose or expanding bullets. For elk, I have to have at least a 4" barrel.

That's in neighboring California. Arizona's rules are similar but not the same. Read the above document for details.

 

[FiveBillionAcres]

Most rodents are problem wildlife

 

[mlw332]

In MS any center fire is legal. And as far as the 5.56 I have taken several whitetails with a 223 up to max of 150-200yd with impressive damage from such a small bullet.

 

[Sunray]

"...with a caliber of less than 0.3"..." Where in AB? AB's hunting regs says under .23 calibre is illegal for large game.
In any case, it's not so much the calibre as it is the bullet. Most factory .223 comes with a varmint bullet. Varmint bullets are not suitable for deer sized game anywhere. Having calibre restrictions keeps non-reloaders and new hunters from using any ammo they bought in Crappy Tire.
AZ has residency requirements(90 days as I recall) to own a firearm too. That may be just for handguns and non-citizens though.

 

[FiveBillionAcres]

I'm sorry it is .23 that may be a new regulation I'm quite sure it used to be .3

Regardless they are trying to stop you from using .223 because they suck. 6.5 Grendel would be ok though.

AFAIK AZ's residency requirement is only for the concealed carry permit and might also be for handguns from an FFL but I could be wrong, I will look into it for sure. Regardless we're planning on living there a lot longer than 3 months hah