Caliber restrictions make no sense.

[Recon]

Why can I hunt deer with 40cal pistol but not the sweet new .224 Valkyrie rifle I built. I understand that it’s .24 or larger. I’m just saying it doesn’t make sense. That Valkyrie would slay black tails. .223 would make a great blacktail rifle. Hell growing up in North Dakota my first two deer were taking with a .222 a whitetail and a mulie. It doesn’t make sense and I’m just bitching.

[Oh Mah]

The .40 cal pistol also has restrictions to what can or can't be used hunting in WA.

[Recon]

The .40 cal pistol also has restrictions to what can or can't be used hunting in WA.

Right 4” barrel .24 cal or larger.

[JimmyHoffa]

They (game depts around the country) used to just say that the cartridge had at least iirc 800 lb-ft of energy to hunt.  Used to be how it was written in regs.  They didn't want too many .32-20s or .22 LR out there.  I think there were enough cartridges made that game wardens couldn't remember all of them and which had enough energy.  Manufacturers were making ammo to meet those energy requirements, except in the varmint calibers; so I think depts just cut off by caliber and dropped the energy requirements.

[Hilltop123]

Because the hunt Washington forum, has nothing better to do than make rules about hunting. We make them specifically to screw guys with SWEET Valkyrie's. It's how we sleep well at night.

[badnewskruse]

Because the hunt Washington forum, has nothing better to do than make rules about hunting. We make them specifically to screw guys with SWEET Valkyrie's. It's how we sleep well at night.

 

[timberfaller]

You have to go back in time to when they(the department)changed the rules.   Way to many people didn't know how to shoot humanely and thus a lot of wounded game was being seen(pre PETA and others).  This ushered in "caliber restrictions".

Now with that said, a good shooter can harvest just about anything with a small bullet!  I've seen it done before these rules were in place.   The little ole 222 Remington downed a lot of deer with one shot in the right hands.   I've seen guy's shoot big bore's and wasted entire animals because they didn't know how to harvest correctly.  "he kept getting up, so I had to shoot him again"

So it not hard to understand WHY,  I just wish it wasn't so.  Its also the results of a "Free" society where its a privilege to hunt and fish, NOTHING in the rules about being "proficient" or having/practicing, common sense!

[elkboy]

Some days I don’t know how I’ve ever taken a deer without a Truck mounted 50 cal and an RPG.

  

I have gotten a good bit of flak for hunting whitetail with my .243.  The deer did not argue, however!

[hunter399]

I can tell ya this subject has been on HW before here's a link to a old topic with a poll of almost three hundred votes.Main reason it will never happen hunters just can't agree.
 Here's the link

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,205241.0.html

Your welcome to revive it or continue on with your own topic.
I built a 25-223 or 25/45 to get around the restriction.
Goodluck.

[ne kid]

Growing up where I did I've seen many the deer fall quickly to a 22mag. It is a deerslayer.

[BA Mongor]

22mag?
I didn't realize that was a legal round.

Either your in your 70's or 80's when it was legal "I don't even know if  it was legal then" or you grew up with and were around poachers.
Is that what you're trying to imply with that statement?

F((*&^&$ Poachers....I can't stand them and have seen the affects and aftermath of what they've done.

Just my 

 

[hunter399]

22mag?
I didn't realize that was a legal round.

Either your in your 70's or 80's when it was legal "I don't even know if  it was legal then" or you grew up with and were around poachers.
Is that what you're trying to imply with that statement?

F((*&^&$ Poachers....I can't stand them and have seen the affects and aftermath of what they've done.

Just my 

 

Just cause they used a 22mag doesn't mean they didn't put a tag on.

I known this very old man once ,old war vet ,he is dead now .
Anyway he bought his tag every year .Owned quite a bit of land .Had him a small Apple orchard in his back yard.And every year he would pop him a deer right in the head with his 22 rifle.He had Doe opportunity then when being over 65 and disabled.Anyway he did everything legal except his caliber.No way would I turn him in.He also gave me permission to HUNT his land except for the backyard.This was over ten years ago ,I lost permission to hunt when he died ,and his son took over his place.But I will always remember you known when he filled his tag You would see the blood going from his backyard to his garage .

[Bob33]

22mag?
I didn't realize that was a legal round.

Either your in your 70's or 80's when it was legal "I don't even know if  it was legal then" or you grew up with and were around poachers.
Is that what you're trying to imply with that statement?

F((*&^&$ Poachers....I can't stand them and have seen the affects and aftermath of what they've done.

Just my 

 

You might want to check facts before making accusations.  There is no minimum caliber requirement in certain states like Montana, even today.

[444Marlin]

I think the caliber guidelines make some sense and help cover some of the less effective or marginal rounds.  Even within the regs, there are a lot of choices available.  Stop complaining and pick up a rifle in a caliber meets the guidelines...that's as sweet as your 224!

[buckfvr]

"Caliber restrictions make no sense"

There are restrictions because too many hunters don't exercise "common" sense. 

Yes, it really is that simple.