.357 mag for deer?

[Bob33]

my .380 in a 4" barrel is now legal?

Not in writing.. You'll surely get a citation if caught hunting with that.  There's verbage somewhere that says something to the affect that the weapon used needs to be adequate for the game hunted.

-Steve

Steve, I would respectfully disagree. I do not believe there is anything in writing to that effect.  I will stand corrected if someone can point it out.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=232-12-047

WAC 232-12-047 Agency filings affecting this section 
Unlawful methods for hunting.
  (1) It is unlawful to hunt any big game with:

     (a) A fully automatic firearm.

     (b) A centerfire cartridge less than 22 caliber for cougar.

     (c) A centerfire cartridge less than 24 caliber for any other big game.

     (d) A shotgun, provided that a 20 gauge, or larger shotgun, using shells loaded with slugs or buckshot size #1 or larger, may be used to hunt deer, bear, and cougar.

     (e) A shotgun for any other big game, except that a 12 gauge or 10 gauge shotgun using slugs may be used.

     (f) A handgun during a modern firearm season that does not meet the following criteria: Have a minimum barrel length of four inches, per manufacturer's specification, and fire a centerfire cartridge.

     (g) Any rimfire cartridge.

     (2) It is unlawful to hunt game birds with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells.

     (3) It is unlawful to hunt game birds or game animals, except bullfrogs, in a manner other than with a firearm, a bow and arrow, or by falconry, except in those designated areas where crossbows are allowed.

     (4) Rules pertaining to crossbows:

     (a) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a crossbow with a draw weight less than 125 pounds, a limb width less than 24 inches, a draw length less than 14 inches, and a trigger safety that does not work properly.

     (b) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow or bolt measuring less than 16 inches in length and weighing less than 350 grains.

     (c) It is unlawful to hunt game animals or game birds with a crossbow that weighs more than 15 pounds.

     (d) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with any arrow or bolt that does not have a sharp broadhead and the broadhead blade or blades are less than seven-eighths inch wide.

     (e) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a broadhead blade unless the broadhead is unbarbed and completely closed at the back end of the blade or blades by a smooth, unbroken surface starting at maximum blade width and forming a smooth line toward the feather end of the shaft, and such line does not angle toward the point.

     (f) It is unlawful to hunt big game animals with a retractable broadhead.

     (5) Hunters with disabilities may use a crossbow with a special use permit as conditioned in WAC 232-12-054.

     (6) It is unlawful to hunt game animals or game birds with a shotgun larger than 10 gauge.

     (7) It is unlawful to hunt game birds with a rifle or handgun, with the exception of blue grouse, spruce grouse and ruffed grouse.

     ( A violation of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.400, 77.15.410, or 77.15.430, depending on the species hunted.

[sakoshooter]

umm taurus revolver, not sure of the model. 3.5 or 4 inch barrel I think. Might be kinda limiting though with the shorter barrel, I havent shot it too much to see my accurate range...

Barrel length must be at least 4" to be legal.

Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with
handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches
per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum
24 caliber centerfire cartridge.

Cougar can be hunted with a handgun, 22 cal centerfire of larger. All other big game - .24 cal or larger.
Page 70 of the big game regs.
A friend of mine dispatched over a hundred black bears and a few cougars with a .38 revolver. He switched to a .357 after a couple of the bears got ornery with him. He trapped for the Forrest Service for years.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Steve, I would respectfully disagree. I do not believe there is anything in writing to that effect.  I will stand corrected if someone can point it out.

Well.. There used to be.    It appears that this verbage has been in place since mid 2004?  

I'm sure they'd come up with something in 'fair chase and/or undue suffering' for an animal shot with a gun that was under powered to have an effective humane kill.

I certainly woudn't do it.  Unfortunately since its not in writing.. Someone will.

Oh, and as for dispatching a big game animal with a 38.. Sure. Point blank or there abouts.

-Steve

[birdwacker]

Try the buffalo boar 180gr hardcast and shoot for bone.

[Bob33]

Steve, I would respectfully disagree. I do not believe there is anything in writing to that effect.  I will stand corrected if someone can point it out.

Well.. There used to be.    It appears that this verbage has been in place since mid 2004?  

I'm sure they'd come up with something in 'fair chase and/or undue suffering' for an animal shot with a gun that was under powered to have an effective humane kill.

I certainly woudn't do it.  Unfortunately since its not in writing.. Someone will.

Oh, and as for dispatching a big game animal with a 38.. Sure. Point blank or there abouts.

-Steve

Steve, I think you may have hit the nail on the hit for the reasoning behind the change: dispatching a wounded animal.  If you shot a deer with your 300 Magnum and it was still alive, it used to be illegal to dispatch it with a .357. 

I agree that using anything less than .357 would not be ethical in the vast majority of cases.  I think even a .357 is marginal.  However, I hunt small deer in the San Juan islands, and have often been within 10 feet of them.  In certain instances like that, just about any caliber can work with proper shot placement.

[Wazukie]

I hunt with my .357, both deer and bear.  I keep my ranges down to my capabilities.  The velocity in the .357 is plenty to drop a deer or black bear.  That being said, any firearm you use, rifle or other, you need to know how to use it and shoot it.  I think the problem arises, whether you use a 300 RUM or a .357 4" pea shooter, the majority of hunters today don't shoot near enough.  I've never lost an animal putting a bullet through the boiler room.

[JackOfAllTrades]

the majority of hunters today don't shoot near enough. 

You have that right. I spend a lot of time at the range, I see guys 'I've never seen before' all the sudden show up with their fancy hunting rifle and shoot pretty groups off the bench and call it good.

-Steve

[O_mykiss]

I would hope that common sense would prevail. There's a big difference between what you "can" do vs. what you "should" do.  That decision is up to you.

If it were me, I wouldn't hesitate to use a .357, IF I practiced alot and was only going to take shots I am comfortable with. I would think that using anything less than that would start getting a little light for the purpose.

Think quality bullets, practice, practice and more practice. It helps to get within spitting distance too.

[724wd]

i hope you guys don't think i was thinking of actually using a .380 to hunt!       i thought the .41 rule was a good one.  i did dispatch a bear i shot out of a tree with my .270 a couple years ago with my .357.  at the time, i don't think it was exactly 'legal', but it put a hole through both shoulders i could put my hand through!     10 yards, it was devastating!  but for first-shot hunting?  i think i'd have go .41 or larger.