Hello!

Mike Winnerstig here, I'm a defense policy researcher in Stockholm, Sweden. I'm specializing in U.S. defense and foreign policy issues so I'm stateside quite often. I'm also a board member of the Swedish Pistol Shooting Association, and in that context specializing in competition shooting with long-barreled magnum revolvers.

Now my question: could anybody provide me with a comprehensive list of the states in the U.S. which allow handgun hunting? Or, if that's more simple, the list of states which don't?

Would appreciate any help with this, since I'll plan my research trips to the U.S. with a few vacation days of handgun hunting attached...

Hello and Welcome to the Site!!!

Most states do. Your best bet is to contact the “Fish and Game” or the “Game Wardens” of the state your are going to be visiting. There are going to be more laws that you are going to have to follow because you don’t live in the states. I would rather you get it straight from the horses mouth than have any problems.

Best of luck
Duane

Hi Mikewin, I'm Italian and I can't answer to your question, but I'm studing European Union Law and I believed that in Sweden and in Scandinavian states handgun hunting was legal... It is really true that is never too much late to learn!

Ah, sorry, I've forgotten: WELCOME!!!

Thanks. I'm aware of the fact that there will be scores of other laws to follow that relate to handgun possession. Not least in the state I used to live in, i.e. the People's Republic of Massachusetts....

But since I can - to an extent - plan my business trips to the U.S. quite freely, it would anyway be nice to find a comprehensive list of the states that actually allows handgun hunting generally. If such a thing exists. I have one in a 1970's book on handgun hunting but it is of course out of date.

thanks!

and no, handgun hunting is not legal anywhere in Europe as far as I know. Maybe in Spain with a minimum barrel length of 12", but that is the only case I (think I) know of.

In Sweden, though, the national hunting association - a quasi-governmental organization - is considering promoting bowhunting, which is currently also illegal. If you allow bowhunting, handgun hunting would also be allowed since the requirement, especially in terms of shooting distances, are somewhat similar. So there is hope.....

I can’t beleave I didn’t think of this sooner!!

I don’t know were your correspondence is located, but I would contact them and tell them you interest in hunting. They might be able to get you in contact with the right people. My Grandfather did a lot of hunting in the US Air Force because of the people he knew while he was overseas.

Thanks again! Good idea. I work with essentially two kinds of people: 1) those in the defense sector in and around Washington, DC, and 2) academics all over the country. In the first category I should be able to get some help, in the second there is unfortunately not much hope, not even among the few conservative academics still around.

I can't say for other states but Minnesota has no residency restrictions, other than the inflated license fee(s). I do know that NY is a no go 'cause non-residents cannot even posess a handgun there. I've seen handgun hunts on video in TX, AK, FL and MI, and others I can't recall right now. Try a google search perhaps?

I would check with the NRA, they may have a list. It's legal here in Oregon, but the prices for non residence is hight.

Welcome to the site. I bet someone here will have a list, just cause that is the way these guys are. Someone always has an answer. Great site you have signed on to!

I don't know of any states that don't allow it but there are a number of laws that govern firearms and hunting and are unique sometimes even down to the county/parrish/town you would be hunting in. Being a visiting hunter you might have to arrange to borrow a gun from the guide or something along those lines unless you brought your own. Don't fly into a New York airport especially with a handgun.

Well, Delaware allowed handgun hunting for the first time only a few years ago (and only for a week in January, if I remember correctly). I haven't been able to confirm that handgun hunting is legal in e.g. New Jersey. Google is of little use since yours is a federal country and there are much more than 50 different sets of gun laws governing the issue. Any Google search becomes overwhelming immediately.

I normally clear customs at Boston/Logan or Dulles but given the laws of MA I think Dulles will be the practical alternative. And I do want to use my own guns. Nothing wrong with Dulles, though, since I take it VA gives ample opportunity for handgun hunters. Right, Gary?

Some form of handgun hunting is legal in all the US states except for New Jersey and Rhode Island.

Some states allow hunting of small game only with handguns. I want to say Massachusetts and Connecticut are the two that come to mind. Although you can handgun hunt black bear in Massachusetts with a bear permit for five dollars . I will also add that some states like Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York( residents only, non-residents cannot hunt with handguns because the permits are for residents only) require a license to carry or permit to carry handguns. Others do not require a permit but the handgun cannot be concealed. It is treated like a regular hunting arm. Some states have caliber restrictions to ensure humane harvest of game. Some have little on the matter.

Most states allow the hunting of deer, black bear and other game with handguns during the general firearm season. Some states allow you to use a handgun for wild turkey such as those in the Deep South and the American West, but not all states.

If you go to the Thompson Center website they have a link to all of the states fish and game pages. You can see every state's fish and game regulations first hand.

First off WELCOME Mikewin!!!!!

I can't offer anymore than what has been said by the other guys.

I can tell you that right here on Handgun Hunt go to the links page and scroll down a ways. Gary has a link to each of the state conservation pages. There you can find the game laws for each state. That should help narrow your search by a good amount. Especially the states you want to hunt in or travel thru to get there.

Thanks, all!

This is an excellent forum. Lots of answers to my pretty broad questions. I'll check into the specific state laws to sort this out.

How about widening the search and come up with which countries have legalised handgun hunting, at this time. I assume by the photos on the forum some of the African countries allow it how about the rest of the wide world?

Geo

Would love to find such a list myself. Or, as a long-term project, to construct one. How are things down under? I believe I read somewhere that handgun hunting is legal in Australia but also that foreign hunters are not allowed to bring in handguns into Australia for hunting purposes. Is this correct, or does it vary by state and territory?

Any city in the US. No size or bag limits; if it looks dangerous shoot it!

Gerry can we refine that a little bit, there are alot of things in San Francisco I don't consider to be dangerous looking but I'd like to shoot anyhow.

I am a logger, just came down from Coos Bay Oregon, quite possible the toughest man alive.

For those who know and like Ray Stevens.

The states that I know allow handgun hunting is KS, OK, TX, NM, CO, WY, WI, NE, & MT

Yep, Believe or not that song fits Coos Bay Oregon.

Ray Stevens ROCKS!!! Some funny stuff.

Oregon and Washington states also allow handgun hunting!

There ya go! We have everyone on the site as a resource. If everyone chimed in with a list of the states that they know where handgun hunting is legal the job would be done.

I believe CA does too, just have to watch the regulations. I think your pretty safe in the northern part of the state.

Missouri allows Centerfire Pistol's , Revolver's
During The normal Gun season.
Usualy 2nd-3rd week Nov,And Antlerless in Dec.
Date's subject to change yearly.

Mikewin,
Regarding your statement on handgun hunting in Europe,I have handgun hunted legally in Spain (12" barrel minimum is correct) and in Hungary.
With regard to handgun hunting in the U.S., as others have said, it is legal in many states...nearly all in fact, but specific regulations on barrel lengths, calibers, etc. are subject to change from time to time by the various legislatures and game departments. You really must contact the states in which you hope to hunt for current regulations. You'll need to do that anyway for hunting licensing, unless you're hunting exotics. In that case, the hunting operator can answer your questions.
I have personally handgun hunted in N.C., S.C., Pa., Tenn., Mo., Ohio, Tx. Az., Ak., ID., Utah, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Fla.,

500WE,

thanks! had no idea about Hungary. Gives me lots of hope, although I'm not aware of what kind of game you could hunt with a handgun in Hungary.

Mikewin,
I hunted roe deer, but wild boar, red stag and fallow deer are among the species that are available in Hungary.

You can add Louisiana to the list. They actually have handguns listed in their “Louisiana Hunting Regulations” handbook put together by the Wildlife and Fisheries Department. Pg. 27 under “Methods of Taking Resident Game Birds and Quadrupeds” basically states that a handgun is the equivalent to a rifle and must follow all of the same rules and regulations.

OK! Roe deer is our most common mid-sized game here in Sweden. Would be perfect for handgun hunting, should it be legalized.

Did you get any? And with what?

Yes, I took two roe deer, using a 14" T/C Contender in .257 JDJ (SSK barrel). One was taken at 150 yds., the other at 125 yds.

Cool. A big scope I guess? A roe deer at 150 yards would be considered a very long rifle shot here. We often hunt roe deer with a 12 gauge shotgun at around 30 yards.

A Bushnell 3200 2-6X, set on 5X in both cases.