Hi there. I'm a newcomer on this site, and my first question is: I would like to know if there's a place where I could find a list of all states where handgun hunting is legal?
My second question is: does somebody know if a Canadian fellow like myself would be allowed to hunt with a handgun in the U.S.? As you probably know, this is unfortunately illegal to do so in my own country

Any info you could provide would be truly appreciated, thanks!

You could hunt w/ a handgun here in North Carolina. You would just need a valid NC hunting license.

Idaho is ok. Any rifle season and possibly next year any short range weapon season.

Oregon and Washington should be fine

Welcome Jeepfan!
Alaska is legal, but what are the rules in the USA on "Non-resident aliens" possessing handguns? I have no idea.

I don't know if there are particular rules for Canadian citizens, but normally, as a non-resident "alien", you only need a BATF import permit and a valid US hunting license. Some states in the US also require some proof of a completed hunter education course. Concerning the latter, foreign ones normally qualify but it's a good idea to take a hunter ed class in the US state you plan to hunt; it's only a weekend or two evenings.

Then you of course need to avoid - at all costs - states like MA and NY; if you show up with a handgun in any of these - including through transportation - you might face very severe mandatory sentencing.

In terms of handgun hunting, I believe that the only US states that actually don't allow any form of it are New Jersey and Rhode Island. I think big game handgun hunting might be illegal in some other states too, though. In most decent states of the US handgun hunting is approved and in some states (like DE and AZ, I think) they even have specific handgun hunting seasons.

You can handgun hunt in Texas.

Handgun hunting is legal in Minnesota. Not sure about the requirements for a Canadian to handgun hunt here.

Handgun hunting is legal here in Pa.,but I don't know about non U.S. citizens. Sorry that I don't have more info. for you.

Don't know of a "list", but you can easily summarize one from the help you're getting here!

New Hampshire is OK to hunt with a handgun - you'll need a previous hunting license from any state or province or have a certificate from a Hunter Safety course to get a hunting license. Again, it's best to check on the non-US resident handgun transport requirements before coming into the US and for any state you want to hunt in.

Even Massachusetts, with it's convoluted and wrong-headed handgun requirements, will allow you to have a handgun in posession and pass through the state to hunt elsewhere (a valid hunting license for that state carried on you will be a help).

Having lived in Massachusetts - although that was more than ten years ago - I believe I can say with some authority that there is simply no stupidity, in terms of anti-gun laws, that MA politicians will not happily embrace.

Returning to the issue: I was in contact with the MA Dept of Public Safety a couple years ago and they told me that there is probably no way that MA law will allow a non-resident alien to transport a handgun through MA. Even if in a locked container in the trunk of the car and only for through transportation to another state etc. US citizens can, according to a federal law regarding interstate firearms transportation, but non-citizens apparently can't. And I wouldn't risk to be wrong...

Jeepfan,

Montana is good to go with a valid MT non-resident hunting license. You must apply before June. For a "non" resident alien, you need a BATFE permit to possess a handgun; however, if I am not mistaken, a valid hunting license itself, allows possession in MT. An alternative is to obtain a hunting license from the state of interest; and, team up with someone on this site for a handgun to use and have a CanAm handgun hunt. Companionship, guide service, and congeniality included! Mike from Sweden may have teamed with another member in the past. Is that so Mike? With statewide, continental, and global contacts, we could probably make a habit of this.

Doc

Doc,

no, I've met with Gary - the great founder of this great site - and been in phone contact with a couple other handgunners here. But have hunted on my own. Would be very happy with some international teaming though!

I just published a couple pretty big pieces in the major Swedish gun magazine on handgun hunting, based on my own experiences. It has generated substantial interest here, since big-bore sixgunners and silhouetters in Sweden cannot use their firearms for hunting in their own country. As in Canada, btw - the Sweden of North America....

Its ok in ohio with straight walled cartridges in gun seasons (shotgun)

Wisconsin is legal as long as the barrel is 5 1/2" long. BTW, my bride of 16 years gave me a Ruger Super Redhawk .44 mag for Christmas! I can't wait to get out hunting.

MS is legal with hunter safety course under your belt and non-res hunting license.

OKla is legal with non-res license and hubter's ed course.

Hawaii has provisions allowing for handgun hunting....

You can hunt with handguns in Michigan. In the shotgun zone it has to be a straight walled caliber. In the rifle zones you can shoot any round.

Hey, thank you so much to all of you for your answers. I wasn't expecting such a high level of interest when I posted my question here. Must be a sign that you have a great site, and a great hunting community to go with! Will double check the 'legal' aspects of all this with the BATF, and if all is right, you might just have one more Canadian hunting in the U.S. next season!

Missouri allows HandGuns.
I can not find any rules against Nonresident aliens.
You can contact The State Conservation Main Office at
(573)751-4115
OR
http://WWW.MISSOURICONSERVATION.ORG

Good to go in SC with Hunter's Ed and hunting license...

Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico do.

I've personally legally hunted big game with handguns in Alaska, Arizona, N.C., Tenn., Ohio, Missouri, Idaho, Texas, Florida, West Virginia, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and Utah. Friends of mine also regularly hunt with handguns in Georgia, Mississippi and S.C.
The question of non-resident aliens needs to be addressedv with the Feds and the individual state, as these things are subject to change.

Good day jeepfan

I am from Canada as well and fortunately we can hunt legaly in the US. It REALLY sucks that we can not do so here. Anyways I have hunted North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado with my Contenders and Striker. Not sure what province you are from but in Manitoba you need a special permit to transport to the US border. The one we have to go target shooting there does not count. Go figure. Then you need a temporary import permit from the USA. Usually takes three to eight weeks. To get this you need a valid hunting licence or an invitation to a competition.
I think that's it, sometimes things are so obvious I forget.LOL
Mike

Thanks Mike and to all folks that took some of their time to answer my questions, this has been very helpfull!
Happy New Year to you all!

Delaware's handgun season(1 week) opens Sat. 1/2/10. You can also hunt during any season where a shotgun is legal. Maryland has certain counties where handguns are legal(wherever you can use a rifle) and you can hunt with muzzleloader handgun in any county during ml season and gun season. As for the alien hunting question, you would have to check with Dept. of Nat. Resources in both states. http://www.fw.delaware.gov/Pages/FWPortal.aspx
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/index.asp

You would have to call direct as I have never seen that question addressed before in writing. good luck, John