Are there any states that don't allow handgun hunting?

I can't think of any, even though some have very draconian rules around it.

There are bound to be some somewhere. I know Wyoming allows it & I am grateful for that.

Hawaii for residents, last I heard.

Probably New Jersey as well.

Brian.

My understanding is that New Jersey and Rhode Island would be the only two states (in the US) that do not allow any form of handgun hunting today. In NJ, this is probably so for sheer political reasons (or what do you say James?

)

In RI, my understanding is that deer cannot be hunted even with a rifle (only shotgun, muzzie, and archery). Guess the state is so small that the bullet from any serious firearm will travel across state lines if not stopped...

CT made changes last year to make it possible for residents (though not non-residents) to hunt deer with a handgun. DE introduced a special handgun hunting season the other year. Some other states have certain regulations in terms of what kind of game you can take with a handgun.

So, in Clint Eastwood's words, in the US you should feel lucky....given that handgun hunting is explicitly illegal in most, if not all, of Europe, and also in Australia, NZ, parts of Africa and Latin America etc...

PS: Hawaii allows handgun hunting both for residents and non-residents, as far as I know. Would love hunting boars and rams there...

To the best of my knowlegde,you are right. Both Rhode Island and New Jersey do not allow hunting with handguns of any kind. Both are very restrictive in regards to concealed carry permits although RI is opening up a little after some lawsuits agaisnt some police chiefs. I hate to say it but RI has had a reputation as being a state run by the Mafia.

It is ironic in that Rhode Island allows deer hunting with muzzleloaders, bow and shotgun. Some of the inlines now achieve the same ballistics as a stoutly loaded 45-70.

It is all political in nature.

New Jersey has to be the worst state in the USA as far as guns are concerned. Even New York allows handgun hunting in the northern counties for its residents. You can see why I`ve hunted in Pennsylvania for all these years with my revolvers....

North of westchester cty. in NY handguns are legal in all but 3 small areas in the rest of the state, just might take a year to get a permit..

At the time my father lived there (around 1980 or thereabouts), the use of handguns was highly restricted, as were most other things. He was nearly arrested once for carrying a pellet rifle down the street.

Brian.

Massachusetts doesn't have a handgun season for deer yet,but you can hunt gray squirrel, fox and coyote with a handgun. Black bear can be hunted with a handgun in the Sept. season but not the Nov. season. I hope we have a handgun season for deer soon!

Idaho is very much a handgun state! There are some caliber restrictions in many states that allow handgun hunting so need to check that out before hunting out of state.
Idaho does have a very strict limit on Utah fishermen though!!

Dick

Thanks guys.

Would you believe that Massachusetts will allow handguns of 357 and larger for black bear this September....

James:

You have to read the fine print. It states revolvers 357 magnum or .40 caliber and larger. So you cannnot use a single shot or autoloader during the September season. That was implemented when you could run bear with dogs in the Bay State. The animal rights ninnies outlawed running bear with dogs as well as most forms of trapping.

I chatted with a game warden and he stated they follow the letter of the law. So if you handgun hunt in Massachusetts for black bear in September it better be a revolver.

Indiana requires a pistol permit and honors all other states' permits.

I work near a large WMA in Rhode Island and happened to see the game warden vehicle go down the small dirt road. Since it was the beginning of my shift I took a walk out and chatted with the man. I asked him whether or not it is legal to hunt small game with a handgun in RI? I said that I cannot find anything written down that states you cannot hunt with a handgun. He said that they will have a meeting shortly and they are going to address that question. It appears that I am not the only one. He has my number and told me he will call and reply what he will find out. So I await with bated breath.

New York allows handgun hunting by residents only..no out of state hunters may use handguns. The permit requirements for residents are restrictive and permits are issued by local authorities and often depend on their political leanings. A sad state that I left many years ago. Carry permits are even more restrictive and difficult to obtain