Bambi Whacking 2022-2023

[Worsley]

It depends. Where are you hunting?

Maryland? (Not using to hunt just curious on legality).

 

[gwchem]

Maryland? (Not using to hunt just curious on legality).

There are many counties in Maryland that only allow "straight wall" cartridges, such as .350 legend or .44 magnum.

In the counties that allow bottleneck cartridges, there's a 1200 foot pound minimum energy requirement, which your .223 may or may not make.

 

[308Scout]

There are many counties in Maryland that only allow "straight wall" cartridges, such as .350 legend or .44 magnum.

In the counties that allow bottleneck cartridges, there's a 1200 foot pound minimum energy requirement, which your .223 may or may not make.

Yep... From the regs:

Deer Regs for Archery, Muzzleloader, Firearms & Airguns - Maryland Hunting

An Archery Stamp ( Hunting Licenses ) is required to hunt deer during the Archery Season and when using archery equipment during the Primitive Deer Hunt Days except that: Hunters entitled to hunt without a license and hunters with a Senior Lifetime Consolidated License do not need to purchase an…

www.eregulations.com

Rifle Regulations​

• The rifles referred to here are loaded from the breech of the barrel and use cartridges.
• Rifles used for deer hunting must use ammunition developing a muzzle energy of at least 1,200 foot pounds. Consult ammunition guides for ballistics information.
• Bottleneck cartridge rifles may only be used to hunt deer during the Firearms Season and Junior Deer Hunt Days in certain counties and locations (see map, General Deer Hunting Rules), subject to local and county ordinances.
• Straight-walled cartridge rifles may be used to hunt deer during the Firearms Season and Junior Deer Hunt Days in all counties and locations in Maryland, subject to local and county ordinances.

 

[Worsley]

Thanks all.

 

[Ecestu]

I'm out on this brisk morning. Plan to sit through Saturday, when hopefully the decent sized bucks make another appearance. Only thing I've seen so far this morning are squirrels, birds, and a fox.

 

[Ecestu]

Saw a spike cruise by right at the end of shooting light, but nothing else all day. Oh well. I may give my normal spot a break tomorrow and get at it on Saturday. I might hit up Myrtle Grove tomorrow for some squirrel hunting.

 

[Slackdaddy]

There are many counties in Maryland that only allow "straight wall" cartridges, such as .350 legend or .44 magnum.

In the counties that allow bottleneck cartridges, there's a 1200 foot pound minimum energy requirement, which your .223 may or may not make.

I believe that is with any center fired rifle used for deer in MD, both SWC and "bottleneck"

 

[lazarus]

It depends. Where are you hunting?

And of course the season...

Your rifle must have 1200ft-lbs of muzzle energy and a pistol 700ft-lbs and at least a 6" barrel.

Perversely it is easy to find any ole AR 223 pistol that will make the muzzle energy requirements until you are using some kind of stupid 8" barrel (or less).

For a rifle, you are going to generally need an 18" or better, a 20" barrel to make the minimum energy. Some 16" can make it, but you generally need a very hot .223 load to exceed 1200ft-lbs.

 

[remrug]

So.......the a round ,shot through a pistol has 700 ft-lbs and is legal.
Shoot the same round through a rifle,it now needs way more ft-lbs to be legal?????
Who comes up with this stuff ?

 

[outrider58]

So.......the a round ,shot through a pistol has 700 ft-lbs and is legal.
Shoot the same round through a rifle,it now needs way more ft-lbs to be legal?????
Who comes up with this stuff ?

Let's not even consider an arrow...

 

[Doco Overboard]

I just pulled Ole Betsy out.
I'm going to sit in a little piece of woods tonight and bow hunt maybe, then see what's happening.

Was talking too someone I know last night about leasing a big piece of land(s) here in the county.
Seems the bunch in there now aren't interested, or cannot effectively clear it up for the wildlife damage thats going on for crops.
Might need to get a few together to help pay if I explore it any further or he comes back to me.

 

[Park ranger]

So.......the a round ,shot through a pistol has 700 ft-lbs and is legal.
Shoot the same round through a rifle,it now needs way more ft-lbs to be legal?????
Who comes up with this stuff ?

Maybe your thinking about this wrong. A round that produces 700 foot pounds in a pistol will probably make 1200 in a rifle. For example, a 300 BO shooting a 110 grain bullet in a 7.5" will produce ~900 foot ponds of energy. But in the rifle length barrel will be ~ 1300 foot pounds. I'm not agreeing with the regulations, but from a ballistic standpoint add barrel length, add velocity in nearly all situations.

 

[gwchem]

I just pulled Ole Betsy out.
I'm going to sit in a little piece of woods tonight and bow hunt maybe, then see what's happening.

Was talking too someone I know last night about leasing a big piece of land(s) here in the county.
Seems the bunch in there now aren't interested, or cannot effectively clear it up for the wildlife damage thats going on for crops.
Might need to get a few together to help pay if I explore it any further or he comes back to me.

I'm in if you need another person. Might be a hike from St Mary's, but there's nothing for lease around here.

 

[outrider58]

Wi

I just pulled Ole Betsy out.
I'm going to sit in a little piece of woods tonight and bow hunt maybe, then see what's happening.

Was talking too someone I know last night about leasing a big piece of land(s) here in the county.
Seems the bunch in there now aren't interested, or cannot effectively clear it up for the wildlife damage thats going on for crops.
Might need to get a few together to help pay if I explore it any further or he comes back to me.

Wish I lived closer. I'd be all over this.

 

[Hibs]

I just pulled Ole Betsy out.
I'm going to sit in a little piece of woods tonight and bow hunt maybe, then see what's happening.

Was talking too someone I know last night about leasing a big piece of land(s) here in the county.
Seems the bunch in there now aren't interested, or cannot effectively clear it up for the wildlife damage thats going on for crops.
Might need to get a few together to help pay if I explore it any further or he comes back to me.

I'd be interested.

 

[Doco Overboard]

Ill talk to him, worst is to agree on something and not have enough to pay for it/people that aren't serious enough to pony up when the time comes.
Thats usually what prevents this sort of thing from developing further. The other thing is the lands in their entirey are significant if it goes full shebang.

 

[StantonCree]

Good luck to everyone heading out tomorrow

 

[remrug]

Maybe your thinking about this wrong. A round that produces 700 foot pounds in a pistol will probably make 1200 in a rifle. For example, a 300 BO shooting a 110 grain bullet in a 7.5" will produce ~900 foot ponds of energy. But in the rifle length barrel will be ~ 1300 foot pounds. I'm not agreeing with the regulations, but from a ballistic standpoint add barrel length, add velocity in nearly all situations.

If 700 is good enough out of a pistol, shouldnt 700 be good out of a rifle?
Physics is physics

 

[Park ranger]

If 700 is good enough out of a pistol, shouldnt 700 be good out of a rifle?
Physics is physics

No, I don't think I agree. A pistol that makes 700 foot pounds has a good bit going for it. That's a magnum in the classic since. Thats a 357 pushing a 158 grain at 1450 fps.

However, a 700 foot pound rifle is a very hot 22 hornet- like a 35 grain bullet at 3000 fps. I agree they both can kill a deer, but I think the more responsible weapon to use is the heavier construction bullet pistol load.

If you want to hunt with a rifle, the 1200 ft pound rifle rule forces you to use a better deer bullet, 62 grains at that 3000 fps.

I think 700/1200 are subjective, but I can see the logic in requiring a decent size gun for deer.

 

[remrug]

I wasnt comparing 223 to a 357 or 22 hornet, I was saying the same caliber shot through a rifle should not have a diffrent ft-lb law while being shot through a pistol.

BTW, I wouldnt hesitate shooting a deer with a 22 Hornet if it was a clear,close and broadside deer. If it was legal where I was hunting I should add