Help Me Legalize Semiauto Rifle Big Game Hunting In Pennsylvania

[2Die4]

I have started a petition to legalize the use of semiauto rifles for big game hunting in Pennsylvania.

You do not need to be a resident to sign the petition as non-residents can hunt in Pennsylvania with the proper licensing.

I don't do Facebook or X, so if you could kindly share the link on those platforms I would be grateful.

https://chng.it/twNR9CkrTW

 

[Rack Daniels]

I have started a petition to legalize the use of semiauto rifles for big game hunting in Pennsylvania.

You do not need to be a resident to sign the petition as non-residents can hunt in Pennsylvania with the proper licensing.

I don't do Facebook or X, so if you could kindly share the link on those platforms I would be grateful.

https://chng.it/twNR9CkrTW

Now, I love skipping a bolt or lever when possible, but who needs a semi automatic for big game?

 

[Bigjay73]

My favorite antelope gun is m ar15 in 6.5 grendel. Never need more than 1 shot, but man it's a sweet shooting rifle. Id carry it hunting even if I was only allowed a 1 round magazine

 

[ismith]

No

 

[Schutzhund]

No, thank you. PA deer season is a chitshow as it stands currently. I read your petition.

I have many semi autos in various calibers and configurations. I dont have a problem with them personally but as for changing our regs regarding hunting:

We have 2 big game animals to hunt in PA: WT deer and bear...ok maybe 3 if you apply and draw one of less than 200 elk tags yearly. That's it. Our big game hunters in PA are deer hunters, very few bear hunters. That's our only options as far as big game diversity compared to western states.

Success rates are generally high in our state compared to other areas in the states. With the number of hunters, tags and harvest rates in our state we don't need any more advantage against our highly pressured animals. There's just no room or need in my opinion.

You want fast, Remington 760s are known as "Amish Automatics" around here. They can sling some lead in a hurry if you need to. Ask any veteran PA or New England woodsman.

As to SA's: You can shoot any other game with semi autos to get your hahas or use those type of guns if thats your thing. Leave our deer and bear rifle regs alone. Make the first shot count no matter what gun or bow you use or wait for a better shot!!

Sincerely (respectfully)
Resident Pennsylvania "big game" hunter

 

[Mallardsx2]

As a prior PA resident of 30 years, there is no way I could support semi-auto’s for big game hunting.

No
Freaking
Way

lol

 

[ccc23454]

Anyone who has hunted a opening day in PA would think fully automatic was already legal by sounds of it. I do support semi automatics for big game because I often use ARs for hunting as they are a better designed rifle for many of my deer hunting situations

 

[Ralphy]

I can see both sides of it. Maybe have a mag cap. Limit.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Huh. I have never hunted in PA, and maybe things are extra-crazy there....? But, you can hunt with semi-autos in NY. There are lots of 742's and BAR's in the woods here and I've never thought of them as contributing to dangerous behavior, or of making it easier to shoot critters... I don't even think they're really much faster than a pump, or lever. Pretty much a non-issue here and just a matter of preference. What do you all have in the water down in PA, that makes it such a big deal? Is there any data showing a negative relationship between semi-autos and hunting accidents/overharvest/wounding in other states?

 

[X13]

Huh. I have never hunted in PA, and maybe things are extra-crazy there....? But, you can hunt with semi-autos in NY. There are lots of 742's and BAR's in the woods here and I've never thought of them as contributing to dangerous behavior, or of making it easier to shoot critters... I don't even think they're really much faster than a pump, or lever. Pretty much a non-issue here and just a matter of preference. What do you all have in the water down in PA, that makes it such a big deal? Is there any data showing a negative relationship between semi-autos and hunting accidents/overharvest/wounding in other states?

IMO it's more of a social issue than anything objective. The average hunter in PA is 60+ years old and they don't want to see or hear AR15s in their deer woods. We've been killing hundreds of thousands of deer per year as it is now, most hunters I associate with find it unnecessary and have fears of 30 round mag dumps at running deer from the neighbors.

Semi-auto shotguns got legalized for big game a few years ago with little fanfare. I'll still be hunting with my bolts, pumps, and levers because I like them and they work. If things were to change, Id have no issue letting my daughter use a semi-auto in 223, 6arc, 6.5, etc for the recoil reduction and ease of follow-up shots.

 

[Keep on]

PA is slow to change anything. When they changed deer opener to the Saturday after Thanksgiving instead of the Monday after, there were melt downs from grown ass men that resembled toddler tantrums. When they allowed for Sunday hunting on 3 days in the whole year, again full on melt downs that have lasted for years.
Semis are just another we've done it this way for years argument from the boomers that probably make up 50-60% of the hunters we have left in the state. Most of them go through each hunting season without even realizing semi auto shotguns are legal in PA, but talk of semi auto rifles cause elevated heart rates, heartburn and hypertension.
I'm ready to buy a scary black semi auto shotgun to use in PA deer season, not because it would be my 1st or best choice, but just as my own protest to the fear mongering boomers.
My .02

 

[Schutzhund]

IMO it's more of a social issue than anything objective. The average hunter in PA is 60+ years old and they don't want to see or hear AR15s in their deer woods. We've been killing hundreds of thousands of deer per year as it is now, most hunters I associate with find it unnecessary and have fears of 30 round mag dumps at running deer from the neighbors.

Semi-auto shotguns got legalized for big game a few years ago with little fanfare. I'll still be hunting with my bolts, pumps, and levers because I like them and they work. If things were to change, Id have no issue letting my daughter use a semi-auto in 223, 6arc, 6.5, etc for the recoil reduction and ease of follow-up shots.

Exactly.

Huh. I have never hunted in PA, and maybe things are extra-crazy there....? But, you can hunt with semi-autos in NY. There are lots of 742's and BAR's in the woods here and I've never thought of them as contributing to dangerous behavior, or of making it easier to shoot critters... I don't even think they're really much faster than a pump, or lever. Pretty much a non-issue here and just a matter of preference. What do you all have in the water down in PA, that makes it such a big deal? Is there any data showing a negative relationship between semi-autos and hunting accidents/overharvest/wounding in other states?

If they made it legal today, almost no one would go out and buy a 742 or BAR to hit the woods with.

 

[geetar]

There is always the Amish or Mennonite Machine Gun option.

 

[Schutzhund]

There is always the Amish or Mennonite Machine Gun option. View attachment 369765

I love my 760. I can confirm with you that they are indeed referred to as the Amish Automatic down here!

 

[Dougfirtree]

Exactly.

If they made it legal today, almost no one would go out and buy a 742 or BAR to hit the woods with.

I suppose you could end up with a bunch of AR's in the woods and I'll admit that I find them distasteful as well, but for what it's worth, there are a ton of AR's in NY, both the modified ones that comply with recent laws and older ones that are grandfathered in. I see them at the shooting range all the time, but I've yet to see one in the deer woods. There is a magazine capacity restriction for hunting in NY, maybe that could be part of the compromise in PA? Again, no skin in the game here, I was just surprised at the vehemence of the opposition. The hunting culture in PA sounds pretty strong. Maybe some day I'll get down there and experience it..

And I'll tell you what I am seeing, is a growing wave of hunters embracing the newer Browning BAR's. They're making some cool versions of them now that are well suited to NE big woods hunting and reviews I've heard say that they're reliable and accurate. Check out this one:

 

[Schutzhund]

I suppose you could end up with a bunch of AR's in the woods and I'll admit that I find them distasteful as well, but for what it's worth, there are a ton of AR's in NY, both the modified ones that comply with recent laws and older ones that are grandfathered in. I see them at the shooting range all the time, but I've yet to see one in the deer woods. There is a magazine capacity restriction for hunting in NY, maybe that could be part of the compromise in PA? Again, no skin in the game here, I was just surprised at the vehemence of the opposition. The hunting culture in PA sounds pretty strong. Maybe some day I'll get down there and experience it..

And I'll tell you what I am seeing, is a growing wave of hunters embracing the newer Browning BAR's. They're making some cool versions of them now that are well suited to NE big woods hunting and reviews I've heard say that they're reliable and accurate. Check out this one:

You make a really good point.

 

[longbow51]

Our elk hunting mentor left my wife his Remington 30.06 Pump; I'll have to tell her the Amish Machine Gun thing, as first time I've heard it called that.

 

[Schutzhund]

The green plaid immediately reminded me of a Randy Flannery clip I saw not long ago. This guy is lightening fast..

 

[geetar]

I love my 760. I can confirm with you that they are indeed referred to as the Amish Automatic down here!

That term gets me every time.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Is it normal to have a fully loaded dutchie machine gun hanging on your coat rack for a home defense gun? Probobly not…. Lo