Help Me Legalize Semiauto Rifle Big Game Hunting In Pennsylvania

[FairWeather]

While I read it, I don’t hunt in PA, nor have any intention to do so, so I don’t feel it’s my place to attempt to sway PA’s policies.

 

[2Die4]

I think you're going to be better off meeting with individual elected officials and requesting them to sponsor legislation as well as utilizing the public comment period at a PGC Board of Commissioners meeting.

Getting any appreciable number of hunters to agree with you on the internet is a lost cause

Thanks for the constructive advice.

I will try to find the schedule for the next Board of Commissioners meeting.

 

[2Die4]

While I read it, I don’t hunt in PA, nor have any intention to do so, so I don’t feel it’s my place to attempt to sway PA’s policies.

Thanks for taking the time and I understand your position.

 

[2Die4]

As a PA resident no thanks.

Respect that.

 

[Beignet]

I support your petition but they should only be allowed on Sundays.

 

[2Die4]

I support your petition but they should only be allowed on Sundays.

Now THAT'S funny!

Thanks for making me laugh!

 

[ChaosOneZero]

I own two muzzleloaders: one smokeless and a flintlock and hunt with both.

I am an avid hunter and competition shooter who invests a great amount of time honing my skills on the range as well as in the field.

I agree with you that the delivery system doesn't matter as long as the mark is hit on the first shot, but I am not about to tell someone that they should only hunt with a bow or a muzzleloader because you should only need one shot. I am sure you realize that smoke pole shooters and bow hunters, who know they will only get on shot, have missed or worse wounded game. It's not a perfect world out there.

My truck has over 400hp. Do I need it all the time? Nope, but it's nice to have it when I do. Just like having the option of a follow up shot, whether it be from a bolt, pump, lever or semi.

Being against a faster more accurate follow up shot because it is too quick is akin to mandating that cars should be built to achieve 55 mph and no more, because when would ever need to go faster. Get rid of those pesky passing zones, too!

I am successful in the field regardless of what weapon I use. I am ethical in the field regardless of what weapon I use. I am law abiding in the field regardless of what weapon I use.

Regulating the weapon out of ignorance or fear is the solution in search of the problem in gun control as well as in hunting.

So by this logic, why don’t we just go ahead and advocate for weapons capable of firing in burst? Or fully automatic? Where does it end? This isn’t about fear or ignorance, so we can dispense with the tomfoolery. It’s about maintaining some semblance of challenge and difficulty to the craft and culture of hunting.

Best of luck with your petition.

 

[ccc23454]

This might be a funny question and I didn't even know it was a thing but how many states don't allow semi-automatic firearms for big game? I know I shot big game animals in 3 states last year with semi-autos.

 

[Corn king 60]

65 year old. Pa resident for all 65 years. Started hurting at age 12 with an Ithaca M66 super single 20 gauge ( that I still own) for all game including deer. I could right a book about all the changes in all those years. I respectfully disagree with your petition. It doesn’t take long to work a bolt or a pump. I’m glad I won’t be around in 30 years or so.

 

[Bigjay73]

So by this logic, why don’t we just go ahead and advocate for weapons capable of firing in burst? Or fully automatic? Where does it end? This isn’t about fear or ignorance, so we can dispense with the tomfoolery. It’s about maintaining some semblance of challenge and difficulty to the craft and culture of hunting.

Best of luck with your petition.

There is no noticeable advantage to a semi auto. If you miss with the first shot, rarely does the animal stand there giving you a second shot. If it does, I have as much chance as getting a good second shot off with an AR as I do with my 1885. Honestly don't remember the last time I took more than one shot, it really is a non issue as far as fair chase goes

 

[Forkyfinder]

There is no noticeable advantage to a semi auto. If you miss with the first shot, rarely does the animal stand there giving you a second shot. If it does, I have as much chance as getting a good second shot off with an AR as I do with my 1885. Honestly don't remember the last time I took more than one shot, it really is a non issue as far as fair chase goes

Here here

 

[Mallardsx2]

There is no noticeable advantage to a semi auto. If you miss with the first shot, rarely does the animal stand there giving you a second shot. If it does, I have as much chance as getting a good second shot off with an AR as I do with my 1885. Honestly don't remember the last time I took more than one shot, it really is a non issue as far as fair chase goes

Well….clearly you missed the double tap mule deer thread…. lol

 

[Schutzhund]

65 year old. Pa resident for all 65 years. Started hurting at age 12 with an Ithaca M66 super single 20 gauge ( that I still own) for all game including deer. I could right a book about all the changes in all those years. I respectfully disagree with your petition. It doesn’t take long to work a bolt or a pump. I’m glad I won’t be around in 30 years or so.

Corn King I hope you'll stick around quite a bit longer. I love sharing camp with your generation.

 

[roger1shot]

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

Yes
I will support hunting with semiautomatic rifles.

 

[Keep on]

This might be a funny question and I didn't even know it was a thing but how many states don't allow semi-automatic firearms for big game? I know I shot big game animals in 3 states last year with semi-autos.

To my knowledge, exactly one state in the US restricts Semi-Auto rifles for big game season, Pennsyltucky. As you can see by the responses here, "Not in my state, we've been doing it this way forever!" is the logic that is used in all hunting regulation decisions.

 

[2Die4]

So by this logic, why don’t we just go ahead and advocate for weapons capable of firing in burst? Or fully automatic? Where does it end? This isn’t about fear or ignorance, so we can dispense with the tomfoolery. It’s about maintaining some semblance of challenge and difficulty to the craft and culture of hunting.

Best of luck with your petition.

Well, you got me: It was my secret mission to put us all onto the slippery slope to fully automatic fire hunting.

I get you: Guys using 10/22's for squirrel aren't “maintaining some semblance of challenge and difficulty to the craft and culture of hunting”.

I get you: Guys using an 11/87 for pheasant, duck or turkey aren't “maintaining some semblance of challenge and difficulty to the craft and culture of hunting ”because they don't want to disturb their swing for their second shot by working the action manually or don't want to be pounded as hard by that 3” mag.

I get you: You disregard the awful instances were you don't see the twig that will deflect the bullet into the wrong spot and you need to make a quick follow up that it only makes sense to want the quickest follow up shot you can have regardless of the type of firearm used.

I get you: All those hunters in the other 49 states that use semiautos lawfully for big game hunting aren't “maintaining some semblance of challenge and difficulty to the craft and culture of hunting ”

You disregard the fact that it's woods craft, scouting and hard work that put you in a spot to take a shot in the first place regardless of the rifle used. That it is your skill with that first shot that gets the job done regardless of the type of firearm used. That's the true craft and culture of hunting.

We all get you.

Now run along. If you hurry, you might be able to find some other brand new member who isn't “maintaining some semblance of challenge and difficulty to the craft and culture of hunting” because he posted something heinous like mounting a red dot on a lever action and isn't satisfied with the factory supplied buckhorn sights. Tell him he's “only been here for about as long as it takes to drink a cup of coffee”. Tell him “maybe put some effort into contributing, developing rapport and getting to know the community here.” Make him feel welcome: Call him “disingenuous”.

On your way there stop by Webster's and learn the definition of disingenuous and how to use it in context:
Example: He was being sarcastic and disingenuous when he said, “Best of luck with your petition.”

To all those who were kind enough to read the petition and signed it my thanks.

To all those who were kind enough to read my petition, but respectfully declined you have my respect.