handgun hunting in Louisiana

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  • troy_mclure

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    i havent been able to find the rules/regulations on handgun hunting in Louisiana.

    black powder/primitive season states "front loading pistol", does this negate a cap & ball revolver?

    also ive seen no info for regular deer season on caliber/energy minimums, barrel length requirements, etc....

    anybody that can help would be much appreciated.
     

    pandabear

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    I've been hunting with a handgun for over 20 years. To my understanding, you follow the same as rifle. I think the min. Caliber is .357. My preference was either a Thompson Contender with a SSk 45-70 with a 14" barrel. Or .454 Cusull with a 7.5" barrel. Both Calibers gives me 2.5" group at 100yards. My Casull will drop anything out to 150yards. The max. range for the 45-70 is about 110 yds.
     

    tbone

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    LEGAL GEAR
    Legal Gear for Primitive Firearms Season
    includes:
    –– Rifles or pistols, .44 caliber minimum, or
    shotguns 10 gauge or smaller, all of
    which must load exclusively from the
    muzzle, use black powder or approved
    substitute only, take ball, shot, or bullet
    projectile only, including saboted bullets.
    All of the above may be fitted with
    magnified scopes.
    –– Single shot, breech loading rifles or single
    shot, breech loading pistols, .35 caliber
    or larger, having an exposed hammer
    that use metallic cartridges loaded
    either with black powder or modern
    smokeless powder. All of the above may
    be fitted with magnified scopes.
    –– Single shot, breech loading shotguns,
    10 gauge or smaller, having an exposed
    hammer, loaded with buckshot or slug.
    EXCEPTIONS
    –– Youths 17 or younger may hunt deer
    with any legal weapon during the
    Primitive Firearms Season in each deer
    hunting area
     

    tbone

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    DEER HUNTING

    PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

    Take of deer with firearms smaller than
    .22 caliber center-fire or shotgun loaded
    with anything other than buckshot
    or slug.

    Take of deer with rimfire firearms.

    METHODS OF TAKING QUADRUPEDS & RESIDENT GAME BIRDS

    PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

    Take of quadrupeds and resident game
    birds with a firearm fitted with an infrared
    sight, laser sight or EXCEPT as provided
    in R.S. 56:116 (A) (8) any sighting
    device which projects a beam of light
    to the target or otherwise electronically
    illuminates the target, or device
    specifically designed to enhance vision
    at night {R.S. 56:116.1B(3)}. Any person
    who has been convicted of a class four
    or greater hunting violation for a period
    of five years after the date of such
    conviction shall not use a firearm fitted
    with a sound suppressor pursuant to
    R.S. 56:116.6.

    Use of shotguns larger than a 10 gauge or
    capable of holding more than three shells.
    Possession of shotguns in which the plug
    may be removed without disassembly.

    Hunting or take of squirrel or rabbit with a
    breech-loaded rifle or handgun larger than
    .22 caliber, any centerfire rifle, or a muzzleloading
    firearm larger than .36 caliber.

    LEGAL GEAR

    Legal archery gear or a shotgun not larger
    than a 10 gauge fired from the shoulder
    without a rest is legal for taking all
    resident game birds and quadrupeds.

    Handgun, rifle and falconry (special permit
    required) is legal for taking all game
    species EXCEPT turkey.

    Air rifles are legal for taking squirrels,
    rabbits, and outlaw quadrupeds.
     
    Last edited:

    troy_mclure

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    Mar 13, 2010
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    DEER HUNTING

    PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

    Take of deer with firearms smaller than
    .22 caliber center-fire or shotgun loaded
    with anything other than buckshot
    or slug.

    Take of deer with rimfire firearms.

    METHODS OF TAKING QUADRUPEDS & RESIDENT GAME BIRDS

    PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

    Take of quadrupeds and resident game
    birds with a firearm fitted with an infrared
    sight, laser sight or EXCEPT as provided
    in R.S. 56:116 (A) (8) any sighting
    device which projects a beam of light
    to the target or otherwise electronically
    illuminates the target, or device
    specifically designed to enhance vision
    at night {R.S. 56:116.1B(3)}. Any person
    who has been convicted of a class four
    or greater hunting violation for a period
    of five years after the date of such
    conviction shall not use a firearm fitted
    with a sound suppressor pursuant to
    R.S. 56:116.6.

    Use of shotguns larger than a 10 gauge or
    capable of holding more than three shells.
    Possession of shotguns in which the plug
    may be removed without disassembly.

    Hunting or take of squirrel or rabbit with a
    breech-loaded rifle or handgun larger than
    .22 caliber, any centerfire rifle, or a muzzleloading
    firearm larger than .36 caliber.

    LEGAL GEAR

    Legal archery gear or a shotgun not larger
    than a 10 gauge fired from the shoulder
    without a rest is legal for taking all
    resident game birds and quadrupeds.

    Handgun, rifle and falconry (special permit
    required) is legal for taking all game
    species EXCEPT turkey.

    Air rifles are legal for taking squirrels,
    rabbits, and outlaw quadrupeds.

    yes, i read all this.

    Louisiana has a lot of hunting laws that make no sense, exclude many valid firearms, and offer no exact qualifications.

    like, no hunting small game with muzzloading shotguns, cap and ball pistols are older than any allowable cartridge rifle allowed for primitive season.

    what exactly is meant by "smaller than .22 caliber"? the dia of the projectile? going by this i can leagly hunt deer with a raven pocket pistol in .25acp.
     

    tbone

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    yes, i read all this.

    Louisiana has a lot of hunting laws that make no sense, exclude many valid firearms, and offer no exact qualifications.

    like, no hunting small game with muzzloading shotguns, cap and ball pistols are older than any allowable cartridge rifle allowed for primitive season.

    what exactly is meant by "smaller than .22 caliber"? the dia of the projectile? going by this i can leagly hunt deer with a raven pocket pistol in .25acp.

    There is no regulation that says you can't hunt small game with a muzzleloading shotgun. Most muzzleloading shotguns are either single barrel or double barrel. The only regulation is that there must be a plug than can't be removed and the shotgun must be 10 gauge or smaller such as 12, 20, 16, 28 or .410.

    22 caliber centerfire is just what it is. If you have a firearm that is 17 caliber centerfire then that is smaller than 22 caliber centerfire. Yes, technically you could legally hunt deer with a .25 caliber centerfire pistol but, as a responsible hunter, why would you? It allows a 25/06 or a 22/250 or 223 or 222 or 22 hornet that are adequate for whitetail deer with good shot placement. There are not enough laws to regulate common sense.

    I admit that I am not familiar with all modern calibers of firearms but I don't see what valid firearms are excluded.

    I wouldn't hunt deer with a cap and ball pistol no matter the caliber. I'm not sure what I would hunt with a cap and ball pistol unless I was guaranteed a shot from a few feet.
     

    troy_mclure

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    There is no regulation that says you can't hunt small game with a muzzleloading shotgun. Most muzzleloading shotguns are either single barrel or double barrel. The only regulation is that there must be a plug than can't be removed and the shotgun must be 10 gauge or smaller such as 12, 20, 16, 28 or .410.

    22 caliber centerfire is just what it is. If you have a firearm that is 17 caliber centerfire then that is smaller than 22 caliber centerfire. Yes, technically you could legally hunt deer with a .25 caliber centerfire pistol but, as a responsible hunter, why would you? It allows a 25/06 or a 22/250 or 223 or 222 or 22 hornet that are adequate for whitetail deer with good shot placement. There are not enough laws to regulate common sense.

    I admit that I am not familiar with all modern calibers of firearms but I don't see what valid firearms are excluded.

    I wouldn't hunt deer with a cap and ball pistol no matter the caliber. I'm not sure what I would hunt with a cap and ball pistol unless I was guaranteed a shot from a few feet.

    .44 Cap and ball is common hunting handgun in Ohio. I've taken many deer with mine.

    And "Hunting or take of squirrel or rabbit with a
    breech-loaded rifle or handgun larger than
    .22 caliber, any centerfire rifle, or a muzzleloading
    firearm larger than .36 caliber."
    Specifically excludes muzzleloading shotguns.
     

    tbone

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    .44 Cap and ball is common hunting handgun in Ohio. I've taken many deer with mine.

    And "Hunting or take of squirrel or rabbit with a
    breech-loaded rifle or handgun larger than
    .22 caliber, any centerfire rifle, or a muzzleloading
    firearm larger than .36 caliber."
    Specifically excludes muzzleloading shotguns.

    More power to you on the cap and ball. I would never do it.

    That does not specifically exclude a muzzleloading shotgun. It only prohibits breech-loaded rifle or handgun larger than .22 caliber or a muzzleloader larger than .36 caliber.
    The only regulation prohibiting a shotgun is
    "Use of shotguns larger than a 10 gauge or
    capable of holding more than three shells.
    Possession of shotguns in which the plug
    may be removed without disassembly."
    Is your muzzleloading shotgun smaller than 10 gauge? Yes. You can use it.
    Is your muzzleloading shotgun capable of holding more than 3 shots? No. You can use it.
    Can the plug on your muzzleloading shotgun be removed without disassembly? Doesn't have a plug. You can use it.
     

    tbone

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    .44 Cap and ball is common hunting handgun in Ohio. I've taken many deer with mine.

    Ohio Deer Hunting Legal Firearms.

    Gun Season and Youth Gun Season

    Shotgun: 10 gauge or smaller shotgun using one ball or one rifled slug per barrel (rifled shotgun barrels are permitted when using shotgun slug ammunition).

    Muzzleloading rifle: .38 caliber or larger.

    Muzzleloading shotgun: 10 gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel.

    Handgun: With 5-inch minimum length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger. The barrel is measured from the front of the cylinder or chamber to the end of the barrel.

    Straight-walled cartridge rifles in the following calibers: All straight-walled cartridge calibers from a minimum of .357 to a maximum of .50. Shotguns and straight-walled cartridge rifles can be loaded with no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined.

    Archery equipment: See Archery Season, above.

    Muzzleloader Season

    Muzzleloading Rifle: .38 caliber or larger.

    Muzzleloading shotgun: 10 gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel.

    Looks like a .44 caliber cap and ball pistol is not legal for deer hunting in Ohio. And the regulations read almost exactly the same as Louisiana as far as shotguns go.
     

    troy_mclure

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    Ohio Deer Hunting Legal Firearms.

    Gun Season and Youth Gun Season

    Shotgun: 10 gauge or smaller shotgun using one ball or one rifled slug per barrel (rifled shotgun barrels are permitted when using shotgun slug ammunition).

    Muzzleloading rifle: .38 caliber or larger.

    Muzzleloading shotgun: 10 gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel.

    Handgun: With 5-inch minimum length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger. The barrel is measured from the front of the cylinder or chamber to the end of the barrel.

    Straight-walled cartridge rifles in the following calibers: All straight-walled cartridge calibers from a minimum of .357 to a maximum of .50. Shotguns and straight-walled cartridge rifles can be loaded with no more than three shells in the chamber and magazine combined.

    Archery equipment: See Archery Season, above.

    Muzzleloader Season

    Muzzleloading Rifle: .38 caliber or larger.

    Muzzleloading shotgun: 10 gauge or smaller using one ball per barrel.

    Looks like a .44 caliber cap and ball pistol is not legal for deer hunting in Ohio. And the regulations read almost exactly the same as Louisiana as far as shotguns go.

    they must have changed the laws in the last 5 years or so, i havent kept up since my dad died.
     

    troy_mclure

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    More power to you on the cap and ball. I would never do it.

    That does not specifically exclude a muzzleloading shotgun. It only prohibits breech-loaded rifle or handgun larger than .22 caliber or a muzzleloader larger than .36 caliber.
    The only regulation prohibiting a shotgun is
    "Use of shotguns larger than a 10 gauge or
    capable of holding more than three shells.
    Possession of shotguns in which the plug
    may be removed without disassembly."
    Is your muzzleloading shotgun smaller than 10 gauge? Yes. You can use it.
    Is your muzzleloading shotgun capable of holding more than 3 shots? No. You can use it.
    Can the plug on your muzzleloading shotgun be removed without disassembly? Doesn't have a plug. You can use it.

    my .44 c&b puts the same muzzle energy as a .40s&w. keep it under 25yds just like .357 and you are good to go.

    and the law does not differentiate between shotgun or rifle, just muzzleloader.
     

    Scoie

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    I have to get on the right side of some of these laws . Can’t seem to keep up


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     

    Win1917

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    they seem intentionally vague.

    Yes they are. They're giving you the freedom to hunt with whatever you want as long as it fits a few basic criteria. Some states have much bigger lists of restrictions which I guess could be viewed as a positive because they're more specific about what you can hunt with but the downside is you have less freedom to choose.
     
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