GW: Good to see this common-sense legislation moving forward. There are sure to be more adequately suited firearms available to youngsters and old timers alike, thus aiding in deer hunting participation.
House Bill 5249 – Passed by House Sep 27th: The bill would allow the use of certain specific rifles during the regular firearm deer season in the area that is currently restricted to only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain types of pistols.
The bill would amend Part 435 (Hunting and Fishing Licensing) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to allow individuals to use the following firearms in the limited firearms area during the regular firearm deer season:
A shotgun with a smooth or rifled barrel.
A .35-caliber or larger pistol that can hold up to nine shells at a time in the barrel and magazine combined and loaded with straight walled cartridges.
A muzzle-loading rifle or black-powder rifle loaded with black powder or a commercially manufactured black powder substitute.
A .35-caliber or larger rifle loaded with straight-walled cartridges that have a minimum case length of 1.16 and a maximum case length of 1.80 inches.
Under the bill, limited firearms area would be identical to the area currently designated as the “southern shotgun zone”
