Pennsylvania
Semi-automatic Rifle Hunting Law
By:
Zack Good
On
November 21, 2016 Governor Tom Wolf singed the Act 168 of 2016. This allows
semi-automatic rifles for hunting, and gave the Pennsylvania Game Commission
the authority to regulate the use if passed by the board of commissioners.
After this occurrence the PGC board of commissioners passed the proposal at
their quarterly meeting on January 31 2017. In order to finalize the
regulations there will be another meeting March 27-28.
Pennsylvania
is the 49th state to allow semi-automatic rifles for hunting use. With
this semi-automatic law the firearms would be able to be used on big game,
small game, varmints and furbearers. The maximum rounds that is allowed to be
used is six, this would be five in the magazine and one in the chamber. Prior
to passing this law the PGC stated that they have looked over hunting safety in
other states, and it is believed that semi-automatic rifles have no correlation
with increasing hunting accidents.
These
semi-automatic rifles are not machine guns as many people seem to think of when
they see or hear about the weapons. In order to set off every shot the trigger
is pulled, the gun just ejects the shell without the user needing to do so.
Semi-auto shotguns are already legal in the state for small game and water
fowl. This did not show any increased harm to the animals, but more of a way to
accurately have a follow up shot if needed. The final regulations have not been
set yet, there is still the subject of what caliber will be allowed for big
game, in order for a quick kill. For example the caliber .223 would not be
permitted for hunting game, it would most likely just wound the animal. The
caliber most likely to be used is the 7.62 mm which is around the same as the
.308. As for big game hunters would need to pick up a semi-automatic weapon
like the Remington 700 or the Browning .308.
If
anything allowing the use of semi-automatic rifles would result in a more
humane hunt in many ways. When a second shot was needed it would make it so a
hunter could keep their eyes on the target without having to manually eject the
bullet. In many instances a hunter using a rifle where you have to manually eject
and chamber a bullet, the shooter looks away to put in the next cartridge.
Looking away could cause a second shot to be inaccurate and have the
possibility of a bad shot on the animals being the result. Yes it is true the
most hunters want their first shot to be the good one, but it would be great to
have a greater probability of an accurate second shot. When it comes to older
hunters who may struggle with manually ejecting the cartridge it might make the
shooting process go a lot more smoothly for them. Along with that the rifles
actually have less of a recoil, and this makes it so you can keep your eyes on
the scope or sites if another shot is needed.
In
many ways I can understand the concerns when it comes to opposing
semi-automatic rifles being used for hunting game. It probably comes to thought
of people just recklessly firing off shots, increasing chances of injuring
animals and other hunters. To most if not all hunters’ safety of each other and
the game they are pursuing is important. Many people may not like this change
and prefer more traditional hunting, but these weapons are efficient and can be
a great thing.
If all things are taken into consideration
and looked at the use of these weapons for small and big game can be a very
beneficial addition to hunting in our state. As for not only this but anything
new that occurs it is a process and there will be changes made based on events
that occur during the season. Whether those events are good or bad, I can not
100 percent say. Based on everything being looked at I can say that the pros
outweigh the cons. This whole thing still needs to be finalized at the end of
March and I am hoping to see proper regulations made to make semi-automatic
rifles a safe and prosperous addition to the sport of hunting in our state.
References
Hayes,
John. “New Pennsylvania law gives hunters the option for semiautomatics.”
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 27 Nov 2016.
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/outdoors/2016/11/27/New-Pennsylvania-law-gives-hunters-the-option-for-semiautomatics/stories/201611270139.
Accessed 2 March 2017.
NRA-ILA.
“Pennsylvania: Game Commission Unanimously Approves Proposed Rulemaking for New
Semi-Auto Rifle Hunting Law.” 1 Feb. 2017.
https://www.nraila.org/articles/20170201/pennsylvania-game-commission-unanimously-approves-proposed-rulemaking-for-new-semi-auto-rifle-hunting-law.
Accessed 2 March 2017.
https://www.nraila.org/articles/20170127/pennsylvania-please-attend-meeting-concerning-proposed-rulemaking-for-the-new-semi-auto-rifle-hunting-law.
Signorini,
Renatta. “Pa game board devising rules to allow semi-automatic weapons.” Trib
Live, 2 Dec 2016.
http://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/11538937-74/automatic-semi-board.
Accessed 2 March 2017.
WHTM
Staff. “Pennsylvania Game Commission moving forward with semi-automatic rifle
use.” Abc27 News, 31 Jan 2017.
http://abc27.com/2017/01/31/pennsylvania-game-commission-moving-forward-with-semiautomatic-rifle-use/.
Accessed 2 March 2017.
I agree with you Zack, that if everything is taken into consideration this might not be as bad as what people are making it out to be. My father has hunted turkey with an semi-automatic shotgun for years, and I can't say it's unethical and having a follow up shot in some cases is beneficial. A question I do have is why can you only have 3 rounds in a semi-automatic shotgun, but in a semi-automatic rifle they are allowing 6 rounds? You made some very good points and I guess I will have to wait and see what regulations the PGC comes up with until I make my final decision on where I stand on this issue.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your write up on the extremely current and controversial topic of the use of semi-automatic rifle hunting in Pennsylvania. I was surprised that it passed through the board of commissioners unanimously. I, myself, oppose the use of semi- automatic rifles for big game, such as deer, elk and bear, because I can just see someone shooting a black bear with a 5.56 or .223 AR without realizing that such small calibers are not suitable or ethical to use. I support the use of semi-automatics to be used for predator and varmint hunting 110 percent. Semis are already legal to use when hunting small game and waterfowl, but they are just that, small and difficult game to shoot. If you’re going to get an AR style rifle in a .308 to hunt big game because they have a larger shell capacity, you might as well get a traditional style rifle and tone your marksman skills. I support using semis for varmint, small game and predator hunting, but I believe that it is a tad bit of overkill for big game.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Taylor, I oppose the use of semi automatic weapons for big game use. The amount of people that will be out in the woods racking off rounds because they don't have to reload to take a second shot at a deer I think will be unsafe. For small game you have less people in the woods to worry about and most often times you only get one opportunity at a small game because they are quicker than the larger animals. A .223 or a 5.56 will take down a large animal but shot placement is key as with any shot of any caliber. It is all about the round shooting if it is an FMJ yes it will be a small hole.
ReplyDeleteI am with the use of semi-automatic rifles for small game, furbearers, and predator hunting. For large game I am hesitant to agree with not because of issues with the caliber of bullet used but with the safety of shots that hunters will take. Most Pennsylvania hunters take part in drives for both deer and bear hunting. Driving these animals usually means they are moving with some intention when a hunter spots them. Hunters usually get “buck fever” sky rocketing their adrenaline and possibly making them try to make any shot they can get work even if it is not ethical and giving them multiple shots as fast as they can pull the trigger makes me nervous.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with the comments above stating the use of semi-automatic weapons for small game animals because they are fast and sometimes hard to hit. Using larger caliber semi-automatics I feel is just going to be a mess. Living and hunting in Pennsylvania I have an understanding on the mindset of the people in the woods, and most of them I wouldn’t even trust them with a bb gun, and now they will be able to operate a semi-automatic weapon for big game. The style of hunting in PA is very different from the styles used out west where most of the other states are that legalized these weapons. The number one way people hunt deer and bear in Pennsylvania is putting on large drives through dense brush where it’s hard to see what is on the other side, and typically when people see black or brown they start shooting, not able to see what is behind their targets. Whereas out west the land is much more open and driving animals isn’t the primary way of hunting therefore they are able to see what is behind the target, this is why there has been none to very little hunting accidents. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens, but I have a feeling it’s not going to be good.
ReplyDeleteI feel you cant compare a semi auto shotgun to a semi auto rifle. There is a big difference. A shotgun shoots pellets or slugs. For starters you cant use a semi auto shotgun hunt deer even with slugs. Also the semi auto shotgun is primarily for waterfowl, or small game. You use pellets to shoot these game and these cant really be compared to a rifle. If ones concern is they cant get a quick enough follow up shot, then maybe they should practice more with their rifle, or take a good shot to begin with so you don't necessarily need those follow up shots.
ReplyDelete