Grrrr MA hunting regs - OOPS

[44marty]

OOPS Edit - Please disregard the following Rant. I misread the regulations. I was reading the section of regulations for hunting coyote and fox - during deer season -
Hunting the rest of the varmint season with rifle and handgun IS ALLOWED in MA. (whew - Don't have to move after all to use the .204)
Even better, electronic calls are now allowed as well.

I still think that rifles should be allowed for deer hunting in western MA, but that is another story.
End Edit

RANT:

I absolutely hate the hunting regulations in Massachusetts. Yesterday I went down to pick up my 2011 license. I had planned to take my .204 out for some exercise tomorrow for coyote.

Beginning this year, the regs call for shotgun or blackpowder hunting only for coyote, fox and bobcat. They finally legalized electronic calls, but made rifles and handguns illegal. IDIOTS !! There will be a lot more 'yotes in the future - and there already is a massive overpopulation of the critters. Say goodbye to the deer herd. We've already said goodbye to our rabbits and woodchucks.

I am sick and tired of the regs being based on the overcrowded Eastern MA sprawl. We need different status out here in the forests of the far western part of the state.

Does anyone make a muzzle loading varmint rifle? Looks like I'll have to retire my .204 to paper targets only - or move to a saner, free state like Vermont. GRRRrrrrr !!!

Rant over.

Edit: I was so ticked off, I never bought my license. Not sure if I will.

[slimjim]

Black powder or muzzle loader? There are muzzle loaders that don't use black powder (Savage makes a great one) and cartridge rifles that use black powder. Its important to read each state's regs to determine what restrictions there are.

I think the biggest issue with a muzzle loader is going to be have enough powder capacity with smaller diameter bullets.

Here is a forum that at least lists varmint hunting with muzzle loaders.

www.modernmuzzleloader.../index.php

[Aloysius]

SJ, friendly people on that forum. In my opinion I've never visted them, so this was the first time I tried and I get the message that I'm banned...

And when I was forced to go hunting with blackpowder, I'd probably pick the 45-70. When you want something accurate and you don't have speed, go for mass!
(and a slow heavy lead bullet is not going to ruin a lot, but will certainly harvest the thing you're aiming at)

[chambered221]

I posted this in your other thread.....I guess I should have found this one first !!!


If I'm reading your laws correctly only shotguns are permitted (daytime) unless it's during the deer gun season then slug guns and muzzle loaders are permitted.

You can still use your rifle on crows !!!

[44marty]

chambered221 wrote:

I posted this in your other thread.....I guess I should have found this one first !!! If I'm reading your laws correctly only shotguns are permitted (daytime) unless it's during the deer gun season then slug guns and muzzle loaders are permitted. You can still use your rifle on crows !!!

I re-read the regs, and see now that rifles and handguns ARE allowed, except during deer season. - See edit of original post.

Had I stopped to buy my license at one of the gun shops that I regularly go to, they would have straightened out my error. I went to a local chain store for my license because I was next door at the time.

[Dawgdad]

Gilda Radner (Rosanna Rosanadana) moment ----Oh - Never Mind...

[chambered221]

Are you sure your allowed to use a rifle ???

From 2011 PDF under title of Coyote and Fox
Coyote and fox may be hunted with shotguns, muzzleloaders and archery, as well as rifles and handguns with special nighttime restrictions (see page 23).

Shotguns are required to use pellets no greater in size than .230 (FF)
During deer season the use of slugs and buckshot are permitted.

Page 23 is "hunting prohibitions"

• Rifles chambered to take ammunition larger than .22 caliber long rifle rimfire,and pistols and revolvers chambered to take ammunition larger than .38 caliber, between the hours of ½ hour after sunset and ½ hour before sunrise

I really hope I missed something.......I'd hate to see you have to do another edit !!!

[slimjim]

chambered221 wrote:

I really hope I missed something.......I'd hate to see you have to do another edit !!!

chambered, you are so considerate!

[Dawgdad]

Just ship that .204 out here Marty - I will kill some coyotes with it for you and send it back bloodied with some notches in the stock...

[Ominivision1]

Dawgdad wrote:

Just ship that .204 out here Marty - I will kill some coyotes with it for you and send it back bloodied with some notches in the stock...

Aloysius
Why did you get banned from the muzzle loading website?

[Aloysius]

Ominivision1 wrote:

Aloysius Why did you get banned from the muzzle loading website?

You tell me. It's the first time I visit them and I get following message: "You have been banned from this forum.
Please contact the webmaster or board administrator for more information."
And anything I click afterwards on that site, I immediatly get that message again.

Maybe they think I cann't shoot a muzzleloader? Or maybe it's because I'm convinced my Parker Hale Volunteer is much better than my Hawkin? (the shooting, not the cleaning)

[Ominivision1]

Aloysius
Just found out why you were banned, apparently the website has listed about 60% of the ip addresses from Belgium as spam and will continue to do so.

Evidently they don't trust people from Belgium, here is a list.

Blocked Web Sites

[Aloysius]

Thanks. I didn't know I was a "spammer".
Strange world, here all roumanian addresses are banned...
Maybe it's another good reason to have Belgium splitted and hope the world doesn't have fear for the flemish addresses

[slimjim]

44marty wrote:

OOPS Edit - Please disregard the following Rant. I misread the regulations. I was reading the section of regulations for hunting coyote and fox - during deer season - Hunting the rest of the varmint season with rifle and handgun IS ALLOWED in MA. (whew - Don't have to move after all to use the .204) Even better, electronic calls are now allowed as well.

marty, glad to hear it was a misinterpretation and that MA hasn't gone complete off to the left!

Aloys, sorry to hear you've been denied! If you need me to look up any information for you, just ask.

[44marty]

chambered221 wrote:

Are you sure your allowed to use a rifle ??? From 2011 PDF under title of Coyote and Fox Coyote and fox may be hunted with shotguns, muzzleloaders and archery, as well as rifles and handguns with special nighttime restrictions (see page 23). Shotguns are required to use pellets no greater in size than .230 (FF) During deer season the use of slugs and buckshot are permitted. Page 23 is "hunting prohibitions" • Rifles chambered to take ammunition larger than .22 caliber long rifle rimfire,and pistols and revolvers chambered to take ammunition larger than .38 caliber, between the hours of ½ hour after sunset and ½ hour before sunrise I really hope I missed something.......I'd hate to see you have to do another edit !!!

Well, I am considering .204 smaller than .22 . Anyway, this applies to night hunting only. Since we are not allowed to use lights, I don't hunt at night much. I have gone out a couple of times when the moon is bright and there is snow on the ground. Only saw red fox, which I don't shoot, one of those nights.