Yesterday’s post about the .458 SOCOM being legal for deer sparked a flood of emails and comments about “whatinhell is wrong over there” for deer hunting. As Tam pointed out so eloquently in comments, it’s actually pretty straight forward; but here goes. In the early 20th Century in Indiana, farmers and over hunting had pushed the whitetail deer population in Indiana damn near to extinction. So, the government passed a series of regulations which would in effect make taking a deer much more difficult. At the time, the regulations were such that you could only take a deer with archery, or a shotgun loaded with slugs. Over time those regulations expanded to include muzzleloaders, pistols in certain calibers, and carbines in certain pistol calibers.
A sample of “legal” guns:
- A muzzleloader, caliber .54
- A .410 shotgun loaded with slugs
- A TC Contender pistol in .270 Winchester
- A Marlin Guide Gun in .45 Colt
Examples of illegal guns for deer in Indiana:
- A rifle chambered in .270 Winchester
- Anything chambered in .30 Carbine
- A pistol chambered in .45 ACP
- A Marlin Guide Gun in .45/70
See? Clear as mud.
Illinois isn’t much better, but perhaps a bit clearer: (for deer)
– Shotguns are ok, no sizes larger than 10 GA and no sizes smaller than 20GA. Slugs only.
– Muzzle loaders of .45 or larger caliber, single or double barrel are ok.
– Centerfire revolvers or single shot pistols of .30 caliber or larger with a 4″ barrel length.
Trouble is that the culture in Northern Illinois is changing a bit – the demographic is shifting to suburbanites and most of ’em have never hunted before…
If it’s in .45 Colt its a Marlin 1894. It’s only a guide gun if it’s on the 1895 frame and chambered in .45-70, with an 18.5 inch barrel. I have no idea why I suddenly felt the need to let my inner dork out, sorry.
Again, lever gun in .45-70 illigal
Lever gun in .460 S&W Mag, or .500 Mag Legal.
Difference…..as far as I can tell, cost, Maybe?