Deer Equipment

Rifle

Bullet diameter: .219 inch minimum

Barrel length: No state designated minimum; ATF minimum barrel length is 16 inches; use of a short-barreled rifle is legal if registered with ATF and legally possessed.

• full metal jacketed bullets are illegal

• A hunter can carry no more than 10 cartridges for deer hunting on public and private land.

Youth, firearms, deer reduction zone*

* from Nov. 15, 2025 - Jan. 31, 2026

Handgun

Barrel length: 4 inch minimum

Bullet diameter: .243 inch minimum

Case length: 1.16 inch minimum, except for 10 mm Auto and .40 S&W

• 10 mm also legal cartridges (i.e. 10 mm Auto and .40 S&W)

• rifles with barrels less than 18 inches are NOT considered handguns

• .25-20 Winchester, .32-20 Winchester, .30 carbine, and .38 special ammunition are prohibited

• NOT permitted for hunting on military areas

Firearms, deer reduction zone*

* from Nov. 15, 2025 - Jan. 31, 2026

Shotgun

Bore: 10, 12, 16, 20, or 28 gauge or .410 inch

• shooting slugs and saboted bullets only

• combination rifle-shotguns are allowed

Youth, firearms, deer reduction zone*

* from Nov. 15, 2025 - Jan. 31, 2026

Muzzleloading Rifle/Shotgun

Barrel caliber: .40 inch minimum

Bullet diameter: .357 inch minimum

• powder and bullet loaded from muzzle and single bullet*

• saboted bullets permitted

• multiple barreled guns permitted

* can have powder loaded from the breech end only during the youth and firearms seasons

Youth, firearms, muzzleloader, deer reduction zone*

* from Nov. 15, 2025 - Jan. 31, 2026

Muzzeloading Handgun

Barrel length: 12 inch minimum, measured from the base of the breech plug (excluding tangs and other projections to the end of the barrel, including the muzzle crown)

Barrel caliber: .50 inch minimum

Bullet diameter: .44 inch minimum

• loaded from muzzle and single shot

Vertical Bow

Long bows, compound bows, or recurve bows and arrows

• bows drawn, held, or released by means other than by hand or hand-held releases may be used

• arrows must have metal, metal-edged, napped flint, chert, or obsidian broadheads

Archery, youth, deer reduction zone

Draw weight: 35 lbs. minimum

Crossbow

Defined as a device for propelling an arrow by means of limbs mounted on a stock and a string, and having a working safety that may be drawn or held

Draw weight: 125 lbs. minimum

Air guns

Using nonignited compressed air or other gas charged by external high compression power source

Projectiles: Must shoot .40 caliber or larger single bullet generating 400 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy; or an arrow or bolt with a sharpened metal or metal-edged broadhead at minimum of 300 fps at release

Youth, firearms, deer reduction zone*

* from Nov. 15, 2025 - Jan. 31, 2026