Deer Equipment
Deer Equipment Chart |
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Equipment |
Specifications |
Legal Season |
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Firearms |
Rifle |
Allowed on PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND: Bullet diameter: .357 inch minimum Case length: 1.16–1.8 inches • full metal jacketed bullets are illegal • A hunter can carry an unlimited number of cartridges for deer hunting on public land. |
Youth, firearms, deer reduction zone* * from Nov. 16, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025 |
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Allowed on PRIVATE LAND ONLY: Bullet diameter: .243 inch (6 mm) minimum Case length: 1.16-3 inches • A hunter must not possess more than 10 of these cartridges while hunting deer. • full metal jacketed bullets are illegal |
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Handgun |
Barrel length: 4 inch minimum Bullet diameter: .243 inch minimum Case length: 1.16 inch minimum, except for 10 mm • 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. 16, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025 |
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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. 16, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025 |
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Muzzleloaders |
Muzzleloading Rifle/Shotgun |
Barrel caliber: .44 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, * from Nov. 16, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025 |
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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 |
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Archery |
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 |
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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 |
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Special |
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. 16, 2024 - Jan. 31, 2025 |
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