Its only March. Firearms season isn't until mid-November. There is plenty time to clarify things, which obviously still need to be done. Lot of ambiguity in what's legal, sucks for whoever has to enforce these things.
Just in time for tax returns!
Now I just need to decide between .308 and 30-30...
Response from the DNR:
House Bill 1231 was passed by the Indiana General Assembly this year and signed by the Governor. It was initiated by a state legislator and not the DNR. It allows the following high-powered rifles on private land only statewide, with a limit of no more than 10 cartridges (possessed in the field): .243, .30-30, .300, .30-06, and .308. All the cartridges presently legal are still legal on public and private land. All of these need to have a minimum case length of 1.16" and no full metal jacketed bullets can be used. These additional new cartridges are for private land only and all of the " in between" cartridges (270,etc) are not legal anywhere. We will have information in this year's DNR Hunting/Trapping Regulation guide, which will be available in late July. The bill language can be found on-line at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/house/1231
Michelle Cain,
Wildlife Information Specialist
Certified Fisheries Biologist
Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife
402 W. Washington St. Room W273
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317)234-8240
mcain@dnr.in.gov
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You are correct I contacted the DNR for some clarification on the new bill. the response I got is what was posted. from talking to our local CO the DNR is against this new bill they would like to see more clarification on this. He also told me to remember that this is only a bill and is a temporary test on the use of high power rifles.Don't think so. Looks like VK's conversation with DNR and follow up contact info. Certainly not an official post from DNR
"...possessed in the field..." - this is not a magazine restriction. Don't leave the truck/car or house with more than 10 rounds on you.
I see this as causing a problem with those of us that carry handguns in our packs or on our person for personal protection/non-game varmints... Since they began allowing that, I always have my 9mm with me in my pack at least, there's 11 rounds right there... (single stack).
Our property has had coyote and feral dog problems in the past...
9mm handguns don't meet the legal requirements of the 5 approved HPR chamberings included in HR1231...
HR1231 is Indiana Code; Indiana Law; and not just a "bill". The DNR last May reversed its favorable position of support for deer hunting with rifles because of "lack of public support" and opposition from the Indiana Deer Hunters Assn. HR1231 was narrowly passed out of the Senate 26 to 24 and was signed by Mike Pence. It is effective immediately, no wait until fiscal year July 1, 2016 and the a TEST for 5 years, requiring the DNR to report back to Legislature and Gov. in Feb. 2020. Intent of this bill is improve economic and sporting opportunities for Hoosiers. I hope everyone enjoys this new and exciting opportunity to hunt with centerfire rifles and 10mm handguns. good hunting and enjoy it.You are correct I contacted the DNR from talking to our local CO the DNR is against this new bill they would like to see more clarification on this. He also told me to remember that this is only a bill and is a temporary test on the use of high power rifles.
HR1231 is Indiana Code; Indiana Law; and not just a "bill". The DNR last May reversed its favorable position of support for deer hunting with rifles because of "lack of public support" and opposition from the Indiana Deer Hunters Assn. HR1231 was narrowly passed out of the Senate 26 to 24 and was signed by Mike Pence. It is effective immediately, no wait until fiscal year July 1, 2016 and the a TEST for 5 years, requiring the DNR to report back to Legislature and Gov. in Feb. 2020. Intent of this bill is improve economic and sporting opportunities for Hoosiers. I hope everyone enjoys this new and exciting opportunity to hunt with centerfire rifles and 10mm handguns. good hunting and enjoy it.
Thanks for updating us. Looks like they left a "matzah ball" sized whole when they listed the cartridges without their complete names? like 30-30 Win.; 30-06 Springfield; 308 Win. .243 Win. ; and I'm not even going to attempt the .300. listing?? thanks for the apparent lack of knowledge of cartridge nomenclature to some one.The bill ultimately signed by the Governor came out of Conference Committee and was passed by the Senate 38-12.
I see this as causing a problem with those of us that carry handguns in our packs or on our person for personal protection/non-game varmints... Since they began allowing that, I always have my 9mm with me in my pack at least, there's 11 rounds right there... (single stack).
Our property has had coyote and feral dog problems in the past...
Don't worry, as the maximum allowed cartridges carried on your person applies exclusively to those carrying one of the newly allowed high powered rifles.
The ammo restrictions in no way apply to those carrying shotguns, handguns, or even rifles chambered in handgun calibers.
If you are carrying one of the above three guns, you can carry around 1K rounds while deer hunting if you really want to lug that much around with you.
In fact, you could even carry two or more different guns, one of which could be a high power rifle, and you could carry all the ammo for every other gun that you have on your person, as long as you have no more than ten for the high power rifle.
Remember, this law change is in no way a subtractive modification of hunting laws, but one that only expands allowable firearms.
Keep in mind that this same law also legalizes all guns firing "10mm bullets," which presumably includes everything from .40 S&W, to 10mm Auto.
10mm Magnum already meets the current 1.16" minimum case length requirement.
I'll now be able to carry and use my S&W 1006 10mm Auto for deer.
Yay!
Legislature will have to "Clean Up" the language of the law concerning specific cartridges. The DNR is a law enforcement branch and can't change the law. I am assuming that the House will do so. But if the Legislature does not do anything, the CO's can't change the language. to mean only 300win mag. Only a Court can interpret the meaning of a law. DRR has no right to re-wright even a mistake in language of a law.
.243 can mean; 243wssm or .243win, 30-06 can mean: 30-06springfield or 30-06JDJ or 30-06Ackley Improved, 30-30 can mean: 30-30win 30-30Ackley Improved and 308 can mean: 308win 308 Marlin Express 308 Norma Mag. .300 can mea:; 300savage 300H&H 300Weatherby 300WSM 300REM Ultra Mag.
The whole bill is a big mess! I don't understand why limit to just 5 rounds or as it has been said before is this just a way to include all rounds with the root of the name in the first digits of the cartridge name? to slip in a few extra rounds? Seems more plausible in some ways. But even if the hunting guide says 300win mag, the law does not, and the letter of the law is the law of the land not the hunting guide.
The rest of your post is well taken, but you need to be corrected on allowable number of cartridges.
You are limited to ten rounds on your person, not five.
That also imposes no magazine capacity, only the number of rounds on your person.