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Legal Handguns For Deer Hunting In Minnesota


zzammon

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A 9mm maybe equivelant to a ,354 but a .357 is a poor choice for hunting big game with. Not saying that it cant be done but .357 was created for one purpose. To shoot people in the head and kill them. You wouldnt catch me in the woods with a 9mm. I wouldnt use anything less then a .44 good luck

I am pretty sure that it was created to do other things.

I have killed 2 deer with a Ruger GP101 6" .357mag.

Granted I used a hand load that I developed, it is a hot round.

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My first thought when i read the new regulations was WoW i bet there is someone out there that will be out dear hunting with a .25 pistol, and i am sure some [PoorWordUsage] tried it! but the reality is who wants to spend a bunch of time in the woods and have a deer walk infront of them just to wound it and lose it! one of the members of our hunt on opener shot his first deer ever and he made a bad shot in the legs, it was nice to have the 9mm and walk up and put the deer out of its missery without spending another $2.60 a round

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Originally Posted By: zzammon
Not to condone deer hunting with a 9mm, but the caliber equivilant is .354(I believe). This is only .003 smaller than a .357, as many have stated is huntable. The main factor is shot placement, know your firearm and know your range.

It maybey only .003 smaller but it does not have the power of a .357mag.

Size means almost nothing when comparing calibers.

Case length and weight of the bullet have more effect.

Adn that's why it is such a surprise that they changed the law the way they did.

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I was a little surprised at the change as well. I can see Lou's point about simplifying the reg. But I that one may need to be revisited next year. Not referring to anyone here of course, but I am beginning to doubt the judgement of some "licensed hunters" we have in this state on this and other issues.

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I have a 9mm, shoot hot bonded ammo and believe it would be capable of killing deer at 20 yards or less. I've done extensive testing with it, shooting it through multiple phone books, metal barrels, small trees, water jugs and opposums. I firmly believe it would perform better than my bow at penetrating through bone using 2 blade mechanicals. Unlike a rifle, it won't turn insides into jello but I believe it'll get the job done. Heck, I just might try it out if the situation is right.

The 127 grain +P+ Winchester Ranger SXT's are extremely hot and on par with standard load .357 mag. 1250 FPS, 441 ft. lbs of energy.

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  • The title was changed to Legal Handguns for Deer Hunting in Minnesota
  • 1 year later...

If I wound a deer during crossbow/archery, can I do a kill shot with a pistol (9mm or .22) ?  What are my options for a wounded deer?

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You cannot use any sort of firearm to finish off a deer you wounded with archery equipment unless you’re hunting during a firearm season and you have a license to hunt that firearm season. If you’re hunting archery season and wound a deer you need to use archery equipment to take any follow up shots.  

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On 7/23/2020 at 11:51 PM, warren peterson said:

If I wound a deer during crossbow/archery, can I do a kill shot with a pistol (9mm or .22) ?  What are my options for a wounded deer?


Another arrow or bolt, or your knife.  Welcome to “Primitive” weapon hunting.  Your best defense against that situation is practice and the choices you make afield.  Not trying to be preachy, just saying the work you do before the shot is the most important.  We’ve all wounded deer.  Learning what you did wrong sucks but you can’t  change the outcome one you drop the string.

 

Good luck out there.

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  • 3 months later...
On 11/16/2009 at 2:47 PM, lcornice said:

 

 

They're legal, just not recommended. The law was intended to simplify the regulations and let hunters make the decision. It was new last year and I didn't hear anything about people trying to kill deer with their 9mm, 32ACP, or anything else. I'm sure somebody tried it but I didn't hear anything. If it was to become a problem, we might re-regulate handgun cartridges but right now, it's just not an issue. I'm a big fan of empowering common sense until proven otherwise smile

 

I hope that helps.

I've carried my .357 holstered along with my 12 slug gun for many years.  Not really for finishing shots, but because we hunt some really heavily covered bottom land areas included in our hunting area.  Picture 1" willow stalks 9" apart in multiple 80 or 100 yard chunks.  I've actually been hit/touched by running deer 3 times in that heavy cover over the years, and nearly stepped on one that just tried to stay hidden multiple times.  But have you ever tried to point a long gun in that kind of cover?   Let alone move through it with 3 feet of unyielding steel and wood?   When I'm the one pushing it, I leave my long gun with one of the people posting, and pull out something I can actually use in that underbrush.  That said, since I have it on me anyway, I have used it a couple of times for finishing shots, since 50 cents a round is a lot less than $2 a round, it just makes sense.  Though a 12 gauge slug gun if you're in practice doesn't usually leave you the need for a finishing shot.  I've brought my 9mm's along on hunting trips....for the celebratory plinking after the hunt.  I can't see that they are of any use in actually hunting deer, though I agree with your common sense comment.  :)

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
    • SkunkedAgain
      That's good news. I haven't seen any ice in Black Bay yet, but it looks like the small bays should start to freeze up this weekend. Hopefully we make some ice next week.   Below is the forecast for Cook. We should have temps mostly below zero . The bottom section below shows that it should not be windy, and no snow is predicted. All good signs for making ice.  
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