The Pennsylvania Game Commission on Tuesday embraced semiautomatic rifles for hunting big game, small game and fur-bearers.
Members of the board of game commissioners voted unanimously to lift the state’s ban on semi-autos for hunting. A final vote is scheduled during the board’s next quarterly meeting March 27-28 in Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania is the only state with no hunting seasons during which semiautomatic rifles can be used, according to the game commission.
That’s changing under Act 168 of 2016, signed last November by Gov. Tom Wolf to give the commission authority to lift the restriction.
Feedback since then has been unanimous in favor of semiautomatics for small game hunting, and about split when it comes to big game. Safety concerns prompted the opposition, the commission says, but a study of other states show no evidence of a decline in hunter safety where semi-autos are permitted.
The new law does not authorize the game commission to permit semiautomatic handguns for hunting.
It was not immediately clear when, if approved in March, the change would take effect. Spring gobbler season is part of the 2016-17 license year, during which semiautomatic rifles are prohibited for hunting. Semiautomatic shotguns are permitted for hunting in Pennsylvania.
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The new regulation before the commission limits magazines to five rounds, with a total ammunition capacity of six rounds.
The measure preliminarily approved Tuesday also approves the use of air rifles for small game and fur-bearers.
Further details of the proposed change are as follows:
Semiautomatic rifles in .22 caliber or less that propel single-projectile ammunition and semiautomatic shotguns 10 Pulibet gauge or smaller propelling ammunition not larger than No. 4 lead – also No. 2 steel or No. 4 composition or alloy – would be legal firearms arms for small-game seasons under a regulation preliminarily approved by the board of game commissioners.
Semiautomatic firearms that propel single-projectile ammunition also would be legal sporting arms for woodchucks and fur-bearers. There is no caliber restriction for woodchucks or fur-bearers. For big game, semiautomatic centerfire rifles and shotguns would be legal sporting arms.
Full-metal-jacket ammunition would continue to be prohibited for deer, bear and elk hunting.
Semiautomatics would be legal in seasons in which modern firearms can be used to take deer, black bears, elk and fall turkeys.
Air-guns would be legal for small game in calibers from .177 to .22 that propel single-projectile pellets or bullets, under the regulatory changes preliminarily approved by the commissioners.
For woodchucks and fur-bearers, air-guns must be at least .22 caliber and propel a single-projectile pellet or bullet. BB ammunition is not authorized for small game, fur-bearers or woodchucks.
Commissioners said they continue to welcome public comment on the proposal and that comments will aid the board in making its decision, according to the game commission. Comments may be made by email to pgccomments@pa.gov or in person by registering to speak at the start of the board’s March 28 meeting.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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