Hunting with a handgun is easy.
Bayou Bill used to write for the Indy Star before their liberal ways took a dim view on Outdoors in indiana.
He did get folks interested in handguning for deer back when first started in 1986 I believe. That's when you had 3 business day wait on handgun purchases.
Required a LTCH even if you wanted to just hunt back then too.
License had to be on a "shotgun" tag because no time to print handgun tags.
Was done by DNR proclamation, not a legislator in sight.
No scopes needed for accurate deer hunting out to 100 yards or so with Ruger Redhawk in .41 Rem. mag or .44 Rem mag & 7 1/2 barrel.
Got my first buck in Hamilton county at the base of my treestand first week of the season. Not sure to call it "0" yards, but close.
Shot to the neck, just had to point. .41 Rem. mag handload with H110 & 210 gr. Nosler hp.
Have taken many deer since with handguns since. All revolvers, all from a treestand.
Now, all my revolvers have scopes. But just makes carrying them a little heavier. Can still kill deer without scopes.
And yes, it is about the difference between public and private being horse apples! Same equipment, same fees.
As a bowhunter I also use a longbow, but I have a nice cam bow too.
Good deer hunters can take deer on public land and will continue to do so. You just like some rationale for why there is a difference regardless of the weapon.
Sad direction the IDNR goes and nobody is stepping up to say so.
Bayou Bill used to write for the Indy Star before their liberal ways took a dim view on Outdoors in indiana.
He did get folks interested in handguning for deer back when first started in 1986 I believe. That's when you had 3 business day wait on handgun purchases.
Required a LTCH even if you wanted to just hunt back then too.
License had to be on a "shotgun" tag because no time to print handgun tags.
Was done by DNR proclamation, not a legislator in sight.
No scopes needed for accurate deer hunting out to 100 yards or so with Ruger Redhawk in .41 Rem. mag or .44 Rem mag & 7 1/2 barrel.
Got my first buck in Hamilton county at the base of my treestand first week of the season. Not sure to call it "0" yards, but close.
Shot to the neck, just had to point. .41 Rem. mag handload with H110 & 210 gr. Nosler hp.
Have taken many deer since with handguns since. All revolvers, all from a treestand.
Now, all my revolvers have scopes. But just makes carrying them a little heavier. Can still kill deer without scopes.
And yes, it is about the difference between public and private being horse apples! Same equipment, same fees.
As a bowhunter I also use a longbow, but I have a nice cam bow too.
Good deer hunters can take deer on public land and will continue to do so. You just like some rationale for why there is a difference regardless of the weapon.
Sad direction the IDNR goes and nobody is stepping up to say so.
Last edited: