Is Deer Hunting With 22 LR Legal Anywhere?

hkcavalier · Jul 8, 2025

It doesn't seem like enough, but shot placement is king...

IIRC the largest moose in Idaho history was taken with a .30-30. Would not be considered enough gun these days. Alaskan natives take polar bear with .223s and .243s quite often. And the famed .275 Rigby aka the 7mm Mauser which has taken all African big game up to and including elephant.

balin · Jul 8, 2025

I would think the legality of it would not be wide spread at all. I think that more deer have been poached with a .22 then any other caliber from my reading over the decades. But it would be far from my first choice.

30-30remchester · Jul 8, 2025

As an experiment, I shot a freshly killed mule deer buck in the lungs twice using a Walther TPH and CCI Stingers. Even with the tiny 2.5" barrel both bullets mushroomed well and penetrated to under the skin on the opposite side with quite impressive wound channels.

Goodtime Charlie · Jul 8, 2025

30-30remchester said:
As an experiment, I shot a freshly killed mule deer buck in the lungs twice using a Walther TPH and CCI Stingers. Even with the tiny 2.5" barrel both bullets mushroomed well and penetrated to under the skin on the opposite side with quite impressive wound channels.

From what range did you fire the pistol?

30-30remchester · Jul 8, 2025

30-30remchester said:
As an experiment, I shot a freshly killed mule deer buck in the lungs twice using a Walther TPH and CCI Stingers. Even with the tiny 2.5" barrel both bullets mushroomed well and penetrated to under the skin on the opposite side with quite impressive wound channels.

Goodtime Charlie said:
From what range did you fire the pistol?

Maybe 10'. My goal was to see if there was expansion from such a short barrel in real world not 4 layers of denim and a gel block. The mule deer was a small buck but it was shot in late November, so it had its heavy winter coat.

SASFixer · Jul 9, 2025

I asked a retired NC Game Warden what caliber of gun most encountered by the poachers he had arrested. His response was .243 Winchester. I thought this interesting.

SASFixer · Jul 9, 2025

Anyone using a 22 LR to harvest deer should have their "credentials" confiscated, and I don't mean hunting license.

Jerry in SC · Jul 9, 2025

I’m not sure if it’s still legal, but the .22 rimfire was legal in parts of the South Carolina lowcountry on private land. The .22 Magnum rifle was popular.

TaxPhd · Jul 9, 2025

I believe that Montana and Mississippi have no caliber restrictions, nor a requirement for center fire only.

30-30remchester · Jul 9, 2025

Here in Colorado the game wardens use a 22 rifle to hunt down deer that live in town and have been hit by cars or torn up by dogs.

DWalt · Jul 9, 2025

quikdraw67 said:
What about it? It has approx. the same muzzle velocity and ft/lbs of force as a .357 Mag, when fired from an 18" barrel.

It's put enough men in the grave, I'm sure it would do OK on white tail.

Can't hunt with a M1 Carbine on PA, but nothing prohibiting using the cartridge. Ruger did offer the Blackhawk in .30 Carbine. I'm not aware of anyone making a rifle in that caliber that wasn't a M1 Carbine.

The Marlin Model 62 was a lever action rifle made in a .30 Carbine chambering. .30 Carbine with the right bullet would work OK for deer at closer range. At one time, .32-20 rifles were common among deer hunters, and the .30 Carbine is somewhat hotter than any .32-20 load.

Smith391 · Jul 9, 2025

Glenn R. McMannly said:
The only .22 I’d use on deer is a .22-250 loaded hot with a properly constructed bullet.

or, the .224 Weatherby Magnum

Kimberpross · Jul 9, 2025

AJ said:
A friend use to hunt deer in Pa. with a single shot .22 LR. Yes, it is illegal there. So was hunting in the National Forest that backed up to his parents place. All that said when there are six kids in the house that are hungry, plus the parents, I guess poaching takes on a different meaning.

Kimberpross · Jul 9, 2025

22LR is plenty with a well placed shot between the eyes.

Smith391 · Jul 9, 2025

NC has no minimum caliber restriction for whitetail deer (to include the .22LR) ... https://www.eregulations.com/northcarolina/hunting/general-hunting-regulations

KenTheHunter · Jul 9, 2025

erikpolcrack said:
A poster just responded to a post I made about liking my 270 for hunting whitetails here in PA. He mentioned usually and regularly taking deer with his Ruger 10/22.

We call them poachers

30-30remchester · Jul 9, 2025

Kimberpross said:
22LR is plenty with a well placed shot between the eyes.

I have actually ricocheted a 22 bullet off the skull of a mule deer buck when I shot him between the eyes. He just shook his head. Being a guide, I couldn't carry any gun legally allowed for big game. And for all that read this and are offended by the lack of humanity and compassion. take note I once shot a fawn deer between the eyes with a 12-gauge slug at a distance of 2 feet. It just looked and me and started bleating. Witnessed by a Colorado game warden and my brother.

DixieRanger · Jul 9, 2025

Haven't seen mentioned....223 with the proper projectile?

375hh1973 · Jul 9, 2025

Hit a deer with anything at the base of the ear from a reasonable range and you have yourself a clean kill.

Yeah, heart lung shots are a different deal.

THE PILGRIM · Jul 9, 2025

Back in the day-
Out in the Sticks beyond paved roads-
Every Calf and Pig that in I saw butchered was put down with a 22LR Rifle.
Range? Bout 6 inch Head Shot..

Is Deer Hunting With 22 LR Legal Anywhere?

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