Many of them are personal favorites, which vexes me to no endbut I couldnt see them dislodging any of the rounds weve talked about as the best deer hunting caliber. Nebraska State Hunting Laws - Quick View. Mag., so they fell behind with the shooting public. And who has better taste in such matters than me, the Shooting Editor of Outdoor Life? A good friend of mine who is a shooting nerd and avid Western hunter, uses a .308 on the coastal blacktails he hunts in his home state of Oregon. I hope that you, gentle reader, having read this article will take it to heart. in the rifle of our choice. Being mature adults with nothing to prove, we are willing to admit we can shoot better with a rifle that kicks less; anyone can. Since the wheels of government bureaucracy churn slowly, it wasnt until 1954 that the military versionthe 7.62x51mm NATOwas unveiled. Most detractors say that the 6.5 Creedmoor cant do anything that their grandpas deer rifle cant do and leave it at that. A new law allows hunters to legally kill 17 deer, but not all. Apparently they see the .308 and .30-06 as old mens' cartridges. It is critical that the tag is attached to the deer/carcass until it is quartered or received by the processor. As part of Game Zone 1, hunters may only kill four antlerless deer per season. Antlerless deer - limit 2 per day. It also lacks track, which Jamie Thomas describes as flat-lining. Under the DQP, a quota of antlerless deer tags is issued to a particular tract of land based on criteria including; density of the local deer population, condition of the local deer population, the size of the tract of land, presence of agriculture or agricultural damage, and the overall deer management objectives of the owner. Furthermore, because they are so widely available, they can be used in a variety of ways. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -. Available calibers include .260 Remington, .270 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, 7mm Rem. Many cannot do so at 100 yards, shooting from a bench rest! They are most active at night and are known to be good swimmers. In a sense, reduced recoil loads are a way to have your cake and eat it too. It really is the best all-around hunting rifle caliber. This old military cartridge is very reliable and capable of shooting 300 yards with a 30 caliber bullet. In a lever gun, Ive always been partial to the .35 Remington. You didnt think we could make it through a list of the best deer calibers and not talk about the 6.5 Creedmoor, did you? This license must be purchased by a person between the ages of 14 and 64. Sad to say, many hunters cannot. Please visit the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website if you want to learn more about the game you want to hunt. Remington calls their line Managed Recoil and claims 50% less recoil. South Carolina offers a variety of deer hunting opportunities, from public lands to private leases. Individuals may purchase up to four individual antlerless tags for $5 each. The CWD agent can be found in deer urine. Legal hunting time for deer is the time between one hour before official sunrise until one hour after official sunset (50-11-710). Kansas deer herd has declined dramatically in recent years, with the states harvest being the lowest since 2002. For a shooter who has actually mastered one of these rifles, it is perhaps the best deer and elk rifle caliber available. Archery equipment and muzzleloading shotguns are the only weapons permitted this hunting season. All deer must be tagged with a valid deer tag as prescribed by the department before the animal is moved from the point of kill. Well, for something to be match grade it mustwait for itwin shooting matches. There are marshes all along the South Carolina coast, as well as mountain forests, but they prefer mixed-old forests, croplands, and farms. Hunting licenses and hunting permits are required for some games. Deer Rules & Regulations. I am referring to the reduced recoil loads offered by Remington and Federal/Fusion for some of the popular all-around hunting cartridges. Being a top deer hunting caliber requires more than just knock-down power. In the morning and at night, when the moon is full, deer tend to be more active. The smallest caliber recommended for deer is a.243 or 6mm bullet. The neck and chamber dimensions are tighter and the leade in the throat is at an optimized (1.5 degree) angle, so the case is more inherently accurate than those other rounds. Other, more technically oriented, critics argue the Creed doesnt perform as well as other .264-caliber rounds like the 6.555 Swede, the .260 Remington, 6.5-284 Norma Mag., and the .264 Winchester Mag. All these projectiles work great on deer and larger game. It is unlawful to trade or sell bear carcasses or parts of bear carcasses. Those who purchase tags for the entire deer season must also have an active license or big game permit. to Prevent Firearm Accidents, Sandhills National You can put some deer to the test in South Carolina during the deer hunting season. especially shines is with some of the excellent heavy-for-caliber bullets in the 190- to 212-grain range. In states where hunting with a rifle is legal, the.300 Winchester Magnum is an excellent caliber for deer hunting; however, it is not the most effective caliber to use if hunting with a bow. Because it is a Federal Cartridge, the 6.7 Remington SPC is specifically designed for use with an AR-15. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide whether or not deer hunting is good in South Carolina. The 6.5 Creedmoor dominates in NRL Hunter because it combines outstanding accuracy and shootability with bullets that are excellent on big game. A. Only when a landowner permits his deer to hunt on his own property (50-11-355) is hunting prohibited. This rule is essential for preserving deer and other wildlife populations in South Carolina. The best areas to take a trophy in North Carolina are the northern Piedmont region and the Great Smoky Mountains. This doesn't mean that one landing with 500 f.p. In Game Zones 1 and 2 it is unlawful to pursue deer with dogs (50-11-310). A.223 caliber assault rifle would almost certainly be considered an AR-15. I equipped him with one of my 3-gun AR-15 carbines with an adjustable stock and he smoked the hell out of every deer that crossed his path, including some very large-bodied bucks in Nebraska. You should consult your state Department of Wildlife & Fisheries for . The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced on November 14th they will now allow hunters to use certain pistol cartridges in rifles designed for those rounds. We also accept that 800 ft. lb. South Carolina Hunting Licenses, Permits, and Tags. It is unlawful to hunt, shoot or in any way kill deer from a motorboat, raft or any other water conveyance, or to molest a deer while any part of the deer is in water (50-11-730). of energy on target is a reasonable minimum figure for hunting Class 2 game, such as deer. Tags do not alter the daily or seasonal bag limits for Game Zones or alter the type of weapon allowed. The .308 Winchester is certainly the most successful short-action big-game hunting round in history. Deer processors should recognize that it is unlawful to sell deer meat to regain the processing fee for deer that have not been picked-up by the owner (50-11-1910). 326 Little Brooke Lane Deer cannot be pursued by dogs in Game Zones 1 and 2. We want humane, quick kills on game animals. Before you can shoot deer in South Carolina, you must first obtain a hunting license and a big game permit. From the get-go, deer hunters took a shine to the .243 Winchester. This caliber is suitable for deer hunting in states that permit rifle hunting. Phone Numbers | Accessibility | The Columbia full-service Licensing and Boat This includes gear reviews, features on technical innovations, stories on shooting techniques and general hunting coverage with the occasional fishing story thrown into the mix. With a flat-fire bullet, the.243 can travel up to 200 yards. Limits listed do not apply to quota deer taken on properties enrolled in the Deer Quota Program. South Carolina has never been in the top 10 in terms of hunting trophy bucks in the books of the Boone and Crockett. One only need look at the NRL Hunter series, where shooters must use hunting-style rifles to shoot real-world scenarios, to understand that not every deer hunting caliber is created equal. Its just a pleasure watching them smack the ground after the hammer hits the ground without any tracking. Wildlife officers charged two men with illegal deerhuntingat night after finding them with guns in Rock Hill, police said. It didnt start life that way, however. Whether this round achieves long-lasting success is an open question. Possessing any deer with the head detached while in transit from the point of kill is prohibited (50-11-400). In South Carolina, deer hunting is a popular pastime for many people. And its still going strong. Even out past 500 yards, this round is carrying more than 2000 foot-pounds of energy. All regulations in this section apply to all private and public lands throughout the state, unless otherwise specified. We know that most guys won't admit it, but careful observation has shown us that they do not do their best shooting with powerful "all-around" rifles in the .270 Winchester, 7mm Magnum, .308 Winchester and .30-06 class. Most deer hunters use the 129-grain bullets, but it also comes in 120- and 140-grain rounds. It is very unlikely that a large sum of money will be able to be taken. In 2002, the states deer harvest was 319,902 animals. Hunting is only permitted during season. Carolina deer are a type of deer found in the United States. Hunting time begins one hour before sunrise and ends one hour after sunset. A hunter safety course must be completed in order to obtain a permit. In the near term, North Carolina has few opportunities for trophy deer or jaw-dropping scenery. The manufacture of these calibers is at a premium, making hunting with them difficult. For hunting deer, the 22-250 and 7.62*39mm are two excellent cartridge options. (This will vary from place to place.). When it comes to catching and transporting deer, non-hunters are the first to offer suggestions. Even public hunting may improve if better management is implemented. Im glad you agree. There is a permit, tag, and stamp available for each specific game. This potent round brings deer-killing capability at every reasonable (and even unreasonable) distance a hunter might shoot. Mag. Match-grade ammunition. Theres no way as shooting editor for this esteemed publication that I could fail to include the .270 Winchester on the list of contenders vying for the best deer hunting caliber. Dont bother with the Ackley improved AI version. These cams, with their ruggedness and high-tech features, make them an ideal choice for all types of hunting. The White-tailed Deer are not indigenous to South Carolina, but they are revered and important species. It is a good caliber for hunting deer with a rifle in some states that allow it, but it would be preferable to use a bow. According to the Kansas Drought Monitor, the majority of the state is now in moderate or severe drought. The first antlered buck deer tag costs $50, plus an additional $20 per additional buck. Ill confess, I find the red-faced rage that some folks harbor against the 6.5 Creed amusing. Individual Antlerless Tags are not valid on properties which are enrolled in the Deer Quota Program for antlerless deer. In order to protect against the spread of CWD into SC, the following regulations are in place - No person may import or possess a whole cervid carcass or carcass part from an infected state except the following may be imported: quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached; meat that has been boned out; hides with no heads attached; clean (no meat or tissue attached) skulls or skull plates with antlers attached; antlers (detached from the skull plate); clean upper canine teeth, also called buglers, whistlers or ivories; and finished taxidermy heads. Deer baiting is still illegal on the majority of WMAs throughout the country. In South Carolina, the practice of baiting deer has been legal since 2013. South Carolinas hunting laws protect the following wild game animals by regulating hunting seasons for specific types of animal. 123-54). For this reason no person shall possess or use any substance or material that contains or purports to contain any excretion collected from a cervid (deer) including urine, feces, blood, gland oil, or other body fluid for the purpose of taking, attracting, or scouting any wild animal in SC. Feral Hog, Coyote & Armadillo Regulations, General Migratory Bird Seasons, Shooting Hours, & Bag Limits, Hog Hunting Seasons for WMAs & Heritage Preserves, http://dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/speciallicenseapp.pdf. 5. There is no definitive answer to this question. A handwritten application may be obtained on Applications, by calling SCDNR at 803-734-3886 or at http://dnr.sc.gov/regs/pdf/speciallicenseapp.pdf. Except for the under-appreciated .240 Weatherby, there are no magnum cartridges on the list. Resident and Nonresident hunters have the option of participating in the Individual Antlerless Deer Tag Program and the Deer Quota Program. The states deer harvest this year is 40 percent lower than the record set in 2002. It is unlawful to hunt deer with a firearm within three hundred yards of a residence when less than ten feet above the ground without permission of the owner and occupant. Pennsylvania, for example, does not allow the use of semi-automatic rifles for any big game, deer includedthough you can legally use AR-15s for coyotes and other such varmints. At 500 yards, the .300 Win. Tags may only be possessed or used by the person whose name appears on the tag. Wildlife Refuge, Report A standard Winchesters muzzle is effective at 3,060 feet per second with 130-grain Nosler bullets. Here is a list of possible Fusion Lite loads we can add to our caliber list. Here is a list of possible Remington Managed Recoil loads we can add to our caliber list. This does not apply to storage at a private residence or to deer on which a hunters personal tag remains attached to the hamstring because the tag identifies the hunter. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease of cervids (deer family) that represents a significant risk to deer in North America. Mag. Other states have a minimum of a .35 caliber, while others have a minimum of .40 caliber and at least 400-foot pounds of energy at the muzzle. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. By using the interactive map, you can find out where deer hunting is best. . Hunting black bears with dogs is possible both under and without the use of dogs. It is always advisable to select a caliber for deer hunting. When hunting with a firearm in South Carolina, you must be 300 yards away from a residence when less than 10 feet above the ground. The one 6.5 I didnt mention in the writeup on the 6.5 Creedmoor is the even-newer 6.5 PRC. For more information, call (803) 734-4002 or visit www.scdnr.gov. Q. Hunting by crossbow is illegal on public hunting grounds. Field trials are when hunters release many dogs to compete for game. Hunting on Sundays is legal on private land, but hunting on Sunday is prohibited on all WMA lands across the state. The most popular method of deer hunting in South Carolina is still rifle hunting, as it is the most effective way to take down a deer. We intend to confine our shots to no more than 150 yards, but we know distances can be deceiving in the field and we want to leave room for error. If coastal communities want to crack down on deer feeding, they should pass an ordinance. Performance like that in a rifle that has tolerable recoil and isnt too heavy to lug around the hills was sure to catch the fancy of savvy hunters. Sellier & Bellot Win 270 - 150 Grain SP - 20 Rounds - Best Premium 270 Win Deer Hunting Caliber 1 Federal - 270 Win - 150-Grain Soft Point - Non-Typical Whitetail Rifle Ammunition - Best Whitetail Hunting Caliber Any keen 270 Win Whitetail hunter will do well to try this highly effective Federal Premium cartridge. Winchester 130-grain Deer Season Copper Impact. Out at the terminal range of 200 yards, this little bullet retains 2,570 feet per second of velocity and a deliberate 1,892 foot pounds of energy. The list is difficult to narrow down to five items. For the majority of my life, Ive killed deer with a rifle, which can range from 204 Ruger to 300 Win Mag. With the advancement of newer calibers, the hunting world has changed dramatically. The ammunition for the rifles must have a minimum case length of 1.16 and a maximum case length of 1.80 inches. When I pull the trigger, the game is over. Hunting However, hunting or baiting with a bait on any of the WMAs in the state is still prohibited. Falconers must possess a permit from the South Carolina Divisions of Natural Resources. at 200 yards .30-06 Spfd., 125 grain at 2660 fps: 1249 ft. lb. The landowners are being asked to assist the DNR in identifying any legal hunters on their property. He illustrated many examples of how the .270 hit harder and had better killing power at longer distances thanks to aerodynamic efficiency of the 130-grain sharp points.. A personal favorite of mine, the .45-70 Government is one of the best deer hunting calibers for hunters who need a good "brush gun." While some would criticize the .45-70 Government for being a little on the big side for deer, there really is no such thing as using "too much gun" on any animal. Deer are most commonly found in 6.5 Creedmoors, 7mm-08s, and.308 rounds, among others. Hunting for small game birds, such as pheasants, squirrels, and rabbits, has grown in popularity in recent years. According to Brad Turner, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, the 30-30 can still drop up to 100 yards of deer tracks. Buck quotas are based on the average number of acres per buck harvested as reported by program participants in the county in recent years. shoots about 15 inches flatter than the 06 with a 180-grainer, so you can see the appeal. Small bullets are not uncommon to be shot through the air; they are even more uncommon if they are fired from a small caliber. notches, marking, etc. Learn More . There are many different regulations for deer hunting in South Carolina. As it turned out, I used my ballistic crush on the first deer I shota spike whitetail buck at about 35 yards that had wandered out of a cedar swamp to feed on the grassy hill where I had posted up. Archery, muzzleloaders, crossbows, and pneumatic weapons are allowed during gun hunts. If you hunt in one of the game zones, you may be over the seasons limit for 17 deer. Thats with a 175-grain spire-point hunting bullet at 2900 fps. But fewer and fewer hunters look to the .25s these days. There are a few more options many deer hunters overlook. The best bullets for deer are those weighing 90 grains or more. This years deer hunting season in South Carolina will be significantly different than previous years. There is no state restriction on rifle caliber. No more than five (5) total Individual Antlerless Tags may be used on private land in Game Zone 2 and on all WMAs combined in Game Zones 2, 3, and 4. The most common calibers that are used for deer hunting in Michigan are .30-06, .308, and .300 Winchester Magnum. 2022-2023, Trapping But the fact is that with the right bullet a .223 is ample medicine for any whitetail buck out there. They are a subspecies of the white-tailed deer and are found in the southeastern United States. Match-grade barrels. 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