Rifle hunting proposal for Ohio

[para45acp]

I have been working with the ODNR on a proposal to allow certain rifles for deer hunting in Ohio. It took 5yrs laying the groundwork at the Annual District Open House meetings around the state, with lots of volunteers making the rifle hunting suggestion. We had our first sit down with the DNR at the main office last year. Two additional meetings in followed, and we are making progress!

The proposal as it stands, would allow pistol calibers that are currently legal in a handgun, to be used in a rifle. It would also allow black powder cartridge rifles such as a .45-70, .30-40 Krag, and others.

It will NOT include any modern high powered calibers like .30-06, .270, .300 Win Mag, etc...

We have addressed most of the concerns the ODNR has regarding the change. Currently, we are looking at public opinion...so we have a survey avaialble here: http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/

Looking forward to giving all the Appleseeders out there and opportunity to use a rifle, and their rifleman's skills to harvest a deer in the near future!
Thanks!

[MeanStreaker]

Thanks for your work on this para.  It would be a welcome change to help bring us a little more inline with other states.

[unforgiven1203]

this would be a great thing for our state.

[para45acp]

Thanks Meanstreaker...

It's been a long process, but we finally started gaining some traction last year. Hoping to get the proposal up on the wall at the Annual Open House meetings March 3rd. I hope everyone here gets a chance to hit our survey, and there is info on the Open House for your district linked to it if you're interested in attending.

[Kick-in-the-pants]

So this would include any black powder cartridge?  That would be seriously cool!

[para45acp]

We wrote our proposal to follow along the lines of current black powder restrictions. So basically anything .38 or larger, in a production black powder cartridge.

DNR is currently putting together a scientific survey for Ohio land owners and hunters to determine public perception and acceptance. More to come...

Talking with Chris Cox at the NRA convention and explaining a little bit about this proposal we've been working on, and he introduced me to the head of NRA's hunting/outdoor programs guy. Will be contacting him to see what they can do to help us move this thing along!

At any point that there is something you all can help out with this...I will let you know here 

[Kick-in-the-pants]

...in a production black powder cartridge.

Would this include home-made paper cartridges for a Sharps?

[para45acp]

We are not slicing the pie that small...we hope to have a change that will be inclusive. If it falls within the guidelines of .38 or larger, not a smokeless powder round, etc... it will be allowed.

[Messer454]

1.  Is it still useful to have friends do the survey?
2. What is the solution for the magazine capacity limit on lever actions.  That seems to be one of the biggest problem that has been quoted to me. 

My daughter started deer hunting last year and I would have been happy with a .357 magnum single shot rifle.  .410 slugs stink!

[para45acp]

Sorry it's been so long since I visited here...it seems technology has conspired against me for a while, and kept me from being on line. Three hard drives later, I now have a new laptop. Power was out two days after getting it...

Hope everyone here affected, was prepared for the power outage. I would wager most members here were not only prepared, but helping their unprepared neighbors   

To answer your question messer454, the capacity issue as I have proposed it, would be a simple common sense solution that will not require a gunsmith to modify your rifle. The use of dummy rounds, or some similar "plug" that would be removeable through normal means would comply. Depending on the model of rifle, dummy rounds would be the main method of compliance. Though capacity was a major concern at first, it has been replaced by "public perception" and it's effect on  hunter access.

A direct mailing survey is being compiled by the ODNR to determine landowner (farmers) and hunters opinion of this change. I will let you all know when that survey is complete, and what the results were.

Currently, the Ohio Farm Bureau is putting together an article that will come out later this month on their website, and in their annual publication. A fellow BFA volunteer and I did a phone conference with the Bureau's communication specialist a few days ago outlining our position on this change. The article will also include the ODNR's concerns regarding public perception of the word "rifle" and how it may impact hunter access. The article will hopefully educate many landowners about what we are doing. We hope it will help spread the truth about this proposal, and the fact that it will NOT include high powered rifle cartridges.

I will bring a link to that article here when it is available. I do not know yet whether I will have permission to reproduce it...if so, I will post the entire thing directly, if that does not go counter to the AS mission in some way.

Aaron 

[para45acp]

Here is a link to the Ohio Farm Bureau article that just came out a couple weeks ago...


http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/8454

[Messer454]

Thanks para.  I sure would like for this to pass in Ohio.  I want a firearm my daughters can practice with that is accurate. 

[para45acp]

Do not hesitate to contact the ODNR and express your opinion as to whether Ohio should impliment this measure! the big question right now is public opinion, and whether this will impact hunter access. Call them up, and let them know how you feel