Traugh estimates he has sold 30 to 40 rifles to deer hunters in the past two months, and he suspects many other Iowa gun dealers are doing just as well or better. He said it`s common for 25 people a week to stop by his store to learn about right-walled firearms. He does not expect an increase in sales of AR-15 rifles. And he says counties rarely have deer marks in January. Where and when can it be used? Straight-walled cartridges can be used in rifles nationwide during youth, disability and two seasons of shotgun Is this new? The size of the calibre of the projectile has been allowed since 1997 for handguns intended for deer hunting. What has changed is that the type of weapon allowed to fire the bullet has been expanded to include rifles. Aron Arthur, conservation officer with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said the DNR has received many calls from deer hunters about the new law, asking what types of rifles and ammunition are legal and not legal. The law allows the use of straight-walled ammunition, which was previously approved for pistol hunting, in rifles. The list of acceptable calibres can be found in the Iowa Hunting and Trapping Regulations (p. 31, www.iowadnr.gov/hunting) as well as the criteria for ammunition of similar size that are not on the list. Mike Sporer says he plans to hunt deer in rural Marion County with eight longtime friends.

He expects all nine rifles to carry snails instead of shotguns. Ernie Traugh, owner of Cedar Valley Outfitters in Marion, which sells guns and ammunition, said there`s no doubt Iowa gun dealers will sell thousands more rifles this fall for hunters who plan to use wall-mounted ammunition. This is a welcome opportunity amid slowing gun sales nationwide, he said. My rifle does not meet the requirements, can I get an exemption? No, there are no derogations. In addition, the new law provides for harsher penalties for those caught with a rifle capable of firing ammunition that is not on the approved list during deer hunting. These include the suspension of their hunting privileges for two years and a fine of $250. Can I use a rifle during the late muzzle loading season? No, only the shotgun season, the youth season and the disabled hunter season. “These are legal as long as they are in the right caliber and housing requirements of this straight-walled cartridge,” Arthur added. What is allowed? The following cartridges can now be used in rifles for deer hunting in Iowa. Do I need a special permit to use my rifle? No special permit is required, but a hunter must have the required Iowa hunting license, habitat fee, and deer tag.

In online articles dealing with the debate over AR-15 rifles for deer hunting, this is referred to as “spray and pray” hunting. Obviously not ethically. Why are some sizes allowed outside the approved size, but others are not? The .375 Winchester, .444 Marlin and .45-70 Govt. were an option for small arms hunters. As they were authorized before 2017, these calibers became grandfathers. Perhaps the legislator could have considered raising the legal age for acquiring these rifles and ammunition from 18 to 21. Or they could have discussed a waiting period for these purchases. It`s likely that this is exactly the kind of discussion that the majority of Republicans hoped to avoid by using the fast lane. I grew up with shotguns, mostly for waterfowl and pheasants, so this rifle kit is not one of my areas of expertise. I asked a few guys to help me.

Iowa hunters will have a new option this fall while hunting deer during youth season, disabled hunter season, and both shotgun seasons — rifles capable of firing straight-walled cartridges. “It`s not a problem,” said Ernie Traugh, owner of Cedar Valley Outfitters in Marion who hunts deer with a .350 Legend. But he understands the reaction to everything that has to do with an AR 15 rifle. Lawmakers should have understood that any action with these rifles used in some of the deadliest mass shootings in our history deserves a more serious discussion. Instead, they sent the bill directly to the governor at high speed. They didn`t care what we thought. “It`s great. A lot of guys are excited about it. They can use a new type of gun, even though many of them already have those guns,” said Sporer, owner of JLM Gun Shoppe in Urbandale.

He calls the bill “a great success that has helped us tremendously in the sale of guns.” We work hard to keep our calendar up to date, but we always refer to the hunting regulations booklet for official and legal seasonal dates. Iowa hunters can legally shoot deer with firearms with straight-walled cartridges this fall, and gun store owners are reporting dynamic sales of ammunition and new guns. Rifles are permitted during the youth and disabled hunting season – September 16 to October 1 – and for the first and second shotgun hunting seasons from December 2 to 6 and December 9 to 17 by licensed deer hunters. The law provides for a $250 fine for possession of a prohibited rifle and deer hunting privileges can be suspended for two years. Straight-walled rifles have the same caliber and use the same straight-walled cartridge approved for use in handguns, starting with .357 caliber ammunition and above.