Where you pay the price is with recoil. Both of these calibers are excellent for deer hunting, but they may not be the best for each hunt. Wildlife Refuge, Report 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. When I started deer hunting in the 1970s, the 30-06 and 30-30 were popular among my friends. Deer are most commonly found in 6.5 Creedmoors, 7mm-08s, and.308 rounds, among others. It is not uncommon in South Carolina for hunters to find wild deer. The archery only season runs from August 15 to September 30, and it is a great way to hunt deer with a bow and arrow but do not intend to shoot them. As a result, baiting for deer is legal on private property all across South Carolina. However, because larger caliber rifles are effective at killing deer, hunting this activity is prohibited in South Carolina. Contact Us - During the season in Zone 2, each hunter may kill up to five antlerless deer. Hunting Eastern wild turkey is a popular activity in South Carolina, where there is a limit of three birds per season. The cartridges are permitted during the Youth, Disabled, and Shotgun seasons. In Game Zone 1 tags are valid beginning Oct. 1. In coastal communities, the IFW examines the potential of managing deer herds. Hunting is only permitted during season. You can see the numbers crunched here, but the main takeaway is that when shooting at a 10-inch target the 7mm Rem. of energy at 200 yards. All Individual Antlerless Tags may be used on private land in Game Zones 3 and 4. Physics plays a big part in the .30/06s success. Its a solid contender for the best deer caliber out to 500 yards. 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? Kelly Shouse, the sheriff of New Hampshire, enjoys shooting the 300 Winchester Magnum. Deer quotas are issued to qualifying land owners or lessees statewide who complete and submit an application along with a $50 fee prior to July 1. This program is generally better suited for landowners or lessees with large acreages. The.270 caliber is an excellent caliber for hunting deer when used in states that allow hunting with a rifle. We want humane, quick kills on game animals. I own 6 good deer hunting rifles: Marlin 336C in 30/30, Rem 700 in .243, Rem 700 in .270, Browning BAR in .270, Browning BLR in .308, and Remington 742 . . We also accept that 800 ft. lb. The gun hunting season for deer runs from September 1 to January 1, and firearms are permitted during that time. In a lever gun, Ive always been partial to the .35 Remington. Best Caliber for Deer Hunting William W (Bill) Gabbard Left to right 223, 25-06, 7mm08, 270, 280, 308, 7mm Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag What is the best caliber for deer hunting? Hunting in the United States is now limited by law to no more than one antlered buck per hunter. Deer Rules & Regulations. From the get-go, deer hunters took a shine to the .243 Winchester. Deer cannot be pursued by dogs in Game Zones 1 and 2. You can put some deer to the test in South Carolina during the deer hunting season. Hunting Iowa Expands Legal Deer Hunting Calibers. 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. Deer may be taken with handguns, rifles, and shotguns. How did it come to dominate? Hunters who purchase 4 Individual Tags will receive 2 free bonus tags valid only on private land in Game Zone 3 & 4 to help control deer damage to agriculture. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) reports that the states deer harvest decreased by 1% from last years harvest of 193,986 deer. Even though the cartridge no longer enjoys the prominence it once did, its hard to imagine it slipping out of the top 10 deer calibers anytime soon. For hunters looking for the best long range caliber of that time, OConnor suggested sighting in at 300 yards. Listed by Game Zone. Individual tags are not valid on properties enrolled for antlerless deer in the Deer Quota Program. at the State Farmer's Market, Wildlife faced some stiff competition among .30-caliber magnums. South Carolina allows for the purchase of all weapons except for fully automatic guns. Overall, Orangeburg, Colleton, Kershaw, Spartanburg, and Aiken were the top five South Carolina counties for deer hunting days during 2020 (Figure 8). To anchor the deer quickly, he needs a bullet that will put them down, but the bullet must also be accurate enough to make those shots. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Rembert C. Dennis Building They are important to our states ecology because they feed on plant matter and insects. Mossy Oaks Walt Gabbard says theres still no way to come close to beating the 7mm-08. Walt Rem Gabbard got his first case of Magnum Fever after shooting an 8-point buck with a 7mm Mag. Game Zone 1 allows hunters to kill four antlerless deer per hunter. And who has better taste in such matters than me, the Shooting Editor of Outdoor Life? 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Many cannot do so at 100 yards, shooting from a bench rest! South Carolina has hunter harassment laws that state that it is illegal for anybody to deliberately restrict another person from licensed hunting or related activities like fishing and trapping. Having at least five decades of experience as a shooter and hunter and having observed with interest a great many shooters at outdoor rifle ranges shooting hunting rifles from bench rests, I am not too surprised by these results. packs a bit more punch and watching a big buck flop over after taking a 200-grain round nose from one is a sight to behold. .22-caliber or larger rifle that deliver at least 900 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards. .357 magnum rifle, .45 Colt rifle and hand-thrown spear are legal ( 357 Magnum) Handguns or muzzleloading handguns that deliver at least 400 foot-pounds of energy at 50 yards. By logging into your account, you agree to our, Location: From Texas but now reside in MS. Gain a better understanding of the World's most popular big game animal and the techniques that will help you become a better deer hunter. Hunting on private land requires a permit from the owner of the land. Its the scrappy underdog that elbowed its way in between the .270 and .30/06 and has managed to hang in there despite the dominance of those rounds. This is a reasonable selection of cartridges and at least some of them should be available at your local gun shop. For youth 17 years old and younger. Answering Questions About Guns, Ammo, and Man's Best Friend. South Carolina offers a variety of deer hunting opportunities, from public lands to private leases. It is always advisable to select a caliber for deer hunting. The felt recoil from a .300 Win. Deer populations appear to be overpopulated in counties with a high deer harvest, but not in counties with a low deer harvest. 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. Long before shooters were talking about ballistic coefficients, OConnor hammered home the value of retained velocity down range. This rule is essential for preserving deer and other wildlife populations in South Carolina. 223 for deer in states where it's legal is an option, but that is the very bottom end of calibers that might be used. Match-grade rifles. There is no state restriction on rifle caliber. Gun statistics show to increased efficiency in hunters that used high caliber firearms. There is an overpopulation of white-tail deer in southern Maine. Participants in the DQP also have the option of receiving a quota for antlered bucks. Draw weight, let-off, arrow-length, and sights are not restricted. The.243,.25, and.270 calibers are those that may be considered for a deer hunt at this time in size. The Remington Magnum 7mm is a legal 7mm handgun and the 270 Winchester is a legal 9mm handgun. The.243 is a good caliber for hunting deer with a rifle in states that allow it, but it may not be the best caliber in those that have more restrictive deer hunting laws. The 165-grain Nosler AccuBond and 165-grain Trophy Bonded Tip both occupy a sweet spot in the middle. The 129-grain Hornady load pushes 2,950 feet per second at the muzzle with 2,492 foot pounds of energy. These loads are effective to at least 200 yards and excellent for our self-imposed 150 yard shot limit. 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. This potent round brings deer-killing capability at every reasonable (and even unreasonable) distance a hunter might shoot. The .30/30 is king, but the .35 Rem. Note that all hunters in the SCDNR study were placed in elevated, permanent stands with seats and rests to facilitate marksmanship; they were not shooting offhand or from hurriedly acquired field positions. No one is perfect, of course, so we also reload after firing, prepared to drive in a second shot to "make sure.". South Carolina has the least restrictions on the type of ammunition and caliber of hunting firearms. Through the IFW, archers can learn new skills under a new program. Picking the best deer hunting cartridge also comes down to taste. 2022-2023, Trapping All these projectiles work great on deer and larger game. Statewide, Game Zone, and daily limits do not apply on properties enrolled in the DQP because the limit is on the property not the persons hunting the property. South Carolina is best known as a trophy hunting destination, but it has an active hunting season and liberal bag limits. This years deer hunting season in South Carolina will be significantly different than previous years. Other regulations include limits on the number of deer that can be killed, the use of bait, and the use of dogs. Sad to say, many hunters cannot. Except in the far West, white-tailed deer can be found throughout the United States, except in the far north. Bows and arrows are permitted during the Primitive Weapons season, which runs from October 1-10. John B. Tags do not alter the use of weapons during special weapons seasons. Hunting licenses and hunting permits are required for some games. For him, the .308 is the answer, combining the desired knock-down power with pin-point precision. I think a lot of hunters feel squeamish about shooting a whitetail with a .223, and in several states a .223 doesnt meet the minimum caliber requirements. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) is leading the charge to restore the deer population through habitat restoration and increased deer hunting opportunities. You should consult your state Department of Wildlife & Fisheries for . Short, sweet notes to be read about the heart or lungs. Yes, AR15s utilize .223 or NATO 5.56 centerfire cartridges, which are legal for deer hunting. The .338 Federal is another good round thats been lost in the mix. According to South Carolinas hunter harassment laws, anyone who intentionally restricts another person from hunting or other related activities is breaking the law. Waste or Abuse to SC Inspector General | West Columbia, SC 29172. Hornady American Whitetail 139-grain SP Interlock. There are marshes all along the South Carolina coast, as well as mountain forests, but they prefer mixed-old forests, croplands, and farms. Black Hills Ammunition 62-grain Triple Shock, Federal Premium 60-grain Nosler Partition. is about 30-percent greater than from a .30/06. Archery and crossbows allowed during all seasons. FOIA | Privacy Policy | Report And no one practices as much as they should with a rifle that beats them up, compounding the problem. This bullet is heavy enough to penetrate the skull of a deer, and the barrel has a long enough length to allow accurate shots. An antlerless deer is defined as a deer with no antlers or a deer with less than two inches of antler visible above the hairline. Archery, muzzleloaders, crossbows, and pneumatic weapons are allowed during gun hunts. A fishing license, permit, or tag is available in South Carolina. The 6.5 Creedmoor, 257 Roberts, and 825 Grendel all-around calibers were chosen as the best all-around calibers for hogs and deer. No license or tag requirements for youth or adult. Must be tagged with Individual Antlerless Deer Tag. When it comes to deer shooting, the Remington 6.7 SPC is a great choice. There are several quarter-bores that are great deer rounds. While the AR-15 is not your granddads deer rifle, it comes with a variety of advantages for the user. In SC bullet diameter must be . I didnt need to be told that the best cartridge would be the one that moved the fastest and dropped less than the others. All rights reserved. A new law allows hunters to legally kill 17 deer, but not all. CWD has been diagnosed in 30 states and 4 Canadian provinces. A habitat can support more than twice as many deer as it can support. When a non-resident purchases an Hunting License/Big Game Permit, they are not eligible for free tags. 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. A bait is a non-lethal method of killing, shooting, attempting to shoot, and hunting animals from above. Mag., so they fell behind with the shooting public. Can you deer hunt with an AR 15 in South Carolina? Box 167 Columbia, SC 29202-0167 E-mail: RuthC@dnr.sc.gov It pushes bullets about 250 fps faster and has been winning ELR (extreme long-range matches) even when going head-to-head against big .30s and .33s like the .300 Norma, .300 PRC and .338 Lapua. In Game 1 and 2, baiting is permitted on private land, but not in Game 3 or 4. The deer population in the state is estimated to be around 750,000, with an annual harvest of around 225,000. 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. Phone: 215-712-1212 Fax: 215-814-8919. . shoots about 15 inches flatter than the 06 with a 180-grainer, so you can see the appeal. 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