I haven't seen a discussion about this yet.
What do you think? Will we continue to be able to use HPR's on private land going forward?
Do you think it may be expanded to include public lands?
I don’t know why allowing them on private land would change, I haven’t seen significant evidence to support prohibiting them. Public land may be a different animal. Fundamentally I think Hoosiers should be allowed to hunt with them on public land but at the same time I’d give up hunting during the firearms season if public land was my only option. Unfortunately it only takes one moron a tenth of a second to ruin or take someone else’s life and some of the public spots end up with a pretty dense population of hunters.
I've heard nothing about this, but the gun season around here was very light compared to years past. I judge that by shots per hour that I hear when I'm hunting.
My concern is that since HPR's were approved by the law makers and not DNR that it will fall between the cracks and not get renewed. Hopefully DNR will apply it through their rules and make it permanent.
How often or long has it been since we have heard about a hunter mistakenly shoot another hunter on public ground?
Yes, I know about the stories. Yes, I've been on public ground with a lot of orange hats. Yes, I have heard rapid shooting on occasion that makes you wonder if they knew where each shot stopped.
I think it's a sad situation when it's assumed that public ground hunters are irresponsible.
Not necessarily the case.
Accidents happen to good people every day.
On public ground, you never know who may or may not be there.
At least in theory, on private ground, you should know how many people are on the property.
You know who they are, generally where they are on the property, and may even be aware of what they are shooting.
Guy I know from Michigan, hunted Mississinewa a couple yrs back.
One day, gun opener.
Said it was worse than anything he'd encountered up north.
I don't gun hunt that place, heard from other reputable sources way before, that it was crazy.
Hearing a bunch of shots? Big whoop. That's different than hearing bullets fly by.
IMHO, keep PCR for public land. Most probably think them 100 yard cartridges, so maybe the "shoot at deer" types would try to double that (200 yards).
Same type w a 200 yard rig, would proly think "what the hell?" and try popping stuff at 400 (the 2X factor).
Worked gun retail....the crap I heard from some customers (they being the "I shoot at deer" type)..............even if employing a filter......holy cow.
Have gun hunted a different public spot, never the opener. No problems.
But I went mid week and picked areas where no other vehicles were, and I wore a lot of orange.
Do think some ignorant and irresponsible people would let HP rifle magnify the risk (shot selection).
Farther out, harder to ID what is beyond.
Watched some Euro boar hunt, where even at close range this problem illustrated (Red Moose Hunting on Youtube). An orange cap aint enough.
It's not about ballistics, it's people management. And like it or not, a lot of people are stupid and or irresponsible. And that type would probably lose private ground with such behavior.
And then what would be left for them?
Public land ......some places may get more crazies than others (proximity, terrain and ?).
Like I said, I avoid one such place, and have tried to limit my risks at another (and so far no probs there).
Didn’t realize I’d be hurting feelings by saying that I wouldn’t hunt public land in Indiana if HPR’s were approved. Sorry not sorry I guess, I didn’t say HPRs shouldn’t be allowed on public ground, I actually said they should be.
I prefer to hunt private ground.
Could be sold or leased any time.
If I have to hunt public land, proly just go bow or MZ.
Two places I am pretty familiar with.
One I won't gun hunt for deer. Period.
Gave up on it pre PCR.
Bud and I do HP rifle hunt it for yotes a couple times a yr.
Rarely even cut an old boot track.
Its really simple, if you don't like something, do something else.
I don't give a flying flip if HP rifle is OK'd for public land.
My closest gov ground is a no go and has been since before PCR, because it's a friggin mess.
Pre rut is bow season, great time to hunt.
Coworker and boy got nice bucks there last yr.
If that was my only place to hunt, I'd go early and late bow, skip gun.
Pretty simple.