When are semi autos legal for small game?

[TerryK]

Sorry but I never saw a starting date. I was going to take an AR15 for a ground hog hunt, but I think I read they are not legal until next season. So when are they allowed?

[SWIGIN]

http://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Game-C...spx?newsid=115

[Yellowfin]

This gives plenty of time to start working up loads. Vmax, Varmageddon , Blitzking, Varmint Grenade...so many fun possibilities. Gentlemen, start your reloading presses!

[chp1911]

July 1st is the date that I understand to be the first legal day for semi's

[mpan72]

I do not believe it has been through the final vote yet.

[cdi]

I think the final vote will be in June.
You might check with the fudds on that gawd-awful huntingpa.com site
They've had their flannel panties bunched up for months over it.

[Yellowfin]

I think the final vote will be in June. You might check with the fudds on that gawd-awful huntingpa.com site . They've had their flannel panties bunched up for months over it.

It will be nice to see over the course of the next couple of years the Fuddism put to its deserved death via conversion to reality. It might take one squirrel, groundhog, and coyote at a time but it will be done. 10/22's and Marlin 60's are irresistible for even the hardest of the hardcore, and once some chucks start getting zapped by Noveskes, White Oaks, and LaRues that outshoot all the cheapy or even not so cheap bolt guns then reality WILL finally reign in PA.

[Yellowfin]

What?!?! That's the law BEFORE now.

[CoalcrackerAl]

Here is the current.
1) Manually operated and semiautomatic 10-gauge or less
shotguns with a capacity of no more than 3 shells in the chamber
and magazine combined; 2) Manually operated and semiautomatic rifles and manually operated handguns 22-caliber or
less; 3) Air-guns for small game in calibers from .177 to .22, for
woodchucks at least 22-caliber, that propel a single-projectile
or bullet. BB ammunition is prohibited. 4) Muzzleloading rifles
and handguns 40-caliber or less, and shotguns 10-gauge or
less; and 5) long, recurve and compound bows and arrows,
and crossbows. Single-projectile ammunition, or fine shot pellets
no larger than No. 4 lead, bismuth-ti n, or tungsten-iron,
or other approved non-toxic shot or No. 2 steel. Note: Rifle
and handgun caliber restrictions do not apply when hunting woodchucks.

[mpan72]

This is from the 2017/2018 digest. It seems clear to me. You can use semi-auto rifles and manual handguns in larger calibers for woodchucks.

Arms & Ammunition
1) Manually operated and semiautomatic 10-gauge or less
shotguns with a capacity of no more than 3 shells in the chamber
and magazine combined; 2) Manually operated and semi automatic rifles and manually operated handguns 22-caliber or
less; 3) Air-guns for small game in calibers from .177 to .22, for
woodchucks at least 22-caliber, that propel a single-projectile
or bullet. BB ammunition is prohibited. 4) Muzzleloading rifles
and handguns 40-caliber or less, and shotguns 10-gauge or
less; and 5) long, recurve and compound bows and arrows,
and crossbows. Single-projectile ammunition, or fi ne shot pellets
no larger than No. 4 lead, bismuth-ti n, or tungsten-iron,
or other approved non-toxic shot or No. 2 steel. Note: Rifl e
and handgun caliber restrictions do not apply when hunting
woodchucks.