A 223 remington is a deer hunting caliber that allows people to hunt deer within 100 yards range. Though deer hunting with a 223 is now considered legal in some states but there are still controversies over the fact. Though there are permissions to use a 223 for deer in some regions but it is believed that it is wrong to use a 223.
The reason is A 223 contains lighter bullets that are not capable of taking down a deer. However, often come across certain confusions regarding the fact that is it legal to hunt deer with a 223 bullet? Well, Yes it is legal to use a 223 for deer. Here you will find certain reasoning that will give you a clear picture of a 223 usage for hunting deer.
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Is It Legal To Hunt Deer With A 223?
Though it is legal to hunt deer with a 223 remington in some regions, it is not ethically legal. A 223 calibre contains lighter bullets. If you are targeting from an above 100 yards range then there is a possibility that it can make the deer badly injured. Hence, people call it deadly.
But, if you are looking for a lighter cartridge to hunt with then you can definitely go for it.Sometimes the bullets are not sufficient for this kind of game. They require heavy bullets. But if you can make a headshot especially to the whitetails, then a 223 is enough. Otherwise, you are bound to miss your target. 223 bullets are perfect if you make a headshot.
Only in this case you can be sure that the deer will be down. In other cases the deer can move far away even after being shot. There are certain states where it is legal to use a 223 for deer but there are also some states where it is illegal. Here a list of states where there is permission to use a 223. Let’s see, can you hunt deer with a 223 AR 15?
Where I Can Hunt Deer With A 223
There are states where it is legal to hunt deer with a 223 bullet.The states are –
| Name Of The States | Reason of legality |
| Kansas, North Dakota,Minnesota | 22-.49 centerfire is permitted here |
| Quebec | There is a permission for 6mm/.243 and up here. |
| Oklahoma | It is permitted to use 55 grn bullets here.So, you can hunt here with a 223 calibre. |
| Maryland | In Maryland it is legal to use at least 1200 ft/lbs. |
| Saskatchewan | You are permitted to use .24 and up. So, using a 223 for deer is also legal. |
| Rhode Island, Mass | As Shotgun/ML is permitted here you can use your 223 legally. |
| Idaho | The cartridge cannot weigh more than 16 lbs here. Thus, 223 is considered legal. |
| South Dakota, Illinois | Centrefire rifles with 1,000 ft/lbs at the muzzle and handguns with 500 lbs at muzzle are permitted to use here |
| Louisiana | .22 and up centerfire is allowed here. It is perfectly legal to use 223 here. |
| Montana, Mississippi | Here using 223 is considered legal because there are no restrictions. |
| Nebraska | 223 is perfectly legal it permits rifles with 900 ft/lbs within 100 yards. |
| Nevada, Maine, Oregon | People have permission for .22 centerfire and up. So, here 223 is legal. |
| Georgia | In Georgia using 222 and up centerfire are legal. |
| Hawaii | The state allows rifles with 1200 ft/lbs. So, using 223 is legal here |
| Nova Scotia | .23 and up centerfire is legal here. You are permitted to use your 223 here |
| Delaware | Here in Delaware hunting deer with a 223 is legal because there is an abundance of deer here and plenty of licences are sold annually. |
| Alberta, Arkansa | Using a 223 for hunting deer is legal in Arkansa because it is considered as a good caliber here. |
| New York, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Kentucky, Alaska, Alabama, Florida Arizona, California, Ontario | There is no restrictions in using calibre here |
| Tennessee, Utah, South Carolina, Texas | In these regions, centerfire with 223 is legal. So,you can use your 223 here. |
Where I Hunt Can Not Deer With A 223
There are States where it is not legal to use a 223 for hunting deer. The list is given below :
| Name Of The States | Reason of Illegality |
| Colorado | This State requires large bullets for hunting deer. |
| Virginia | In this state 223 bullets are considered lighter |
| Connecticut | This state considers .223 deadly for deers |
| Illinois | Here, only Shotgun/ML/Pistol is allowed for hunting |
| Iowa, | This state allows. 24 or larger centrefire only for antlerless seasons |
| Massachusetts | In this state 223 is considered deadly |
| Ohio, | Here, shotgun/ML is only permitted to use for deer |
| New Jersey | Here, 223 is not completely illegal but they allow only shotguns |
| Washington | Here only. 24 centerfire and up is considered legal |
| West Virginia | It is legal to use only. 25 rimfire and centerfire here. |
Note : If it is legal to hunt deer with a 223 in your region and you are wishing to take whitetails, make sure you make headshots. Otherwise, there are chances that you miss the deer.
Final verdict
If you are purchasing a 223 AR 15 cartridge for your child or an elderly person who can not bear heavy weight, then it is the best suit for you. But it is considered to be deadly for deer because sometimes it takes time to take the deer down. It causes instant damage to the muscle tissue of the deer but does not successfully work to kill the deer always. So, it is always said that you should maintain 100 yards range to make a successful shot with your 223. Hence, you need to make sure that you maintain the range. Hope you got an idea to the confusion that is it legal to hunt deer with a 223?
Resource article:
- What To Wear When Deer Hunting
- What Type of Information Would You Find In A Hunting Regulations Publication?
- LL Bean Boots Vs Maine Hunting Shoes
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