Used a .17 HMR Coyote Hunting Tonight

[gjohnsoniv]

Got a chance to use a Mossberg .17 tonight on a hunt. I've been looking at a .17 caliber recently but had never gotten to fire one before today. If I can find one at a good price I think I'll pick one up. Any comments/advice (for or against)?

[TrickyNicky]

Sorry I can't be of much help but I've been looking at the .17 as well. How did it work out for you on the hunt? It seems like a cool cartridge on paper.

[mikegideon]

I have a Marlin 917 Stainless. It's OK, and wasn't that expensive.

[R_Bert]

Title poorly worded ? If not, I bet you are in Indiana, not Knoxville

Hunting coyote *after dark*, and after dark with a rifle, is bad TWRA juju in TN.

B.

edit - apparently rimfire is allowed for species for which night hunting in TN is permitted (ex. raccoon, opossum).

Edited March 10, 2012 by R_Bert

[BluewaterTactical]

Got a chance to use a Mossberg .17 tonight on a hunt. I've been looking at a .17 caliber recently but had never gotten to fire one before today. If I can find one at a good price I think I'll pick one up. Any comments/advice (for or against)?

2 things. You said you hunted at night I assume you went in the evening while still daylight!!!! Next, try walmart they have them starting at $179

[monkeylizard]

The TWRA Hunting Guide doesn't say anything about after dark being a no-no in and of itself. It says no predator calls, night vision, or centerfire at night. .17 HMR is rimfire.

Am I misunderstanding the regulations?

http://www.eregulati...HD_FINAL_LR.pdf

Pages 18, 19

Edited March 10, 2012 by monkeylizard

[R_Bert]

The TWRA Hunting Guide doesn't say anything about after dark being a no-no in and of itself. It says no predator calls, night vision, or centerfire at night. .17 HMR is rimfire.

Am I misunderstanding the regulations?

http://www.eregulati...HD_FINAL_LR.pdf

Pages 18, 19

Yes you are misunderstanding.

You missed page 16, "Hunting Hours", and page 19 "Legal Hunting Hours" ( para #1) 30 minutes before sunrise, and 30 minutes after sunset, except for certain species (but not coyote).

The nighttime species are shotgun only, when firearms are allowed (looking for cite). Looks like use of center-fire rifles is prohibited, but not rimfire. Pg 18 chart , note 5

Need law degree to understand the regs....

Edited March 10, 2012 by R_Bert

[gjohnsoniv]

Yeah I did word that poorly, I was hunting when there was still light. I didn't post until way after so I tonight instead of this evening. Thanks for catching that.

Edited March 10, 2012 by gjohnsoniv

[R_Bert]

Did y'all see anything ?

[gjohnsoniv]

No, the wind apparently shifted after we got in the field but we didn't notice because we were in the treeline.

[monkeylizard]

So the TWRA regs would then be stating that you can use rimfire at night, but only on those critters listed on page 16 for night hunting?

[BluewaterTactical]

Ok now Im intrigued and confused. So we can use rimfire at nighttime which = DARKNESS?

I know we can on raccoon an possum but that's it?

Edited March 12, 2012 by BluewaterTactical

[monkeylizard]

Centerfire is banned at night, but rimfire is not. But as R_Bert pointed out, the list of critters that can be hunted at night is limited.

So one could presumably hunt raccoons 24 hours a day, but must use rimfire from 30 min after sunset until 30 min before sunrise. Then switch back to the .50 BMG.

Right?

Edited March 12, 2012 by monkeylizard

[gjohnsoniv]

Haha I like how this turned into a hunting debate after my mistake in wording.

[BluewaterTactical]

A thread can be derailed with the slightest little nudge!!!! As you can tell, lol.

[gjohnsoniv]

Really? I couldn't tell... Oh look a squirrel!