Are 5 round AR mags required for varmint hunting?

[Richard K]

I know that five round mags are required for big game hunting with a semi-auto, what about an AR-15 for coyotes and p-dogs?

[Colorado Osprey]

Short answer... no.

[car-15]

Short answer... no.
+ 1 big game only

[Richard K]

Thanks Guys

[Pancho Villa]

Suppose you are hunting mountain lion & coyotes.

Does having a mountain lion tag on you mean you need to have the 5 round mags or so long as its in when you take the mountain lion you're gtg?

[newracer]

You would probably be limited to 5 round mags if you had a lion tag in your posession.

[sniper7]

You would probably be limited to 5 round mags if you had a lion tag in your posession.

but would be smart to have a 30 round mag

lions need: [M2][M2][UZI][AR15][M2][UZI]

[whitewalrus]

but would be smart to have a 30 round mag

lions need: [M2][M2][UZI][AR15][M2][UZI]



No, one shot one kill. Always use a bit bigger caliber than what you think you need on game like this. Better to have less meat on your table, than less meat on your body :)

[Colorado Osprey]

From what i've seen on the predator forums, most mt lions are shot in trees. Wouldn't this mean that a well placed close range shot in the nugget with a 223 isn't sufficient? I would think it would be enough.... 5 should be plenty.

Now on open ground, it might be another story.

[sniper7]

you guys need to settle down. i was being sarcastic. too much seriousness in this thread...

[whitewalrus]

Kinda figured you were joking sniper. That's why I put in the meat joke in there.

[theGinsue]

Those big cats scare the doodoo outa me. They can stalk you for hours without you even knowing they're there.

As I understand it, when hunting mtn lions, most folks usually use dogs to tree the cats (which is why you hear about them getting shot in trees). Having plenty of dogs is the only way I'd want to pursue one of them.

[Batteriesnare]

I didn't realize you could use larger cap mags for predators.

Sweet! Thanks for the info!

[Irving]

I've been stalked by a mountain lion before. It is a hair raising experience.

[wolffo]

you can only use hi cap mags for one predator, coyote.
the regs are unclear so 2 years go i went into the DOW and specifically asked if I could shoot a coyote with an AK and a 30 round mag, the woman at the counter had to go ask someone in the back...

[gnihcraes]

5 in the quiver... use the bow. whoops, guess this is an AR forum... haha..

[sniper_tim]

you can only use hi cap mags for one predator, coyote.
the regs are unclear so 2 years go i went into the DOW and specifically asked if I could shoot a coyote with an AK and a 30 round mag, the woman at the counter had to go ask someone in the back...

I've asked an DOW officer in the field, and he couldn't give me an answer, just recited the paragraph from the big game booklet about having a 5 round limit when hunting for big game and it being OK to shoot coyotes w/o small game. Decided it wasn't worth a ticket from an officer in the field that didn't know.

[nakedhunter]

Just thought I would throw this out there...
I emailed DOW with a similar question last year about capacity while performing any type of hunting.
Basically if you have a Colorado hunting license with a centerfire rifle - trust in 6.
If using a .22 it's what ever is the default MANUFACTURER'S capacity - which I believe every manufacturer defaults to 10 or less.

From DOW:
"...The maximum number of rounds in a semi auto is 6. If you have a magazine that could hold 10 you could not use
it even if you only put 6 in it. The idea is that more rounds could be
placed in the magazine.
... The requirement for .22 rim fire rifles is
what ever amount of rounds the magazine that comes with the rifle will
allow from the manufacture is the legal amount that can be placed into
the weapon. "

[newracer]

You received incorrect information.

[gnihcraes]

You received incorrect information.

which piece of information is incorrect... ?

[sniper7]

from the regs book it says 5 for big game. nothing for small game/predators. for shotguns you can only hold 2 in the tube and 1 in the chamber and must have a plug or other device to achieve that limit.

it also says no full autos.

it says nothing about mag capacity or what mag comes with a semi-auto from the factory. what if you made your own? technically building an AR is assembling your own gun, it comes with no mag from the factory as a stripped lower or complete lower.

so you can hunt with a 100 beta mag for coyotes and p-dogs and other small game if you want.

[nakedhunter]

Just to clarify, they specified 6 in a semi-auto - in response to centerfire, that would include 1 in the chamber.
I was asking when I wanted to take the AR small game hunting and their answer was 6 - couldn't find it in the regs for small game.
The Big Game regs do say:
c. If semiautomatic, they can hold max. of 6 rounds in the magazine and
chamber combined.

I wanted to take my kids hunting with the .22 hence their 2nd part answer was stated as referring to .22 rimfire magazine capacity to manufacturer's magazine. As far as making your own .22 rimfire rifles- I did not request that information and they didn't address it.

But I will go by what was written by DOW and be on the conservative stated side and not worry about a game warden, just wanted to throw out an actual written statement. If any want to call what the DOW wrote as wrong information, please throw me something written somewhere so I can know it's wrong as well.
Or if enough people ask the main office, maybe they will clarify it in the regulations...

[newracer]

This is directly from the small game regulation brochure, no where does it state any restriction on # of rounds for small game besides shotguns.

http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/780A905D-8639-4EB1-BBA0-20BBE1F915A8/0/smallgame.pdf


LEGAL HUNTING METHODS
1. GAME MAMMALS
a. Rifles or handguns.
b. Shotguns cannot be larger than 10 gauge.
Shotguns cannot be capable of holding more
than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined.
c. Hand-held bows and crossbows.
d. Pellet guns and slingshots.
e. Hawking.
2. GAME BIRDS (EXCEPTMIGRATORYBIRDS)
a. Rifles or handguns allowed for blue (dusky) grouse and ptarmigan.
b. Shotguns cannot be larger than 10 gauge not firing a single slug.
Shotguns cannot be capable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine
and chamber combined.
c. Hand-held bows and crossbows.
d. Pellet guns and slingshots allowed for blue (dusky) grouse and
ptarmigan.
e. Hawking.
3. CALIBER RESTRICTION
a. It is illegal to hunt game birds, small game mammals or furbearers
with a centerfire rifle larger than .23 caliber in regular rifle deer and elk
seasons west of I-25, unless you have an unfilled deer or elk license for
the season you are hunting. Asmall game license is required.
4. AIDS IN HUNTING SMALLGAME
a. Dogs are allowed to hunt small game, waterfowl and furbearers but
only to pursue, bring to bay, retrieve, flush or point. It is illegal to use dogs
to hunt cottontail rabbits, snowshoe hares and tree squirrels during regular
rifle big game seasons.
b. Artificial decoys are permitted.
c. European ferrets are permitted for hawking. Ferrets must be neutered,
tattooed on left inguinal area and dyed along one-fourth of their body for
easy field identification.
d. Mechanical devices designed to call wildlife are allowed.
FURBEARER LEGALMETHODS OFTAKE
1. The following methods of take are legal to hunt furbearers:
a. Any rifle, handgun, shotgun, handheld bow or crossbow.
b. Live traps, limited to cage, box or Snead-design colony traps.
2. If wildlife (except Canada lynx) is accidentally captured alive when
trapping season is closed or is illegal for that species, you must release
the animal immediately. You cannot kill it. If you find a dead animal in
your trap, you must bring its carcass to a DOW officer or office within 5
days. Failing to do so is evidence of illegal possession of wildlife.
Trappers who comply won’t be charged with illegal possession.
3. If you accidentally capture a live animal for which the trapping season is
open, you must kill or release it immediately when you check the trap.
4. You must check traps at least daily. In Canada lynx recovery area or
where lynx are, you must check traps every 24 hours.
5. If you accidentally capture a Canada lynx but it’s not injured, you
must release it immediately and report the incident to the DOW within
24 hours. If a lynx is accidentally injured, but not in your possession,
you must report it to the DOW within 24 hours. If you capture a lynx
accidentally and injure it, take the lynx to the DOW or licensed veterinarian
and report it to the DOW within 24 hours. If you accidentally kill
a lynx, you must report it to the DOW within 24 hours and take the carcass
to the DOW within 3 days after the report. Failing to follow these
rules is considered unlawful take and possession. You won’t be charged
if you comply with these requirements, are registered in the DOW’s
lynx conservation plan or use the plan’s best management practices to
avoid accidentally taking a lynx.
6. Except when legally placed on private property by permit, it is illegal
to set traps or snares within 50 feet of either side of the travelled part of
state or federal highways or county roads.
7. Hunting furbearers with bait is legal. When permitted, bait must be
made solely of plants or animals. Bait cannot contain metal, glass,
porcelain, plastic, cardboard or paper. Wildlife used as bait can be carcasses
or parts of legally taken furbearers, carp, shad, white and longnose
suckers, and inedible parts of legally obtained game mammals,
birds or game fish.
8. Electronic calls are legal to hunt furbearers.
9. On private land, artificial light is allowed at night to hunt beavers, raccoons,
coyotes, bobcats, striped skunks and red foxes with permission of
landowner or agent.
10. On public land, artificial light is allowed at night with permit from local
district or area wildlife manager, to hunt raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, striped
skunks, beavers and red foxes. Permits are valid for time and place specified.
a. Permits are not valid 24 hours before or during deer, elk, or pronghorn
rifle seasons, nor opening weekend of grouse, pheasant, quail
and waterfowl seasons.
b. It is illegal to hunt with a light permanently attached to a vehicle or
to project light from inside a vehicle.
c. It is illegal to take furbearers within 500 yards of a dwelling, building,
campground or other structure, or in areas that jeopardize human
safety.
d. You must carry the permit while hunting and show it if requested
by a law enforcement officer.
e. The DOW can deny a permit for management purposes.
f. Night hunting permits are not issued for bobcat on public land in
Canada lynx recovery areas or where lynx are. If a bobcat hunter kills
a Canada lynx during bobcat hunting season, the DOW will not issue
any more night hunting permits for bobcat for the rest of the calendar
year in the recovery area or where the lynx was killed. The DOW
also will revoke all night hunting permits previously issued for bobcats.
11. It is illegal to destroy or damage beaver or muskrat houses, dens or
dams, except to maintain water flow or prevent property damage.
ILLEGALHUNTING METHODS
SMALLGAME, FURBEARER
1. It is illegal to use toxicants, drugs, explosives or stupefying
substances to hunt, kill, capture, injure or harass
wildlife except with permits issued by DOW or Colorado
Department of Agriculture.
2. Electronic devices and electronic calls are illegal,
except as in “Furbearer Methods of Take.”
3. It is illegal to use any artificial light as an aid in hunting or taking wildlife,
except as in “Furbearer Methods of Take.”
4. It is illegal to use bait to hunt small game mammals, game birds and
migratory birds. You can hunt migratory game birds over standing crops or
feed used in the course of agricultural planting, harvesting or other normal
agricultural practices.
5. It is illegal to use visual lures, fresh meat baits, fish oil and anise oil lures to
attract felids in lynx recovery areas or where lynx are.