For Hunters, By Hunters

Handgun Hunting Regulations

All 50 States. Official Sources. No Guesswork.

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Select Your State

Hover for the status at a glance — click a state to open its full regulations hub.

Alabama — Legal Alaska — Legal Arizona — Restricted Arkansas — Restricted California — Restricted Colorado — Restricted Connecticut — Restricted Delaware — Restricted Florida — Legal Georgia — Legal Hawaii — Restricted Idaho — Restricted Illinois — Restricted Indiana — Restricted Iowa — Restricted Kansas — Restricted Kentucky — Restricted Louisiana — Restricted Maine — Restricted Maryland — Restricted Massachusetts — Not Permitted Michigan — Legal Minnesota — Legal Mississippi — Restricted Missouri — Restricted Montana — Legal Nebraska — Restricted Nevada — Legal New Hampshire — Restricted New Jersey — Not Permitted New Mexico — Restricted New York — Restricted North Carolina — Restricted North Dakota — Restricted Ohio — Restricted Oklahoma — Restricted Oregon — Restricted Pennsylvania — Restricted Rhode Island — Not Permitted South Carolina — Restricted South Dakota — Restricted Tennessee — Restricted Texas — Legal Utah — Restricted Vermont — Restricted Virginia — Restricted Washington — Restricted West Virginia — Restricted Wisconsin — Restricted Wyoming — Restricted
  • Green = Legal (9)
  • Orange = Restricted (conditions apply) (38)
  • Red = Not Permitted (3)

50 State Guides

Caliber minimums, energy floors, barrel lengths, legal species and optic rules — one consistent matrix for every state.

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Official Sources

Every hub links straight to the state wildlife agency and its current handbook, with a last-reviewed date on each page.

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Hunter Community

Field reports, load data and revolver vs. 10mm debates from hunters who carry a handgun into the woods.

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Why HandgunHunting.org?

HandgunHunting.org is a hobbyist resource built by hunters, for hunters. Handgun hunting rules vary enormously from state to state — some set a minimum caliber, others a muzzle-energy floor or barrel length, and a few restrict optics or action types. We pull the key checkpoints for every state into one consistent matrix, link straight to each official wildlife agency, and connect every state hub to real field reports from the community.

Always verify current regulations with your state's official wildlife agency before you hunt — nothing on this site is legal advice.

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