Georgia Governor Brian Kemp legalizes hunting with a .40 caliber muzzleloader!
“Had a great time tonight with the Georgia Safari Club at their annual banquet. It was good to be with folks from Wildlife Resources Division - Georgia DNR as I signed HB 362, sponsored by Rep. Trey Rhodes and Senator Tyler Harper. Keep Choppin’!”
Georgia House Bill 362 was signed into law on May 1, 2021 surrounded by a CVA Hat and the new Paramount HTR. Being their home state, perhaps CVA, and their parent company, BPI Outdoors had a hand in this new bill.
The bill states -
To amend Code Section 12-2-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
Environmental Protection Division, Environmental Advisory Council, duties of council and its members and director, appeal procedures generally, permit applications, and inspections, so as to revise an effective date for standards, rules, and regulations; to amend Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to game and fish, so as to revise a defined term; to revise an effective date for rules and regulations; to revise the allowed caliber of muzzleloading firearms;
The bill doesn’t only deal with muzzleloaders, you can read the full bill here. Notably, check out section 2-3 of the bill.
SECTION 2-3.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 27-3-4, relating to legal weapons for hunting wildlife generally, use of silencers and suppressors prohibited, and penalty for violations, by revising paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) as follows:
"(2) During primitive weapon hunts or primitive weapons seasons:
(A) Longbows, recurve bows, crossbows, compound bows, muzzleloading firearms of .30 caliber or larger, and muzzleloading shotguns of 20 gauge or larger loaded with single shot may be used; and
(B) Youth under 16 years of age may hunt deer with any firearm legal for hunting deer; Firearms for hunting deer and bear are limited to 20 gauge shotguns or larger shotguns loaded with slugs or buckshot (except that no buckshot is permitted on state wildlife management areas unless otherwise specified), muzzleloading firearms of .30 caliber or larger, and center-fire firearms .22 caliber or larger; provided, however, that firearms for hunting feral hogs, other than those weapons specified in this paragraph, may be authorized by rule or regulation of the board. Bullets used in all center-fire rifles and handguns must be of the expanding type;"
Previously, the caliber limit was .44 caliber. This is a large change, taking the caliber size well below the needed .40 caliber to allow for the new CVA Paramount HTR and Knight Peregrine. It’s an exciting time to be in the muzzleloading industry. Innovation keeps coming and it looks like some states want to keep sportsmen happy!