Can I hunt deer with a 22-caliber rimfire rifle?
State laws and regulations prohibit the hunting of deer with .22 rimfire rifles in Game Zones 1, 2 and 4 (Piedmont) and on all WMAs. No regulations apply to Game Zones 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. However, a .22 rimfire rifle is totally inadequate to harvest deer. The deer is most likely to be wounded and never recover. RESPECT for the animal hunted should always be a common sense guide for ethical hunters. Use only a weapon that allows the animal to be cleanly harvested. For more information, call SCDNR Law Enforcement at (803) 734-4002.
