Limited use of rifles for hunting

The House Tourism Committee last week approved a bill allowing limited use of rifles for deer hunting in an area now limited to shotguns, muzzleloaders and pistols.

Introduced by State Rep. Matt Lori, the bill would allow the use of a straight-walled pistol cartridge in rifles that can accommodate such ammunition. The pistol cartridges do not travel as far as conventional rifle rounds and pose less of a safety risk, Lori said. The use of rifles in the southern part of Michigan is currently restricted because of the safety risk posed in more heavily populated areas of the state.

Lori said the measure will bring Michigan in line with Indiana, which has approved use of such ammunition for rifle hunting

A Constantine-area resident, Lori said the cartridges also cause less recoil than shotguns, which could appeal to youth, female and senior citizen deer hunters.