Which Handgun will you use this gun season?

Please be aware of checking your regulations!

You can handgun hunt in PA. But your concealed carry permit doesn't cover hunting.
You need a Sportsman's permit.
And with that permit, for hunting, your pistol is treated as a rifle.
Aka not loaded in/on a vehicle.
And semi auto pistols are not allowed.

That's not true, your license to carry firearms covers all "firearms" which per the law includes all semi auto handguns, revolvers, SBRs, SBSs and some AOW but does not include rifles or shotguns. Hunting/Fishing is listed as a possible reason for carrying on the LTCF application and you are covered for that purpose as well.

The sportsman's permit is a specific exception that allows you to carry a concealed firearm only while in the act of hunting, trapping or fishing. It is not all inclusive like a LTCF, applies only during those specific activities, lowers the applicant age to 18 and can be acquired through the county treasurer rather than issued by the sheriff.

Basically the Sportsman's permit allows 18 year olds to carry while hunting but the LTCF covers everything the Sportsman's permit does plus all the additional benefits. The ambiguity comes from the PGC for years stating that "the majority of hunting arms are not covered by the LTCF". They were referring to rifles and shotguns not being covered by the LTCF but intentionally left it vague for their own benefit.

The new wording is even more vague especially since semi auto handguns aren't legal for hunting in the state.

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They should just say what they mean, carrying a handgun is fine during big game firearms seasons but doing so in any other season may result in increased scrutiny from Game Wardens.

Honestly that wording is such a travesty that I'm going to write to the PGC and ask them if Kamala Harris wrote that unintelligible line.
 

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