The issue is that you have to shoot bullets subsonic to make the silencer effective, none are going to mushroom for effective wound channels at 1k fps and less. I would imagine it greatly reduces effective range as well. However, I can imagine how happy I would be to snipe a huge boar that is headed through my deerhunting area without disturbing the deer for once. Will let you know-waiting for mine to come in!

just wondering what you have been using to hunt deer with. A high powered centerfire with a scope perhaps? Your deer rifle today was someone elses expensive "toy" at one time, and the same arguements you are using would then have been used against you.
I don't even want one of the damn things, but I can see their value, and if someone does want one then they should be able to have one.
All of your arguements about them being toys sound like so much bitchin, and worrys about poachers frankly sounds like paranoia.
Frankly I don't really think you have any valid arguements other than you like a lot of other folks are just selfish. If you don't want one or can't afford one then you don't want anyone else to have one either.
Take the poaching scenarios out of the equation for a second, what the heck then is left to gripe about? nothing.
So stop talking in circles, no one gives a carp about what you consider a " toy" .
Especially when you are using some toys yourself already, so yes that would make you a hypocrite.

I use a Savage 110, with the scope that came with the "kit" a Simmons. Total cost was about $250. Before that I hunted with a Marlin 30-30, it cost about $89 in 1969, no scope. Before that a WWII military surplus that cost less than $25 at Gibsons, again no scope. Before that I used my grandpa's cannon.

I put the scope on the Savage in about 2000 when my eyesight started to fail because of age. When I lost all sight in my left eye, and the right had deteriorated to the point it was either quit hunting or use a scope.

I basically hunt with basic equipment, anything above that us a "toy", usually an unnecessary expense. I have never failed to kill a deer, nor have I had to trail one over 50 yards.

How's your hearing?

you know its almost funny if it were not so sad that this internet never fails to bring out the butthead in many of us.
I would imagine that regardless of whether or not we agree on this stupid subject I would probably like you if I had to hunt with you.
There is something about hard headed old bisterds that I have always kind of liked.
Guess thats why I am turning into one myself.
Chit thats scary.

Guns still make noise with suppressors, just not as much. Also, I've seen numerous deer over the years that heard my shot, looked around, and went back to eating.

I agree with your last statement, but what bothers me about this particular issue is the prevailing thought process with many that goes something like this: "I don't think it's necessary so I don't think anyone should have it"
What group does that sound like?
(I don't think that's what you're saying)

there pointless

It�s ok to agree to disagree. I have shot several deer that dropped and the deer around them bolted for about 30 yards stopped looked around and then took off. And if you have paid attention to most of the last comments, it�s not all or mainly about the poachers, it�s about ones perception of hunting.

It is supposed to be about the thrill of the hunt, the excitement of the harvest of fair game! Okay let�s say no one should tell another man or woman what is ethical when hunting when it comes to weapons, silencers, 50 calibers or whatever. Where do you draw the line with this mentality? Let�s say someone with that train of thought says they should allow hunting with bazookas or RPG's, are you going to crawfish on that stance? And do not say that�s different because it is the same fundamental argument! It�s not about the $ it about what sportsman believe is right, wrong!

It's absolutely different. We're talking about shooting a deer with the exact same rifle you're using right now, just with a quieter report. You can't compare that to blowing them up with explosives. That would be wasting a game resource which is a crime.

I say bring on the silencers. What will people say in the future when they want to hunt with laser guns?

Sorry buddy but I already am!! Out to about 350 yards anyhow.
Only one way to deal with some folks, outvote em. And apparently its going to happen so you all can sit around and cry in your beer about how the good ol days are gone, and nobody cares anymore about bein a sportsman.
While you load up another 257Roy and go whack one through your 12 power over corn and then load him on the back of your 4 wheeler and take him to town to get processed.

And give the meat away.

Guys I've run ranches and cull shot deer, and hogs,varmits,ect for yrs...My hunting Bud and I killed 5 deer in about 40mins at
one blind in Fowlerton a couple of yrs. ago...with three trophy
bucks in the feeder..He shot two with a 30-378 Wthby w/a break,
and I shot one w/a 338 Win w/a break and two w/a 22-250..the bucks never went more than 30 or 40 yds and retuned to eating corn...to the point that they were rooting at the head shot doe
near the feeder to get the corn under her..Dead Deer don't hear a
rifle....Noise Suppersors may have a place, but not usually in Texas hunting situations...and I've been hard of hearing for over
20yrs...thank you East Texas/So La. Oilfield..not the guns..DD

Guys I've run ranches and cull shot deer, and hogs,varmits,ect for yrs...My hunting Bud and I killed 5 deer in about 40mins at
one blind in Fowlerton a couple of yrs. ago...with three trophy
bucks in the feeder..He shot two with a 30-378 Wthby w/a break,
and I shot one w/a 338 Win w/a break and two w/a 22-250..the bucks never went more than 30 or 40 yds and returned to eating corn...to the point that they were rooting at the head shot doe
near the feeder to get the corn under her..Dead Deer don't hear a
rifle....Noise Suppressors may have a place, but not usually in Texas hunting situations...and I've been hard of hearing for over
20yrs...thank you East Texas/So La. Oilfield..not the guns..DD

Well after a long hard day and a few adult beveages yesterday, my analogy might have been a little extreme. But my whole point is where do you draw the line, silencers, maybe next it will be fully automatic rifles (machine guns)? I some times feel guilty taking a 145 yard shot to my feeder at the back of my wheat field, knowing darn good and well that deer does not have a chance! Though I still get excited and if I do harvest the deer, I eat all the meat that my friends don't mooch off me!
Anyways I am through pounding on this. I firmly believe in gun owners rights, I also believe in hunting, not killing game animals!

If this will lead to full autos without a tax I'm all for it.

My grandpa would think I was an idiot if I had to hunt with a silencer to be happy.

I completely understand your thoughts and feelings about this, and actually I believe your right. It was the same feeling years ago that moved me to buy my first bow. I hunt with both now and appreciate both but in all honesty when I have a high powered rifle and a good scope in my hands there is not much hunting to it.
A 145 or even a 300 yard shot when I am sitting down and not out of breath from climbing a mountain takes pretty much all the chance out of the scenario.
They are dead, they just havent gotten the news yet.
I do not plan on using a silencer unless it was to hunt pigs with, but if I had years ago I might could still hear someone speaking when there is a tv on in the room.
I personally don't feel that they are going to lead to bizarre situations in the hunting fields.
Common sense will prevail, and Chicken Little is just going to hear a "pffffft" and be nothing more than a little cloud of feathers.

Can you use a hollowed out potato for a silencer?

Lol, no. You will make mashed potatoes and most likely blow up your firearm.

Well said!

Did high power rifles ruin hunting in Texas - nope
Did allowing compound bows ruin hunting in Texas - nope
Did allowing crossbows ruin hunting in Texas - nope
Did an early youth rifle season ruin hunting in Texas - nope
Will allowing suppressors ruin hunting in Texas - nope

Everytime there is a proposed change everyone panics and thinks it's the end of hunting as it is know and all the deer will be slaughtered and gone. Ever addition above has opened more hunting opertunities either by added more hunters or more places to hunt.
Suppressed high powered rifles are still loud and scare game, they just don't hurt your hearing and make it more enjoyable if sharing a stand with a kid or new hunter that might need some quiet coaching to make the shot.
I look forward to going squirrel hunting with the suppressed .22 and such. Will I suppress my favorite deer rifle, probably not. With I use the multiple suppressed firearms I have to hunt other things if legal - most definitly.

Most people against it are people whom don't own cans and have no dog in the fight. It's no different that the traditional archers that didn't want people with compounds hunting with them, or the compound guy not want that dang crossbows, or people whom aren't parents not wanting those kids to have a shot at a big buck a week before regular season.

the best part of equipment additions is the ability of the LO to tell folks No. Honestly, the addition of ML season, crossbows, archery season, suppressors, etc haven't done much where we hunt b/c the LO won't allow it.

PETA and the other animal rights groups will have a big say in this. I doubt if there are enough hunters that want to use the silencers to fight them. To get this done will take organization and dollars, and that organization and dollars needs to be working now, because you bet your "can" PETA has theirs working as we discuss this.

PETA won't stand a chance to the NRA who is backing this proposed change. Those tree hugging hippies will have to go back to there wannabe green homes and eat all the tofu they can while crying about how bambi will get shot without a sound. Every deer I've ever shot never heard the shot until the bullet passed through already.

There is a lot of examples of good ole human nature here! People scared of what they dont know about and jumping to conclusions. People by nature are scared of change!

I'm 100% for it! If I would like to protect my hearing without wearing ear plugs then it should be my choice. All these comments about poachers coming out of the woodworks is totally unfounded. I guess all Bow Hunters are poachers also? THey have a truely silent weapon but that doesnt mean they are poachers since noone will hear them shoot.

Due to my job, being artound loud noises shooting high caliber deer rifles without hearing protection while hunting i have tinnitus. My ears ring ALL THE TIME. It dosent bother me somuch anymore but I have not heard dead silence for the last 3-4 years.So now while hunting I wear earplugs places in my ears but not seated. If I have the time to push them in to keep it from getting worse I do. When they do legalize them ill be buying one to protect myself.

When I think about taking my kids hunting, Supressors make PERFECT sense!