AR-15 style pistols and handguns that meet barrel and overall length requirements are now officially allowed for Missouri's alternate methods deer hunting season, after the Missouri Conservation Commission updated the definition of pistols and handguns Thursday.
The Missouri Department of Conservation is also considering whether to allow use of night vision, infrared or thermal imaging equipment for coyote hunting and feral hog control.
The Missouri Conservation Commission met remotely Thursday and approved changes to an update on handguns that can be used to take deer during the state's alternative methods portion of the deer hunting season.
Rifles and shotguns that fire modern ammunition are not allowed during the alternate methods portion of the season, but muzzleloaders and archery methods, crossbows, atlatl, handguns and air-powered firearms .40 caliber or larger are allowed, according to a news release from MDC.
What is or is not a handgun had become less clear with the introduction by firearms manufacturers of AR-style handguns and shortened versions of AR-15-style rifles.
An update to the definition of handguns was proposed to allow for AR-style handguns, and that was further refined before approval with specifics about the barrel of approved handguns and accessories that are not permanently attached to the firearm.
MDC's updated definition of a handgun, as approved, is "Any firearm originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile (bullet) from one or more barrels when held in one hand, and having a short stock designed to be gripped by one hand at an angle to and extending below the line of the bore(s), with a barrel less than 16 inches in length, measured from the face of the bolt or standing breech (excluding any muzzle device not permanently attached to the barrel), and an overall length less than 26 inches as measured between the muzzle of the barrel and the rearmost portion of the firearm (excluding any pistol brace, muzzle device, or other firearm accessory not permanently attached to the firearm). The use of a pistol brace is specifically authorized, and a second hand may be used for support when firing."
"We want hunters to be able to confidently identify what handgun configurations, with or without the addition of braces or other accessories, are legal to use during this portion of the deer hunting season," MDC Protection Chief Randy Doman said in the department's news release.
"The essential distinguishing characteristic of a handgun is its ability to be operated with one hand, although a second hand can be used as a brace. Any firearm with a total length of over 26 inches is considered a rifle," Doman added.
He added, "The updated definition of 'handgun' does not impact the right to own or possess firearms and is not intended to prohibit the use of AR-platform handguns that meet the barrel and overall length requirements. It also does not prohibit the use of pistol braces. The definition is intended to clearly define a legal hunting method during the alternative-methods portion of the firearms deer hunting season."
Also Thursday, the Conservation Commission gave initial approval to a proposed set of MDC regulation changes that would allow for use of night vision, infrared, thermal imaging equipment or artificial light to hunt coyotes, as well as to allow landowners of any property size and people they authorize to kill feral hogs on the property to use night vision, infrared or thermal imaging equipment without prior approval from a conservation agent.
Hunters are prohibited from shooting feral hogs on conservation areas and other MDC-owned, leased or managed lands.
The use of the listed special equipment for hunting coyotes - when combined with other legal hunting methods - would be allowed only between Feb. 1 and March 31.
With some exceptions, coyotes can already be hunted all year.
MDC Deputy Director of Resource Management Mike Hubbard said in a news release the proposed time frame for hunting coyotes with the listed special equipment should minimize the threat of poaching on bucks, and comes after other furbearer seasons for badgers, bobcats and foxes have closed.
Property owners and people they authorize to kill coyotes causing property damage can already use night vision, infrared, thermal imaging equipment or artificial light any time of the year with written conservation agent approval.
As with all proposed regulation changes, the Missouri Conservation Commission is asking for public input on the proposed changes for coyotes and feral hogs.
Comments can be submitted July 2-31 online at short.mdc.mo.gov/Z49.
A decision on approval, amendment or withdrawal of the proposed changes would be made at the commission's Sept. 4 meeting.