Hi All:
Yes it is also a title of a movie. I however now feel compelled to respond to a recent topic. There was a thread up in regard to the use of a FMJ bullet for hunting varmints.
A contributor tried to help another in regard to this topic and was pretty much “pounded” by a number of you. He was verbally “bludgeoned” to such an extent that he removed the thread in embarrassment.
When I heard of this I contacted a personal friend that had retired from AZ G&F after 35 years of service and actually WROTE the applicable regulation. I therefore consider him an “authority” on this issue. He shared the following:
The spirit of the reg is to protect typically, big game from the use of a “non-expanding” bullet, in a primarily for military use cartridge. He would NEVER issue a citation for the use of FMJ projectiles on small game and fur-bearers in the State of Arizona.
Further, the contributor related a story in which he and a hunter partner called in a brace of Grey Foxes this past spring. He killed the first with a shotgun and his buddy killed the second with a Mossberg MVP chambered in .223 Remington. The second fox was indeed killed with a 55 grain FMJ bullet.
Here is the rub:
1. The contributor that was just tying to help is not even 16 years old. All he wants to do on this site is learn from you and share information with others.
2. Yes, he is a “hunting fool” and just loves to be outdoors. BTW, he will be out this weekend for the third such weekend just trying to help other hunter friends successfully fill their tags.
3. The .223 Remington cartridge with the 55 grain FMJ bullet that killed the second Grey Fox was hand-crafted in MY GARAGE on a Dillon 550. The regulation therefore DOES NOT apply as the round and many others like it were NEVER intended for MILITARY USE!
4. In many cases the regulations must be interpreted with a “modicum” of common sense. For some of you recently, it has become painfully clear that this is NOT the case.
5. I know all of this as the 15 1/2 year old kid, that you pounded with your responses, is my son and only child.
So before you SLAM others on this site that may have views or a different interpretation of the regulations than yours consider this post.
In closing, I do strongly feel that a small number of you owe my son an apology.
Sincerely,
280REM
DAD
