The use of surveys in the process of making such decisions is of course, odd, as people’s opinions and perceptions are not always in line with the facts and good reasons.  The publicly portrayed unique characteristics of semi-auto rifles are often wrongly limited to their increased rate of fire and ammunition capacity, which are also sometimes portrayed as being of no use to hunters.

 

However, the action and mechanics of rifles like the AR-series of rifles have additional benefits.  One such is their recoil mitigation.  The buffer and buffer spring in an AR rifle soak up much of the recoil that would otherwise be directly transferred to the shooter’s shoulder in a bolt action rifle.  This greatly benefits big game hunters, especially younger and elderly hunters who may have a hard time handling the recoil of a cartridge large enough to bring down big game.

 

Additionally, the ability to make a quick follow up shot without taking your head off the stock, and keeping your eyes on the target, that semi-auto rifles allow, benefits ethical hunting.  If a deer is wounded by a first shot, it will most likely run, and it is near impossible for most hunters to cycle a bolt action rifle fast enough to bring the animal down with a second shot in order to prevent it from escaping into the woods, where it will most likely suffer for hours before it finally succumbs to its injury

On the bright side, semi-autos are still approved for small game, and furbearers.  Small game in PA includes squirrel, fox, grouse, pheasant, quail, groundhog and crow.  Furbearers in PA include coyote, raccoon, fox, opossum, skunks, weasels, and bobcat.