Short answer: often yes, but it depends on your state, the game and the cartridge. Each state sets its own rules for deer, hogs and coyotes. Some states limit semi-automatic rifles, magazine capacity or caliber for deer: Colorado requires .24 caliber or larger for deer, which rules out .223/5.56; Pennsylvania bans semi-automatic rifles for deer, bear and elk; Ohio allows only straight-walled cartridges such as .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster. Coyotes and feral hogs usually have looser rules: in Texas, feral hogs are unprotected and, with the landowner's consent, need no hunting license on private land.
State rules checked 13 October 2026 from each state's own regulations. They change every season; read your state's current regulations before you hunt.
Hunting with an AR-15: four states, four rules
| State | Deer with an AR-15? | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Yes, in .24 caliber or larger | Centerfire .24 caliber or larger with expanding bullets of at least 70 gr; semi-autos limited to 6 rounds in magazine and chamber | CPW Chapter W-2 (approved Nov 2025) |
| Pennsylvania | No | "Semiautomatic rifles may not be used for hunting deer, bear or elk"; allowed for small game and furbearers | PGC 2025-26 Digest |
| Ohio | Yes, straight-walled only | Straight-walled cartridge, .357 to .515 caliber; necked cartridges unlawful; no more than 3 rounds loaded | Ohio Admin. Code 1501:31-15-11 (Jul 2026) |
| Texas (feral hogs) | Hogs: yes | Unprotected; no closed season on private land; no license needed with landowner consent since Sept 2019 | TPWD |
Sources: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Chapter W-2; Pennsylvania Game Commission 2025-26 Hunting and Trapping Digest; Ohio Administrative Code 1501:31-15-11; Texas Parks and Wildlife feral hog license change. Ohio's web page says a .50 maximum; its code, effective July 2026, says .515.
Deer: caliber, bullet and capacity rules
Three kinds of rule decide whether your AR-15 is legal for deer:
- Caliber and bullet. Colorado wants .24 caliber or larger with expanding bullets of at least 70 gr. A .223/5.56 bullet is smaller than .24 caliber, so a standard AR-15 is out there, while a 6.5 Grendel with a suitable bullet can qualify.
- Action. Pennsylvania does not allow semi-automatic rifles for deer, bear or elk at all, whatever the caliber.
- Cartridge shape and capacity. Ohio allows only straight-walled cartridges from .357 to .515 caliber, makes necked cartridges unlawful, and limits you to three rounds. Straight-walled AR-15 cartridges such as .350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster exist for this; see our alternate AR-15 calibers guide. Colorado limits semi-autos to six rounds.
Coyotes and feral hogs
Predators and invasive species usually have fewer limits. In Pennsylvania, coyotes have no bag limit and no closed season, with exceptions during big-game seasons, and semi-automatic rifles are allowed for furbearers with no magazine limit. In Texas, feral hogs are unprotected; on private land, with the landowner's consent, no hunting license has been needed since September 2019, though hunter education still applies, and public land still needs a license. Night hunting, baiting and dog rules vary by state.
Choosing a cartridge and load
- Coyotes and varmints: light, fast .223/5.56 varmint bullets; see our 5.56 ballistics chart.
- Deer where .223 is legal: use an expanding hunting bullet, not full metal jacket.
- Deer where it is not: 6.5 Grendel, or a straight-walled .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster in Ohio-style states.
- Hogs and short range: heavier bullets such as 300 Blackout; see our 300 Blackout ballistics chart. For longer shots on bigger game, an AR-10 in .308 (see our .308 ballistics chart).
Hunting ammo for AR-15s, with today's prices
Lowest price across the stores we track:
Hornady Varmint Express .223 Rem 55 gr V-Max
Pros
- Polymer-tipped varmint bullet
- .223 Remington
Cons
- Varmint bullet, not for deer
Coyotes
Winchester Deer Season XP .223 Rem 64 gr
Pros
- Polymer-tipped deer load in .223
Cons
- Below .24 caliber: not legal for deer in Colorado
Deer where .223 is legal
Federal Fusion MSR 6.5 Grendel 120 gr soft point
Pros
- Soft-point hunting load
- .264 caliber 6.5 Grendel
Cons
- Needs a 6.5 Grendel barrel and bolt
6.5 Grendel
Winchester Power-Point .350 Legend 180 gr straight-walled
Pros
- Straight-walled cartridge
- 180 gr soft point
Cons
- Needs a .350 Legend upper
Straight-wall states
Federal Fusion .450 Bushmaster 260 gr soft point
Pros
- Straight-walled cartridge
- 260 gr soft point
Cons
- Needs a .450 Bushmaster upper and magazines
Big straight-wall
Federal Fusion MSR 300 Blackout 150 gr soft point
Pros
- Soft-point hunting load
- 300 Blackout
Cons
- Needs a 300 Blackout barrel
Hogs and short range
Compare all ammunition by price, and see AR-10 vs AR-15 parts if you are weighing a bigger rifle.
Frequently asked questions
Can you hunt deer with an AR-15?
In many states, yes, with the right cartridge and bullet. Pennsylvania bans semi-automatic rifles for deer, Colorado requires .24 caliber or larger, and Ohio allows only straight-walled cartridges.
Is .223 legal for deer hunting?
It depends on the state. Colorado's .24 caliber minimum rules it out; other states allow it with expanding bullets. Check your state's rules.
What is the best AR-15 caliber for deer?
It depends on the state: 6.5 Grendel meets Colorado's .24 caliber rule with a suitable expanding bullet, while straight-wall states such as Ohio need .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster.
Can you hunt coyotes with an AR-15?
Generally yes. In Pennsylvania, for example, semi-automatic rifles are allowed for furbearers, with no magazine limit, and coyotes have no closed season outside big-game season limits.
Do I need a license to hunt hogs in Texas?
Not on private land with the landowner's consent, since September 2019, though hunter education still applies. On public land you need one.
Is there a magazine limit for hunting with an AR-15?
Some states set one: six rounds for semi-autos in Colorado big game, three rounds in Ohio's deer gun season. Pennsylvania sets none for small game and furbearers.
