When someone says suppressor or silencer, as they are commonly called, many people think of gangsters, hitmen and organized crime. Even experienced shooters often view suppressors in a negative light. I bet it would surprise you to know that one of the growing markets for suppressors is recreational shooters and hunters.

That’s right — many hunters are adding suppressors to their tool bags, and with good reason. Adding a suppressor to a hunting platform provides two notable advantages — reduced recoil and suppressed sound. The first case can allow you to be a better shooter and put more games on the ground. The second helps prevent long-term hearing loss, something many shooters suffer from and provides a little stealth to your hunting activities. Why is stealth important? Well, it keeps you from annoying non-hunting neighbors and can increase your chance of a second shot if needed.

Despite commonly being referred to as silencers, suppressors do not eliminate the sound of a gunshot. They do, however, suppress or lessen the sound considerably. Although many factors affect how much a particular firearm will be suppressed, the industry average is approximately 34 decibels. This means your favorite deer rifle will sound more like a .22 and your .22 pellet gun. Regarding recoil, the average suppressor will reduce felt recoil between 40-50% or about the same as a quality muzzle break. These factors can be beneficial if you are shooting a big-bore rifle, already have hearing loss, or are teaching a new hunter.

By now, you are probably asking yourself, “Can I really hunt with a suppressor?” The answer is yes, it is legal. There are currently 43 states that allow the possession of suppressors, and in 41 of those states, it is also legal to hunt with a suppressor. Pennsylvania is one of those states. A suppressor can be added to any otherwise legal hunting firearm with no special permit or permission from the Game Commission.

Of course, there are a few other hurdles to overcome. While the Game Commission does not regulate the use of suppressors, the Federal Government still does. The National Firearms Act regulates the sale and possession of specific classes of firearms, including short-barreled rifles, machine guns, and suppressors. While it is still legal to own a suppressor, you must pay a fee and obtain a tax stamp before making your purchase.

Until recently, obtaining a tax stamp was a significant hurdle to suppressor ownership. Although the application is straightforward and the fee of $200 is within reach, the wait time between application and approval was discouraging. Despite being relatively straightforward, it was not uncommon for the process to drag on for 18 – 24 months. Fortunately, reforms at ATF have significantly reduced that time to weeks and sometimes even days. I recently spoke to a gentleman who claimed to have received approval in only 36 hours.

Before you run out and start shopping, let’s take a look at some of the factors you will need to consider when adding a suppressor to your favorite hunting rifle.

Caliber–not every suppressor will work with every caliber. Many suppressors will work with multiple calibers but are usually limited to calibers less than .300. For larger-bore rifles, you will need a model specifically designed for your caliber, or at least for big-bore calibers.

Weight–Adding a suppressor will also add weight. This is not a big deal if you can drive up to your stand location, but it is a bit of a concern to those of us who have hiked to our favorite spot.

Length–Obviously, adding a suppressor to any firearm will increase its overall length. In some cases, this can make your firearm unwieldy or even too cumbersome for your favorite tree stand. Thankfully, many manufacturers recognize this growing trend and offer many popular models with shorter barrels perfect for use with a suppressor.

Optics–Adding a suppressor can also affect the point of impact, thus requiring your rifle to be re-zeroed. It is also likely that your current optics will not be the best fit for a suppressed firearm, meaning they will also need to be re-zeroed or even replaced.

Accessories–If you have any other favorite accessories on your firearm, it may be necessary to replace, modify, or even remove them as well. Bipods, rifle cases, and even slings may not be compatible once a suppressor is added.

Good luck. Good hunting!