Suppressor laws by state, in two answers: whether you can own one, and whether you can hunt with one. Every row is tied to that state’s own statute, and the wording that decides it is quoted underneath.
Two questions decide whether a suppressor is any use to you where you live, and they have different answers: whether you may own one, and whether you may hunt with one. This is both, for all fifty states and the District of Columbia, with the words of the statute or regulation that settles each one and a note saying whether we checked those words against the source they came from.
Start with the federal layer, because it moved twice this year
There are three layers now, and most pages carry one of them. The tax went to zero. The registration stayed. Then a court enjoined the registration for some people and not others.
One: the transfer tax is zero
Since P.L. 119-21, 26 U.S.C. 5811(a) levies a transfer tax of “$200 for each firearm transferred in the case of a machinegun or a destructive device, and $0 for any firearm transferred which is not described in paragraph (1)”. A suppressor is neither, so the transfer tax on one is now zero. That took effect for calendar quarters beginning more than 90 days after 4 July 2025, which is 1 January 2026.
Two: the registration stayed, and ATF said so
ATF put it in its own rulemaking of 8 May 2026: “Although ATF is revising its rule to reflect that OBBBA reduced the tax amount for these NFA firearms to $0, all other regulatory provisions of the NFA application and registration process remain in full force and effect.” On that footing a suppressor is still an NFA firearm, still registered, still an application and still a wait.
Three: on 5 August 2026 a court enjoined the registration, for some people
In Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, consolidated with Jensen v. ATF (N.D. Tex.), the court entered final judgment on 5 August 2026 enjoining enforcement of 26 U.S.C. 5812(a)-(b), 5822, 5841(a)-(c) and (e), and 5861(b)-(f), along with 27 C.F.R. 479.62(a)-(d) and 479.84(a)-(d). The judgment was stayed seven days for the government to seek appellate relief; that stay lapsed and it took effect on 13 August 2026.
Read the scope sentence, because it is the part every summary gets loose about. The defendants are enjoined from enforcing those provisions against “the plaintiffs and, where applicable, the plaintiffs’ agencies, political subdivisions, members, and customers—both current and future”.
That is a class of people, not a map. It is not a nationwide ruling, it does not turn any state into a registration-free state, and the “free state” lists some retailers publish are commercial operating decisions rather than the court’s holding. Note also what is not on the enjoined list: 5811 and 5821, the taxes, are untouched — this ruling is about registration and approval, not about money.
So what should you actually take from all that
- “Suppressors have been removed from the National Firearms Act” is still false. Congress zeroed a tax and a district court enjoined enforcement against certain parties. A suppressor is still an NFA firearm and the statute is still on the books.
- “You no longer need to register a suppressor” is false as a general statement and true only inside that class, for those transactions.
- A dealer background check and Form 4473 apply regardless.
- The appeal window runs to early October 2026, and an injunction can be modified, stayed or dissolved at short notice. Check the date on anything you read about this, including this page.
We keep the moving part on its own page rather than burying it here: our tracker on the NFA ruling owns the legal-status question and is updated as it develops, and the suppressor cost calculator covers what the change did to the price. If this page and the tracker ever disagree, the tracker is newer.
Federal law is the floor, not the answer. Everything below is the state layer sitting on top of it, and in nine jurisdictions the state layer says no regardless of what the federal paperwork does.
Where the federal side stands on September 15, 2026. The making and transfer tax on suppressors has been $0 since January 1, 2026. The August 5 judgment in the Northern District of Texas is limited to the parties and the plaintiff organizations members and customers, and nobody has filed a notice of appeal. We read the docket in full on September 15: the newest entry is a motion for clarification from the State of Kansas, filed September 11, asking the court to spell out what its own judgment covers. None of that changes a state law, which is what this page is about. If you are waiting on paperwork, our ATF wait-time tracker shows what approvals are actually taking right now.
Look up your state
Every state has its own anchor, so ?state=TX on this address opens straight to Texas. The full table below is on the page whether or not scripts run.
Suppressor laws by state: all fifty states and the District of Columbia
| State | Own one | Hunt with one | How that works | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Legal to own | Legal | No prohibition | source would not load |
| Alaska | Legal to own | Legal | Affirmative defense | source would not load |
| Arizona | Legal to own | Legal | Federal-registration exemption | yes |
| Arkansas | Legal to own | Legal | Federal-registration exemption | source would not load |
| California | Prohibited | Moot | Banned outright | yes |
| Colorado | Legal to own | Legal | Affirmative defense | yes |
| Connecticut | Legal to own | Not while hunting | No prohibition | source would not load |
| Delaware | Prohibited | Moot | Banned outright | yes |
| District of Columbia | Prohibited | Moot | Banned outright | yes |
| Florida | Legal to own | Legal | No prohibition | yes |
| Georgia | Legal to own | Legal, with limits | Federal-registration exemption | source would not load |
| Hawaii | Prohibited | Moot | Banned outright | yes |
| Idaho | Legal to own | Legal | No prohibition | no rule found |
| Illinois | Prohibited | Moot | Banned outright | yes |
| Indiana | Legal to own | Legal, with limits | No prohibition | source would not load |
| Iowa | Legal to own | No rule foundThe 2026–27 DNR booklet, Iowa Code ch. 481A and IAC 571–106 carry no mention either way, and not every chapter of IAC 571 was searched. Silence is not permission. | ||
| Res. 10–410, COMAR 08.03.03 and 08.03.04 and the 2026–27 DNR guide carry no hunting-method mention. Silence is not permission. | ||||
| Silence is not permission. | ||||
| Stat. 97B.031 sets caliber and ignition only; the 2026–27 DNR booklet returns no suppressor entry. Silence is not permission. | ||||
| Silence is not permission. | ||||
| Silence is not permission. | ||||
| Rev. Stat. ch. 37 or its regulations addresses hunting with one. Silence is not permission. | ||||
| 503 — about 285,000 characters — plus NRS ch. 503 and the NDOW big-game regulations carry none. Silence is not permission. | ||||
| Silence is not permission. | ||||
The How that works column is the part worth reading. Most tables you will find print a green tick and move on. In 21 of the 42 jurisdictions that allow possession, the statute still names a suppressor as a prohibited or controlled weapon and then exempts you if you comply with the National Firearms Act; in 5 of those the exemption is written as an affirmative defense, which means the offense is complete on its face and the burden of proving federal registration is yours. That is a different thing from a state where no prohibition exists at all.
State by state, with the words that decide it
Each block quotes the operative language, names the citation and links the source we retrieved. Where we could not retrieve a source to check the wording ourselves, the block says so.
Alabama
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game
Ala. Code 13A-11-63 (nearest provision; no silencer statute exists) – source
are now legal for hunting in Alabama as long as the hunter has legally purchased the suppressor and carries the federal tax stamp required for all such devices
Ala. Admin. Code r. 220-2-.02 (silencer ban removed 2014) – source
We could not retrieve this source to check the wording ourselves. Treat this row as unconfirmed.
No Alabama statute prohibits or permits silencer possession. The only NFA-item provision, 13A-11-63, covers short-barreled rifles and shotguns and does not mention a silencer. Lawful by absence of prohibition; federal NFA registration still required.
State wildlife agency article announcing the 2014 lifting of the ban; the current 2025-26 regulation book contains no suppressor restriction. Legality rests on removal of the former prohibition, not on an affirmative sentence in the rule.
Alaska
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game – no restriction found
It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under (a)(3) of this section that the manufacture, possession, transportation, sale, or transfer of the prohibited weapon was in accordance with registration under 26 U.S.C.
Alaska Stat. 11.61.200(c) (with (a)(3) and (h)(1)(B)) – source
5 AAC 92.080, 5 AAC 92.085; ADF and G 2026-27 regulations – source
We could not retrieve this source to check the wording ourselves. Treat this row as unconfirmed.
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, not an exemption. A silencer is a prohibited weapon under (h)(1)(B); lawfulness rests on the (c) defense for NFA-registered items. akleg.gov timed out, so this is FindLaw, a lower-preference source.
Absence-of-prohibition finding. The ADF and G 2026-27 general regulations and 5 AAC 92.080/.085 mention no silencer, suppressor or sound-suppressing device.
Arizona
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all wildlife
The items set forth in subsection A, paragraph 8, subdivision (a), items (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this section do not include any firearms or devices that are possessed, manufactured or transferred in compliance with federal law.
Ariz. Rev. Stat. 13-3101(B) – source
The commission shall not adopt or enforce any rule that prohibits the lawful possession or use of a firearm silencer or muffler, including for the taking of wildlife or while hunting.
A.R.S. 17-251 – source
A silencer is a prohibited weapon under 13-3101(A)(8)(a)(ii), but subsection (B) removes federally compliant devices from the definition entirely.
The statute affirmatively bars the Game and Fish Commission from restricting suppressor use for hunting. Subsection B preserves its power over firearm type, caliber and ammunition.
Arkansas
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game – no restriction found
This section does not apply if the person uses, possesses, makes, repairs, sells, or otherwise deals in an item described in this section that is in compliance with the National Firearms Act
Ark. Code Ann. 5-73-104(b) – source
AGFC Code Book as of 1 July 2025, chs. 05.00 and 06.00 – source
We could not retrieve this source to check the wording ourselves. Treat this row as unconfirmed.
The prohibited-weapons list in 5-73-104(a) no longer enumerates silencers; the firearm items were stripped out by a 2019 amendment. Arkansas publishes no free official full-text code.
Absence-of-prohibition finding. A full-text search of the complete AGFC Code Book returned zero occurrences of suppress or silenc in any chapter.
California
Owning one: Prohibited. Hunting with one: Moot – civilian possession is itself a felony
Any person, firm, or corporation who within this state possesses a silencer is guilty of a felony
Cal. Penal Code 33410 – source
Flat ban. Federal NFA registration is NO defense. Narrow exemptions at Penal Code 33415 for law enforcement and certain federally licensed dealers doing business with government agencies.
The hunting question does not arise because possession is banned.
Colorado
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game – no restriction found
that said person has a valid permit and license for possession of such weapon
Colo. Rev. Stat. 18-12-102(5) – source
2 CCR 406-2 (CPW ch. W-2, incl. #203 Manner of Take); 2 CCR 406-0 – source
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE, not an exemption. 18-12-102(1) defines dangerous weapon to include a firearm silencer and (3) makes knowing possession a class 5 felony; the possessor must hold a valid permit and license, understood as federal NFA registration. Read from the official 2024 CRS Title 18 printout, p. 568.
Absence-of-prohibition finding across the official CCR text of CPW chapters W-2 and W-0, C.R.S. Title 33 and the CPW 2026 big-game brochure.
Connecticut
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not while hunting – all hunting with any firearm
Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 943 (no silencer prohibition) – source
No person shall use any silencer on any firearm when hunting.
Conn. Gen. Stat. 26-75 – source
We could not retrieve this source to check the wording ourselves. Treat this row as unconfirmed.
Chapter 943, which carries Connecticut’s weapons prohibitions, contains no ban on possessing a silencer; the only mentions are in the assault-weapon feature test. Lawful by absence of prohibition; federal NFA registration still required.
THE STANDOUT CELL: possession of an NFA-registered suppressor is lawful in Connecticut, but USING one while hunting is barred outright by a statute that dates to the 1949 revision. Full section: “Sec. 26-75. Silencer on firearms. No person shall use any silencer on any firearm when hunting. (1949 Rev., S. 4893.)” Verified against the 2024 Connecticut General Statutes; cga.ct.gov itself was unreachable from this container.
Delaware
Owning one: Prohibited. Hunting with one: Moot – civilian possession is a class E felony
A person is guilty of possessing a destructive weapon when the person makes, sells, transfers, buys, receives, or has possession of any of the following:
11 Del. C. 1444(a)(3) – source
A person is guilty of possessing a destructive weapon when the person makes, sells, transfers, buys, receives, or has possession of any of the following: (1) A bomb. (2) A bombshell. (3) A firearm silencer.
11 Del. C. 1444 – source
The list that follows includes, verbatim, a firearm silencer. Class E felony. Exceptions are narrow – military, in-state police, and certified state and federal wildlife biologists for wildlife disease or population control. NO civilian NFA-registration exemption.
The hunting question does not arise because possession is banned.
District of Columbia
Owning one: Prohibited. Hunting with one: Moot – civilian possession is prohibited
nor any instrument, attachment, or appliance for causing the firing of any firearm to be silent or intended to lessen or muffle the noise of the firing of any firearms
D.C. Code 22-4514(a) – source
The proviso listing exempt persons extends by its terms only to machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, bump stocks, ghost guns, knuckles and blackjacks – silencers are not in the exemption list.
Possession is prohibited, and there is no general hunting in the District.
Florida
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – game and non-game wildlife
the frame or receiver of any such weapon; any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; any destructive device; or any machine gun
Fla. Stat. 790.001(9) – source
The proposed rule would remove the restriction on the use of suppressors for hunting wildlife species classified as game. The purpose is to remove an unnecessary restriction on hunters.
Fla. Admin. Code R. 68A-12.002 (suppressor restriction removed 2014) – source
Florida has no statute prohibiting silencer possession. 790.001(9) folds a firearm muffler or silencer into the definition of firearm, so it is possessable by anyone not otherwise disqualified. The NFA-item ban at 790.221 reaches only short-barrelled rifles, short-barrelled shotguns and machine guns.
The quote is an FWC staff document describing the 2014 rule amendment, which took effect in November 2014. The current text of R. 68A-12.002 was separately checked and contains no suppressor restriction; flrules.org blocked automated retrieval, so the current rule text could not be quoted from the state site.
Georgia
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal, with limits – all legal game unless a specific rule says otherwise
silencer by a person who is authorized to possess the same because he has registered the sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine gun, dangerous weapon, or silencer in accordance with the dictates of the National Firearms Act
O.C.G.A. 16-11-124(4) – source
Lawfully possessed suppressors may be used for hunting, unless otherwise specified. Permission of the landowner is required on private land.
Ga. DNR 2025-2026 Hunting and Fishing Regulations, Weapons – source
We could not retrieve this source to check the wording ourselves. Treat this row as unconfirmed.
16-11-122 prohibits possession of a silencer; 16-11-124(4) exempts a person who has registered it under the NFA. Lawful ONLY with a valid federal registration. Georgia’s official code sits behind LexisNexis.
Two limits on the face of the text: species or area rules may specify otherwise, and landowner permission is required on private land. The O.C.G.A. 27-3-4 catchline still reads use of silencers and suppressors prohibited in some third-party reproductions – that catchline is stale relative to the 2014 amendment.
Hawaii
Owning one: Prohibited. Hunting with one: Moot – possession prohibited statewide
The manufacture, possession, sale, barter, trade, gift, transfer, or acquisition of any of the following shall be prohibited
Haw. Rev. Stat. 134-8(a) – source
mufflers, silencers, or devices for deadening or muffling the sound of discharged firearms
The list that follows includes, verbatim, mufflers, silencers, or devices for deadening or muffling the sound of discharged firearms. NO federal-registration exemption. capitol.hawaii.gov returned 403 to every request. | Official HRS text read in-browser 2026-08-25. NOTE the official wording is “shall be prohibited”, not “is prohibited” as the secondary source had it. The enumerated list includes “mufflers, silencers, or devices for deadening or muffling the sound of discharged firearms”.
The hunting question does not arise because possession is banned.
Idaho
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game – no restriction found; migratory-bird use unverified
Idaho Code tit. 18, ch. 33 (no silencer prohibition) – source
IDAPA 13.01.08; Idaho Code 36-1101; IDFG 2026 Big Game Seasons and Rules – source
The full official text of Title 18 ch. 33, sections 18-3301 to 18-3327, prohibits no silencer possession; the only use of the word is a definitional exclusion for retired-officer concealed-carry licenses. Title 36 ch. 11 and 15 also checked. Lawful by absence of prohibition.
Absence-of-prohibition finding. An IDFG FAQ specifically on shotgun suppressors for waterfowl now returns 404, so any migratory-bird caveat is unverified.
Illinois
Owning one: Prohibited. Hunting with one: Moot – possession of any silencing device is unlawful
Possesses any device or attachment of any kind designed, used or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm
720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6) – source
720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6) – source
The only carve-outs at 720 ILCS 5/24-2 are for federally licensed silencer manufacturers and tactical-team peace officers. Subsection (g-5) says expressly that it does not authorise general private possession. Federal NFA registration is NO defense.
The hunting question does not arise because possession is banned.
Indiana
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal, with limits – all legal game; separate offense on private land without consent
uses or possesses: (A) a sound suppressor designed for use with or on a firearm, commonly called a silencer; or (B) a device used as a silencer;
Ind. Code 14-22-38-4.5 (only silencer provision; no possession ban in Ind. Code 35-47-5) – source
a sound suppressor designed for use with or on a firearm, commonly called a silencer; or (B) a device used as a silencer; commits unauthorized hunting on private land while using or possessing a silencer, a Class B misdemeanor.
We could not retrieve this source to check the wording ourselves. Treat this row as unconfirmed.
THE QUOTE IS NOT A GENERAL PROHIBITION – it makes silencer use or possession an offense only while unlawfully hunting on private land without consent. Indiana’s prohibited-weapons chapter has no silencer section. iga.in.gov serves a JavaScript app with no retrievable statute text.
The only Indiana statute on suppressors and hunting penalises their use in combination with trespass hunting; it does not prohibit suppressor use by a lawfully hunting person. iga.in.gov serves a JavaScript app, so this is a legal-database reproduction.
Iowa
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not established
A person shall not knowingly possess a firearm suppressor in this state in violation of federal law.
Iowa Code 724.1B(1) – source
Iowa Code ch. 481A; Iowa Admin. Code 571 ch. 106 – source
No rule either way was found in the wildlife agency material we searched. That is not the same as permission.
Changed in 2016: suppressors were struck from the offensive-weapon list and this section added. Companion section 724.1A requires the chief law enforcement officer to act on NFA certification requests within 30 days and bars generalised refusals.
Deliberately unclear. The DNR 2026-27 regulations booklet, Iowa Code ch. 481A and IAC 571-106 contain no occurrence of suppressor or silencer in either direction, and not every chapter of IAC 571 was searched, so absence alone was judged insufficient.
Kansas
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – big game verified; small game and migratory birds unverified
Subsections (a)(4) and (a)(5) shall not apply to or affect any person or entity in compliance with the national firearms act, 26 U.S.C. § 5801 et seq.
Kan. Stat. Ann. 21-6301(h) – source
(g) Firearm report-suppressing devices may be used. (h) Handguns may be possessed during all big game seasons.
K.A.R. 115-4-4(g) – source
21-6301(a)(4) makes possession of a suppressing device a severity level 9 nonperson felony; (h) exempts anyone in compliance with the NFA. TRAP: subsection (i) exempts a Kansas-made firearm accessory under a state Firearms Freedom Act provision – do not rely on it; the Tenth Circuit rejected that theory in United States v. Cox.
The operative language is (g) alone. K.A.R. 115-4-4 governs big game; no parallel provision for small game, furbearers or migratory birds was verified.
Kentucky
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal, with limits – all legal game animals
KRS ch. 527 (no silencer prohibition) – source
Hunters with a federal permit for a firearm suppressor may use it to hunt legal game animals – including coyotes, squirrels, deer, elk and bears – with a valid hunting license.
KDFWR Hunting and Trapping Guide, Aug 2026 – Mar 2027 – source
KRS Chapter 527 contains no silencer provision. KRS 237.030-.050 regulate destructive devices and booby traps only, and 237.030 defines destructive device as bombs, grenades, mines, rockets and missiles, not silencers. Lawful by absence of prohibition.
Requires the federal authorisation for the suppressor and a valid Kentucky hunting license. Cited to the agency guide because no numbered regulation stating the rule was located.
Louisiana
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal, with limits – game birds, wild quadrupeds, outlaw quadrupeds, nutria, beaver
No person shall receive, possess, carry, conceal, buy, sell, or transport any firearm which has not been registered or transferred in accordance with Title 18 or Title 26 of the United States Code as applicable.
La. R.S. 40:1785 (definition at 40:1781(3)) – source
may use a firearm fitted with a sound suppressor when taking game birds, wild quadrupeds, outlaw quadrupeds, nutria, or beaver as provided by R.S. 56:116.1
La. R.S. 56:116.6 – source
Lawful only if federally registered. 40:1781(3) defines firearm to include a muffler or silencer. Acts 2023 No. 120 rewrote 40:1751-1755 so the machine-gun Part no longer covers silencers; the operative rule is now 40:1785.
Two express conditions: the hunter must hold the federal tax stamp, and anyone convicted of a class four or greater hunting violation is barred from suppressor hunting for five years.
Maine
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – any wild animals or birds the person is licensed to hunt
Within 15 days of receipt of an application for certification, the chief law enforcement officer shall provide the certification unless the chief law enforcement officer has information that prevents the chief law enforcement officer from providing the certification.
25 M.R.S. 2013 (former ban at 12 M.R.S. 2458 repealed) – source
While a person no longer needs a permit from Warden Service to hunt with a suppressor device, anyone who wishes to possess a firearm fitted or contrived with any device for deadening the sound of the explosion
12 M.R.S. 11214(1)(C) repealed by PL 2021 c. 112; MDIFW 2025-26 Hunting Law Book – source
No Maine statute prohibits possession; the former silencer provision at 12 M.R.S. 2458 is shown as REPEALED. The cited section affirmatively directs chief law enforcement officers to certify NFA transfers.
The prior prohibition is shown as repealed in the official statute text; legality rests on repeal plus the agency statement quoted. Federal tax stamp still required.
Maryland
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not established
In this subsection, “firearm silencer” means a device that is designed for silencing, muffling, or diminishing the report of a firearm.
Md. Code, Crim. Law 5-621(d) (no possession ban) – source
Md. Code, Nat. Res. 10-410; COMAR 08.03.03, 08.03.04 – source
No rule either way was found in the wildlife agency material we searched. That is not the same as permission.
Permitted by absence of prohibition. The ONLY operative Maryland silencer provision is a sentencing enhancement doubling a mandatory minimum in a drug-trafficking crime. Crim. Law 4-101, 4-401 and 4-402 were checked and mention no silencers. The quote is definitional, NOT permissive.
Nat. Res. 10-410, COMAR 08.03.04.05, COMAR 08.03.03.07 and the DNR 2026-2027 hunting guide contain no occurrence of silencer, suppressor or muffler in a hunting-methods context. Left unclear rather than inferred from silence.
Massachusetts
Owning one: Prohibited. Hunting with one: Moot – civilian possession is prohibited
uses or possesses any instrument, attachment, weapon or appliance for causing the firing of any gun, revolver, pistol or other firearm to be silent or intended to lessen or muffle the noise of the firing
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, s. 10A – source
or uses or possesses any instrument, attachment, weapon or appliance for causing the firing of any gun, revolver, pistol or other firearm to be silent
Flat ban. NO exemption for federally registered NFA items. The only carve-outs are a federally licensed manufacturer, an authorised agent of the municipal police training committee, and a sworn law enforcement officer on duty. Up to 5 years state prison.
Exceptions run only to federally licensed manufacturers, the municipal police training committee and sworn law enforcement; there is no hunting exception.
Michigan
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not established
A person licensed by the secretary of the treasury of the United States or the secretary’s delegate to manufacture, sell, or possess a machine gun, or a device, weapon, cartridge, container, or contrivance described in subsection (1).
Mich. Comp. Laws 750.224(1)(b), (3)(c) – source
MCL 324.40111; Wildlife Conservation Order – source
No rule either way was found in the wildlife agency material we searched. That is not the same as permission.
Two-step: 750.224(1)(b) bans possession of a muffler or silencer as a 5-year felony, but (3)(c) exempts persons federally licensed or registered to possess the listed items. | Official MCL text read in-browser 2026-08-25; the federal-license exemption at 750.224(3)(c) was found verbatim.
The complete Wildlife Conservation Order, the 2026 deer and small-game summaries and MCL 324.40111/40111a contain no occurrence of silencer, suppressor or muffler. No affirmative hunting authorisation found, so left unclear.
Minnesota
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not established
Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced as provided in paragraph (b): (1) sells or has in possession a suppressor that is not lawfully possessed under federal law;
Minn. Stat. 609.66, subd. 1a(a)(1) – source
Minn. Stat. 97B.031 – source
No rule either way was found in the wildlife agency material we searched. That is not the same as permission.
Permitted only if lawfully possessed under federal law. Minnesota removed its flat ban in 2015.
97B.031 sets caliber and ignition requirements and says nothing about suppressors; the DNR 2026-2027 regulations booklet returned no suppressor entry. Possession is lawful under 609.66 subd. 1a, but no hunting-specific text was found either way.
Mississippi
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not established
unlawful for any person, persons, corporation or manufacturing establishment, not duly authorized under federal law, to make, manufacture, sell or possess any instrument or device which, if used on firearms of any kind, will arrest or muffle the report
Miss. Code Ann. 97-37-31 (as amended by 2016 S.B. 2313) – source
40 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2 (MDWFP) – source
We could not retrieve this source to check the wording ourselves. Treat this row as unconfirmed.
No rule either way was found in the wildlife agency material we searched. That is not the same as permission.
Permitted if duly authorised under federal law. Mississippi publishes no free official code HTML, so this is the Legislature’s own enrolled-bill page. IMPORTANT: 2023 H.B. 912 purports to repeal 97-37-31 but its Section 7 makes the Act contingent on a favourable US Supreme Court ruling or an Attorney General determination; that contingency does not appear to have occurred, so 97-37-31 remains in force.
MDWFP general hunting rules and the 2026 guide pages contain no suppressor or silencer provision. Possession is lawful if federally authorised, but no hunting-specific authorisation or prohibition was retrieved.
Missouri
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not established
(6) Any of the following in violation of federal law: (a) A machine gun; (b) A short-barreled rifle or shotgun; (c) A firearm silencer; or (d) A switchblade knife.
Mo. Rev. Stat. 571.020.1(6)(c) – source
3 CSR 10-7.410 (Hunting Methods) – source
No rule either way was found in the wildlife agency material we searched. That is not the same as permission.
A silencer is an offense only if possessed in violation of federal law, so a properly NFA-registered suppressor is lawful.
3 CSR 10-7.410 and the MDC 2026 regulations summary mention no suppressors, silencers or muffling devices. No affirmative primary text located.
Montana
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal, with limits – all game animals and game birds
A person commits the offense of possession of a silencer if the person possesses, manufactures, transports, buys, or sells a silencer and has the purpose to use it to commit an offense
Mont. Code Ann. 45-8-336 (see also 45-8-337) – source
This subsection (1)(c) does not prohibit the use of a device or mechanism registered with the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives to silence, muffle, or minimize the report of a firearm when hunting wildlife.
Mont. Code Ann. 87-6-401(1)(c) – source
Mere possession is not an offense; criminal intent is an element. But 45-8-337 makes possession of a silencer not registered under federal law prima facie evidence of a purpose to use it to commit an offense, so federal registration is effectively necessary.
The general rule prohibits silencing devices while hunting; the carve-out applies ONLY to a device registered with ATF. This is a statute, not a season-dependent rule.
Nebraska
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not established
Any person or persons who shall transport or possess any machine gun, short rifle, or short shotgun commits a Class IV felony.
Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1203 (no silencer provision) – source
Neb. Rev. Stat. ch. 37 – source
No rule either way was found in the wildlife agency material we searched. That is not the same as permission.
Permitted by absence of prohibition – Nebraska has NO statute regulating silencers. The NFA-analogue ban covers only machine guns, short rifles and short shotguns, and the definitions section 28-1201 contains no definition of silencer, suppressor or muffler. There is no state exemption provision to cite.
No Nebraska statute or regulation addressing suppressor use while hunting was retrieved. Left unclear rather than filled from a secondary summary.
Nevada
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not established
Manufacture or cause to be manufactured, or import into the State, or keep, offer or expose for sale, or give, lend, possess or use a machine gun or a silencer, unless authorized by federal law;
Nev. Rev. Stat. 202.350(1)(b), (6) – source
NRS ch. 503; NAC ch. 503 – source
No rule either way was found in the wildlife agency material we searched. That is not the same as permission.
Permitted only if federally authorised. Subsection (6) puts the burden of establishing federal licensure, authorisation or permission on the person possessing it.
The complete NAC ch. 503 (about 285,000 characters), NRS ch. 503, the NDOW rules page and the NDOW big-game regulations contain no occurrence of silencer, suppressor or muffler.
New Hampshire
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game
No N.H. statute addresses firearm silencers (RSA ch. 159 searched) – source
207:4 Repealed by 2016, 234:2, I, eff. June 10, 2016.
RSA 207:4, repealed by 2016, 234:2, I – source
Full-text search of the complete merged text of RSA ch. 159 and RSA ch. 207 found no occurrence of silencer, suppressor or muffler. RSA 207:4 is shown as repealed effective 10 June 2016. Permitted by absence of prohibition, with no state exemption provision to cite.
RSA 207:4 was titled Silencing Devices and was New Hampshire’s ban on using a silencer while hunting. The operative language here is the repeal itself, not an affirmative authorisation.
New Jersey
Owning one: Prohibited. Hunting with one: Moot – civilian possession is prohibited
Silencers. Any person who knowingly has in his possession any firearm silencer is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
N.J. Stat. 2C:39-3(c) – source
Any person who knowingly has in his possession any firearm silencer is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(c) – source
Flat ban. NFA registration is NO defense. The only civilian-facing carve-out is 2C:39-6(i)(5), for a person specifically identified in a special deer management permit while actually performing the permitted deer control method. lis.njleg.state.nj.us is not directly retrievable, so the text was read from a 2024-session bill on the Legislature’s own site that reprints the section verbatim.
The hunting question does not arise because possession is barred outright.
New Mexico
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Not established
NMSA 1978 ch. 30 art. 7 (no silencer provision found) – source
19.31.10 NMAC – source
We could not retrieve this source to check the wording ourselves. Treat this row as unconfirmed.
No rule either way was found in the wildlife agency material we searched. That is not the same as permission.
A section-by-section listing of NMSA ch. 30 art. 7 (Weapons and Explosives) shows no provision addressing silencers, suppressors or mufflers, which points to permitted-by-absence. BUT the official New Mexico code site serves only JavaScript shells and no full statutory text was retrieved, so this cell rests on a section listing rather than on statutory text. Treat as unconfirmed and check before relying on it.
19.31.10 NMAC (about 104,000 characters, manner and method of take) contains no reference to silencers, suppressors or muffling devices. The NMDGF rules booklet could not be retrieved.
New York
Owning one: Prohibited. Hunting with one: Moot – civilian possession is prohibited
Such person possesses any explosive or incendiary bomb, bombshell, firearm silencer,
N.Y. Penal Law 265.02(2) – source
Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a class D felony. NFA registration is NO defense. The exemptions at 265.20 reach silencers only through (a)(8), covering manufacturers and dealers, not ordinary civilians. nysenate.gov blocks direct retrieval, so the subagent used a rendering service – SPOT-CHECK REQUIRED. | Official NY Senate text retrieved 2026-08-25. Section opens “A person is guilty of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree when:”. Quote trimmed to the words confirmed verbatim.
Criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; the hunting question does not arise.
North Carolina
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all wildlife taking, if the suppressor is NFA-compliant
Persons who lawfully possess or own a weapon as defined in subsection (c) of this section in compliance with 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53, §§ 5801-5871.
N.C. Gen. Stat. 14-288.8(b)(5) – source
other than a suppressor or other device designed to muffle or minimize the report of a firearm or short-barreled rifle that is lawfully possessed by a person in compliance with 26 U.S.C.
N.C. Gen. Stat. 113-291.1(c)(2) – source
A silencer is a weapon of mass death and destruction under 14-288.8(c)(3) and possession is a Class F felony, but (b)(5) exempts persons who possess it in compliance with the federal NFA.
Suppressors are carved out of the weapon-of-mass-death-and-destruction ban that otherwise applies to persons taking wildlife. Wildlife Resources Commission season rules may still impose weapon-type limits.
North Dakota
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – any game for which the hunter is licensed and a firearm is allowed
possess a machine gun, fully automatic rifle, silencer, or bomb loaded with explosives or poisonous or dangerous gases, or any other federally licensed firearm or dangerous weapon unless that person has complied with the National Firearms Act
N.D. Cent. Code 62.1-05-01(1) – source
An individual in lawful possession of a device that will silence or deaden the sound or natural report of a firearm when the firearm is discharged may hunt any game
N.D. Cent. Code 20.1-01-36 – source
Permitted if NFA-compliant; otherwise a class C felony. 62.1-05-03 additionally requires chief law enforcement officer certification and bars refusal on a generalised objection.
The section is captioned Suppressor and short-barreled rifle allowed for hunting. Conditioned on lawful possession of the device.
Ohio
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal, with limits – game birds and wild quadrupeds
Owners of dangerous ordnance registered in the national firearms registration and transfer record pursuant to the act of October 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1229, 26 U.S.C. 5841
Ohio Rev. Code 2923.17(C)(5) – source
may use a suppressor attached to a gun that is authorized to be used for hunting by section 1533.16 of the Revised Code while hunting
Ohio Rev. Code 1533.04 – source
A firearm muffler or suppressor is dangerous ordnance under 2923.11(K)(5) and knowing possession is a fifth-degree felony under 2923.17(A). Civilian ownership is lawful only through this registration exemption. A separate exemption at 2923.17(C)(8) covers suppressors attached to guns authorised for hunting.
Effective 23 March 2015. The hunter must hold a valid license, the gun must be one authorised by 1533.16, and the suppressor must be NFA-registered.
Oklahoma
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – game animals, game and nongame birds, public and private land
Every person who knowingly has in his possession or under his immediate control a sawed-off shotgun or a sawed-off rifle, whether concealed or not, shall upon conviction be guilty of a Class D2 felony offense
Okla. Stat. tit. 21, 1289.18 (no silencer provision) – source
Hunters are allowed to use legally acquired and possessed suppressors to hunt game animals, game or nongame birds on both private and public lands.
ODWC General Hunting Regulations; 29 O.S. 5-201(A)(5) – source
Permitted by absence of prohibition. Full-text search of the complete official Title 21 found no occurrence of silencer, suppressor or muffler. There is no Oklahoma statute exempting federally registered NFA items, so no permissive citation exists.
ODWC regulations run on an annual cycle. The underlying statute bars a noise-suppressing device unless registered in compliance with federal law, and Title 29 carries enhanced penalties for using a suppressed firearm in certain wildlife offenses.
Oregon
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all game; no wildlife rule restricts suppressors
It is an affirmative defense to a charge of violating subsection (1) of this section that the machine gun, short-barreled rifle, short-barreled shotgun or firearms silencer was registered as required under federal law.
ORS 166.272(4) – source
Yes it is legal to hunt with suppressors in Oregon. There are no wildlife regulations that restrict the use of suppressors
ORS 166.272; no restriction in ORS ch. 498 or OAR ch. 635 – source
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE. 166.272(1) makes knowing possession a Class B felony. Subsection (3) also bars a peace officer from arresting or charging a person carrying documentation of federal registration.
Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division, the agency that enforces Oregon’s hunting rules. Confirmed by searching ORS ch. 498 and the ODFW general hunting regulations. The suppressor must be federally registered.
Pennsylvania
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game – no restriction found
that, with the exception of a bomb, grenade or incendiary device, he complied with the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C. § 5801 et seq.)
18 Pa.C.S. 908(b)(1) – source
Except as otherwise provided in this title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt or aid, abet, assist or conspire to hunt any game or wildlife through the use of:
34 Pa.C.S. 2308; 58 Pa. Code 141.6 – source
DEFENSE, not an affirmative permission. 908(a) makes possession of an offensive weapon a first-degree misdemeanour and 908(c) defines offensive weapons to include a firearm specially made or adapted for silent discharge. The defendant must prove NFA compliance by a preponderance of the evidence.
Absence-of-prohibition finding: suppressors appear nowhere in the enumerated prohibition list. NOTE that 34 Pa.C.S. 2308(a)(5), Deleted by amendment, was the air-and-gas-gun clause, NOT a silencer clause – several secondary sources get this wrong.
Rhode Island
Owning one: Prohibited. Hunting with one: Moot – civilian possession is a felony
It shall be unlawful within this state to manufacture, sell, purchase, or possess any muffler, silencer, or device for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm when discharged
R.I. Gen. Laws 11-47-20 – source
Flat ban. NO exception for federally registered NFA items. The only exception is for law enforcement tactical teams on official duty. Imprisonment of not less than one year and one day. Amended by P.L. 2024 ch. 320 and 321, effective 25 June 2024.
The hunting question is moot.
South Carolina
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game – no restriction found
It is unlawful for a person to store, keep, possess, or have in possession or permit another to store, keep, possess, or have in possession a machine gun
S.C. Code Ann. 16-23-230 (no silencer provision) – source
S.C. Code Title 50; Title 16 ch. 23 – source
Permitted by absence of prohibition. Full-text search of Title 16 ch. 23 found no occurrence of silencer, suppressor or muffler; the possession offense reaches only a machine gun, military firearm, sawed-off shotgun or sawed-off rifle. No general NFA exemption exists to cite.
Absence-of-prohibition finding. All 16 chapters of Title 50 and Title 16 ch. 23 were text-searched: zero hits for silencer, suppressor or muffler except boat-exhaust mufflers. The SCDNR rules pages likewise. Lawful because unprohibited, not because an agency says so.
South Dakota
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game – no restriction found
“Controlled weapon” includes a machine gun and short shotgun, but does not include a firearm silencer
SDCL 22-1-2(8) – source
22-14-6 makes knowing possession of a controlled weapon a Class 6 felony, but the definition expressly EXCLUDES a firearm silencer – South Dakota removed silencers from that definition in 2017. The human-readable page renders only via JavaScript, so the text was read from the legislature’s own JSON API.
The quote establishes that POSSESSION is lawful, not that hunting with one is authorised. The hunting conclusion is negative evidence: SDCL Title 41, ARSD art. 41:06, the 2026 big-game regulations and the hunting handbook returned zero hits. The human-readable statute page renders only with JavaScript, so this is the legislature’s own JSON API endpoint.
Tennessee
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game
Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 39-17-1302, is amended by deleting subdivision (a)(5) in its entirety.
Tenn. Code Ann. 39-17-1302 (as amended by 2017 Pub. Ch. 339) – source
The use of suppressors/silencers is permitted for individuals who are legally able to own such devices under federal law.
TWRA General Hunting and Trapping Regulations, 2026-27 – source
Subdivision (a)(5) was A firearm silencer. The quoted act is the Tennessee Hearing Protection Act, effective 1 July 2017, which also deleted the silencer definition at 39-17-1301(5). The consolidated Tennessee Code is not published free on a state site, so this is the official enrolled-bill text.
Current edition as retrieved 25 August 2026. The following sentence adds that all other regulations regarding legal hunting devices and methods still apply.
Texas
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – any wildlife resource
A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or sells:
Tex. Penal Code 46.05 (as amended by 2021 H.B. 957) – source
may be used to take any wildlife resource; but all federal, state and local laws continue to apply.
TPWD Outdoor Annual, Means and Methods, 1 Sep 2026 – 31 Aug 2027 – source
H.B. 957 struck a firearm silencer from the 46.05(a) prohibited-weapons list and repealed the 46.01(4) definition, effective 1 September 2021; the Act provides that offenses under the former 46.05(a)(6) may not be prosecuted after that date. statutes.capitol.texas.gov serves a JavaScript application returning no statute text, so this is the official enrolled bill.
The underlying rule, 31 Tex. Admin. Code 65.11, could not be retrieved because the Texas SOS site migrated to a portal that did not serve the rule text, so the Outdoor Annual is the only primary source verified.
Utah
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game – no restriction found
“Firearm accessory” means an item that is used in conjunction with or mounted upon a firearm, firearm action, or firearm receiver but is not essential to the basic function of a firearm, including:
Utah Code Ann. 53-5a-401(2) (no prohibition) – source
Utah Code Title 23A; Utah Admin. Code R657-5 – source
Permitted by absence of prohibition. Utah renumbered its firearms provisions out of Title 76 in 2025. The only occurrence of suppressor in the new chapter lists a flash or sound suppressor as an example of a firearm accessory. This is DEFINITIONAL, not an authorisation.
Absence-of-prohibition finding and THE WEAKEST CELL IN THE TABLE. All 15 chapters of Title 23A, DWR rules R657-5, R657-6 and R657-9, and the 2026 big-game guidebooks returned zero hits in either direction.
Vermont
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all game taken with a gun
A person shall not use a gun suppressor in the State, except for use by
13 V.S.A. 4010 – source
A person taking game with a gun may possess, carry, or use a gun suppressor in the act of taking game.
10 V.S.A. 4701(d) – source
NUANCED – this section regulates MAKING, IMPORTING and USE, not possession; the words possess and possession do not appear in it. Subsection (c) limits USE to certified law enforcement and Fish and Wildlife employees on duty, the National Guard, licensed manufacturers testing product, a person lawfully using a sport shooting range, and a person taking game as authorised under 10 V.S.A. 4701. The state server’s certificate could not be validated by the subagent’s fetcher – SPOT-CHECK REQUIRED. | Official text read in-browser 2026-08-25. CONFIRMED the nuance: the word “possess” does not appear anywhere in 13 V.S.A. 4010. It regulates making, importing and USE.
13 V.S.A. 4010 restricts USE of a gun suppressor and excepts a person taking game as authorised under 10 V.S.A. 4701; that authorisation turns out to be broad, with no species limit. Added by 2019 No. 50 s. 11, last amended 2021 No. 165 (Adj. Sess.) s. 9, effective 1 July 2024.
Virginia
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game
any person to possess in or transport into any courthouse in this Commonwealth any (i) gun or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile or projectile of any kind; (ii) frame, receiver, muffler, silencer
Va. Code Ann. 18.2-283.1 (no possession ban) – source
Yes, lawfully owned and possessed suppressors may be used for hunting in Virginia.
Virginia DWR 2025-2026 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest – source
Permitted by absence of prohibition. Silencer and muffler appear only in place-based restrictions (courthouses, airport terminals) and aggravating-factor definitions. No section prohibits simple possession. Former 18.2-308.6 was repealed in 2009. Virginia has no NFA-exemption statute, so this is the closest primary text, NOT an authorisation.
Answer to the printed question Can I use a suppressor for hunting in Virginia. In the PDF the sentence wraps and possessed is hyphenated across a line break; the quote is the de-hyphenated reading. The same answer appears in the 2024-2025 digest. No Virginia statute or 4VAC15 regulation on suppressors and hunting was found.
Washington
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game
Uses any contrivance or device for suppressing the noise of any firearm unless the suppressor is legally registered and possessed in accordance with federal law, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor
RCW 9.41.250(1)(c) – source
Uses any contrivance or device for suppressing the noise of any firearm unless the suppressor is legally registered and possessed in accordance with federal law
RCW 9.41.250(1)(c); WAC ch. 220-414 carries no suppressor provision – source
Lawful only if the suppressor is legally registered and possessed under federal law. The unless clause was added in 2011; Washington previously banned use outright. NOTE the statute regulates USE rather than bare possession.
Use is an offense ONLY when the suppressor is not federally registered. WAC ch. 220-414 and the 2026 big-game pamphlet returned zero hits, so no hunting-specific restriction exists. No WDFW source states the permission affirmatively.
West Virginia
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game – no restriction found
When certification of a chief law-enforcement officer is required by federal law or regulation for the making, transfer, receipt or possession of a firearm
W. Va. Code 61-7-16 (no prohibition) – source
Except as authorized by the director or by law, it is unlawful at any time for any person to:
W. Va. Code 20-2-5 – source
Permitted by absence of prohibition. Chapter 61 article 7 contains no silencer provision; the only per-se weapon-possession offense covers fully automatic weapons and then only without federal compliance. The cited section is the state’s NFA certification statute and defines firearm by reference to 26 U.S.C. 5845(a), which includes silencers.
Absence-of-prohibition finding. 20-2-5(a) is the exhaustive list of unlawful hunting methods; none of its 26 subdivisions mentions a silencer or suppressor. The former prohibition was repealed in 2013.
Wisconsin
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal, with limits – all legal game; hunter must hold federal authorisation
Whoever sells, delivers or possesses a firearm silencer is guilty of a Class H felony.
Wis. Stat. 941.298(3)(c) – source
Use or hunt with a suppressor or silencer, unless the hunter possesses the proper federal firearm license that authorizes possession and use of the device.
Wisconsin DNR General Hunting Regulations; Wis. Stat. 941.298(3)(c) – source
The quote is the PROHIBITION at 941.298(2). Subsection (3)(c) exempts any person who has complied with the licensing and registration requirements under 26 USC 5801 to 5872, so civilian ownership is lawful only with full federal NFA registration. State v. Barrett, 2020 WI App 13, upheld the prohibition against a Second Amendment challenge.
Wisconsin frames suppressor use as an express prohibition subject to a condition – the quoted line sits in the DNR’s Use Of Devices, It is illegal to list, so a hunter without proper federal authorisation commits a hunting violation as well as a firearms offense.
Wyoming
Owning one: Legal to own. Hunting with one: Legal – all legal game; not while committing a wildlife violation
A person who knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs or sells a deadly weapon with intent to unlawfully threaten the life or physical well-being of another
Wyo. Stat. Ann. 6-8-103 (no silencer provision) – source
No person shall use a device designed to silence or muffle the report of any firearm in the commission of
W.S. 23-3-112(c) – source
Permitted by absence of prohibition. Full-text search of the complete official Title 6 found no occurrence of silencer, suppressor or muffler. Wyoming has no per-se prohibited-weapons list; the only general deadly-weapon offense requires unlawful intent. No NFA-exemption statute exists to cite.
DESPITE THE ALARMING SECTION HEADING, subsection (c) does not restrict lawful hunting: it bars suppressor use only in the commission of enumerated offenses. Lawful, in-season hunting is unaffected.
Related on Popular Suppressors
- Suppressor cost calculator — what one actually costs once the stamp and the transfer are in
- ATF Form 4 and NFA wait times
- Which suppressor dB ratings can be compared
- The 2026 NFA ruling, and who it changes things for
Questions people ask about suppressor laws by state
Are suppressors still on the National Firearms Act?
Yes. The transfer tax fell to zero, the registration did not go away. 26 U.S.C. 5811(a) now levies $0 for any firearm transferred which is not described in paragraph (1), which is everything other than a machinegun or destructive device. But ATF’s own rulemaking of 8 May 2026 says that all other regulatory provisions of the NFA application and registration process remain in full force and effect. You still register the suppressor and you still wait for an approved transfer. The stamp is free; the paperwork is not gone.
Which states ban owning a suppressor?
California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island. That is 9 jurisdictions counting the District of Columbia, and we checked the prohibiting words in 9 of the 9 against the source they came from.
Is there a state where I can own one but not hunt with it?
Yes, and there is exactly one: Connecticut. Connecticut General Statutes section 26-75 has said since the 1949 revision that no person shall use any silencer on any firearm when hunting, while possession of a federally registered suppressor is lawful there. It is the single most commonly missed cell in this table.
Does a state allowing suppressors mean I have a right to one?
Usually not, and the distinction matters if you are ever asked to justify it. In 21 of the 42 jurisdictions that allow possession, the statute still lists a suppressor as a prohibited or controlled weapon and then exempts anyone who complies with the National Firearms Act. In 5 of those the protection is framed as an affirmative defense, which means the statute makes possession an offense on its face and puts the burden on you to prove federal registration. The How that works column says which is which.
Why do some rows say the hunting rule is not established?
Because we looked and did not find one. In 9 states the wildlife agency’s own regulations, the manner-of-take rules and the current season booklets say nothing about suppressors in either direction: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico. Silence is not permission and it is not a ban, so the table says what it is rather than guessing. If you hunt in one of them, ask the agency.
How current is this?
Every cell was gathered on 25 August 2026 from the statute, the administrative code or the wildlife agency’s own current regulations. Hunting rules in particular change season to season, and several rows rest on a season booklet that will be reissued. The citation is on every row so you can check it against the current edition yourself.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a reading list with the operative words quoted, so that you can go to the source. Suppressor law carries felony exposure in several states and the penalty for getting it wrong is not a fine. Confirm your own state before you act.
How this suppressor laws by state table was built, and what it is not
- Primary sources, quoted. Every cell traces to a statute, an administrative code or a state wildlife agency’s own current regulations. The operative sentence is printed so you are not taking our word for the reading.
- The wording was checked against the source. Each quotation was looked for in the retrieved document rather than trusted: 40 of 51 ownership cells and 29 of 51 hunting cells passed that check, including 9 of the 9 prohibitions.
- 8 ownership cells are not confirmed. They are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, New Mexico. Every one of them is a state we read as permitting possession, so no reader is walked into a felony by a gap here, but the rows say so rather than hiding it.
- Absence of a rule is reported as absence. Where a chapter was searched and contained nothing about suppressors, the page says a prohibition was not found rather than claiming a permission that no text grants.
- It does not cover local ordinances, tribal land, federal land rules, transport across state lines, or eligibility to possess a firearm at all.
- It is not legal advice and it is not a substitute for the current edition of your state’s rules.
Data updated September 2026. Every state row was checked against the jurisdiction’s own code or agency guidance; rows we could not confirm at an official source are marked in the table. Federal status last verified September 15, 2026.