Airguns and Upland Game Hunting

April 2, 2009

Question: My buddy and I are part of the ever increasing population of airgun hunters. We typically take rabbits and ground squirrels, but would like to use these .22 precharged pneumatics for turkey and other upland game, such as quail and dove. While we believe the regulations cover the turkey hunting explicitly, can you confirm if it is also legal to take dove and quail with these weapons? Thank you. (Jason C., Windsor)

Answer: Resident small game (as listed in CCR, Title 14, Section 257) may be taken with an air rifle firing pellets and powered by compressed air or gas. This includes: wild turkey (must use 0.20 caliber or larger), Eurasian collared doves, quail, non-protected squirrels, jack rabbits and cottontails, in addition to the other resident small game species defined in section 257.

Western mourning dove, white-winged dove and band-tailed pigeons are listed as migratory game birds and may not be taken with an air rifle.

We love this type of hunting! It is a whole new challenge and whole new skill set! Get out there and have some fun!

I scored a pellet gun for christmas, where does one search out turkeys?

I got a new pellet gun too.  The Eurasian collared doves don't wake  me up in the morning anymore.

Looking forward to spring turkey!

I didn't see a mention for pheasant.  Are they also allowed to take with an air rifle?  What about the whole 'lead' thing?

Pheasant is ok-per game warden last week. Turkey is closed until spring turkey. Lead issue is in effect in the lead free zones. There are composite pellets with alloys not containing lead that must be used.

I'm looking to get into this….

 where can I find  "wad cutter" .177 pellets?  It's the only ammo my new toy takes….

guess I'll still have to upgrade to 22 cal to hunt...

 

Don
www.pyramidair.com
all the pellets, bb's, airguns, air soft guns etc you will ever need.

also, they have high end air rifles in calibres such as 357, 9mm, and 45 acp if you want to drop around $2000 or more.

But, pellets, yeh that's what you asked for

I just picked up a Benjamin Marauder pistol/carbine in .22 with Pyramid's after Christmas sale.  Very accurate and packs a wallop.  Mostly for rat control, but I may have to try it out on some squirrels and rabbits.