hunting public lands with an air gun

[roadrnnr42]

Does anyone know if air guns are legal on public lands? Thanks to you guys on the forum, I just ordered the GRT trigger. Can't wait to get it and try it out. Everyone is so positive on the improvement it makes that I had to try it out.

[longislandhunter]

Best thing to do is check with the Fish and Game officials for your state.  They will be able to give you a clear answer......

Jeff

[NMCA_Ron]

Regulations vary from state to state. In Kansas (yes, I DO know Dorothy! LOL) it is legal to take squirrel and rabbit on public land but you must have a state hunting license. This brings up another good point... Check your state's regulations for what game may be legally taken with an airgun. Some states allow the use of airguns, but only in .22 cal or larger. Remember, it is ultimately YOUR responsibility to ensure you are within the law when hunting in your state.

Ron

p.s.  You are gonna LOVE that new GRT-III!

[shadow]

As said the law's are different with each state. Here in South Dakota the law's apply the same to airgun's as firearm's but you can only hunt small game, squirrel's, foxes, rabbit's, possum's badger's,P-dog's, Coyotes, pigeon and Morning Dove. A hunting and varment licence is required . Ed

[CFX Marauder]

Florida is a no go...Called the local office and was told it is illegal to take any game with a air rifle,Pellet gun or BB gun

[bwgstock]

Cfx-131, I wonder if the folks you called are mistaken. State regulations seem to suggest otherwise. I just found the Florida Hunting regulations at this site:

http://myfwc.com/hunting/

The Florida Hunting Regulations Handbook, which can be downloaded here

http://myfwc.com/hunting/pdf/0708FLHunt_web2.pdf

defines a gun this way (page 218 [actually page 4 of PDF file]):

(40) Gun – Shotgun, rifle, pistol, revolver, air gun, gas gun, blow gun, bow, crossbow, or any other device mechanically propelling an arrow, spear, or other projectile.

Since there are general gun hunting seasons on public lands, I don't see how air rifles can be disallowed during regular hunting dates. I searched the entire Florida regulations handbook for further notes on air guns, bb guns, air rifles, etc. and the only thing I found was the definition above.

[CFX Marauder]

http://askit.myfwc.com/cgi-bin/myfwc.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

Question #8

This is what prompted me to call them...I had not seen the defenition you posted..

[bwgstock]

Thanks for that link -- there is certainly some confusion about what is legal in Florida. I just asked on that site you linked above for clarification about this issue. Will post the response once received.

[CFX Marauder]

Confusing it is...Id like to take my daughter hunting and the Air rifles would be perfect for any of the  small areas around us..

[bwgstock]

Got a response:

"Response (OED-BH)   
Look on page 12 of the hunting regulations Handbook (at: http://myfwc.com/hunting/ )- Legal Methods of Taking Game gun is never used
 
air guns are not a legal method of take in Florida"

This response is based upon this document:

http://myfwc.com/hunting/pdf/0708FLHunt_web2.pdf

On page 12 the document notes legal ways to take game, which includes only the following:

"Resident game birds and mammals:
Rifles, shotguns, pistols, longbows, compound bows, recurve bows, crossbows and birds of prey (falcons, hawks and great horned owls) may be used. Longbows, compound bows, recurve bows and crossbows..."

"Hunting deer with a muzzleloader: Muzzleloading guns firing single bullets must be at least .40-caliber."

"Migratory game birds: Shotguns (not larger than 10-gauge) plugged to a three-shell capacity..."

If I were a resident of Florida, I think I would write the Governor or my representative to have "rifle" clearly defined to include air rifle. I cannot understand why air rifles are not allowed to take small game on public land.

bwgstock - 1/9/2008  1:03 PM

...If I were a resident of Florida, I think I would write the Governor or my representative to have "rifle" clearly defined to include air rifle...

I'm thinking that it might be better to just lobby for the specific inclusion of airguns over a certain FPE for the taking of game, but NOT to associate airguns in the definition of rifles. I would hate to think that unwanted attention might be drawn to airgun shooters to the point of increasing legislated restrictions- they's already too mucha dat, in my humble opinion.

Bryan

[bwgstock]

Good point -- that thought also crossed my mind.