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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: flattracker23 on December 27, 2012, 06:25:06 PM

Title: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: flattracker23 on December 27, 2012, 06:25:06 PM
What can you legally hunt in Texas with an air gun?
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: cactusrat on December 27, 2012, 06:45:33 PM
Nongame animals with a licenses. There is to many regulations to list here. Follow the link and read up before go hunting.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/fish_hunt/hunt/nongame/ (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/fish_hunt/hunt/nongame/)
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on December 30, 2012, 01:06:47 AM
Great link, thanks for posting cactusrat!
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: nashtx on December 30, 2012, 06:42:25 PM
Nongame animals with a licenses. There is to many regulations to list here. Follow the link and read up before go hunting.

Thanks for posting this.

WaydeG
Frisco, Tx
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: howie1968 on January 06, 2013, 11:28:50 AM
I am from texas and I called the game warden myself and exactly what the others have said so basically birds rabbits and non fur buring animals, i asked about raccoons they said no as it falls under fur bearer and a air rifle is not legal im glad i found out.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: flattracker23 on January 06, 2013, 01:53:27 PM
I thought I read somewhere you could hunt Exotic animal with an airgun in Texas but can not find it now.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 06, 2013, 06:23:40 PM
I think that the law regarding exotic species has changed
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: howie1968 on January 06, 2013, 07:57:36 PM
when i spoke to the game warden he stated non game animals  so iasked him about hogs he said yes then i asked about  raccoon he said no it falls under fur bearing , its a crazy law as i can hunt hogs and rabbits with an airgun but not raccoon and squirrel i was ready to hunt raccoon im glad i checked first
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 06, 2013, 08:03:10 PM
Yeah, seems like it takes awhile for hunting regs. to catch up.  I feel pretty confident they will come wround... eventually.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: only1harry on January 06, 2013, 09:26:10 PM
That is a little strange not to be able to hunt squirrel or raccoon with an airgun in TX. 

I have come to realize that NY finally made the airgun hunting laws very simple for us 2yrs ago as compared to some other states.  It basically says you can take any small game critter with an air gun that is legal to take with rimfire, as long as the AG has a minimum velocity of 600fps.  That includes fur bearers and most small game.  I don't think they could have made it any simpler.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 07, 2013, 10:51:49 PM
Here was my question to TPWD:
"I am looking for a place to hunt some pigeons and rabbits with my air
(pellet) rifles.  According to what I'vs found and read so far, I can
legally take them with my air rifle as well as the eurasian collered
doves.  I want to take my boy out to the Holland Road unit #2433, where
all three of these species are listed for hunters to take, and do some
hunting with our air rifles."

Here's the answer:
"Our public hunting lands do not allow the use of air/pellet guns or BB
guns for taking any species on our public hunting lands.

The only legal means and methods that may be used to take those species
are with a legal shotgun since that is the only legal firearm that may
be used while hunting dove."

This bummed me out.  Holland Road #2433 is a "private dove lease", open to the public- meaning it is private land that the landowner decided to let us po' folks come out and hunt.  But anyway, hunting rabbits is allowed out there "while hunting doves".  Less than an hour from Killeen, if you're looking for a spot to take your kid dove and rabbit hunting.  But, just shotguns only =(  Starting to miss N.C. pretty badly right now.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 09, 2013, 11:07:06 PM
I'm afraid airguns won't be viewed as "real guns" in Texas for a long time yet.  Remember, this is the state where many hunters think they need a .300 Win Mag to shoot a 89 lb. whitetail... ::)

John
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: cactusrat on January 09, 2013, 11:22:50 PM
I'm afraid airguns won't be viewed as "real guns" in Texas for a long time yet.  Remember, this is the state where many hunters think they need a .300 Win Mag to shoot a 89 lb. whitetail... ::)

John

You do need a .300. How else are going to get 3 deer in 1 shot. ;)
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: OleTomCat on January 09, 2013, 11:23:22 PM
I'm afraid airguns won't be viewed as "real guns" in Texas for a long time yet.  Remember, this is the state where many hunters think they need a .300 Win Mag to shoot a 89 lb. whitetail... ::)

John

Unfortunately Tx isn't the only state that holds that opinion.....
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 09, 2013, 11:32:56 PM
Oh, I'm sure that's true.  But I've never lived anyplace more in love with their big guns than Texas and AZ.  Unfortunately, many of the same Texans that look down on airguns also look down on bowhunting.  They'll complain about wounding animals, then turn around and take a 500 yard shot with their deer rifle, make a bad hit, and say "well, I guess I missed him..." without ever bothering to go look for blood (if they could even find where the animal stood at that range...)

I hear comments like these far too often.  Most have never seen how lethal a well placed broadhead, or pellet, can be. 
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 10, 2013, 12:41:37 AM
I worked with a guy that hunted deer and hogs regularly with his remington 770 30-06, and turned his nose down at my small game hunting exploits with my air rifle.  The 770 is the cheap rifle with the barrell pinned in.  Comes bundled with a cheap scope for like 300 bux.  Used to talk about how much he loved hunting pigs all the time.  Well one day i got up the nerve to ask him how successful he'd been hunting and apparently he always missed. Never hit a deer or hog in his life, but regularly takes shots at hogs and misses them.  I asked him how well the gun grouped, he told me HE DIDNT KNOW BECAUSE HE NEVER WENT TO THE RANGE!  I was bewildered- there's no telling where all those misses went, or how many animals he'd wounded.  He told me the combo was supposed to come factory zeroed.  I wanted to slap him!  This guy was a servicemember too- a Captain- in the infantry!  I showed him a Mr. Hollowpoint video one time to try to set him straight on air rifles and he went on to talk &^^& about baiting and how it looks like he baited those hogs, and how unethical it is and I'm thinking"sor, how ethical is it to attempt to take game at 100 yards or more with a rifle you've never checked the zero on.  We check the zero on out service rifles ebery time we qualify, seriously!
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: 02stampede on January 10, 2013, 02:37:33 AM
I worked with a guy that hunted deer and hogs regularly with his remington 770 30-06, and turned his nose down at my small game hunting exploits with my air rifle.  The 770 is the cheap rifle with the barrell pinned in.  Comes bundled with a cheap scope for like 300 bux.  Used to talk about how much he loved hunting pigs all the time.  Well one day i got up the nerve to ask him how successful he'd been hunting and apparently he always missed. Never hit a deer or hog in his life, but regularly takes shots at hogs and misses them.  I asked him how well the gun grouped, he told me HE DIDNT KNOW BECAUSE HE NEVER WENT TO THE RANGE!  I was bewildered- there's no telling where all those misses went, or how many animals he'd wounded.  He told me the combo was supposed to come factory zeroed.  I wanted to slap him!  This guy was a servicemember too- a Captain- in the infantry!  I showed him a Mr. Hollowpoint video one time to try to set him straight on air rifles and he went on to talk &^^& about baiting and how it looks like he baited those hogs, and how unethical it is and I'm thinking"sor, how ethical is it to attempt to take game at 100 yards or more with a rifle you've never checked the zero on.  We check the zero on out service rifles ebery time we qualify, seriously!

Please tell me your buddy was in the Army.. No Marine officer could be that ignorant. No, wait.. We have those too.  ;D

When I read "770" that was enough for me.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 10, 2013, 10:51:46 AM
Yup, Texas is full of heaps and heaps of "expert" riflemen...  ::)

I grew up here, and sure, we all pretty much grew up shooting rifles of all sorts.

Some people even think that shooting rifles at cow pies and prairie dogs makes them an expert on rifles.

For the life of me, I don't know why TPWD does not allow squirrel hunting with an air rifle.  That's got to be the most ignorant rule I can remember.  I'm going to start writing letters to Carter Smith asking him to look into this.  If they want, they could restrict it to .22 caliber or above, or a minimum ft.lb. of muzzle energy, or whatever.  But a .22 pellet traveling over 600 fps. will cleanly take ANY squirrel, as well all well know. 

Meanwhile, there is nobody regulating the amount of powder I have to use in my .50 cal. Muzzleloader for deer hunting, and we no longer have a 40# minimum for bowhunting.    ::)

Pretty crazy.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: OleTomCat on January 10, 2013, 12:32:18 PM
Yup, Texas is full of heaps and heaps of "expert" riflemen...  ::)

I grew up here, and sure, we all pretty much grew up shooting rifles of all sorts.

Some people even think that shooting rifles at cow pies and prairie dogs makes them an expert on rifles.

For the life of me, I don't know why TPWD does not allow squirrel hunting with an air rifle.  That's got to be the most ignorant rule I can remember.  I'm going to start writing letters to Carter Smith asking him to look into this.  If they want, they could restrict it to .22 caliber or above, or a minimum ft.lb. of muzzle energy, or whatever.  But a .22 pellet traveling over 600 fps. will cleanly take ANY squirrel, as well all well know. 

Meanwhile, there is nobody regulating the amount of powder I have to use in my .50 cal. Muzzleloader for deer hunting, and we no longer have a 40# minimum for bowhunting.    ::)

Pretty crazy.

I take squirrels in my back yard at about 40 yards with a .177 cooking off at just a tad over 800fps..
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 10, 2013, 03:55:29 PM
Yup, Texas is full of heaps and heaps of "expert" riflemen...  ::)

I grew up here, and sure, we all pretty much grew up shooting rifles of all sorts.

Some people even think that shooting rifles at cow pies and prairie dogs makes them an expert on rifles.

For the life of me, I don't know why TPWD does not allow squirrel hunting with an air rifle.  That's got to be the most ignorant rule I can remember.  I'm going to start writing letters to Carter Smith asking him to look into this.  If they want, they could restrict it to .22 caliber or above, or a minimum ft.lb. of muzzle energy, or whatever.  But a .22 pellet traveling over 600 fps. will cleanly take ANY squirrel, as well all well know. 

Meanwhile, there is nobody regulating the amount of powder I have to use in my .50 cal. Muzzleloader for deer hunting, and we no longer have a 40# minimum for bowhunting.    ::)

Pretty crazy.
I'm pretty sure even a .177 pushing a little over 600 FPS will cleanly take any squirrel, inside 30 yards, if you can put the pellet in the right spot.  Placement is what matters, no matter how big your gun is.  The minimum limit for squirrels ought to be set at 6 or 7 foot pounds.  Maybe make it 8 foot pounds, and that would force crosman and daisy to make their little cheap pumpers live up to the velocity claims  ;) How many of us grew up "hunting" with cheap .177 pumpers pushing about 600 fps, seriously!  It is mind boggling.  It hasn't been very long- maybe a couple of decades- since a kid could be out in a field somewhere, even in a place where a new subdivision was being built- hunting squirrels, rabbits, or even birds with his pellet gun and police would drive by and not give it a thought.  You'd wave because you loved the police- and firemen- and emt's, etc.  and they'd just wave back.  I'd be willing to pay a little extra and qualify with my air rifle at a given distance to be able to hunt with it.  Just IMHO
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: gene_sc on January 10, 2013, 04:00:45 PM
What about armadillos and lizzards?  No Fur

Gene

when i spoke to the game warden he stated non game animals  so iasked him about hogs he said yes then i asked about  raccoon he said no it falls under fur bearing , its a crazy law as i can hunt hogs and rabbits with an airgun but not raccoon and squirrel i was ready to hunt raccoon im glad i checked first
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: mtbdrew on January 10, 2013, 04:45:49 PM
Would be willing to sign on to any efforts at getting the regulations here changed. Anyone know how we'd go about it?
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 10, 2013, 04:51:32 PM
Not quite yet, but I'll check into it.  I know a few folks pretty high up in TPWD.

Gene, the reg's here are only "non-game" species can be hunted with an air rifle.  And they list what those species are in the regulations.  Armadillo's, of all things, and rabbits! - are non-game animals.  But the squirrel that won't stop breaking my bird feeders is off limits, and since I'm in town, I can't use a firearm, etc., etc.  That makes no sense.    Even our state WMA's won't allow small game hunting with a .22 rifle. 

Are you kidding me?  That's a very humane way to hunt small game, and effective too. 

They are just trying to CYA by requiring shotguns.  It's all about the lawyers these days.

Some common sense has to be applied every now and then though. 
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 10, 2013, 05:20:05 PM
Can't even use a rimfire.  Now we're making sense.  I am gonna have to buy a bow.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: OleTomCat on January 10, 2013, 05:30:36 PM
If you are shooting them in your backyard, the pesky squirrel, then is it hunting or pesting?  I am in SC so the laws are very different, but we have what is called the nuisance animal law, anything withing 100' of your home that is a nuisance  is open, and since you can not use a powder burner you are limited to an air rifle...
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 10, 2013, 07:56:24 PM
No rimfires on the WMA's where I hunt.  They may be allowed on others, but the state is now so scared that someone may be shot on their WMA's that they are only allowing shotguns for all game, unless you're bowhunting.

Never heard of "pesting" so I'll have to look into that.  Squirrels are most definitely a pest around my bird feeders, so I've been shooting them with my bow for the past two years.  I've taken care of all the slow ones by now... ;)   

Just found an area where I hunt (just outside of town) where starlings are hanging out.  Guess I know what I'll be doing this winter... ;)  I hate starlings.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: cactusrat on January 10, 2013, 09:27:22 PM
Shooting squirrels off your feeder (in Texas) could get you a fine and or confiscate your gun.

Try telling a game warden that you are not trying to bait in squirrels when you put seed out in a feeders. That would be like telling him that you shot the deer because it was eating the corn you put out for the wild hogs.

Now if the squirrel chews a hole in your house and you can prove it, then open fire.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 10, 2013, 11:20:26 PM
Glenn, it's not a baiting issue, but rather a means issue for game animals.  Squirrels are apparently game animals, and it states in the reg's that air rifles are not allowed for game animals.   

Of all the gun-happy states in the Union, it's pretty amazing to me that a state like Texas would list squirrels as a game animal and then not allow you to use air rifles to hunt them.

John
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 11, 2013, 01:05:54 AM
I think the best part is I can hunt mountain lions with an airgun, but still no squirrels.  Not protected, not a furbearer, it's even on the non protected non game list.  Imagine what a bad day someone might have with a p.o.'d mountain lion he just wounded with his socom extreme after watching the hog videos.  Not saying it can't be done, but I wouldn't try without at least a .22 sumatra slingin some heavy metal.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: flattracker23 on January 11, 2013, 01:21:27 AM
What about armadillos and lizzards?  No Fur

Gene

Non Game Animals:
Armadillos*
Bobcats*
Coyotes*
Flying squirrels
Frogs
Ground squirrels
Mountain lions
Porcupines
Prairie dogs
Rabbits
Turtles
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 11, 2013, 09:26:28 PM
I love my home state, but...

Flying squirrels and ground squirrels but not tree squirrels?  That's just dumb.  Especially considering that there is VERY good science that documents the decline of both flying squirrels and ground squirrels, but yet thanks to about a million bird feeders, tree squirrels are out of control.  TPWD is more progressive than ever, but they still have a ways to go here.

Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: kenholmz on January 11, 2013, 11:37:55 PM
I thought I read somewhere you could hunt Exotic animal with an airgun in Texas but can not find it now.

Jim Chapman of americanairgunner  has referred to Texas as his "go to place" for big bore airgun hunting
I can't find anything specific in the current Texas Parks and Wildlife Annual Manual about hunting exotics with an airgun but the rules I see are related to private property. This sentence is significant, "There are no state bag or possession limits or closed seasons on exotic animals or fowl on private property". You are still required to have a valid Texas hunting license, however. Exotic game ranches in Texas have been in business for many years. ~Ken
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: kenholmz on January 11, 2013, 11:50:02 PM
I think that the law regarding exotic species has changed

I am not allowed to post external links so I offer this. Type hunting exotic game on private property in texas into a well known search engine and one of the first links you will see is a news article in the Austin Statesman. There is a federal change in the law regarding exotic animals that are on the endangered species list. You will just shake your head in disbelief after reading the article. ~Ken
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 12, 2013, 12:24:02 AM
Kenholmz, you are right.   Some people are just too dumb to see passed what makes them feel better. Hunting native game is the same story-once you take the sportsmen out of the equation, wildlife conservation goes down the tubes.  No one cares more about the wildlife or the environment than sportsmen do.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 12, 2013, 01:35:12 AM
I'd modify that by saying nobody INVESTS more in game animals than sportsmen do.

There are non-hunters that get up to go to work every day for wildlife, and many more non-hunters that contribute to the cause of conservation. 

I also know plenty of "sportsmen" that have little or no regard for animals and zero sense of what real conservation means.

Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 12, 2013, 09:19:36 AM
You're right. Still, without the investments of sportsmen (fishermen too) where would we be right now?  And most sportsmen are good people who care about the environment more than most because they want to share hunting and fishing with their kids, and grandkids, and for them to be able to enjoy it with their kids and grandkids.  I wouldn't give the title of sportsman to some guy that doesn't give a rip and just wants to kill something, and doesn't pick up his trash in the woods and etc. and etc.And I'm willing to bet the most dedicated non-hunting conservationists are not bleeding heart anti-hunters but instead just happen to not enjoy hunting.  Maybe they'd rather just get out and hike or take the kids camping- or fishing but those are still sportsmen. 
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 12, 2013, 10:09:01 AM
You're right. Still, without the investments of sportsmen (fishermen too) where would we be right now?  And most sportsmen are good people who care about the environment more than most because they want to share hunting and fishing with their kids, and grandkids, and for them to be able to enjoy it with their kids and grandkids.  I wouldn't give the title of sportsman to some guy that doesn't give a rip and just wants to kill something, and doesn't pick up his trash in the woods and etc. and etc.And I'm willing to bet the most dedicated non-hunting conservationists are not bleeding heart anti-hunters but instead just happen to not enjoy hunting.  Maybe they'd rather just get out and hike or take the kids camping- or fishing but those are still sportsmen.

Yup, I agree. 

I've been around "sportsman" my whole life, and they do indeed deserve a lot of credit for funding most of our conservation programs.  But I will say that I am always wishing they would become more educated as a group about real conservation.  Too many just look at the money they contribute through their license fees and figure they've done their part.  There's more to it than that.  Most hunters don't even understand the most fundamental things about the environment, which is sad.  Same is true of bird watchers.  Most are what I call "trophy" birders, just looking for a check mark next to a name on a list so they can brag to their birding friends.  Even though most birders are well educated, they are stunningly ignorant about very simple environmental concepts.

John
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Tinknocker1 on January 12, 2013, 10:52:26 AM
in Ohio we can use airguns for :


Fox, Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel, Squirrel,
   Cottontail Rabbit, Ring-necked Pheasant, Chukar, Ruffed
   Grouse, Bobwhite Quail,  Crow,coyotes,wild hogs  and ground hogs

Refer to Hunting Regulations for Season Dates
   
Longbow - includes compound and recurve bows
 
Crossbow

Poisoned or explosive arrows are unlawful. While hunting, it is unlawful to have attached to a longbow or crossbow any mechanical, electrical, or electronic device capable of projecting a beam of light.

Handgun – any caliber
 
Rifle – any caliber

It is unlawful for any person to use or hunt with any rifle during the deer gun, the youth deer gun, the early muzzleloader hunts (Salt Fork Wildlife Area, Wildcat Hollow, and Shawnee State Forest), and the statewide muzzleloader seasons other than a muzzleloading rifle .38 caliber or larger.
 
Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller
 
Airgun

i copied the page from the ODNR web page and added ground hogs , coyotes and wild hogs which are also legal to hunt with airguns  i think we are pretty lucky
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 12, 2013, 05:52:46 PM
Yea, you're pretty lucky alright.  In Texas, the TPWD commission doesn't make any decisions without first thinking about money, and then about the good 'ol boy traditions.  That's changing slowly, but like I said, this is a BIG GUN state, and frankly there are about a million sportsmen here that look down their noses at air rifles. 

Having said that, I've noticed they are showing up everywhere, and even the guy I spoke with behind the counter at Gander Mtn. in College Station yesterday owns a RWS 34.  Plus they and the Independence, TX gun store (one of the busiest I've ever set foot in) has a nice selection of air rifles and supplies.  So hopefully the momentum is on the side of opening the seasons up on small game.

John
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: howie1968 on January 12, 2013, 07:57:31 PM
I was one of the men  rsponsible in getting the  draw weight reduction in texas, along wih tink nathan owner of tinks 69 Although i didnt agree with  no draw weight minimum i fought for  35 lbs as when i guide elk in Colorado that is colorados minimum, and ive seen many elk killed with bows under 40 lbs.
  One way we did this was many docmentations of my daughter killing many hogs with bows less then 35 lbs.
    You have to have the same approach with the wildlife commision show them that an air rifle with a certain minimum is capable of cleanly harvesting squirrels and such.  I took a 90 lb sow with my xl1100 22 so i know air guns are capable of cleanly harvesting squirrels
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: flattracker23 on January 12, 2013, 09:32:12 PM
I took a 90 lb sow with my xl1100 22 so i know air guns are capable of cleanly harvesting squirrels

I don't want to hunt squirrels. I want to get a big bore air rifle and hunt hogs.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 12, 2013, 09:43:13 PM
I took a 90 lb sow with my xl1100 22 so i know air guns are capable of cleanly harvesting squirrels

I don't want to hunt squirrels. I want to get a big bore air rifle and hunt hogs.

Yessir, that would be fun.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: jungleexplorer on January 20, 2013, 03:12:19 PM
I was one of the men  rsponsible in getting the  draw weight reduction in texas, along wih tink nathan owner of tinks 69 Although i didnt agree with  no draw weight minimum i fought for  35 lbs as when i guide elk in Colorado that is colorados minimum, and ive seen many elk killed with bows under 40 lbs.
  One way we did this was many docmentations of my daughter killing many hogs with bows less then 35 lbs.
    You have to have the same approach with the wildlife commision show them that an air rifle with a certain minimum is capable of cleanly harvesting squirrels and such.  I took a 90 lb sow with my xl1100 22 so i know air guns are capable of cleanly harvesting squirrels

How did you go about this?  The TPWD just has a blanket rules against air guns.  Surly there is someone in the TPWD that has brains enough to know that the term "Air Gun" cover everything from a Daisy BB gun to Quackenbush LA .457 that can kill a 2000lb bison.  Surly the TPWD does not think the Quackenbush LA .457 would be to underpowered to take a squirrel.  This has got to change.  How can we educate the TPWD about Air Guns, like you did about draw weight?
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bullit on January 20, 2013, 03:29:59 PM
Contact them with a clear and concise question list, (with ballistic facts and no "hearsay"), and leave it on the table for them to respond to.  Go from there...
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: only1harry on January 20, 2013, 04:12:15 PM
Write a nice formal letter and educate them about airguns.  Also let them know that many other states allow airgun hunting for small game.  You can tell them New York state passed a new law in 2010 allowing the harvest of any small game animal with an airgun that is legal to take with rimfire, as long as the airgun has a minimum muzzle velocity of 600fps.

The most effective way would probably be a petition online with a couple of thousand signatures from Texans to get legislators to propose more liberal airgun hunting laws.  Good luck!
Harry
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: jungleexplorer on January 20, 2013, 04:18:55 PM
Write a nice formal letter and educate them about airguns.  Also let them know that many other states allow airgun hunting for small game.  You can tell them New York state passed a new law in 2010 allowing the harvest of any small game animal with an airgun that is legal to take with rimfire, as long as the airgun has a minimum muzzle velocity of 600fps.

The most effective way would probably be a petition online with a couple of thousand signatures from Texans to get legislators to propose more liberal airgun hunting laws.  Good luck!
Harry

Great idea about the petition.  Any ideas how to do this?
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bullit on January 20, 2013, 05:00:56 PM

The posts here have given much good information on how to do it.  The GTA is not a political forum.
Note though, that one submittal that some rogue sends, and that ends up being inaccurate, or has flaw,   will be kept by opponents, and held against you.  Make sure, because "you" might independently upset the applecart.   I'm saying, that you should do your web work to find like minded Texans, to affiliate yourself with active and knowledgeable folks to pursue it.  They'll (opponents) keep it...press release it....and shove it up everyone's wazoo.  Don't be that guy.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: jungleexplorer on January 20, 2013, 05:29:41 PM
Not sure what you are saying.  All forums have people like what you are taking about.  I don't really care if people like me or not.  I come to forums seeking information, not friendship. if a make a friend, great! If someone does not like me and rejects me, it's their loss.  They might have learned something if they would have listened.

Anyway.  How does this sound for a petition to the TPWD.

"Currently the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has blanket rule that prohibits the use of any air gun to hunt game animals in the State of Texas. The term "Air Gun" covers everything from a $15 dollar Daisy BB gun to $2,000 dollar Quackenbush LA .457 air rifle. We feel that this law is wrong because it treats all air guns as equal and it is unfair to air gunners who have invested hundreds and even thousands of dollars in high powered air rifles that are capable of taking game as large as a two thousand pound bison. We believe that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department should alter the law to allow air guns to be used to hunt game animals in Texas and provide minimum standards for which air gins can be used for different sizes of animals."

Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: bnowlin on January 20, 2013, 07:16:43 PM
My game warden has an Mrod, of course he did not make the rules.  If something is on my land and bothering my stuff I'll shoot him with whatever I have in my hand.
Bob
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bullit on January 20, 2013, 08:16:24 PM
Not sure what you are saying.  All forums have people like what you are taking about.  I don't really care if people like me or not.  I come to forums seeking information, not friendship. if a make a friend, great! If someone does not like me and rejects me, it's their loss.  They might have learned something if they would have listened.

Anyway.  How does this sound for a petition to the TPWD.

"Currently the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has blanket rule that prohibits the use of any air gun to hunt game animals in the State of Texas. The term "Air Gun" covers everything from a $15 dollar Daisy BB gun to $2,000 dollar Quackenbush LA .457 air rifle. We feel that this law is wrong because it treats all air guns as equal and it is unfair to air gunners who have invested hundreds and even thousands of dollars in high powered air rifles that are capable of taking game as large as a two thousand pound bison. We believe that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department should alter the law to allow air guns to be used to hunt game animals in Texas and provide minimum standards for which air gins can be used for different sizes of animals."


Run with that one Victor.
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: limbwalker on January 20, 2013, 09:59:14 PM
Not sure what you are saying.  All forums have people like what you are taking about.  I don't really care if people like me or not.  I come to forums seeking information, not friendship. if a make a friend, great! If someone does not like me and rejects me, it's their loss.  They might have learned something if they would have listened.

Anyway.  How does this sound for a petition to the TPWD.

"Currently the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has blanket rule that prohibits the use of any air gun to hunt game animals in the State of Texas. The term "Air Gun" covers everything from a $15 dollar Daisy BB gun to $2,000 dollar Quackenbush LA .457 air rifle. We feel that this law is wrong because it treats all air guns as equal and it is unfair to air gunners who have invested hundreds and even thousands of dollars in high powered air rifles that are capable of taking game as large as a two thousand pound bison. We believe that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department should alter the law to allow air guns to be used to hunt game animals in Texas and provide minimum standards for which air gins can be used for different sizes of animals."

That's a good start, but I wouldn't overstate things on the big end.  I don't know if we want to argue that people should be able to hunt bison with air rifles.  But we could point out that many other states allow them, and even better, provide some arguments that other states used to do just that.  I'd start with Missouri.  They are the most progressive state in the Union when it comes to the outdoors and fish and wildlife management.

John
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: jungleexplorer on January 20, 2013, 10:36:41 PM
Not sure what you are saying.  All forums have people like what you are taking about.  I don't really care if people like me or not.  I come to forums seeking information, not friendship. if a make a friend, great! If someone does not like me and rejects me, it's their loss.  They might have learned something if they would have listened.

Anyway.  How does this sound for a petition to the TPWD.

"Currently the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has blanket rule that prohibits the use of any air gun to hunt game animals in the State of Texas. The term "Air Gun" covers everything from a $15 dollar Daisy BB gun to $2,000 dollar Quackenbush LA .457 air rifle. We feel that this law is wrong because it treats all air guns as equal and it is unfair to air gunners who have invested hundreds and even thousands of dollars in high powered air rifles that are capable of taking game as large as a two thousand pound bison. We believe that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department should alter the law to allow air guns to be used to hunt game animals in Texas and provide minimum standards for which air gins can be used for different sizes of animals."

That's a good start, but I wouldn't overstate things on the big end.  I don't know if we want to argue that people should be able to hunt bison with air rifles.  But we could point out that many other states allow them, and even better, provide some arguments that other states used to do just that.  I'd start with Missouri.  They are the most progressive state in the Union when it comes to the outdoors and fish and wildlife management.

John

Thanks for the advice.  I was only repeating what I read about the 2000lb bison.  It's great story. You can read it here: bigboreairguns.com/07bisonhunt.htm
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: Bryan Heimann on January 20, 2013, 10:48:09 PM
I think I'm just gonna use this as a bargaining chip to plea with the wife over investing in a lease nearby.  It don't even have to be a good one to suit my tastes, barely ten acres with no deer to speak of would suit me just fine  :D  Probably be cheap to boot, set up an air rifle range and maybe a couple bait stations to lure in the vermin.  oh yeah!
Title: Re: Air Gun Hunting In Texas
Post by: lexair on January 20, 2013, 11:51:25 PM
Can you hunt illegal mexicans?