California Big Game vs Big Bore...Disapointing

[RWSshooter]

   For the last few months my Uncle and I have been gearing up for a Pig hunt using some BIG BORE equippment such as his .357 Recluse and my nearly purchased .45 909.  I say nearly, because fortunately I read the hunting regs book before I pulled the trigger and bought one.  Apparently Wild pig, Boar, and/or Hog is considered BIG GAME in California, and therefore CANNOT BE TAKEN WITH AN AIRGUN.  It seems that Big bore airguns in California are just an expensive way to plink.  Small game can be taken with an airgun, but I can use my Marauder for any small game around my area (within reasonable range). 
 
Are there any states nearby that DO allow pig hunting with an airgun?  How about exeptions to the rules in California?

Thanks airgun brothers...

[Butcher45]

  For the last few months my Uncle and I have been gearing up for a Pig hunt using some BIG BORE equippment such as his .357 Recluse and my nearly purchased .45 909.  I say nearly, because fortunately I read the hunting regs book before I pulled the trigger and bought one.  Apparently Wild pig, Boar, and/or Hog is considered BIG GAME in California, and therefore CANNOT BE TAKEN WITH AN AIRGUN.  It seems that Big bore airguns in California are just an expensive way to plink.  Small game can be taken with an airgun, but I can use my Marauder for any small game around my area (within reasonable range). 
 
Are there any states nearby that DO allow pig hunting with an airgun?  How about exeptions to the rules in California?

Thanks airgun brothers...

Texas.

I know a professional guide down there in Cali with a 909 that I was helping out with info to get them legalized down there a couple of years ago.  He gave me the impression that Cali is so broke they can't even afford to address the issue in a timely manner, so its been a slow process.

The smallbore airgun hunters in Cali were largely against this effort as well.....they felt that re-evaluation of the airgun laws in any way could put their small game hunting in jeopardy.  So it seems the people that we REALLY need to win over, are the smallbore airgun hunters in Cali.  That's going to be a tough one.

[Butcher45]

Oh yea....you can hunt them in Oregon with an air rifle.  Good luck finding them here, though, as their numbers are very limited, and secluded on private property.  I have a friend with property here to hunt them, but it's a bit far from me.  We are going to have a go at it when he sees them swing thru the property again on the trail cams.....they tend to travel thruout several properties in giant loops.

[MustangMike]

Don't worry sooner or later wild hog is going to be as much of a problem for you guys up nort as they are for us down here..

Lol heck I think here in texas could prolly throw hand grenads at them and it still be legal...jk of course but seriously down here their that bad of a problem

[Butcher45]

Don't worry sooner or later wild hog is going to be as much of a problem for you guys up nort as they are for us down here..

Lol heck I think here in texas could prolly throw hand grenads at them and it still be legal...jk of course but seriously down here their that bad of a problem

I

I'd rather not have them here at all......I love my state to much.

[RWSshooter]

I understand the smallbore issue as well.  It's probably not a good idea to make any waves on the issue.  If it were Texas, where gun ownership is all but encouraged, the state wouldn't care, but California is a different story.  They'd classify big bore and probably all airguns as firearms, and then try to take them away, or at least make it so you cant shoot them...like the California Condor regs...everything has to be lead free...where would that leave us airgunners?

[pindog2000]

Find a lead free zone,and plink or small game hunt and even than is a touchy subject.jack haley used a 457 qb conversion last year in arkansas last year and landed a 200+ piggy.Todd orr can say more about it so arkansas is also another state.

[melvin]

In Washington airguns cant be used at all to hunt   Not even rabbits!

[RWSshooter]

Well, Melvin, at least you are closer to Oregon than I Am...:-)
I guess I should just be happy hunting my resident small game...

[Butcher45]

Seriously guys.....I didn't mean to get your hopes up.  I suggest that you don't waste your time and effort trying to hunt hogs in Oregon.  Needle in a haystack.  There aren't that many here to begin with, and you have to REALLY know someone that has private property that the limited number of hogs actually swing thru.  Even then, the hogs typically swing thru only once every couple-few months.  My friend has been watching his trail cams for months waiting for them to swing back thru again.

Selling wild hog hunts in Oregon is illegal, so you won't find anything like that going on here, either.

[melvin]

Seriously guys.....I didn't mean to get your hopes up.  I suggest that you don't waste your time and effort trying to hunt hogs in Oregon.  Needle in a haystack.  There aren't that many here to begin with, and you have to REALLY know someone that has private property that the limited number of hogs actually swing thru.  Even then, the hogs typically swing thru only once every couple-few months.  My friend has been watching his trail cams for months waiting for them to swing back thru again.

Selling wild hog hunts in Oregon is illegal, so you won't find anything like that going on here, either.

To be honest I never even thought of hunting a hog in Oregon.  Kinda just figured that was more down south then anywhere else.

[MustangMike]

Seriously guys.....I didn't mean to get your hopes up.  I suggest that you don't waste your time and effort trying to hunt hogs in Oregon.  Needle in a haystack.  There aren't that many here to begin with, and you have to REALLY know someone that has private property that the limited number of hogs actually swing thru.  Even then, the hogs typically swing thru only once every couple-few months.  My friend has been watching his trail cams for months waiting for them to swing back thru again.

Selling wild hog hunts in Oregon is illegal, so you won't find anything like that going on here, either.

Wow texas sure is different, do a youtube.com search for texas hog hunting and you will find videos of guys in helicopters with ak's and ar15's low flying and just down packs of them. If ur ever in texas bring ur big bores and do a google search for texas hig hunting. I'm sure within a half hour or so you could have a hunt setup.

To be honest I never even thought of hunting a hog in Oregon.  Kinda just figured that was more down south then anywhere else.

[RWSshooter]

I was being facetious about Oregon...and Texas is a bit far for me.  However, if for some reason I find myself heading that way, you can bet I'll be packing some punch! :-)

[etamme]

Im sorry to hear that rwsshooter.  I too checked out the regs before getting my recluse.  I am fortunate that in NY hogs are a new problem, and only a small game license is required so airguns are legal.

I think finding game to hunt with a big bore that is medium large is going to be a difficult situation unless you are 1) lucky to live in a state that has some favorable regs, 2) travel to states that have favorable regs, 3) hold your breath.

Honestly, as a new hunter I find the almost all hunting regulations to be confusing, silly, and backwards.  It seems to me that most regulations are old status quo, dont change and adapt well to new technology b/c hunting is an old boys game and they like it how it is.

Perfect example ... NY classifies any thing that shoots over 600fps and a .177 or larger projectile as an air gun.  soooo by the book, you could try and shoot a boar with a .177 wally world daisy powerline special pumping out a wopping 7fpe... silly .. just plain silly.  However it is not legal to hunt deer with a 140FPE .357 (shakes head)

Then again, hoping for legislators to actually be well versed, and continually self educating, experts in any area they are writing laws for is a dream world.

ok end rant - sorry

[ronbeaux]

Louisiana still thinks air guns are pump up.........

I have written the State several times and cannot get a response to even state my case.

The only thing close that would be maybe considered would be the primitive weapon season. They don't have a clue.

My argument is that there are a lot of game animals lost each year using a bow. Crippled to wander off and die a slow horrible death.

A big bore would take them out clean in the hands of a competent and ethical shooter, and at longer ranges.

[Butcher45]

My argument is that there are a lot of game animals lost each year using a bow. Crippled to wander off and die a slow horrible death.

A big bore would take them out clean in the hands of a competent and ethical shooter, and at longer ranges.

Exactly.  Bigbore airguns are equally deadly, yet MUCH easier to hit with.  There aren't many archers out there that can consistently put 3 arrows inside an inch at 50 yards like the typical airgunner can do using boolits. 

[Riffmeister]

Good topic guys.......really not worthy you cant hunt in washington with airguns, at least we can hunt turkeys in california with .22 and larger  airguns....

[RWSshooter]

Good topic guys.......really not worthy you cant hunt in washington with airguns, at least we can hunt turkeys in california with .22 and larger  airguns....

unless I'm mistaken, its .20 cal or bigger for Turkey...  :-)

[Riffmeister]

I think your right, im doing it this year! Turkeys are doomed my wfh is dangerously accurate!

[Air Rifle Hunter]

Good topic guys.......really not worthy you cant hunt in washington with airguns, at least we can hunt turkeys in california with .22 and larger  airguns....

unless I'm mistaken, its .20 cal or bigger for Turkey...  :-)

 Actually I think they just changed it this year to also include .177 for Turkey if I'm not mistaken. I believe it was in the latest updates for this coming season. I'll check it again on the DFG site.