If you are looking for a new way to enjoy hunting in Texas, you might want to consider using an air rifle. Air rifles are firearms that use compressed air or gas to propel pellets or bullets at high speeds. They are quieter, cheaper, and easier to maintain than traditional firearms, and they can offer a challenging and rewarding hunting experience.
However, before you grab your air rifle and head to the field, you need to know the legal regulations and ethical considerations of hunting with an air rifle in Texas. Not all species are legal to hunt with an air rifle, and not all air rifles are suitable for hunting. In this blog post, we will give you an overview of the laws and best practices for air rifle hunting in Texas.
What Species Can You Hunt with an Air Rifle in Texas?
According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), you can hunt the following species with an air rifle in Texas:
- Aoudad Sheep
- Armadillo
- Axis Deer
- Badger
- Beaver
- Bobcat
- Cottontail Rabbit
- Coyote
- Crow
- Blackbuck Antelope
- Eurasian Collard Dove
- Fallow Deer
- Feral Hogs
- Feral Rock Dove
- Fox
- Frogs
- Mountain Lion
- Muskrat
- Nilgai Antelope
- Nutria
- Opossum
- Otter
- Porcupine
- Prairie Dog
- Raccoon
- Ringtailed Cat
- Russian Boar
- Sika Deer
- Sparrow
- Squirrel (Must be greater than 600 feet per second)
- Flying Squirrel
- Ground Squirrel
- Starlings
- Turtle
These are considered non-game animals, furbearers, squirrels, and non-migratory game birds (except Eastern Turkey), and they can be hunted year-round without a bag limit.
However, there are some restrictions on what kind of air rifle you can use to hunt these species. For alligators, bighorn sheep, javelina, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and turkey (except Eastern Turkey), you can only use a pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle or arrow gun. A PCP air rifle or arrow gun is one that uses a separate source of compressed air or gas to power the projectile. For these species, the PCP air rifle must fire a projectile of at least 30 caliber in diameter and at least 150 grains in weight with a minimum muzzle velocity of 800 feet per second or any combination of bullet weight and muzzle velocity that produces muzzle energy of at least 215 foot pounds of energy. The PCP arrow gun must conform to the same standards for projectiles for archery.
For squirrels, pheasant, quail, and chachalaca, you can use any air rifle that fires a projectile of at least .177 caliber (4.5mm) in diameter producing a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet per second.
You cannot use an arrow gun to hunt deer or turkey during archery season.
Gamo 6110017154 Varmint Air Rifle .177 Cal , Black
Free shipping
Amazon.com
Features
- .177 Cal pellet single cocking break barrel
- The Varmint features a long lasting spring piston able to deliver 1250 fps of muzzle velocity with Gamo PBA Platinum pellets .177 Cal
- Fluted polymer jacketed rifled steel barrel. Grooved cylinder rail
- 4 x 32 Shockproof Scope. Gamo trigger with adjustable second stage. It has a synthetic ambidextrous all-weather stock with a rubber recoil pad. Lightweight design
- Noise dampening: None
Gamo 611006875554 Swarm Whisper Air Rifle, .22 Caliber,Black
$147.59 in stock
Free shipping
Features
- The GAMO Swarm Whisper Air Rifle features the IGT (Inert Gas Technology) piston that allows higher velocity, less vibration and a longer lifespan than traditional spring powered airguns
- The Whisper Technology makes this gun really quiet, and you will appreciate the reduced recoil thanks to the buttpad equipped with the Shock Wave Absorber
- All-weather synthetic stock with black rubber inserts
- Package Dimensions: 47.7" L x 7.1" W x 2.7" H
Gamo Swarm Fusion 10X GEN3i Inertia Fed .177 Caliber Break Barrel Air Rifle. High Power 10-Shot Pellet Air Gun. 1,300 FPS Velocity
$201.91 in stock
Free shipping
Features
- ✅ [High Powered Air Rifle] Up to 1,300 FPS with alloy .177 Cal. Pellets
- ✅ [Inertia Fed] 10X GEN3i technology includes our revolutionary horizontal inertia fed magazine integration
- ✅ [10 shot Pellet Rifle] 10 shot Magazine: Simply break the barrel and fire for lightning-quick follow-up shots
- ✅ [Gamo's Quietest Air Rifle Technology] Whisper Fusion noise dampening technology. The quietest Gamo noise reduction technology
- ✅ [Gas Piston Power] The IGT Gas Piston replaces the standard spring power plant with an Inert Gas CylinderWA Recoil Pad
Gamo WildCat Whisper Air Rifle .177 Cal , Black
Free shipping
Features
- .177 Cal pellet single cocking break barrel, 1300 fps with PBA Platinum
- The IGT (Inert Gas Technology) is a gas piston that replaces the spring delivering more terminal velocity (1300 fps), less vibration, more consistent power and a constant and smooth cocking effort.
- This air rifle also features the well known WHISPER noise reduction technology patented by Gamo
- 4 x 32 Shockproof Scope. Gamo trigger with adjustable second stage. It has a synthetic ambidextrous all-weather stock with a rubber recoil pad. Lightweight design.
- 1 YEAR WARRANTY. Made In Spain
Gamo 6110068754 Swarm Whisper Air Rifle, .177 Caliber,Black
$159.99 in stock
Free shipping
Features
- Muzzle velocity 1300 FPS
- Whisper Noise Dampening
- IGT 10X Quick Shot
- Standard trigger and 4X32 optics
- Sport type: Exercise & Fitness
Gamo Swarm Fusion 10X GEN3i Inertia Fed .22 Caliber Break Barrel air Rifle. High Power 10-Shot Pellet air Gun. 1,000 fps Velocity.
$260.91 in stock
Free shipping
Features
- ✅ [High Powered Air Rifle] Up to 1,000 FPS with alloy .22 Cal. Pellets
- ✅ [Inertia Fed] 10X GEN3i technology includes our revolutionary horizontal inertia fed magazine integration
- ✅ [10 shot Pellet Rifle] 10 shot Magazine: Simply break the barrel and fire for lightning-quick follow-up shotsot
- ✅ [Gamo's Quietest Air Rifle Technology] Whisper Fusion noise dampening technology. The quietest Gamo noise reduction technology
- ✅ [Gas Piston Power] The IGT Gas Piston replaces the standard spring power plant with an Inert Gas Cylinder
Gamo Swarm Maxxim G2 .22 Cal Multi-Shot Pellet Rifle
$199.99 in stock
Free shipping
Features
- Up to 1,000 FPS with alloy .22 Cal. pellets. Rapid Reload 10 Shot Technology Break Barrel Air Rifle
- 10X GEN 2 rapid reload technology includes our revolutionary horizontal magazine integration, making itlighter, more compact and low profile.
- 10 shot Magazine: Simply break the barrel and fire for lightning-quick follow-up shots.
- Whisper Maxxim noise dampening technology. IGT gas piston. CAT (Custom Action Trigger) two-stage adjustable. Gamo 3-9x40 Scope included with Recoil Reducing Rail (RRR)
- 3 YEAR WARRANTY. Made in Barcelona, Spain
