Rabbits, pellet pistol style

[Stein]

So, I'm literally tripping over rabbits on my morning run with the dog.  My thought is I should bring a few home but I'm on a major trail and have to be somewhat low key.  I, like every other boy in this country, have shot gallons of bbs in my youth but what I am looking for is a pistol pellet gun that can quickly dispatch a rabbit that is $150 or less.

I found a site that said for .177 I should have 760 fps and 8 ft lbs, shots will be in the 10 yard range.  I don't care if it is operated by CO2, pump, break, or any other method.  I have plenty of time to whip it out, load, cock and aim. 

This is all I found, what options are out there for those much more knowledgeable?

https://www.amazon.com/Hatsan-Supercharger-Vortex-Airgun-Black/dp/B00JZNQLU6

[7mmfan]

Tagging. I've thought about this several times. Even thought about setting some snares along what's probably the same trail. Would be a heck of a lot of fun.

[wadu1]

Go out and find some Aguila .22 Colibri or .22 Super Colibri ammo, much better than a .177 BB or Pellet. That is if you have a .22 hand gun. 

[KFhunter]

This would be a big upgrade for a little more $$

I would get the .22 cal version for sure


https://www.pyramydair.com/product-all-reviews/m/Diana_Bandit_PCP_Air_Pistol/4637

[Alchase]

Try a Gamo Silent Cat. Great pellet rifle for a decent price.

.177 @1200 FPS

$149

[KFhunter]

Try a Gamo Silent Cat. Great pellet rifle for a decent price.

.177 @1200 FPS

$149

He wants a pistol, go all stealth mode rabbit slayin 

gonna hide it under his naugahyde duster

[KFhunter]

you will need to try different pellets to see which work best in your gun, and you need to clean and lube the barrel properly. 

and go through a break in period for max accuracy, not so bad on a pcp gun, but those spring air break barrel guns for sure.

[Alchase]

Try a Gamo Silent Cat. Great pellet rifle for a decent price.

.177 @1200 FPS

$149

He wants a pistol, go all stealth mode rabbit slayin 

gonna hide it under his naugahyde duster

 

[ribka]

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/crosman-american-classic-22-caliber-air-pistol#repChildCatid=1592891

I ve killed dozens of squirrels, rabbits with the above growing up. cheap, fairly quiet and shoots ok for shots under 20 yards

[Curly]

Is it even legal to use an air rifle or pistol?

[pianoman9701]

Is it even legal to use an air rifle or pistol?

No, it isn't. This would be considered poaching by the DFW.

[ghosthunter]

Is it even legal to use an air rifle or pistol?

No, it isn't. This would be considered poaching by the DFW.

Beat me to it.

Silence

[KFhunter]

Oh!  So these aren't domestic ferel rabbits?



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[Tracker0721]

So who do we contact to get air rifles legal? Makes no sense that I can use 22 shorts but not a pellet gun. There’s guys literally dropping hogs with the .22 and up cal pellet guns!

[Stein]

Oh!  So these aren't domestic ferel rabbits?



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Of course, only unclassified domestic rabbits.

I looked through the regs in the small game section, but didn't notice the blurb later in the regs that captures it for all game animals. 

The problem is that small game includes really small animals and larger ones and you would have to propose a change for just some small game animals and where to draw the line could be difficult.  But, like with archery it would be easy to set some sort of threshold on rated FPS or energy and it would be fine.

[Fl0und3rz]

Oh!  So these aren't domestic ferel rabbits?

Domestic feral?




Yes, air rifles should be permitted for certain classified and unclassified small game.  When researching it, I believe you still need at least a small game license, but I have not looked in several years.

[pianoman9701]

Should be but aren't. 

[SteelheadDC]

I may have known a guy at WSU that took out many domestic feral rabbits in the apartment complex with a sling shot.  Have to hit them in the head, they would do a back flip and it was over

[ctwiggs1]

If they are domestics, I don't see why it's an issue.  It's like shooting an eastern grey squirrel - is there a law against using air rifles on invasive species?

[CP]

Kind of difficult to holster but these would be legal.

[pianoman9701]

If they are domestics, I don't see why it's an issue.  It's like shooting an eastern grey squirrel - is there a law against using air rifles on invasive species?

I would check with your local gamie. He's the one who'd be writing the citations. I don't believe it's legal to use a pellet gun on a squirrel, either, but I could be wrong.

[Platensek-po]

https://www.pyramydair.com/airgun-map/?hunting=Small_Game#approved_Gray_Squirrel

Not sure if it’s right or not but it does say you can use air rifles in Washington state.

[Fl0und3rz]

I find that link to be highly untrustworthy.

"*Click on the specific state and read state specific regulations, limitations and requirements.

Always consult with your local state authorities to be sure there were no recent state changes impacting hunting laws and regulations in that particular state!"

[pianoman9701]

Yeah, it's incorrect. Maybe it shouldn't be, but it is.

[Stein]

Regs say "game animals" and lists firearm, muzzleloader and archery as only legal method.  I don't have them in front of me, but that is the only reference I found that apply to rabbits.

[Platensek-po]

Stein you are absolutely correct.

Copied from the game book itself:
Hunt game birds or game animals with anything other than a firearm, a bow and arrow, a crossbow, or by falconry Bullfrogs may only be taken by angling, hand dip netting, gigging, and bow and arrow.

[kselkhunter]

 "It is unlawful to hunt game birds or game animals with anything other than a firearm, a bow and arrow, a crossbow, or by falconry. "


Comes down to whether the LEO/warden would choose to give you a hard time or not.   An air gun is not classified as a firearm because it uses air and not an explosive to propel the projectile. 



Cottontail/Snowshoe season is open Sep 1 to March 31 and requires small game license.  Pygmy, jackrabbit, etc. are closed statewide.   If you live west side, most local wild rabbits would be considered a cottontail breed. East side, I would be more careful identifying before shooting. 

[jackelope]

Feral domestic rabbits are unclassified. Shoot them all. Twice. WDFW has no jurisdiction over them because they're domestic, and the WSDA has no jurisdiction over them because Washington state doesn't consider them livestock. Shoot them all.

[Tracker0721]

Print off the unclassified list and go have some pellet gun fun. Email from the WDFW says unclassified can be taken with a air rifle.

[WaltAlpine]

Excellent.
If nobody gets me one for Christmas, I'm going to get an air rifle like all of my friends and take it to the squirrels and rabbits!

[Curly]

That table shows cottontail is classified as game animals. I don't see how they can legally be taken with air guns...

[KFhunter]

That table shows cottontail is classified as game animals. I don't see how they can legally be taken with air guns...

I been doing some looking, the native cotton tails we have are very small pigmy,  or a big cotton tail (Nuttall’s Cottontail) that likes sage brush and desert type landscape.   

Other than that it's pika's, snowshoe hare or two species of jackrabbit.  (if its white in the winter... don't use a pellet gun!)


So if there's no sage around, and they're not pygmy...then it's almost certainly a European cottontail which are invasive and non-game species.


I would be confident enough that its perfectly legal to blast them with a pellet gun at this point     

[Stein]

The chances of a purebred rabbit in a city are pretty low I would think.  Leave it to WA to even be having this discussion.  Worst case, I’ll send it off to 23 and me 😉



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[Curly]

I don't believe it matters if cotton tails are native. They are listed in the regs as a game animal and have a season, therefore they can only be shot by a licensed hunter with legal weapons. Sounds like they were released in the 1930's to be a game animal and that is what they are now even if they weren't native originally. 

[jackelope]

I think the thread got jacked, at least partially because of me, and off onto shooting feral domestic rabbits with pellet guns. The san juans and whidbey island could use some population control there.

[KFhunter]

I don't believe it matters if cotton tails are native. They are listed in the regs as a game animal and have a season, therefore they can only be shot by a licensed hunter with legal weapons. Sounds like they were released in the 1930's to be a game animal and that is what they are now even if they weren't native originally. 

You are correct,  I did an error and conflated "European cottontail" with "European rabbit"   No cottontails can be hunted with a pellet gun, they're either a game species or protected



Sorry no more pellet gun 

unless they're european rabbits

[Tracker0721]

If anyone is looking for a good pellet gun, Ruger impact max at Walmart in .22 cal. It’s accurate and kills stuff deader than dead. We were hunting in Colorado and used it to take a rabbit at 95 yards. Held high and took 7 shots to hit it (drop wasn’t as bad as we were thinking it would be) or more haha. Also killed a lot within 50 yards. I sold my Hatsan 95 vortex I like the Ruger so much.