Legality of air rifles for hunting

[Bob33]

Appreciate the info Bob.

But here's my question.  If there is a season on them, then a license is required.  Why is a crow different than a starling in the game regs and what happens if you shoot a crow during season (not in the act of depredation) and let it lay?

This should help: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=232-12-005

[Gringo31]

So is it wasteful to leave a crow lay?

[Bob33]

So is it wasteful to leave a crow lay?

No. It is not a game bird.

Of course, if you want to eat crow...

[Evil_EdwardO]

(7) "Firearm" means a weapon or device from which a projectile or projectiles may be fired by an explosive such as gunpowder.

So are all modern rifle/pistols not firearms?

My Lee reloading Manual says that smokeless powder is a propellant and not an explosive like black powder.

[Bob33]

(7) "Firearm" means a weapon or device from which a projectile or projectiles may be fired by an explosive such as gunpowder.

So are all modern rifle/pistols not firearms?

My Lee reloading Manual says that smokeless powder is a propellant and not an explosive like black powder.

Modern rifles/pistols are considered firearms. Muzzleloaders are considered firearms in Washington. Air rifles are not.

 "...an explosive such as gunpowder" includes smokeless powders.

[Squidward]

When will they let us use a 30cal pellet gun like this?
http://wickedairrifles.com/index.html

[crazywednesday]

This seems to be a thread that has been resurrected a couple of times.

I've been killing starlings with a bb or pellet gun for as long as I can remember. Recently I just fixed my PCP and thought I would look into purchasing a new scope. Using my internet research ninja skills I came across this website (https://www.pyramydair.com/airgun-map/?hunting=Predator_Species#WA) listing all of the species available to hunt with an air rifle. Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking it as a factual resource yet, but it has peaked my curiosity. I tried some google searches and WDFW searches, but seem to come up short. Obviously I'm not a very good internet research ninja. Is there anyone on this board with more information? I plan to call WDFW tomorrow, but I have a feeling that isn't going to get me very far.

For what its worth, I still plan to kill as many starlings annually as I can. Maybe this year I will breast them out and make a blackbird pie.

[kselkhunter]

Those big bore air rifles keep advancing.  Launching a 430gr bolt with broadhead at 500fps is serious medicine.  They can shoot bolts or pellets, and the pellet energy is still on the lower end, with the 45 cal air rifles only able to do about 600 ft-lbs muzzle energy right now with a pellet.  But with the continuing advancements, they're not far from reaching energy levels that will get them noticed and potentially regulated soon. 

[crazywednesday]

Well I did find this and it backs up some of the pyramid air website claims.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01676/wdfw01676.pdf -- page 151 a list of unclassified species - Coyote, European rabbit, Gophers, Gray and fox squirrels, Ground squirrels, Mice, Moles, Nutria Myocastor, Virginia opossum, Porcupine, Rats, Shrews, Spotted skunk, Voles.

[jackelope]

This was a Facebook debate a month or so ago. Unclassified wildlife can be hunted with an air rifle. If it’s not listed as unclassified wildlife, you can’t hunt it with an air rifle.