PA hunting question

[frw501]

Hello Folks
I looked and looked on the PA Game Commision site but could not find any answers for this question. The website is written by lawyers for lawyers - or I could be dumb as a rock.
Does anyone know if I can hunt varmint or anything with a high powered air rifle? I really do not want to call them - I tried before and could not get to a person who could answer my question.
Thanks in advance.
Jim

[smithwessn]

Air rifles are NOT legal to hunt with in PA.



edit- from the "General Hunting Regulations" section of the Hunting Digest-

Unlawful Firearms & Devices:

1) Automatic and semi-automatic
(autoloading) rifles and handguns; 2) air or gas operated rifles and
handguns.

[jerkin]

Now we have "high powered air rifles"? The liberal media certainly is doing their job, lol.

[frw501]

I simply meant the use of a 1000 FPS air powered rifle rathe than a Daisy 250 FPS bb gun. Give me a break.

[frw501]

Thanks smithwessn
I don't quite understand it but accept it as law.

[smithwessn]

Thanks smithwessn
I don't quite understand it but accept it as law.

You're welcome.

Don't bother trying to figure out the Pa Game Commission, you'll get a headache.

[27hand]

I was looking at game not listed such as rats. As a kid a few years ago ( well, 50 or so), we took bb guns to the local dump.

I did see the referenced unlawful firearms but would shooting rats constitute "hunting"?

Would the unlawful firearms reference any and all animals?

I'd make a call for specific unlisted animals. Perhaps the unlawful firearms would apply.

27

[Python73]

Now we have "high powered air rifles"? The liberal media certainly is doing their job, lol.

If you had shot one of the air rifles he's talking about and compared it to the gold standard of air rifles (think ten pumps) we all grew up shooting... you'd not have thought this was funny. Because the simple truth is, those puppies are HIGH POWERED. For air rifles. It isn't a 50 cal. But they really aren't bullshitting.

Shoot one yourself, you'll be surprised.

[knight0334]

I was looking at game not listed such as rats. As a kid a few years ago ( well, 50 or so), we took bb guns to the local dump.

I did see the referenced unlawful firearms but would shooting rats constitute "hunting"?

Would the unlawful firearms reference any and all animals?

I'd make a call for specific unlisted animals. Perhaps the unlawful firearms would apply.

27

I believe that shooting Norway rats is legal with air guns, they are a nuisance and invasive non-native species. However there are a few native mice and voles that are protected.

[thundrr1]

Wouldn't that be illegal to ask the rats for their papers? Before shooting them?




edit; I have a precision air rifle that will shoot nickles at 50 yards,,,, at a MV of 1067 fps.