Before going hunting, be sure to check these resources for the most up-to-date legal information. After a bit of waiting Glenn used his Turkey caller that soon gave us sight of a good size Tom that was moving in the woods at near 60 yards, obstructed by tall grass and branches. In addition, all refills must be done by state-licensed air refill centers operated by … The air guns that have gained tremendous popularity in recent years are legal to hunt Turkeys with in California, and it looks like a ton of fun. The state defines a BB gun as any instrument that expels a projectile, such as a BB or pellet, through the force of air pressure, gas pressure or spring action. Glenn believes that Airguns offer less of a chance of wounding a Turkey when compared to both bow and shotgun if done properly by taking head-shots within range. I felt bad because as Glenn was loading his Marauder magazine we noticed that his breech oring had fallen out and upon trying to reinstall it got lost on the ground. This is with an aim of making sure that you end up with a great kill … We searched and after several minutes I found a very large pool of blood and a trail of blood that seemed to vanish with no trace. This large Tom was at near 60 yards away and the fence in front was frustrating because it would occasionally obstruct making a good head-shot, especially as the Turkey would not stay still. That bill was passed on September 30, 2014. And many states are responding by liberalizing seasons and weapons allowances to accommodate air-gun hunters. by Kevin Steffey. In your case “a somewhat offending comment” that im sure was not intentional at all, that soon developed into a new type of airgun experience and the starting of a new friendship!. The recent rains have given this areas fields miles of luscious green grass that was simply breathtaking. Would you hunt deer with an air rifle? Yet, just as with any time of hunting, those who participate must do so in accordance with the law. Choose your state to see what's allowed. Email: director@wildlife.ca.gov Some fans of high powered air guns may find the illegality upsetting, as their choice of weaponry is specially designed to be powerful enough to get the job done, but the good news is that the use of air guns is legal for hunting small game within the state. In 2016, a new law took … For ideas on what to do outdoors in the Monterey Bay area see our Outdoor News links, below. It helps if you have had a spring air rifle before and understand the functions of a PCP air rifle before purchasing. Several weeks ago I got a call from Glenn asking if I had planned to attend the Placerville Airgun Expo that was very near his ranch, if so it would be nice to visit him and join him for a Turkey hunt. The CDFW has numerous regional offices within the state. I can’t thank Glenn enough for opening his home and extending the hand of friendship to fellow Airgunners. So if turkey hunting is your goal, make sure the air gun you use is 0.177 caliber at a minimum. Even though they are fairly short and simple, you have a way of recapturing your experience and putting that right back to the readers ears! Contact information for the offices for each region are as follows: Contact Information for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Headquarters That question used to elicit strange looks or a disbelieving laugh, but a new generation of powerful air- and gas-powered guns has made them legitimate tools for big-game hunting. 757. Tom and I were very excited and honored that he not only invited us to stay on his beautiful 26 acre ranch but allowed us the opportunity for our very first Turkey hunt. Air rifle hunting in California. Glenn had hoped that the Turkeys would make way out of the woods and down the road seeing the decoys that were set around 15 yards away leaving us some good close shots. and probably even “more” that im totally clueless of that has helped this wonderful sport grow as much as it has in many diff ways. Airgunning these past few years has helped my appreciation of hunting not only to be more enjoyable and exciting, “not to mention challenging” but has also encouraged me to step out and be more social! In any state, it’s always a good idea to review the law before going hunting, and to contact the local wildlife agencies if you have any questions. This Airbow is very similar to the Benjamin Bulldog but in fact shoots arrows or broad-heads. Age Restrictions on Pellet Gun Hunting in California. Tom took several moments and made his shot that sent the .30 44 grain JSB right into his chest sending him down the other side into the woods. After several minutes we exited the blind to make our way across the ravine to locate the Jackrabbit. What states allow airgun hunting? We both learned so much and will be able to take that knowledge with us on future hunts and through some of my writing here. Answer: Airbows are essentially airguns that shoot arrows. Waiting for a good close head-shot makes Airguns one of the most rewarding tools for Turkey hunting. Glenn would eventually love to host his own TV show that would be focused exclusively on hunting with Airguns for different species all over the United States. Through our walk back I ended up spooking several Turkeys that were in the far portion of the woods, amazing how fast those birds can move through the tall grass. Children who obtain junior hunting licenses are subject to the same rules as all other air gun hunters. Instead, the list of weapons that can legally be used for hunting this type game within the state is limited to specific types of rifles, pistols, revolvers, and archery equipment. Rather than the BBs shot from a Red Ryder, they throw cone-nosed lead pellets. After attending the two day Airgun Expo that will be included in another article we set out an hour West to Davis where we would stay at Glenn’s beautiful horse ranch that gave a very mid-western feel to it. Pellet gun turkey hunting has some benefits over using a shotgun or bow. In the direction we set up the blind was a road that ran parallel with a ravine followed by some wooded areas on the other side where Glenn said the Turkey’s roost during the night. The video above shows some great pellet gun turkey hunting and how to get started. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), https://i1.wp.com/mountainsportairguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DSC00714-e1560866784957.jpg?fit=600%2C450&ssl=1, https://mountainsportairguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/imageedit_15_5568536590-e1569520079186.png, Mountainsport Airguns © 2018 | POWERED BY. 1416 9th Street, 12th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 Best part of turkey hunting here is working the birds in. The Turkey’s moved to the to the right through the woods and around us where they walked along a road towards a large open field. I hope im not saying too much.. 26. After we arrived we followed Glenn in the dark on foot several hundred yards into a big field where he set up some decoys as well as the blind we would be sitting in for most of the morning. He has appeared on the TV show American Airgunner where he hunted with Rossi Morreale and always has freely given his vast knowledge of Turkey hunting to anyone who asks. Under this bill, air rifle and pistol owners will be required to pay an “Air Excise Tax” on all canister refills and CO2 propellants. California: The Controversial Haven for Air Gun Enthusiasts. According to Harry Dwyer, owner of Kerley’s Hunting & Outfitting in Cupertino, a typical turkey gun costs $350 to $800, plus $9 to $12 for 25-count boxes of “turkey … Soon Glenn had spotted several hens returning from down the road that were to soon be followed by a good sized Gobbler, the largest one I had seen this day. As Tom and I packed up our vehicle with the remaining equipment at Glenn’s ranch he offered to let us have some fun with his Pioneer Airbow, a new product from Crosman Corporation. The law also prohibits selling or furnishing air guns to parents or guardians who have children below the age of 18 years under their care. Within about 15 minutes we started hearing the distant gobbling and clucking of Turkey’s, pretty exciting as this was my first Turkey hunt. So if turkey hunting is your goal, make sure the air gun you use is 0.177 caliber at a minimum. California’s wild turkey populations are healthy and growing. The blind was good size for one or two people but three made it quite difficult to move around in, especially when trying to make a small adjustment or reach for something. Glenn gave us some time that evening to sight our new American Air Arms EVOL .30s between 5 and 30 yards, not the type of short range hunting either of us were very familiar with. Those who want to use pellet guns in California must also stay abreast to changes in the state’s weaponry regulations, as additional legislation for the regulation of air guns continues to be proposed. By this time we had been in the blind for nearly 3 hours and getting quite yancy so Glenn decided to become a bit more aggressive with the Turkey calls. Those who want to go hunting with pellet guns are also allowed to take non-game species, such as pigeons, starlings, coyote, ground squirrels, and jackrabbits. Eventually through his many successful Turkey hunts Crosman Corporation decided to sponsor Glenn and make him a Prostaff member that allowed Glenn access to many of they’re Airguns. … 146. Glenn ended up contacting me over the phone and expressed his disappointment in the comments I made and I gladly apologized with sincerity. section” lol and it prob sounds a bit extreme but in the past couple years.. My new passion for airgunning has poured out and over from myself to my now 11 year old daughter and 16 year old son and i’m thankful. Air rifle turkey hunt -.25 Caliber Benjamin Marauder - YouTube It's pretty tough to get a "first" when you're the youngest in the family of hunters. Subsection 311 (f) identifies small game air gun hunting legal in California. It allows any caliber of pellet to be used for hunting small game, with the exception that one must use a caliber of at least 0.177 when hunting wild turkey. SACRAMENTO, Calif. California turkey hunters are looking forward to one of the best springs ever when the season opens on Mar. Tom and I had noticed prior to his shot that a Hawk had been circling the area and even landed in a tree close before the shot, I think the Hawk may have swooped down and taken the Jackrabbit before we had a chance to recover it. Also, you can have it sent straight to your door, no FFL, no intermediary. We made our way back to the blind to start packing everything up and into the vehicles where we would head back to Glenn’s ranch. Get new MSA articles sent to you for FREE! RX2-KILLER. We have worked together with Airgun Sporting Association to compile state specific regulations for airgun hunting. Where safe and legal, hunt wild turkeys on your property, or allow others to hunt them. Those that know me know that I can take a joke, this one was picture perfect! There are three states with regulations permitting airguns as a method of take for turkey: California, Virginia and Maryland, though Maryland limits their use to the fall season only. Upon our arrival Glenn invited me into his awesome “Man Cave” where I was greeted with a little surprise that I gladly played along with. This Airbow is pretty easy to load and cocks very easily with the weight being about 7 lbs. Over a good talk on the phone we became friends and had even planned to hunt together one day that sounded to me like a great adventure. I just wanted to say that out of everyone out there you’ve probably had the most influence on me to get back outdoors and pick back up a hobbie i left behind over fifteen years ago! Thank you. Where To Shoot A Turkey With A Rifle. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Those interested in California small game or non-game hunting should check for additional regulations regarding allowed hunting times and locations, as the rules varies by species hunted. For example, California Senate Bill 199 proposed that manufacturers be required to paint all toy guns, air guns, and bb guns a bright color. With it being close to 11:00 am we unfortunately had to think about calling it a day as our many hours of driving was ahead of us. I personally shoot a 12 gauge 3in 4mags… Good luck! (916) 445–0411 Your reads are great Dana! The state is literally awash with wild turkeys. Turkey Hunting with Airguns On Saturday March 25th Tom Costan and I headed out from the American Air Arms facility in Acton California where we would drive 6 hours North to hunt Turkey. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. For more information on Camping Supply, Hunting Gear or Outdoor Fishing Gear and Equipment check out our Outdoor Tips links, below, or contact our Internet Customer Service via our toll-free phone number, 888-344-9500. Glenn eventually made a move to California and continued bow-hunting Turkey and after many years of hunting them with a bow Glenn decided to try something different. After his father’s death Glenn spent many hours in the woods with his Airgun as a way to connect with his father as it was always something they did together. It’s unreal how easily us ordinary people can influence the next generation.. “They are the future of our sport” and we all know they desperatly need and deserve a fun and positive hobbie “or way of life” to help mold the next generation. In Georgia, it is illegal to be in possession of an air rifle in any park, historic site, or … Website: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/, Therefore, please note that the following information was collected on April 3, 2015 from the California Fish and Game Commission website, which can be found at, The State of California makes junior hunting licenses available to those under 16 years of age, but passing a, Contact Information for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Headquarters, Check out the highly rated and affordable, Tips for choosing best air rifle for hunting, Most powerful pellet gun using single stroke pneumatic, Section 354 of California’s 2014–2015 Mammal Hunting Regulations, Tips for choosing an air rifle for hunting, Hunting with Airguns in Texas: Following Laws and Regulations. The gun is fairly loud but was still very enjoyable to shoot, no doubt being a very capable hunting weapon. This map shows the states where it is legal to hunt with airguns, and also lists restrictions, if there are any. Although there is no lower age limit for hunting in California, young children may find the required safety training too demanding. I am in bay area.. Post Mar 17, 2015 #2 2015-03-17T04:07. Soooo…. Tom and I will remember this hunt for a lifetime as it not only was our first Turkey hunt but one that we had the honor of sharing with someone as reputable as Glenn Elliott. Glenn helped pass the time by telling us a few stories and giving us some insight on some of his past hunting experience. Glenn is a great example to future hunters and has a ton to offer the Airgun community as he has helped to progress our sport. Spring tom turkeys in Northern California (Photo by Carrie Wilson) Question: While watching some videos on YouTube about turkey hunting with a pellet rifle, I noticed a guy from northern California stating he was using a nitro piston Remington air rifle which is not constant air or CO2 powered as your regulations state they must be. In spite of being an anti-gun state(IMO) California is airgun friendly. Co2 Air Rifles are now popular than ever, with realistic tactical models to … I didnt intend to rant on this long and i apolagize if what im saying seems like “alot” for the “Leave a comment? It allows any caliber of pellet to be used for hunting small game, with the exception that one must use a caliber of at least 0.177 when hunting wild turkey. After taking his first Turkey in 2010 with a Nitro Piston Airgun and dropping it in its tracks, he was very successful and decided to continue hunting them with Airguns. California actually allows turkey hunting with air rifles! When it comes to hunting with air guns, the state only allows use of air rifles to hunt … The decoys that Glenn set up were fairly realistic and placed in a very natural pose that surly may invoke some excitement from any Turkey’s that may pass by. (f) Air rifles powered by compressed air or gas and used with any caliber of pellet, except that wild turkey may only be taken with a pellet that is at least 0.177 caliber; https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Upland-Game-Birds#225035-regulations California Upland Game Bird Regs California Small Game Regs In the state of California, several laws dictate the use and sale of BB guns, air guns and pellet guns. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The concern is that air gun hunting larger animals would only result in an increasing number injured and maimed animals, and that the animals taken would first be subject to unnecessary suffering. Post Mar 08, 2015 #1 2015-03-08T19:56. As the morning progressed we were visited by several Jackrabbits that were taunting all of us with great shot opportunity but we simply could not risk hunting them as that would ruin our goal of bagging a Turkey. What the law really means is that small game hunters who use an air gun need not worry about the legality of the type or caliber of air gun they use. Tom and I got up around 5:00 am and proceeded to ready our gear for the days Turkey hunt as well as having our morning cup of Joe that Glenn thankfully provided. Soon enough a good sized one came about and Tom had his sights on it. We would see them moving back and fourth in the woods but none of them would come out enough for us to make any clear shots. Learn how your comment data is processed. Airgunners such as Jim Chapman legal information operated by … Yes hour drive would be ok with me therefore! 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