Deer hunt in Mississippi: Are air guns legal or not?
Reactions to Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ 202021 Outdoor Digest coupled with posts on social media indicate there is confusion among hunters as to the legality of using air guns for hunting deer in Mississippi.
The digest states, “Air guns may be used on private lands during any open gun season.” However, posts and comments show that some people think otherwise. Col. Adcock, MDWFP’S chief of law enforcement, explained when and where air rifles can be used for deer.
“It’s really very simple,” Adcock said. “It’s a legal weapon after the early primitive weapons season. It’s legal on private lands.”
During the early primitive weapons season, hunting is limited to archery equipment and approved single shot rifles. However, hunters using approved rifles are limited to harvesting only antlerless deer. Since air guns aren’t considered primitive weapons, they can’t be used during the early season.
‘It’s no different than a regular firearm’
During primitive weapons seasons after Nov. 30, on private lands only, air guns are legal because because hunters are allowed to use a weapon of choice, not just primitive weapons. In addition, as the digest states, they are legal on private lands during any open gun season for deer.
Like regular rifles used for deer in Mississippi, there is no minimum caliber that can be used; only a maximum.
“It’s no different than a regular firearm,” Adcock said. “It can’t be larger than 10 gauge.”
Although air guns are legal for deer, some may question their effectiveness and ability to ethically harvest a medium game animal. Chris Farmer of Grenada said the air rifles he uses aren’t anything like the .177 caliber guns hunters may remember using as kids.
Fine-tuned machines
“I have two,” Farmer said. “I shoot an Airforce Texanss .308 caliber.
“The other is an Extreme Big Bore. It’s a .408 caliber. I shoot 185 to 400 (grain bullets) out of it.”
Farmer said the .308 generates in excess of 700 foot-pounds of energy. He said he uses it for hunting areas where shots aren’t more than 50 yards. He also said it is not only accurate, it’s quiet and doesn’t disturb his neighbors, so he and his wife and children shoot it often.
“The guns are so quiet in that caliber,” Farmer said. “We’ve shot 900 rounds out of this .308. You can shoot golf balls at 200 yards. They are very fine-tuned machines.”
His .408 caliber rifle can take deer at much longer ranges. Farmer said it generates more than 1,300 pounds of energy. For comparison, that’s roughly the energy produced by a .300 AAC Blackout.
His longest shot on a buck so far has been 240 yards.
“He was hit like a ton of bricks,” Farmer said. “If you put the crosshairs where you’re supposed to, it’s done for. They’re awesome to shoot.”
Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Follow Clarion Ledgeroutdoors on Facebook and @Brianbroom on Twitter.