Air pistol or air rifle for grouse and ptarmigan

Johnmash2

I was watching meat eater a couple days ago and they used a pump action pellet gun for ptarmigan. Anyone here bring an air pistol or rifle for small birds, rabbit or squirrels? Seems like a cheaper option and lighter to carry around in the hills

Cass

Welcome to the forum.

The problem you have is Meat Eater is American based so we cannot do some of what they do.

Rifles, including air rifles, cannot be used for hunting birds (except under derogation). Air pistols are, to make it so much easier to understand, basically the same. Cannot be used. Squirrels are fair game, but only Grey Squirrels. Reds are protected and cannot be shot at all.

Now Rabbits and other "vermin" are fair game. Vermin is anything not directly protected under the wildlife act. So to answer part of your question bird shooting, some Squirrel shooting cannot be done so no one will answer that as it would be illegal. As for the the other game i'll leave it to lads with an air rifle to answer.

extremetaz

Can't use rifle on game birds here - only exception being Pigeon, under derogation, where there is a clear need outside of game season.

Eddie B

Air rifles must be licenced here in Ireland, so if your intending on shooting game birds, your better off going for a shotgun, which is more suited to the job.