7 Reasons to Hunt Small Game with Airguns

by Tom Claycomb

Down on the farm with modern airguns.

Small game like rabbits and squirrels are widespread and abundant. Seasons are long and bag limits large. Throw in varmints like crop eating rodents, pigeons, starlings and other invasive species and you have hunting opportunities galore. Throw in airguns and you’ll get access like you never can with a firearm. Airguns are the perfect tool for hunting small game. Let’s check some out.  

1. QUIET

Compared to a .223, .17 HMR, .22 mag. or even the lowly .22 long rifle, an airgun is quiet. I get a lot more shooting when I’m hunting whistle pigs (ground squirrels) with an air rifle because it’s quieter. The little rodents stayed above ground longer and pop back up faster when they don’t here the crack of a louder rifle, even a 22 rimfire.

You benefit, too, because you don’t have to wear hearing protection. If you’re hunting with small children or younger kids, airguns are not as intimidating because they’re quiet and don’t hurt their ears.

2. LIVESTOCK

One of the biggest advantages of quiet-shooting airguns is that they allow you to hunt around livestock. I often pigeon hunt in large feedlots of 100,000 head of cattle. You can shoot around livestock without spooking them. If you’re right beside a horse or steer, it might flinch or jump a little just because it is something new, but they’ll quickly become accustomed to it. When I was a kid we shot near our cows and horse all the time.

A new take on the Wild West cowboy?

If there’s a ricochet or accidental discharge with a small caliber airgun, it shouldn’t kill or seriously injure large livestock. With most airguns is you might even be able to shoot birds and rats in the barn. I shoot all the time around cattle and horses with my UMAREX Gauntlet and UMAREX Synergis. 

I’ve ever been denied hunting access on a feedlot, farm or ranch if I tell them that I’m using an airgun. (Let them think you’re using little Ralphie’s Red Ryder BB gun if they want.)

If you hunt with airguns, a lot more agricultural land will open up for you. This is a big deal. I learned this lesson as a kid. Our place was surrounded by a big ranch and I was free to hunt it with my airgun. Sections and sections of pasture and thick oak forest. Corn and wheat and wooded creeks. A squirrel in every other tree and all kinds of game due to the abundance of food. Airgunner’s paradise.

And varmints? Farms are usually plagued with them. Hundreds and hundreds of pigeons, starlings, and burrowing rodents around gardens, crops, barns and feedlots. Many farmers love help in reducing the numbers.

Moral to #2 — agriculture greatly enhances populations of small game. Airguns get you access where your howitzer cannon might not!

3. SUBURBIA

A lot of people are moving out in the country and building houses on small 5 to 10-acres plots. If you’re having trouble with varmints you hate to whip out your .338 Win. Mag. to dispose of a rat in the barn. Whereas if you use an airgun your neighbors won’t even know that you’re shooting snakes, Eurasian doves, pigeons, rats, skunks and so forth.

4. NO RECOIL

Due to no recoil, you get fast follow up shots. Plus, you can see if you hit or missed your target. Low recoiling airguns are a great option for training kids to shoot properly.

5. PELLETS ARE READILY AVAILABLE

I don’t need to tell you how it’s been impossible to find ammo lately. Even for the lowly .22 rimfire. If you do by chance get lucky enough to find some .22 ammo, you almost hate to go out plinking since it is so expensive! On the other hand, pellets? Ha, you can buy a tin of pellets almost anywhere. Pellets are also easy to store and you don’t have to worry about moisture deteriorating them.

6. AIRGUNS ARE GREAT TO START KIDS HUNTING

Hunting small game with airguns is the perfect avenue to get small kids into hunting. I’ll write a whole article on this soon. For now just know that UMAREX offers a variety of airguns that your kids, grandkids and neighborhood kids will love.

7. PRACTICE MAKE PERFECT

I think that I am a lot better shot because airguns allow me to hunt small game/birds in the off season. On a good day of ground squirrel hunting, I might take 400 to 500 shots. I can concentrate on trigger squeeze, breathing, target acquisition, and even shooting quickly before the opportunity passes. Think about some of your past hunting experiences when elk, deer, bear and other game paused for that perfect shot. They step into the clear, but before you can line up your shot and take it, they’re gone. Practicing to shoot quickly matters. You gain confidence and hone your ability to align sights on target and break that perfect shot. Hunting and shooting a lot with airguns while small game hunting enhances these skills.

I’m sure there are other benefits to airgun hunting I’m forgetting at the moment, but you’ll discover them for yourself once you start. As a diehard firearms hunter, I was reluctant to “waste my time” with airguns, but once I got started… Well, now I doubt I could ever give them up! So, what are you waiting for? Grab a UMAREX Synergis and go hunting!