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  • Donnie Bell

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    Nov 25, 2017
    8
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    San Antonio, TX
    I am not new to hunting by any means; however, I have not hunted in several years and have never hunted with my .22 rifle ever. I am new to Texas and I have done as much research as I can possible do, I have googled until the cows come home and searched the Texas Wildlife and Game website as much as I can, and I can't find ANY information as to whether or not I can use my .22 rifle to legally hunt squirrel and rabbit. I know that this is the most popular weapon to use for it, but for public hunting lands, is it legal to use as I can't find ANY documentation on this subject.
    Lynx Defense
     

    BRD@66

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    Jan 23, 2014
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    Liberty Hill
    Welcome to TGT. We've got a guy who thinks he know everything that'll be along shortly to quote the law. Me, I'm native TX, shot rabbits & squirrels w .22. Only public hunting I ever did in TX was dove on Corps of Engineers land. But that experience is limited - only since 1956.
     

    majormadmax

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    Aug 27, 2009
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    San Antonio!
    Not an issue. In fact, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission recommends it for small game...

    copy_of_RecommendedCalibersforGame400pixels.gif

    Source: https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education/online-course/firearms-and-ammunition-1/bullets
     

    majormadmax

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    Aug 27, 2009
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    The only restriction I could find was for pellet guns...

    Pellet guns and other air guns are not legal for the take of any game bird or game animal other than squirrel. To be lawful for the take of squirrel, an air rifle must be designed to be fired from the shoulder and use the force of a spring, air, or other non-ignited compressed gas to expel a projectile of at least .177 caliber (4.5mm) at a minimum muzzle velocity of 600 feet per second.

    https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/general-regulations/means-and-methods
     

    majormadmax

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    Aug 27, 2009
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    San Antonio!
    Lastly...note the above link also states "white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope may not be hunted with rimfire ammunition of any caliber."

    Game animals and game birds may be hunted with any legal firearm, except:
    • white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope may not be hunted with rimfire ammunition of any caliber.
    • shotguns are the only legal firearm that may be used to hunt Eastern turkey during the spring Eastern turkey season (see County Listing). Rifles and handguns may not be used to hunt Eastern turkey.
    • pellet guns and other air guns are not legal for the take of any game bird or game animal other than squirrel. To be lawful for the take of squirrel, an air rifle must be designed to be fired from the shoulder and use the force of a spring, air, or other non-ignited compressed gas to expel a projectile of at least .177 caliber (4.5mm) at a minimum muzzle velocity of 600 feet per second.
    • fully automatic firearms are not legal.
    • a shotgun is the only legal firearm for hunting migratory game birds (see Definitions - Legal Shotgun).
    • Silencers may be used to take any wildlife resource; however, all federal, state and local laws continue to apply.
    Nongame Animals (Non-Protected) may be hunted with any lawful firearm, pellet gun, or other air gun.


    https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/general-regulations/means-and-methods
     

    Younggun

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    Jul 31, 2011
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    sobi1998

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    Mar 18, 2016
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    My uncle claims he took a deer with a .22lr took several shots but the deer dropped. This was 40 some odd years ago. Remington Nylon 66. Great gun!


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    Younggun

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    Jul 31, 2011
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    .22LR has been used to poach deer for decades.

    Not saying it's a good round for deer hunting.
     

    sobi1998

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    Mar 18, 2016
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    I'd say be careful what you use to dispatch a deer too. A warden could see a .30 hole in the shoulder and a .22 in the skull. Who's to say you didn't shoot a dead deer with a .30


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    Donnie Bell

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    0   0   0
    Nov 25, 2017
    8
    1
    San Antonio, TX
    Welcome to TGT. We've got a guy who thinks he know everything that'll be along shortly to quote the law. Me, I'm native TX, shot rabbits & squirrels w .22. Only public hunting I ever did in TX was dove on Corps of Engineers land. But that experience is limited - only since 1956.
    Thank you very much everyone, I saw the same thing you guys did on the Texas Wildlife Gami website, I guess I just didn't read between the lines, LMAO....Thank you everyone for such speedy responses.
     

    texanite15

    New Member
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    May 29, 2019
    27
    11
    Houston, Tx
    Youre good to go for small game. Its whats recommended and everyone uses it so there's nothing wrong with that. But i see what you mean in terms of finding where its written down. Smart idea just to check
     
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