Hunting with airguns

[Grumpy]

"Are you of the opinion that "hunting for meat" is only right if one was in desperate need of it?"

Don`t think so. I have no problem with hunting for the pot - providing that there are adequate and sustainable numbers of the quarry animal - or with controlling pests where they are a problem ( Foxes killing domestic fowl, Feral Pigs or Wild Boar destroying crops, over-populations of Rabbits ruining grazing, etc. ) Hunting to eat is an entirely natural pastime - we are omnivores when all is said and done. What I have a major problem with is trophy hunting - the concept of hunting just to hang a head on the wall I find bizarre and distasteful. I haven`t noticed any Lions or bears hanging `trophy` heads on their living room walls..... I find the hunting of species like big cats and bears even more distasteful as they aren`t being hunted for meat at all. A `rogue` Lion, Tiger or bear - as in a maneater or stock killer - however is a perfectly legitimate target.
I believe that we do have a moral duty to respect the animals we hunt and to despatch them as quickly as possible. Asifs assertation that a kidney shot will shut down an animals systems as quick as a head shot ( not entirely true as it happens - as I`m sure that he will concede having thought about the physiology involved ) is irrelevent as no-one should be shooting an animal in the kidney area anyway. If you haven`t a clear shot at the head or chest then you shouldn`t be taking a shot.
I have little sympathy with the concept of being able to trail an animal after wounding it. Use enough gun, shoot straight and drop it where it stands is my attitude.
Something else that I have little sympathy with........or none at all in reality is sport type bow hunting ( as opposed to necessary bow hunting by tribal peoples. ) I have NEVER seen a clean - dropped on the spot - kill using a bow and arrow......and I`ve had to endure enough videos on the subject. Like spear and knife hunting it is just an excuse for some to get their macho jollies off in my opinion.

[Yaj]

"Are you of the opinion that "hunting for meat" is only right if one was in desperate need of it?"

Don`t think so. I have no problem with hunting for the pot - providing that there are adequate and sustainable numbers of the quarry animal - or with controlling pests where they are a problem ( Foxes killing domestic fowl, Feral Pigs or Wild Boar destroying crops, over-populations of Rabbits ruining grazing, etc. ) Hunting to eat is an entirely natural pastime - we are omnivores when all is said and done. What I have a major problem with is trophy hunting - the concept of hunting just to hang a head on the wall I find bizarre and distasteful. I haven`t noticed any Lions or bears hanging `trophy` heads on their living room walls..... I find the hunting of species like big cats and bears even more distasteful as they aren`t being hunted for meat at all. A `rogue` Lion, Tiger or bear - as in a maneater or stock killer - however is a perfectly legitimate target.
I believe that we do have a moral duty to respect the animals we hunt and to despatch them as quickly as possible.

Totally agree with you on the above mentioned points.

Asifs assertation that a kidney shot will shut down an animals systems as quick as a head shot ( not entirely true as it happens - as I`m sure that he will concede having thought about the physiology involved ) is irrelevent as no-one should be shooting an animal in the kidney area anyway. If you haven`t a clear shot at the head or chest then you shouldn`t be taking a shot.
I have little sympathy with the concept of being able to trail an animal after wounding it. Use enough gun, shoot straight and drop it where it stands is my attitude.

Every body would like an ideal kill but even the best of shots miss.Anything from the prey moving forward at the last split second etc can make your bullet end up in a place less desirable on your target.It is in that eventuality that the power/pellet calibre etc was being discussed as to whether it could still cause enough damage as to humanely kill a small animal like a hare.

Regards,
Yaj.

[eljefe]

All,
Academic exercise
hunting does not exist in India
Atavastic instinct

All operative parameters

Usual obtuse self-aha, was that the word I was looking for?

Kidney shot- talking of experiences- had this happen once,with a running Thompsons Gazelle in S Africa and I was surprised at the clean drop! the PM/Gutting showed the damage to the kidneys...sharing it!
Recommend it as a routine shot placement? NO WAY! remember "... fastest with the mostest..." ?

For us city slickers, hunting for meat would mean the local butcher for some fine cuts...As a pro gun/ pro hunter- if Iam sitting in a warm and comfy room with a freezer full of meat , i dont think I would be driven to go get my self another shot, however tempting the shot/animal!
But in the field, I WOULD pass up a meat animal for a trophy shot.

[dev]

{Dev don't get me wrong, no personal slight was even imagined.Since we are talking of hunting in India which we know is illegal.

My bone of contention was your statement:
"Cause none of us are in such desperate need for food and would in theory be hunting for sport"}
Okay Yaj I now understand what you mean and in a strange way think that is what I was trying to say. That's why these debates are more fun over a hopp beverage and near a raging camp fire. The net makes it a little difficult to communicate at times.

Regards,

Dev

[Grumpy]

Asif, I`d be interested in knowing what you used on that Tommy as they can be dropped with a .22 lr - the sheer shock induced by a centrefire rifle bullet would be quite likely to stop such a small animal in its tracks.

Misunderstandings ? On the web ? Go on.......................Never ( !!!!!! ) ( )

Yaj, I reckon that any discussion concerning an extended kill zone based on shock induced by an air rifle pellet is largely academic: Air rifles just do not produce enough power for an off-target shot to kill via shock........unless you are talking about very small animals - mice, voles, etc - or small birds.

Hunting is all about taking your time and placing your shot. If you can`t get a clean shot you don`t take the shot - it`s as easy as that. I don`t use air rifles and am not interested in using them ( although I have done in the past ) but I appreciate the skill and sheer finesse of air rifle hunting when it is done properly. Having to take head shots 100% of the time when Bunny hunting takes real skill.
You should never rush in taking a shot - to do so almost always produces an unsatisfactory result. An animal moving between a shot being taken and the animal being hit is actually rather unlikely as a bullet travelling at 2500 fps takes only 0.12 of a second to travel 100 yards. Any movement has invariably been initiated before the shot has even been taken. It is a fact that if one commits to a shot and the prey animal moves there is a strong inducement to shoot. That`s a self-discipline problem which needs to be overcome.
By the way, the 2500 fps velocity figure I quoted above is obviously considerably faster than the velocity of any air rifle pellet but the time that the pellet takes to reach the target is actually quite similar over 20-25 yards.

[shahid]

The Quran says, hunt for what your group and you need to eat. Do not waste, do not massacre. DO not hunt what is Haram, there fore hunting of gamebirds and deer / hoofed species is fine.

Hunting animals for mere trophy is absolutely egoistic. And wrong.

My self imposed rules for maximum bag limits now are, anywhere I hunt be it Arabia, Africa or UK.

Partridges l grouse or pheasant- 4

2 for me and 2 for a friend to give away.

Ducks geese - 2
I for me and 1 a gift for someone.

Deer / antelope - 1 old male, maximum 3 per year.

Pigeons / doves - 6 in an outing. 4 for me, 2 to give away.

Thats it.

All birds / animals, Zabah the halal way for a quick dispatch.

Wild boars and haram species I don't touch. In fact I have never shot or shot at a wild boar anywhere in the world in my 28 years of hunting career.

[eljefe]

John, all i had was an old 7mm mauser, probably from the boer war! and solids of about equal vintage.The next time around was same combo, this time intentional shot placement, at about 160m on another Tommy.Also tried on 40 kg porker, at about 70-80m .

[Grumpy]

7x57 is a nice calibre Asif.......and very highly regarded in Southern Africa. Plenty ( ! ) enough to flatten a little Tommy........and more than enough for the porker. Was that a Warthog or a feral Pig ?

[eljefe]

Feral...for a rifle that looked it escaped the smelting furnace by a whisker, the action was one of the quietiest and certainly very very smooth.My first exposure to the 'original' controlled feeder, John

[Khan_Imran]

Hi NG

I am not a typical air gun freak. I just love my beretta's. But, I do go out on air gun hunts once in a while. I've had a few go's on crows and rabbits and it was quite sporty. By the way Crows are really difficult to hunt. They are exceptionally trenchant. Well as for Air Guns, I do own a Diana 34S Ultra .22 fitted with a steel sound moderator and a zoom scope. A new one costs around $ 800 but I was fortunate enough to get a used one from a guy for $500. It's a good addition to my arsenal No, we do not need permits to carry Air Guns. Anyone can just walk into an Ammo Store and buy it.
IMRAN

[andy_65_in]

The topic seems to be drifting from hunting with an airgun to ....anyway firmly believe no firearm was/has been invented to make holes in paper and shoot down already dead birds( read TRAP?CLAY). they have ben invented to either take lives or save lives therefore they have these 2 roles only, dont ever remember wasting ammo on cutting paper etc. i consider a non hunting application of a firearm as a disgrace and dishonour to the weapon.incidentally imran _khan PHA is quite sensitive for regn they want to know everything about your KHANDAAN as per their form.told them cant provide my photo for professional reasons so NO reply and i doubt they will.frankly my aim is to share hunting stories etc only .admire apna IFG it so simple to register and jump in and enjoy an exch of thoughts/applications. Good Hunting

[Vikram]

Andy,

A target/clay shooting gun is a disgrace and a dishonour?Care to explain my friend?Or were the words used just as intensifiers without much thought?You will find a lot many picking you on this statement of yours.Would look forward to your ideas.

Best-
Vikram

[Mack The Knife]

....anyway firmly believe no firearm was/has been invented to make holes in paper and shoot down already dead birds( read TRAP?CLAY). they have ben invented to either take lives or save lives therefore they have these 2 roles only, dont ever remember wasting ammo on cutting paper etc.

Just the sort of thing Maneka and her kind would love to hear and coming from a shooter at that.

[Khan_Imran]

Hi Andy,
Don't get emotional mate. Take it easy and have fun. IFG is a wonderful site loaded with lots and lots of info comprising of well behaved and cultured members. We all, including myself are here to discover and upgrade our science from the views and personal knowledge of members derived from participation or observation. What kind of weapons do u love. Do u like GUN SMOKE....

IMRAN

[Mack The Knife]

Did I miss something then?