Can You Hunt Deer With Air Rifle In Ohio - A Short Read
Find out if you can deer hunt with an air rifle in Ohio, and what are the caveats. Know the possibilities & DNR guidelines before setting out with your air rifles on a deer hunting trip.
The answer is both yes and no. You can hunt deer with an air rifle in Ohio, but there are some caveats. In this blog post, we'll go over the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) guidelines for hunting deer with an air rifle. We'll also touch on some of the pros and cons of hunting deer with an air rifle.
What The DNR Says
According to the Ohio DNR, you can hunt deer with a rifle on the provided dates safely if you have a valid permit, but doesn't mention anything particular about air guns. The DNR also states that bows, crossbows, and traditional firearms are the only weapons allowed for deer hunting in Ohio.
Disadvantages to Hunting Deer with Air Rifles.
First and foremost, even if you find an air rifle that meets the DNR's guidelines in terms of caliber and muzzle velocity, it's going to lack the power of a traditional firearm. This means that your chances of taking down a deer are significantly lower with an air rifle than they would be with a shotgun or rifle.
Second, since air rifles lack power, they can be very difficult to shoot accurately beyond a certain range—generally 30 yards or so. This greatly limits your effective range when hunting deer.
Simply put, you can barely use them for small animals like squirrels, but if you really want to go out deer hunting, airsoft rifles should not be your first choice.
Also, check out our article on the best chokes for dove hunting.
Hunting With Air Rifles
The only advantage is that hunting with air rifles is often much cheaper than traditional firearms. If you're just getting into hunting, an air rifle can be a good way to get started without breaking the bank. They will also not require licenses in most states.
However, with a powerful air rifle you can hunt small games with accuracy, check out the video below:
Conclusion
All things considered, it's technically legal to hunt deer with an air rifle in Ohio—but we wouldn't recommend it. Air rifles simply don't have the power or range necessary to take down a deer effectively.
If you're hell-bent on using an air rifle for deer hunting, our advice would be to stick to birds or smaller games like squirrels and rabbits. With a proper combination of rifles, pellets, accuracy, and patience you can hunt hogs or small deer, but those won't be easy.
Also, check out some of our other short reads:
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