Futuristic air guns for hunting? DNR weighs in
A few months ago when the Maryland DNR held its stakeholder meeting to discuss new hunting rules and regulations for the coming two years, one of the topics discussed that wasn't on any official proposal was a new weapon, the Crossman Airbow. You may have seen or heard about these new arms, which are basically a hopped up air gun which, depending on design, can shoot either a bullet or an arrow. They look like a cross between an AR rifle and a science fiction laser cannon. The questions then, as now, revolve around what, exactly, are they and how should they fit in the scheme of hunting rules?
The Maryland DNR is currently working on a set of proposals to address the issue.
The first proposal would classify the weapon as an air gun. The proposed wording would define these weapons as any gun that propels a projectile by means of non-ignited compressed air or other gas. Some of these new weapons shoot bullets and some shoot arrows, but all would be classified as air guns and be subject to minimum standards of power and energy for use in hunting.
MORE FROM CIEKOT: Time for hunters to prepare for the birds and bears
A second proposal would allow these new air guns, if they meet the minimum standards, to be used during deer firearm and muzzleloader seasons. They would not be allowed during archery season. When shooting a bullet, the projectile would be required to be .40 or larger with at least 400 foot/pounds of energy, while when shooting an arrow, it would have to be at least an 18-inch arrow fired at 300 feet per second or more, with a broadhead of at least 7/8 inch width.
A third proposal would allow the air guns to be used during turkey seasons. Airguns that shoot a bullet or arrow would be legal in the fall seasons, only those that shoot an arrow would be legal for the spring and winter seasons.
The fourth proposal would allow their use for upland game, although doves and woodcock hunters would be restricted to air guns that only shoot arrows.
The fifth proposal would allow all air bows that meet minimum requirements to be used for hunting furbearers that are not currently restricted to trapping.
The last bit on the air guns is not a proposal so much as a clarification — they would not be legal for wetland game birds, as requirements for those are already set in state law, not DNR regulation.
You'll hear more about all this as the department gathers public feedback before implementing any actual rules or changes. As they stand, however, the proposals certainly seem to address questions and the legal status and use of the new airbows/airguns.
In some circumstances, especially suburban settings where the loud boom of a gun is often best avoided, they could be truly useful weapons for hunters. Yet for most of us I'm not sure how well accepted they'll be or how widespread they'll become. They'll never be as powerful as a true firearm and certainly don't seem to offer much in added performance or ease of use over bows and crossbows. In the end it all may be a lot of effort over a short-lived idea.
Outdoor Calendar
Aug. 2: Maryland waterfowl blind site licensing day, first day lottery for each county
Aug. 5-6: Eighth Annual Marlin Club Ladies Tournament, OC Marlin Club, Ocean City, 410-213-1613
Aug. 6: Ninth Annual Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce Flounder Tournament, Pines Point Marina, Ocean Pines, 410-641-5306
Aug. 8-12: 43rd Annual White Marlin Open, Harbour Island Marina, Ocean City, 410-289-9229
Aug. 13: Maryland Waterfowlers Association swap meet, Talbot Rod and Gun Club, Easton, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., www.talbotrodandgunclub.com
Aug. 15: Start of Maryland crow season, Wednesdays-Saturdays only
Through Aug. 31: Maryland black bear hunt lottery application period
Through Dec. 20: Maryland striped bass season for Chesapeake and tributaries, two fish daily, 20-inch minimum, only one fish over 28 inches