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Pest control using airguns

Many vertebrate pests can be quite easily controlled using the vast array of available pest control airguns thus bypassing the need to spend significant amounts of money on poisoning or trapping. This way of control is proper in barns, warehouses or property.

Laws in different countries state what, when and how you are allowed to shoot with regular guns or airguns. Some bird and animal species are protected while other are considered pests and can be shot all year around with no limits, allowing airgunners to enjoy the legal culling of pests.

For example, British “Wildlife& Countryside Act, 1981” says that a bird becomes a pest if it is:

Threatening wild bird populations.
Endangering public health
Spreading disease
Causing serious damage to livestock, crops, fisheries, young trees or waterways.

Before you start controlling pestbird or animal populations, you should clearly know what is allowed and what is forbidden in your area or you should contact professionals to do that.

Among the more acknowledged pests controlled with air guns are certain birds, such as the European starling, the house sparrow and the common pigeon.

The most common pest rodents that could be controlled using air guns are the house mouse and brown rat. They could be a challenging target to shoot and are however easier killed using traps or poison bait. Air pistols are normally only used in the control of rats, at very close range and in an indoor environment.

Rabbits, squirrels, in some parts of the country also groundhogs and their relatives cause an intense damage and can also be controlled using airguns.

For most pest control, a low-to-medium powered airgun is sufficient. There are also several air handguns suitable for pest control.

Expanding head “pest control” pellets usually are also hollow and are considered most appropriate for using in airguns for pest control.

Ethical hunters say, that “If you cannot be sure of a clear, safe shot and a clean kill do NOT shoot!” The safety rules when using any type of gun should always be remembered!