Is it Legal to Shoot Squirrels with a Pellet Gun or Air Gun?

For the most part, various species of squirrels are found in nearly every region of the United States. As a species, they have developed a reputation as a backyard pest that raids bird feeders and as a popular small game species for hunters. In my role as the editor of this site, in conjunction with my position at my day job, I field several questions dealing with squirrels and pellet rifles. One of the more common questions asked is: is it legal to shoot squirrels with a pellet gun?

Unfortunately, it’s not a simple yes or no answer as there are several factors to consider to stay with your area’s local or state laws. Since I’m unfamiliar with the pellet rifle laws in every state, I will discuss some legal and ethical considerations and suggestions about how to find the answer to the question for your specific geography.

The Squirrel Species

According to different sources, there are at least 65 different species and sub-species of squirrels in the United States. However, for the purposes of this post, when discussing squirrels, I’ll be referring to either the gray squirrel or the Fox squirrel, as they are the two most common species in the U.S.

What’s the Primary Purpose

One factor that may play a role in the answer involves the specific purpose or reason a person is interested in shooting squirrels with a pellet rifle.

Here are a few of the more common reasons and how they could impact the answer:

Harvest the squirrels as a hunter

Air gun hunting has grown increasingly popular over the last ten years, so more and more hunters are opting to use a pellet rifle to harvest game species versus a rimfire rifle or shotgun. However, not every state will allow a pellet rifle to be used to harvest squirrels.

However, some states do allow squirrel hunting with a pellet rifle. Many states even have game regulations that lay out minimum caliber or projectile requirements (.22 caliber or .117 caliber) or power requirements (feet per second speed of a pellet), so not every pellet rifle on the market is a candidate for use on a squirrel.

If you plan to use a pellet rifle for squirrel hunting, I strongly suggest you confirm the rules and regulations governing pellet rifles in your state and region.

Drive them away as a pest

Let’s face it: squirrels can be a significant pest for people with gardens or bird feeders. They will clean a bird feeder out in a matter of hours and can seriously damage a garden.

In an effort to combat thievery, many people will consider purchasing an air gun or BB gun to drive the squirrels away as a repellent.

This is another area where you’ll need to check the local regulations, as some states or regions won’t allow an air gun to be used for squirrels.

When I see people browsing the pellet rifle options at my day job, about 75% seem to be shopping for pellet rifles for this very reason.

Eradication or population control

Another common approach for air guns is for use as a tool to reduce or help control the squirrel population for one reason or another.

This approach is common in situations where a traditional rifle (like a 22LR) or shotgun is too loud or dangerous to use, so a pellet rifle offers a potential alternative that is quieter and very capable of ethically harvesting squirrels.

This scenario may or may not be legal in your area, so I strongly suggest researching before moving forward with this plan.

A great example of this population control occurs in some parts of the western U.S. when farmers and landowners deal with ground squirrels. Ground squirrels are a specific species of squirrels that live in burrows in the ground (much like Prairie Dogs). The ground squirrel openings pose a potential hazard for livestock like cattle, sheep, or goats, who may step in the hole and break a leg.

Since ground squirrels are a pest species, many farmers or landowners are happy to have hunters focus on reducing the ground squirrel population. However, the potential presence of farm species like cattle can create issues using a rimfire or centerfire rifle on the ground squirrel species. Situations like this are ideal for air guns, as they are quieter and safer for use around farm animals. A ricocheting .177 caliber pellet has less chance of seriously injuring an animal compared to a 22LR round or .223 round.

The Legal & Ethical Perspectives

Once the goal has been established, two primary areas can or may impact using a pellet rifle on squirrels. Those two perspectives include the following:

1. Legal Perspective
2. Ethical Perspective

Let’s look at each perspective individually:

Legal

I briefly touched on this topic above, but there will be legal considerations at the state and local levels regarding whether squirrels can be hunted or shot with a pellet rifle.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these sub-topics:

State Laws

As I mentioned before, not every state will allow the use of a pellet rifle or air gun for squirrels. Some states will, and some won’t. Before you even consider purchasing a pellet or air gun, I would thoroughly research this topic to ensure the legality.

That suggestion is also worth considering if you were purchasing a pellet air gun as a parent for a child. Knowing if your son or daughter can shoot at the local squirrels with a pellet or BB rifle is worth the effort.

Local Laws

In addition to the state laws or regulations in your area, there may also be local or regional regulations that may play a role. For example, I’ve seen situations where it was legal to hunt squirrels with an air rifle but illegal to discharge an air rifle or pellet rifle in city limits. So, if you lived in the city limits, it could be unlawful to shoot a pellet rifle at the squirrels in your backyard, even if the shot is in a safe direction.

For those reasons, it’s worth your time to research the regulations about air rifles on the state, regional, and local levels.

One of my kids took his airsoft rifle over to a friend’s house, and I received a call from the local police advising me that he and his friend were shooting at squirrels with an airsoft gun, which was illegal in the town’s city limits.

Ethical

In addition to the potential legal aspects of using an air pellet rifle on squirrels, there’s also a potential ethical concern.

From an ethics standpoint, it’s essential to ensure that the air rifle being used is powerful enough to ethically kill a squirrel with a single shot. Even though you are dealing with potential pests, there’s no reason to wound them by using a BB rifle or some other air rifle that isn’t sufficiently powerful for a one-shot kill.

As I mentioned before, there may also be some bleedover in this area from the legal side, as some states have minimum requirements for air guns being used on live game.

Several pellet rifle models, especially entry-level models, may not generate sufficient FPS (Feet Per Second) velocity to kill a squirrel ethically.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, it’s essential to understand that the legality of shooting squirrels with an air rifle can vary depending on local, state, and federal laws. While some regions permit such actions for pest control or hunting purposes, others strictly forbid them due to animal cruelty or conservation concerns. Irrespective of the law, ethical considerations should also play a significant role in our decisions.

FAQS

Here are some commonly asked questions regarding squirrel hunting and pellet guns:

Can you shoot squirrels in your backyard with a pellet gun?

The answer will depend on your state’s laws or game regulations and the local laws or regulations. For example, it’s against the law in some towns or municipalities to discharge any air-propelled firearm within city limits.

How powerful does a pellet gun need to be to kill a squirrel?

Not being sure, I reached out to the Crosman Corporation, which is a leading manufacturer of mid-range pellet rifles, air rifles, and BB guns. The Crosman support specialist I spoke with indicated that they typically recommend a rifle that will shoot a .22 caliber pellet at least 600 feet per second or a 177 caliber pellet at least 800 feet per second. Crosman recommends pellet rifles over BB rifles as the pellets are larger sized, more accurate, and have a more lethal impact compared to the average BB rifle.

Do I need a hunting license to hunt squirrels with an air rifle?

If the hunting regulations in your state allow squirrel hunting with an air rifle or pellet gun during the squirrel hunting season, then you’ll most likely need a hunting license if you’re 16 years old or older.

Can I shoot squirrels with a pellet rifle?

Assuming it’s legal in your area, you can shoot squirrels with a pellet gun. Pellet guns are often used for squirrel control, especially in residential areas where traditional firearms are prohibited. Make sure to use the right pellet and shot placement to ensure a humane kill.

What is the best type of pellet rifle for shooting squirrels?

This is one of those questions with no specific right or wrong answer. In my opinion, the best type of pellet gun for shooting squirrels is usually a .22 caliber air rifle. This caliber provides enough power to kill squirrels without causing unnecessary harm or wounding. It’s essential to choose a pellet gun that is powerful enough to kill the squirrel cleanly and effectively.

Are pellet rifles powerful enough to kill squirrels?

Typically, pellet guns are powerful enough to kill squirrels. The right pellet, shot placement, and sufficient muzzle energy can effectively bring down a squirrel. However, choosing a pellet gun with enough power is vital to ensure a quick and humane kill.

Can I shoot squirrels in my backyard?

Shooting squirrels in your backyard may be legal, depending on where you live. However, it’s essential to check the hunting regulations in your area regarding shooting wildlife in residential areas. As I mentioned, some localities may restrict hunting or discharging firearms within city limits.

Is it legal to use a pellet rifle to kill squirrels?

Using a pellet gun to kill squirrels is typically legal as long as you follow the hunting regulations and laws in your area. However, it’s always recommended to check with your local wildlife or game department to ensure you are in compliance with the specific rules and regulations in your location.

Can shooting squirrels with a pellet rifle in my backyard cause damage?

If done correctly, shooting squirrels with a pellet gun in your backyard should not cause significant damage. However, choosing the right pellet and shot placement is vital to ensure a clean and efficient kill. Additionally, you must be aware of your surroundings and take necessary precautions to prevent any unintended damage or injury.

Are there any legal restrictions on shooting squirrels with a pellet rifle?

Depending on your location, there may be legal restrictions on shooting squirrels with a pellet gun. It’s important to check with your local wildlife or game department to understand the specific regulations regarding shooting squirrels or any other game in your area.

Can I use an air rifle or pellet rifle to hunt squirrels during the hunting season?

The answer will depend on the hunting regulations in your area. However, following all hunting regulations and laws is recommended, including obtaining the necessary permits and licenses.