Field Guide · Quarry Guide
What can you hunt with an air rifle?
Researched by James · Updated September 26, 2026 · Editorial policy
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This page maps quarry to the energy and caliber it needs, and to the legal category it falls in, using published federal and state sources linked below plus the deep-dive guides on this site for each species. Full methodology & editorial policy →
Quarry, energy, and legal status at a glance
| Quarry | Energy at the animal | Typical caliber | Legal status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rats & mice | 6+ FPE | .177 or .22 | Not protected wildlife; local discharge rules apply |
| Starlings & house sparrows | 6-12 FPE | .177 or .22 | Non-native, not protected under the MBTA; state/city law still applies |
| Squirrels & rabbits | 9-12+ FPE | .22 | State game species — license and season usually required |
| Feral pigeons | 12+ FPE | .22 | Non-native, not protected under the MBTA; state/city law and permission apply |
| Mourning doves & native migratory birds | N/A | N/A | Not legal with any rifle — federal rule, no state can override it |
| Green iguanas (FL) | 20+ FPE, head shot | .22 or .25 | Invasive, humane killing allowed on private property with permission |
| Raccoons & opossums | 20-40 FPE | .25 and up | Furbearer rules vary by state — some allow air guns, some restrict methods |
| Hogs, coyotes, deer (select states) | 40-150+ FPE | Big bore, .35 and up | State-specific; deer and hogs need explicit big-bore authorization |
The full energy math and FPE-by-velocity tables live on the airgun FPE chart. Verify what your own rifle produces with the FPE calculator and a chronograph before applying any of these floors.
Small game: rabbits and squirrels
This is the airgun's home turf. A .22 PCP delivering 9-12+ FPE at the animal, with a head shot, cleanly takes both. Rabbits reward spot-and-stalk patience along brush edges at dawn and dusk; squirrels punch above their weight for their size and demand the same head-only discipline. Start with the rabbit hunting guide and the best air rifle for squirrels for species-specific setups.
Pests: rats, mice, starlings, house sparrows
These sit in a different legal bucket entirely. They're not native wildlife, so most states don't regulate them as game — but your city's discharge ordinance doesn't care what the animal is, only where the pellet travels. A quiet, subsonic .22 PCP is the standard tool here. See airgun pest control for the setup and the legal nuance by species.
Birds: the species that decides everything
Bird legality hinges entirely on whether the species is native. Federal law bars rifles for migratory game birds outright — mourning doves included — while non-native species like European starlings, house sparrows, and feral rock pigeons fall outside the Migratory Bird Treaty Act's protection. That doesn't make them open season everywhere: state and city rules still apply, and permission is still required. See pigeon hunting with an air rifle and Eurasian collared dove hunting for the two non-native birds airgun hunters actually pursue.
Collared doves and pigeons at 100-130 meters with the FX Impact M4 and 40.1gr slugs, Mexico desert.
Bigger game: iguanas, raccoons, and beyond
Past small game, the energy requirement jumps fast. Florida's invasive green iguanas need a solid head shot with real power behind it, and the state's own humane-killing standard for invasive reptiles calls for immediate unconsciousness followed by confirmed brain destruction — see iguana hunting in Florida. Raccoons and opossums need 20-40 FPE and a caliber to match, and furbearer law varies enough by state that it's worth reading before you buy a rifle for it — see raccoon and fox hunting with an air rifle. Big-bore rifles open the door to hogs, coyotes, and in some states deer, each with its own legal floor.
The one rule that never changes
Whatever the species, three checks come before the first shot: does your state's wildlife code authorize an air rifle for this animal, does your city or county ordinance allow discharge where you're standing, and — for birds specifically — is this species protected under federal law regardless of state rules. Skipping any one of the three turns a clean, legal-feeling shot into a violation.
Verdict
An air rifle's ceiling is set by energy, and its legal floor is set by species and state. Match the rifle to the quarry using the table above, confirm the legal picture for your exact location, and the "what can I hunt" question answers itself long before you're in the field.
FAQ
What animals can you legally hunt with an air rifle?
Typically rabbits, squirrels, and other small game where your state authorizes air rifles as a legal method, plus non-native pests like rats, starlings, house sparrows, and feral pigeons where state and local law allow. Bigger game — raccoons, hogs, even deer in some states — needs a big-bore air rifle and its own legal check.
Can you hunt birds with an air rifle?
Only non-native, unprotected species like feral rock pigeons, European starlings, and house sparrows, and only where state and local law allow. Native migratory birds, including mourning doves, are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and rifles of any kind are not a legal method for them.
What's the smallest FPE that can ethically kill something?
Around 6 FPE at the animal is the floor for rats, mice, and small pest birds with a head shot. Below that, even a perfect hit risks not delivering enough energy to kill instantly.
Can an air rifle kill a deer?
Some states allow big-bore air rifles (.35 caliber and up, generating 150+ FPE) for deer, but most don't, and the rifle and skill requirements are serious. See can you hunt deer with an air rifle for the state list and minimum calibers.
Can you hunt raccoons with an air rifle?
Yes, where furbearer law allows it — Florida and Missouri both permit air guns for raccoons, for example — but you need real power. Plan on 20-40 FPE, not the 9-12 FPE that handles rabbits. Full details in the raccoon hunting guide.
Is it legal to shoot pigeons with an air rifle?
Feral rock pigeons are non-native and not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but state wildlife law and city discharge ordinances still apply, and you need the landowner's permission. Confirm your local rules before you hunt.
What can't you hunt with an air rifle no matter what state you're in?
Native migratory game birds — mourning doves, ducks, geese, and similar species — because federal law bans rifles as a method for them outright, and no state can override a federal rule. Endangered and protected species are off-limits everywhere for the same reason.
Does caliber decide what you can hunt?
Energy decides it more than caliber does. A .22 PCP tuned for 15+ FPE outperforms a weak .25 making 12 FPE. Match your rifle's chronographed energy at the animal to the floor for that quarry, using the airgun FPE chart, rather than assuming a bigger bore automatically means more capability.
Sources
- Federal Register — List of bird species to which the Migratory Bird Treaty Act does not apply
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — Green Iguana profile and removal rules
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — Furbearer regulations
- Missouri Department of Conservation — Raccoon hunting and trapping regulations
- Cal. Code Regs. tit. 14, §311 — methods authorized for resident small game (Cornell LII)
