Hi everyone,
I'm taking my step-son and my wife squirrel and rabbit hunting in the beginning of May. We're going to be camping at the Double Lake Recreation Area within Sam Houston National Forest.

We plan on walking out of the DL Rec Area at dawn and enter the SHNF to do our hunting.

Neither of them has done any hunting and I haven't either since I was a teenager. Regardless we're hoping to use it as an opportunity to spend time together in the outdoors.

While I own handguns and shotguns I don't really have anything for squirrels or rabbits so I was planning on purchasing some .22 rifles. That is until I realized the model I was hoping to purchase (Ruger Model 10) would set me back over $600 for 3 rifles.

So now I'm thinking of purchasing 3 Gamo Hornet Air Rifles instead for half the price.

If anyone has any advice on the hunting or the rifles etc. I'm glad to receive it.

Thanks!

I've seen a few Marlins and Rugers here on the forums classifieds that were for around $165-$200. Good luck, be safe and happy hunting.

You can't hunt with an air rifle in the Sam Houston National Forest; just so you know when you do get stopped by the game warden. I've hunted their several times and durring the deer season that place is a mad house with everyone from the city coming to hunt. Also I would get a TPWD Public Hunting Booklet, that will have all the rules, regulations, and maps of the area designating hunting/non-hunting zones and campsites. Each public land will have different means and methods by which you can take game i.e. some places allow shotguns only or bows only.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/fish_hunt/hunt/means/

Game animals and game birds may be hunted with any legal firearm, EXCEPT:

white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope may NOT be hunted with rimfire ammunition of any caliber.
shotguns are the only legal firearm that may be used to hunt Eastern turkey during the spring Eastern turkey season (see County Listing). Rifles and handguns may not be used to hunt Eastern turkey.
pellet guns and other air guns are NOT LEGAL.
fully automatic firearms are NOT LEGAL.
a shotgun is the only legal firearm for hunting migratory game birds (see Definitions - Legal Shotgun).
Nongame Animals (Non-Protected): Any lawful firearm, pellet gun, or other air gun is legal.


Squirrels and Rabbits are considerd "game animals" just so you know.

A shotgun will work fine, especially a full choke, would'nt worry about 22's if i allready had shotguns.

One idea would be to borrow guns from someone you know.

The other is to buy one gun and have two spotting and you guys can switch off.

Thanks for the advice guys I didn't know that about air rifles at the SHNF. Seems weird but I guess there's a reason. I guess it will have to be .22 cal rifles then.

Any other advice?

Have fun my brother

If you live around Austin or San Antonio I will let you use one of my 22's.

good to hear you want to get family involved.

I would advise you to get one of these and a 10/22. You really only need two guns...

http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/Default.aspx?item=SB1-020&mfg=Harrington+%26+Richardson&mdl=All&cat=2&type=Shotgun&cal=20+Gauge&fin=&sit=&zipcode=78750



Welcome to the forum and best of luck...

Thanks again everyone for the advice.

Bsolomon, I appreciate the offer that's kind of you but we live just north of Houston so it wouldn't work. It's also not necessary anymore as I couldn't wait and I purchased a used .22 with a 10 round clip on Saturday and a single shot (in pink of course) for my spousal unit.

Sunday the three of us visited the local shooting range to try them out and had a great time. My stepson has requested a bolt-action single shot as he really enjoyed working the bolt on my wife's rifle (surprised me) so I'll take the clip fed one.I found a single shot bolt action at a pawn shop on Friday that I'll pick up later this week.

I also found a 410 at a pawn shop but I don't know much about them so I'll have to research that.

Nathan: I checked out the shotgun you referred me to. I already have a 20 gauge shotgun and I was thinking I'd use it if I wasn't able to get some .22s but I have a question. Considering that we're hunting for rabbits and squirrels is using a shotgun going to be too much? Would there be too much damage? Sorry if that's a silly question but as I said we're learning as we go :-)

Nice job on getting the family out and into shooting/hunting!

As for hunting rabbits and squirrels, 20 gauge shotgun is fine for those two species. A .410 would be ideal for that type of hunting since it's a much smaller load than a 20 gauge. They also make shot shells for .22 and should have them at most gun shops. It's just a .22LR with pellets in it (like a shotgun shell) instead of the bullet. Those are plenty fun for squirrels.

first of all in my personal opinion an air rifle will never beat a 22. as for 22's my old Remington model 33 is my favorite. shot a peacock through the head free hand at 15 yards (dont ask). moral of the story is any 22 will do you good and always keep in mind the you can never have enough or too many guns. good luck!!1

Welcome!

I was gonna advise you to check out the pawn shops. And you might want to take that shotgun along,cause you might walk up on old man diamond back or one of his viper kin. Make sure you watch where you walk as much as you do in the trees. Good luck.

Thanks Beagler that's good advice. I am planning on taking my 20 gauge to back up the .22s as I'm guessing we might need it to actually hit something :-)

Welcome to the forum. I Have two ruger 22 pre mark 1 pistols at a decent price if your interested. PM me

I've used air rifles for squirrel quite often. My dad used to use them for rabbit many years ago. If you are going to do this more than once however it is my opinion that you should buy 1-2 quality shotguns (.410, 28ga, 20ga, or maybe a 16 or 12ga) a shotgun will allow you to try out many game. if you want to hunt hogs, deer, slugs work fine. If you want to hunt dove, grab some dove shells and go at it, Ducks and geese? Get some steel shot. If you can make it down to a gun show you can maybe buy a 22/410 over/under for about 100-150 (i know prices went up but idk how much on these) I used one for about 4 years.