thats a bad deal. hope they put in an addendum

Bowfishing was an 'exception' from the very start. Not an issue.

Equipment has restrictions (must be a barbed arrow, no fletchings and a reel/spool for the line of some type must be attached to the bow).

The guys who called river hunters "free loaders" are pretty ignorant. The fact is that if a deer is in the river it is a free range deer that belongs to anybody who purchased a hunting license. Just because you own land and put out a feeder doesn't give you ownership rights over deer. What about the deer that are a mile down river today, but walk down river and eat your corn tomorrow? Do you "own" those deer as well? What if you put a fish feeder next to the river and feed the fish? Do you think you "own" all the fish in the river, and want to ban the public from river fishing? If you pay for a high fence, then the deer inside thet high fence are yours. Otherwise you have no more right to free range deer then anybody else who purchased a hunting license. I have been hunting free range deer and hogs in the river my entire adult life, and I plan to continue. I will just be using buck shot instead of a bullet. No skin off my.back.

and #3 former Game warden is a putz! He was a putz and badge heavy when he was a game warden and is a putz now.

In my conversations with an effected game warden, during the research and discovery phase he spoke out against this new law when solicited for input. He provided a 20 year history of the very good hunting practices of those on the river he worked. He told those that were writing the new law that it wasn't necessary and would actually increase the opportunity for infractions. They stopped asking him for input and a few months later, here we are.

I just noticed that the law says discharging firearms is prohibited. It does not say anything about large caliber air rifles. It looks like shotgun buck shot and air rifles are the loop hole. I have seen an air rifle drop a 200 lbs pig in its tracks at 100 yards. They are accurate and deadly. That self ritchous pr_ck who introduced this legislation in secret should be thrown out of office.

Abbott signed it, sad to say. I think he's a great Gov' but he really let me down with this.

I had my best hunts on the Pease River. Making sure I knew the laws and regulations, getting in and out (with my bucks), getting on game, making the tough shots........all made it a challenge that made the reward all the more sweet. I wish I had been contacted for input. I could have explained how in practice it works safely, legally and ethically. Oh well, I'm just a tax payer, what do I know.

^^^^^

At present....this would seem to be correct.

Texas Penal Law does not define Air Guns as 'Firearms'. There ARE however...restrictions for hunting game animals in Texas with Air Guns with respect to minimum caliber, projectile weight OR a combination of projectile weight and muzzle velocity that produces a minimum 'Muzzle Energy'.

Provided these requirements are met.....it would appear to be legal to use an Air Rifle under the newly adopted law. Good catch....!