After months of meticulous consideration and debate, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission recently issued a final decision regarding hunting with air guns and arrow guns (the new term for air bows) at its recent commission meeting in Austin on Aug. 22-23.

Starting this fall, air guns and arrow guns that meet certain minimum requirements will be an approved method of take for hunters pursing small and big game in the state of Texas. The commission also approved some changes to the restrictions on archery and crossbow equipment.

After initially approving air guns and air bows as a legal method of take back in March, the TPW Commission had a change of heart several weeks later. Members discussed the subject again and received input from air gun industry representatives at their meeting on May 24.

During that meeting, the commission directed TPWD Wildlife Director Clayton Wolf to draw up a new proposal for hunting big game with air guns containing minimum bullet weight and muzzle energy requirements in order to reduce the chances of hunters wounding and losing game.

TPWD presented its new proposal as directed at the commission meeting last week and the commission members approved the suggested rule changes containing the following requirements.

First, to hunt big game like deer, pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep, javelina, and turkey, air guns and arrow guns must shoot a projectile .30 caliber or larger weighing at least 150 grains at a minimum muzzle velocity of 800 feet per second or "any combination of bullet weight and muzzle velocity producing a minimum muzzle energy of 215 foot-pounds."

The new rules also mandate that air guns and air bows must shoot a projectile .177 or larger at a minimum muzzle velocity of 600 feet per second or faster when hunting squirrels or nonmigratory birds other than turkey.

While traditional break or pump action air guns will be permitted under the new regulations for hunting squirrels or upland birds as long as they meet the other minimum requirements, only air guns that use a precharged, unignited gas system will be permitted for hunting big game.

The new regulations also made some changes to the minimum equipment requirements for archery and crossbow hunting. The old requirements specified that bow hunters must use a broadhead projectile at least 7/8" in width and that crossbows must have a minimum pull of 125 pounds, a mechanical safety, and a stock at least 25" long.

The new requirements specify that bow hunters must still use a broadhead arrow, but have eliminated the minimum width requirement of the blade. The new regulations have also done away with a minimum draw requirement for crossbows (there was not previously one for long, compound, or recurve bows) as well as the requirement to have a mechanical safety or a 25" long stock.

These new rules will go into force on Sept. 29 when archery deer season opens up across Texas. Visit the TPWD website for more details on legal means and methods for hunting this year.