Missouri squirrel hunt with Hatsan flashpup

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GordonShumway

GordonShumway

Member
Mar 31, 2021
87
4
Southwest Missouri, United States
Folks, I need a little help. Squirrel season begins in about a month, here in Missouri. I got the hatsan flashpup in .25 as an airgun to use for hunting. I was searching recently because I am already tempted to buy another airgun (haven't even shot the flashpup yet, waiting for an adapter to connect to compressor). I was searching for what kind of moderator to put on the talonp. That led me to sites that mentioned grey areas on buying moderators, as far as legally owning. After more searching, it seems to mention hunting in Missouri with a silencer is illegal. Is that the case for airguns? Is a hatsan with a qe barrel on it considered illegal to use for squirrel hunts? Now I'm wondering if this whole venture into airguns was a waste of time if I can't even use them for small game. Was really hoping someone could help me make sense of it all? I understand that none of this should be taking as legal advice. Just trying to get a feel for it.
 
Where did you see that you cant use a firearm suppressor in MO? I thought you guys were one of the first on the list for the ability to do that. I've watched tons of videos of suppressed coyote hunting in ozarks area. 

Air rifles are not considered firearms and have no regulations with small game in MO as far as I know. you should look through your state code and find the actual law, most states have a searchable system online. Theres just some grey area regarding using them on public land during deer season, see that one asked a lot on FB... your state says shotguns and .22 rimfire only, but doesnt specify air gun restriction during this time. 


 
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FWIW I had a lot of questions about air rifle hunting in Iowa as well, when I first got into it... the state regs say nothing about them one way or another, and after being confused after a couple days of researching.. I finally just called my local game warden and asked, he quickly responded with what exactly I could hunt and what I couldnt and said he gets asked it a lot these days. Cant believe theres still states that havent seen the need to specify air rifles in their regulations, but there are 
 
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I hunt squirrels in MO as well. There are public Conservation Areas that limit caliber to .22 (most are close to urban areas) and some do not. These typically have archery/shotgun only regulations as well. They don't want people shooting centerfires there. You can also only use .22 or smaller for small game during the deer rifle season(s).

For the purpose of defining legal methods, the Conservation Department does define an airgun as a firearm, but state law does not define an airgun as a firearm. I am not aware of any restrictions for moderators on airguns in Missouri. There is no mention at all of silencers on the general regulations page. https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations
 
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Thank you everyone sharing info. The post regarding silencers for hunting I was referring to is https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/does-anyone-know-the-laws-in-mass-on-a-silencer-on-a-pellet-rifle/.

I know they were asking about laws in Mass, but that led me to trying to find out what was in place for Missouri. I couldn't find any mention of silencers in the regs, but I sure as heck don't want to get nailed for a silencer violation because I just didn't see it somewhere and just hadn't looked in the right place. 

I do appreciate all the feedback, and my best course of action is probably to make a phone call to the conservation dept.
 
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The Hatsan flashpup has a moderator built in. It does not have the 1/2x20 threads to attach another moderator. It should be quiet enough, certainly for hunting and probably for backyard plinking, as is. But Missouri allows localities to regulate airgun shooting in the backyard so you may need to research that. I don't know about 25 caliber airguns for small game, you need to check the regulations in effect in Missouri on that. You should be able to find them on line. In SC where I live, during small game season if hunting on state game lands, I need to use a 22 or smaller. But if small game hunting on the same game lands during big game season, I need to use 25 or larger. At least that is the way I read the regs. But on private property, I can use whatever I want. Missouri is undoubtedly different but my point is just you need to review the regulations.

Asking somebody gets you an opinion. They might be wrong. I'd read it myself.

Missouri is not one of the 8 states that outlaw moderators. Federal silencer licensing procedures do not apply to airgun silencers. With an integral moderator like the flashpup has I wouldn't worry about it at all. That removes the argument of "well it could be used on a powder burner".


 
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I've never had an issue squirrel hunting in Missouri with my air riffles l, I have 2. I have a kral puncher breaker .25 with a DonnyFL On it and a benjamin maximus in .22 (my 1st pcp). The only thing the conservation has ever said was do you have your small games license? I live about 30 minutes north of Springfield Mo it's pretty rural and I've only been stopped a couple times, but they never asked me anything about the riffle itself.
 
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It doesn't say anything about caliber size or moderators on the MDC website. If I ever have questions about regulations I look it up there because they change them so frequently it's always up to date.
 
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