So you want to get big bore airgun hunting legalized in your state? This post is a bit long - but needs to be talked about. Read on.... Would love to hear your thoughts and comments.
DO NOT - and I repeat - DO NOT make these mistakes... First, check out this video from last summer where I did a demonstration for many of the midwest states Wildlife Agencies and Chiefs of Wildlife and Law Enforcement. I learned a lot going through this process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LxfpmFpBEc
So the mistakes I am seeing airgunners make when engaging with their agency officials and elected representatives at the state level are many. I've read a lot of posts on other hunting forums and within the airgunner community and there is a lot of passion for sure on this topic, but a lot of misconceptions of the tactics needed to get these laws in place.
#1 - First off, you need to keep things in perspective when you approach these very busy agencies and get it out of your head that big bore airgun hunting is the #1 most important thing they need to be considering legislatively or for regulatory changes. It just isn't and you are going to need to have your talking points ready and you better be concise and to the point.
#2 - Engage with your Congressmen / Senators AND your Department of Wildlife AND your Conservation Officers Law Enforcement Agencies. You are going to need EVERYONE on the same page and if you think that you have just one of those entities on your side - it doesn't matter - it needs to be all three of those entities. Here is why.... State Agencies hate it when lawmakers try to shove something because of the whim or desires of one special interest group. Lawmakers may pass laws - but it is up to the agencies to then manage how those laws are rolled out. Furthermore, the law enforcement folks have to create processes in how to enforce those laws.
#3 - Most of the time these officials are SUPER busy chasing down poachers, busting Breaking Bad wannabes cooking meth in campers in campgrounds, and idiot powder burner shooters going out to state land shooting up propane tanks, old TVs, computers, political signs (mostly from Democrat candidates), and all other sorts of junk leaving a hell of a mess of spent casings and garbage in the field. I actually had a conservation officer say to me, "So you want to have laws changed so you can go shoot Bambi with your BB gun?" He was just trying to be funny, but it was at that point I realized they've got bigger issues they are dealing with. Keep things into perspective.
#4 - I can't emphasize this point enough.... When you do get a few minutes of their time, DO NOT get too far into the weeds on foot-pounds of energy vs. caliber vs. archery equipment vs. firearms vs yadayadayada too soon in the conversation with them. They will just go cross-eyed with the fire hose of information you might have flying through your head. You will lose the conversation before it even starts if you go this route. Let them ask those questions about FPE vs. caliber. Keep it simple.
Talk about other states who have had big bore airgun hunting legalized for the last few years and use simple statistics like, big bore airguns have the same amount of power and accuracy or even better than the weapons that are already legal to hunt with in your state. If they want to get into the FPE / caliber depth of conversation at that point, let them go there. Don't drag them into those details too soon or else they will go into a place in their mind of: "How the hell would we enforce FPE requirements? Too difficult - move on."
Here's the reality airgunners, there is a ton of crap and idiots out there these Conservation Officers have to deal with on a daily basis. Do you really think it is at the top of their mind to need to have a state issued chronograph on the dash of their truck to check the velocity of your airgun and a digital scale to weigh your projectiles to calculate and ensure you are hunting with an air rifle that can achieve X number of foot-pounds of energy. Nope.
#5 - Here's another harsh reality we all need to accept. As hunters and shooters - we all can be a big bunch of self-absorbed assholes. You are going to have archery hunters come out of the woodwork once real legislative discussions start happening who think they own the woods in the early season (I used to be one of them) and want to protect the fact that they have the upper hand for the biggest bucks to be harvested in your state due to the fact that they get first dibs on those deer.
Bet your ass they are going to fight you and the idea of airguns like you wouldn't believe. They all are aware of airguns and airbows / air bolts and most of them HATE the idea much like how they hated crossbows and the advancement of that technology. A lot of archery purists see airguns as the "slippery slope" of states allowing non-archery based equipment into THEIR season. Just get ready for a fight on that front and have examples from other states where things are working already.
#6 - Don't go it alone. You think you might be an airgunning technology and hunting expert, but I bet you aren't an expert on the legislative process and all the state agency nuances that go into getting something like airgun hunting laws passed. Contact the Airgun Sporting Association and work with them to get into contact with the right people and let them in the conversation as they have gone through this rodeo quite a few times. Visit: www.AirGunSporting.org
DO NOT - and I repeat - DO NOT make these mistakes... First, check out this video from last summer where I did a demonstration for many of the midwest states Wildlife Agencies and Chiefs of Wildlife and Law Enforcement. I learned a lot going through this process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LxfpmFpBEc
So the mistakes I am seeing airgunners make when engaging with their agency officials and elected representatives at the state level are many. I've read a lot of posts on other hunting forums and within the airgunner community and there is a lot of passion for sure on this topic, but a lot of misconceptions of the tactics needed to get these laws in place.
#1 - First off, you need to keep things in perspective when you approach these very busy agencies and get it out of your head that big bore airgun hunting is the #1 most important thing they need to be considering legislatively or for regulatory changes. It just isn't and you are going to need to have your talking points ready and you better be concise and to the point.
#2 - Engage with your Congressmen / Senators AND your Department of Wildlife AND your Conservation Officers Law Enforcement Agencies. You are going to need EVERYONE on the same page and if you think that you have just one of those entities on your side - it doesn't matter - it needs to be all three of those entities. Here is why.... State Agencies hate it when lawmakers try to shove something because of the whim or desires of one special interest group. Lawmakers may pass laws - but it is up to the agencies to then manage how those laws are rolled out. Furthermore, the law enforcement folks have to create processes in how to enforce those laws.
#3 - Most of the time these officials are SUPER busy chasing down poachers, busting Breaking Bad wannabes cooking meth in campers in campgrounds, and idiot powder burner shooters going out to state land shooting up propane tanks, old TVs, computers, political signs (mostly from Democrat candidates), and all other sorts of junk leaving a hell of a mess of spent casings and garbage in the field. I actually had a conservation officer say to me, "So you want to have laws changed so you can go shoot Bambi with your BB gun?" He was just trying to be funny, but it was at that point I realized they've got bigger issues they are dealing with. Keep things into perspective.
#4 - I can't emphasize this point enough.... When you do get a few minutes of their time, DO NOT get too far into the weeds on foot-pounds of energy vs. caliber vs. archery equipment vs. firearms vs yadayadayada too soon in the conversation with them. They will just go cross-eyed with the fire hose of information you might have flying through your head. You will lose the conversation before it even starts if you go this route. Let them ask those questions about FPE vs. caliber. Keep it simple.
Talk about other states who have had big bore airgun hunting legalized for the last few years and use simple statistics like, big bore airguns have the same amount of power and accuracy or even better than the weapons that are already legal to hunt with in your state. If they want to get into the FPE / caliber depth of conversation at that point, let them go there. Don't drag them into those details too soon or else they will go into a place in their mind of: "How the hell would we enforce FPE requirements? Too difficult - move on."
Here's the reality airgunners, there is a ton of crap and idiots out there these Conservation Officers have to deal with on a daily basis. Do you really think it is at the top of their mind to need to have a state issued chronograph on the dash of their truck to check the velocity of your airgun and a digital scale to weigh your projectiles to calculate and ensure you are hunting with an air rifle that can achieve X number of foot-pounds of energy. Nope.
#5 - Here's another harsh reality we all need to accept. As hunters and shooters - we all can be a big bunch of self-absorbed assholes. You are going to have archery hunters come out of the woodwork once real legislative discussions start happening who think they own the woods in the early season (I used to be one of them) and want to protect the fact that they have the upper hand for the biggest bucks to be harvested in your state due to the fact that they get first dibs on those deer.
Bet your ass they are going to fight you and the idea of airguns like you wouldn't believe. They all are aware of airguns and airbows / air bolts and most of them HATE the idea much like how they hated crossbows and the advancement of that technology. A lot of archery purists see airguns as the "slippery slope" of states allowing non-archery based equipment into THEIR season. Just get ready for a fight on that front and have examples from other states where things are working already.
#6 - Don't go it alone. You think you might be an airgunning technology and hunting expert, but I bet you aren't an expert on the legislative process and all the state agency nuances that go into getting something like airgun hunting laws passed. Contact the Airgun Sporting Association and work with them to get into contact with the right people and let them in the conversation as they have gone through this rodeo quite a few times. Visit: www.AirGunSporting.org
