Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Approves Big Bore Air Rifle Hunting
The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission has unanimously passed new general hunting regulations that allow big bore air rifle hunting. Specifically, the use of big bore air rifles for harvesting whitetail deer during modern gun season.
This rule change, effective immediately for the upcoming hunting season, will allow pre-charged pneumatic airguns .40 caliber and larger which produce muzzle energy greater than 400 Ft/Lbs to be used in hunting whitetail deer. Additionally, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission requires that the projectile used in these big bore air rifles be capable of expansion upon impact with its target.
While most states do allow hunting of small game with air rifles, Arkansas is the tenth state that has approved the use of big bore air rifles for hunting big game species.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission’s research, study and proactive approach regarding the allowance of highly effective big bore air rifle hunting for Arkansas whitetail.” said Richard Turner, President of Umarex USA. “The timing is perfect for the introduction of the .50 caliber Umarex Hammer which we’re making at our facility in Fort Smith, Arkansas”
Above. Our photograph shows Bradley Burgin of Umarex USA showing the Umarex Hammer at the 2018 SHOT Show. You can see Steve Criner hunting bobcat in Texas at night with the Umarex Hammer in this episode of Real Airgun Hunting.
The world’s most powerful production air rifle, the Umarex Hammer, is being made by airgun manufacturer, Umarex USA, based in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This pre-charged pneumatic air rifle generates up to 705 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle and has been used on hunts for several large deer species including red stag, fallow, and axis buck. The .50 caliber Hammer has also been used to harvest an American bison, Canadian black bear, wild hog, African simitar oryx and wildebeest.
Umarex says they developed the .50 caliber Hammer to offer hunters an alternative to firearms and archery for the safe and humane harvesting of big game species. The Hammer allows hunters a quieter experience when compared to either primitive or modern rifle platforms, they say.
This regulation change goes into effect immediately for the 2018 season in the state of Arkansas. Umarex USA is working in conjunction with the Airgun Sport Association and many state regulatory agencies in an effort to open big bore air rifle hunting in states where it is not currently allowed.
