SB 551

Under this bill, a person may hunt an animal with a high-powered air rifle or

an airbow in a season open to hunting that animal with a firearm. The bill defines

“high-powered air rifle” as a weapon originally manufactured to expel a projectile

at a speed of not less than 1,000 feet per second by the expansion of compressed air.

The bill defines “airbow” as a weapon originally manufactured to fire an arrow by the

expansion of compressed air.

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources is authorized to

establish open and closed seasons for the hunting of wild animals. DNR issues

hunting licenses that authorize the hunting of specified animals and those licenses

specify the type of weapon that may be used when hunting under those licenses.

Under the bill, if DNR establishes an open season for hunting an animal with

a firearm, the season must also be open for hunting that animal with a high-powered

air rifle or an airbow. The bill also provides that each license that currently

authorizes the hunting of an animal with a firearm also authorizes the hunting of

that animal with a high-powered air rifle or an airbow.