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Well, air rifle that is. New York has altered it's Environmental Conservation Law to permit the use of air rifles as legal tools for the taking of all small game species which it is lawful to take with a shotgun or rimfire rifle. This includes the usual suspect critters
-- squirrel
-- Cottontail Rabbit
-- Fox
-- Coyote
-- Grouse
And a few other species like 'chucks and raccoon. It's a Gamo Bull Whisper Extreme Break Barrel .22. I've had it to the range - my local range has an air gun range - and shot it over a chronograph. Firing Crosman Premier pellets at 14.3 grains (≈927mg) it pushed the lead down field at 796 fps, or ≈243 m/s. That gives just over 20 ft*lbf at the muzzle. Of course it's no great shakes considering that here I'm sure most are using some form of powderburner for all their hunting requirements. But it should do the job for the few species I'll be taking aim at. I have the 2012/2013 NYS Sportsman License which is Big and Small game, plus fishing. I won't be taking any big game, but I'm just glad to be able to get back out into the woods again. I'll be heading out after 10/1, when the 2012 license validates.
Thanks for taking the time to have a peek. Comments are appreciated.