Pellet Gun in Mesquite???

[NcongruNt]

Hunting any game animal, including squirrel, with an air gun is also illegal in Texas.

What if it's a nuisance?

Good question since trapping of game animals is also illegal, but pest control companies (i think) trap squirrels all the time. There may be exceptions for nuisance, but I don't know what they might be.

You have to be licensed by TPWD to trap nuisance game animals. If it is a squirrel on your own property or you are acting as an agent of someone on their property, you do not have to have a license, according to 65.116 (it is specifically devoted to nuisance squirrels).

https://secure.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/ ... =65&rl=116" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Regulations for trapping nuisance game animals in general are located in 65.117 of the Administrative Code.

https://secure.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/ ... =65&rl=117" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can't find anywhere allowing the shooting of squirrels with airguns, even on your own property.

My original post about my friend... he was shooting rats - classified as non-game animals, as far as I am aware.

[1freeman]

I checked the 2014/15 Texas Parks and Wildlife. This is what they say concerning shooting squirrels with pellet guns

"pellet guns and other air guns are not legal for the take of any game bird or game animal other than squirrel. To be lawful for the take of squirrel, an air rifle must be designed to be fired from the shoulder and use the force of a spring, air, or other non-ignited compressed gas to expel a projectile of at least .177 caliber (4.5mm) at a minimum muzzle velocity of 600 feet per second."

So, it is legal to shoot a squirrel with a pellet gun (as long as it's more powerful than 600ft/sec), and legal (in some cities) to shoot a squirrel in your yard as long as the projectile doesn't leave your yard.

You may have to be ready to prove the pellet didn't leave your yard though.

[The Wall]

They are not allowed within the city limits at all where I live. So check with the city you live in personally.

[Greybeard]

"at least .177 caliber (4.5mm) at a minimum muzzle velocity of 600 feet per second." Yep, a change effective last September on "game animal" tree rats. Prior to that, I had lots of hunter ed students who had learned "no game animals with an airgun" from a Game Warden the hard way. Often associated with a neighbor dropping a dime on em for (otherwise legally) shooting squirrels in a neighborhood.