Allow use of qualified air guns to hunt for big game animals

Background statement: Air gun hunting for big game is not new. Air gun technology dates back to Lewis and Clark who used a pre-charged pneumatic powered air rifle on their expedition through Idaho in 1803.

Currently, Idaho law and Fish and Game Commission rules do not allow hunting for big game with air guns.

To keep with fair chase and ethics guidelines, the caliber and discharge requirements would be proposed as such:

Air guns using pre-charged pneumatic power to propel a projectile (excluding shot and arrows) with un-ignited compressed air or gas and caliber criteria relative to species. 

1. For moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, elk and black bear; “big bore” airguns not less than .45 caliber.
2. For pronghorn, deer, mountain lion and gray wolf; “big bore” airguns not less than .35 caliber.