What Size Animal Can a Net Gun Actually Catch? (Handheld Limits vs. Commercial Rigs)
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The honest answer to "what size animal can a net gun catch" depends entirely on which class of net gun you are holding. A handheld CO2 net gun like the ones we sell at TheNetGunStore.com handles animals up to roughly deer, calf, hog, and human size. Anything bigger belongs to a different and far more expensive category of equipment.
Quick Answer: What Size Animal Can a Net Gun Catch?
A handheld CO2 net gun can catch animals from small birds up to deer, calves, hogs, and human-sized targets when paired with a 10 ft x 10 ft large net. It is not suitable for full-grown cattle, bulls, horses, elk, moose, or bison. Those animals require commercial blank-powered capture rigs costing $3,000 and up.
Which Animals Can a Handheld Net Gun Actually Catch?
Handheld CO2 net guns work on animals that a net can realistically restrain long enough for a handler to reach them. That covers most companion animals, poultry, wild birds, small and mid-sized livestock, and young hoofstock.
The table below maps common capture targets to the right net size and states plainly whether a handheld unit is the correct tool. Net sizes refer to our three options: small at 6 ft x 6 ft with 1 inch mesh, medium at 8 ft x 8 ft with 2 inch mesh, and large at 10 ft x 10 ft with 8 inch mesh.
| Animal | Recommended Net Size | Handheld CO2 Unit Suitable? |
|---|---|---|
| Small birds, songbirds, pigeons | Small (6 ft, 1 in mesh) | Yes |
| Rodents, rabbits, squirrels | Small (6 ft, 1 in mesh) | Yes |
| Feral and stray cats | Medium (8 ft, 2 in mesh) | Yes |
| Small to medium dogs | Medium (8 ft, 2 in mesh) | Yes |
| Large dogs | Medium or Large | Yes |
| Geese, turkeys, peafowl | Medium (8 ft, 2 in mesh) | Yes |
| Goats and sheep | Large (10 ft, 8 in mesh) | Yes |
| Fawns and young deer | Large (10 ft, 8 in mesh) | Yes |
| Feral hogs | Large (10 ft, 8 in mesh) | Yes |
| Calves and foals | Large (10 ft, 8 in mesh) | Yes |
| Adult deer | Large (10 ft, 8 in mesh) | Yes |
| Human-sized targets | Large (10 ft, 8 in mesh) | Yes |
| Full-grown cattle and bulls | Not applicable | No, commercial rig required |
| Horses | Not applicable | No, commercial rig required |
| Elk, moose, bison | Not applicable | No, commercial rig required |
Adult deer sit at the top of the handheld range. Above that weight class, an animal can drag, tear, or simply run through a net launched from a handheld unit.
Why Do Handheld Net Guns Stop at Deer-Sized Animals?
Handheld net guns stop at deer-sized animals because of net weight, net area, and launch energy. A larger animal needs a bigger net, and a bigger net flies shorter and slower.
Our units run on 16 gram non-threaded CO2 cartridges. That gives a maximum net travel of up to 35 feet, with an effective capture range of 15 to 25 feet and an optimal shot distance of about 20 feet. The large 10 ft net sits at the shorter end of that range because it carries more mass and more air drag.
The physics in plain terms
Small nets fly farther than large nets. That is a fixed tradeoff, not a defect.
To net a 1,200 pound bull you would need a net far larger and heavier than 10 ft x 10 ft. No handheld CO2 launcher generates enough energy to throw that net open with useful spread. This is exactly why commercial rigs exist.
If range is your main question, our guide on how far a net gun shoots breaks the numbers down further.
What About Helicopter Net Gunning for Elk and Deer?
Helicopter net gunning is a different tool class entirely. Wildlife agencies and contract capture crews use blank-powered or multi-barrel net guns fired from a hovering aircraft, and those systems typically start around $3,000 and climb well past that.
Here is how that work usually runs. A pilot maneuvers low over open terrain, a gunner fires a large net across the running animal, and a ground or rappel crew moves in immediately to restrain, collar, sample, and release. Crews generally aim to keep total handling time as short as possible to reduce stress on the animal.
How ground units relate
Handheld CO2 net guns are ground-use tools. They are not aerial rigs, and they are not built to be fired from a moving aircraft.
They are the right choice for animal control officers, wildlife rehabbers, ranchers, pest control operators, and researchers working on foot at close range. If your project involves collaring adult elk from a helicopter, you need a contract capture crew, not a handheld launcher. Being clear about that line saves buyers money and prevents failed captures.
How Do You Match Net Size to the Animal?
Match net size to the animal by picking the smallest net that will fully cover and restrain the target. Oversizing costs you range, and undersizing lets the animal escape.
Mesh size matters as much as net dimensions. Our small net uses 1 inch square mesh so birds and rodents cannot slip through. The medium net uses 2 inch mesh, which is the most popular option for dogs, cats, and geese. The large net uses 8 inch mesh, which keeps the net light enough to open properly across a bigger animal.
You choose your net sizes at checkout, and you can mix sizes across net heads. Many professionals load a medium for routine calls and keep a large ready for hogs or deer. Our breakdown of what animals you can catch with a net gun covers specific field scenarios in more depth.
Which Package Should You Buy for Larger Animals?
If you expect to capture larger animals, buy a package with multiple preloaded net heads so you can carry more than one net size into the field. A single net head means one shot and one size choice.
The Net Gun Starter Pack at $799 includes one preloaded net head and your choice of net size, with CO2 sold separately and no carrying case. It works for occasional single-target use.
The Hero Net Gun standard package at $849 adds four preloaded net heads, an extra set of net weights, and a locking metal carrying case. That is the practical minimum for anyone working larger animals, since you can preload a large net alongside your medium nets.
The Net Gun Mega Pack Platinum package at $949 is our best seller. It includes four preloaded net heads plus four additional reusable nets for eight total, twelve 16 gram CO2 cartridges, extra net weights, a locking metal case, and a one year parts replacement warranty.
All three packages use the same launcher and fire the same distance. The price difference reflects what is included, not launcher performance. For a full price walkthrough, see our net launcher price guide.
Common Questions About Net Gun Animal Size Limits
Can a net gun catch a deer?
Yes. An adult deer is within range of a handheld CO2 net gun using the large 10 ft x 10 ft net with 8 inch mesh. Fire from about 20 feet and have a handler ready to move in immediately, because a netted deer can injure itself struggling.
Can a net gun catch a cow or a horse?
No. Full-grown cattle, bulls, and horses are too large and too powerful for a handheld CO2 unit. Those captures require commercial blank-powered rigs that start around $3,000, or conventional handling equipment like chutes and panels.
Is there a weight limit for a net gun?
There is no single published weight number, because net capture depends on body shape and behavior as much as weight. A practical rule is that if the animal is larger than an adult deer, a handheld CO2 unit is the wrong tool.
What is the maximum range for catching a large animal?
Plan on the shorter end of the range with large nets. Maximum net travel is up to 35 feet, effective capture range is 15 to 25 feet, and about 20 feet is optimal. Large nets carry more drag, so closing the distance improves your spread and your odds.
Do I need a license to use a net gun?
Net guns are generally not classified as firearms, but regulations vary by state and by the species you intend to capture. Check your local laws and any wildlife agency permit requirements before you use one in the field.
Which net size should I order if I am unsure?
The medium 8 ft net with 2 inch mesh is the most popular all-around choice. If you may encounter hogs, goats, calves, or deer, add at least one large net. You can mix net sizes across net heads at checkout.
Get the Right Net Gun for Your Target Size in 2026
Knowing what size animal a net gun can catch is the difference between a clean capture and a wasted shot. Our handheld CO2 units cover everything from songbirds to adult deer when you carry the right net size, and we will tell you plainly when a job needs different equipment.
Ready to gear up? Start with our best-selling net gun, the Platinum Mega Pack, or browse our full net gun lineup to compare all three packages. Shipping is free domestic and international.
