We hear the same thing all the time from dedicated firearms users. I love firearms myself also, but you really learn to appreciate the fun of using something such as air to take game. It has it's advantages as well as disadvantages; just as high powered rifles, muzzleloaders, handguns and bows do. I'd bet that if you were to get some good trigger time in with some high quality, high powered air rifles... you'd want one too (just as many other converts have). It's the love of the sport and the outdoors, it all flows together. There do exist small bore (.177-.25) air rifles and shooters that can and will out-do rimfire benchrest shooters up to 100 meters.

You could consider hunting with big bore air rifles such as this a mixture of bow and rifle hunting. Generally you need to get in close, 50-70 yards. At that distance with a the right slug it'll generally stop just under the skin on the opposite side of a bison. Know your gun and your ammo and it's possible to cleanly take smaller game at 200 yards and beyond. The energy is not lacking. If you should be shooting game at that distance with an air rifle, your skill is not lacking either.