I am in central Illinois and have a red tail hawk stalking my quail. I have a very sturdy 16x10 ft run with a sunk in apron and about 15 quail. I noticed a very drastic drop off in egg production and the birds started to look stressed and slim. Plus quail kept popping over the thigh high fenced area in front of the door (put there to keep them from running out when I clean and feed). They usually only end up cornered there when they are frighted or have been fighting. I was watching the run this past week and there is a red tailed hawk that sits outside the run and harasses my birds. He walks around on the ground stalking my birds, and then will also sit in the apple tree about 20 ft away. I have tried hanging CDs, pie pans, inflatable owls, squirting him with the hose, but my birds are terrified to even come out to eat. I have 1 egg a week when I was previously getting about 12-15 a day. I know the hawk cannot access the quail, but can I shoot him for harassing and ending my egg production? I see mixed info about whether farmers can shoot red tail that hurt their livestock. Does the hawk have to directly kill them for it to be legal? The poor things aren't eating. On the plus side, I think he's eaten most of the bunnies under the porch while he's been in lurking in my apple tree dreaming of a quail dinner . . .
