Is it legal in the US to shoot a hawk that is killing your flock?

[johnnybee]

Sometimes just the sight of a 12 gauge gives em a heart attack, often called a cadillac or cardiac arrest

 

[CottonGinWaste]

Ran to the store yesterday afternoon, came back to find a Marans baby missing and Momma very upset. This morning I watched for several hours, then came inside. Saw the m*%ther f#*cker strike right outside my window, got my Foo Foo head Polish chick; got away before I could get off a, um, warning shot!!!

No problems for 2 years, now 3 to 5 strikes a day for at least 4 days!!!!

 

[Peggy-Sue]

This just happened in PA

Originally Published Jan 22, 2013 17:02
By Ad Crable
Staff Writer
An Upper Leacock farmer fed up with birds of prey killing his free-range chickens has been charged with shooting an immature bald eagle.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission charged Paul A. Zook, 28, of the 100 block of Geist Road with two misdemeanors of the state Game and Wildlife Code.
One count is for killing an endangered or threatened species and one count is for unlawful taking and possession of protected birds.
Zook, an Amish farmer, could face up to two years in jail and fines up to $5,000 if found guilty and depending on the feelings of the judge. In addition, a judge could require Zook to pay up to $5,000 to "replace" the eagle.
A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled Jan. 31 before District Judge Denise Commins of Leola.
Bald eagles are listed as a threatened species in Pennsylvania and are protected. Their comeback has been a rousing success in the state and Lancaster County has one of the highest concentrations in the Commonwealth.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Game Commission, Zook readily admitted to shooting the eagle, thinking it was a hawk that was preying on his chickens.
Zook told investigating officers that he had previously shot at least three red-tailed hawks, according to the complaint filed by Derek Daly, then a wildlife conservation officer covering Lancaster County.
Hawks also are a protected species in Pennsylvania, though they are not listed as threatened or endangered.
The case began Nov. 23 when two rabbit hunters called the Game Commission and said they had found a dead eagle in a hole in the ground near Geist Road and Hartman Station Road.
Two investigating wildlife conservation officers examined the eagle and found a bullet hole in its breast.
They drove it to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square for a necropsy. Results showed that a fatal small-caliber bullet had entered the raptor's spine and exited its breast.
The examination also turned up evidence that the bird had been shot in the knee previously.
Game Commission officers started checking surrounding farms. The third farm was Zook's.
Zook confirmed for officers that he had chickens outdoors and that he had problems with hawks killing them, according to the criminal complaint.
Daly "then asked him what he was doing about it and he said that he was shooting the hawks," the complaint said.
When a deputy wildlife conservation officer asked Zook when was the last time he shot one, Zook "said prior to killing the most recent hawk, he had shot at least three other red-tailed hawks."
In response to a question, Zook said the most recent bird he had shot seemed to be a different type of hawk, according to the complaint.
Daly said Zook then signed a statement admitting to shooting the eagle and took the officers to where he had shot and the location of the eagle when he shot.
Officers seized Zook's .22 rifle and a box of ammunition as evidence.
From the edge of extinction, restoration of bald eagles here and across Pennsylvania has been celebrated by most people.
As recently as 1980, there were only three pairs of nesting eagles in Pennsylvania. In 2011, there were 217 nesting pairs.
The same week that Zook allegedly shot the eagle, a birdwatcher counted 40 bald eagles in trees near Strasburg.
Lancaster County, with the Susquehanna River for nesting sites and availability of food on farmland, has one of the highest concentrations in the state.
For the first time, there are rumblings that marauding by the national symbol is becoming a nuisance for some local Plain sect farmers.
Incidents of livestock raiding by eagles and misgivings of farmers will be explored in detail in the Outdoors section in this week's Sunday News.
Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local...l#ixzz2IkiRAXJt

 

[johnnybee]

Zook needs to learn, loose lips sink ships.
Even a fish wouldn't get caught if it kept it's mouth shut.

 

[K Epp]

I say shoot it with buckshot or something bigger then they would have to find the pieces. Where I live lots of dumpster bears (not afraid of humans and use to being fed) get relocated to the National Forest near by. They then make there way to nearby rural, but populated areas. They have destroyed gardens, chicken houses, bird feeders, cars(to get bag of garbage) One neighbor called DNR and was told he could not touch or harm the bear and they would not do anything to it either. This bear had just decimated his entire garden of which he depended on to get him through the winter. It did disappear after that by some unknown force. Hopefully his freezer is now full. Another smaller bear was continually climbing on a friend children's swing set and trying to set up house keeping in her garage. That one also went missing. on a funnier note another neighbor who is married to a member of law enforcement loves martins She has about 5 or 6 of those poles with the gourds and condos for them. Its not unusual to see her out patrolling in her house coat with rifle on her shoulder to keep the hawks at bay every morning. She even made a scare crow complete with a grey haired wig, house coat, coffee mug, and toy gun.

With this economy I say we have to do what ever it takes to protect the meal on our tables. Just do it with a don't ask don't tell attitude.

 

[hennanny]

Anyone with the money, time, really good evidence of persistent attack(s) and who enjoys jumping through hoops can apply for an FWS Depredation Permit.

http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-13.pdf

One of the questions should tell one all one needs to know about the means (non-lethal) one needs to take prior to the FWS penning anything final:



Don't think harassing them with volleys of bottle rockets,while they're nesting, is acceptable, but short of that?

/turkey hens and CD/DVD's (shiny side up) have worked here (in the woods, however).

spoken like a true Boone County Mo resident..My Howard County GW gave me the Srgnt Shultz answer

 

[BobGRI]

The hawk attacking my flock has gotten 3 chicks in 2 days, has flown right past me (within 3 feet) to attack the birds, has gone under a yard chair, and has flown into a small coop right to the door of the nest box. I am royally pi**ed. <SSS>

Yep same here. Swoop down right in front of me.

 

[Beau plus penny]

I have two runs for each coop - A small covered run, and a large uncovered run. A bit ago while the hens were in the uncovered run a hawk killed one. I did not let them back into the big uncovered. Today the hawk came back and scared my poor hens, in the covered runs, almost to death. I ran out, then the hawk flew away. I've seen him around since he got my first hen, and I am assuming it is the same one coming back for another "easy" meal.

I am afraid this hawk is going to sometime hurt my chickens again, or even me. The first time he came down he was eating my hen. I ran out very angry about to attack the hawk. I was within 5 feet when I stopped, realizing the hawk wasn't scared, or scared enough, of me to run away. Then I saw the beak... Owch. I rethought my strategy. My family came out, and after brick and stone throwing he moved away to a close tree and looked on. Sometimes my chickens are in the yard while I clean out their coops. I saw the hawk coming the other day while cleaning, and was able to quickly get everyone back into the coop. But what if next time the hawk comes down while I am still trying to get the chickens in the coop? And what if he tries to get a chicken that I am holding, or picking up? He is very bold, and I doubt he even think twice about fighting me for the chicken. Then, wouldn't I be protecting myself in self defence?

I would doubt that it is legal just to shoot a hawk, a red tail I am guessing. I wasn't really looking at his tail though... Where does the law run into this? I have a hen out in a cage with big spacing - Next time he comes he could reach through and pull of her head! He might even find a way into the coops. After all, you can kill a person in self defence, and a hawk would be no where at all close to taking a human life... Forgive me, steam is right now coming out of my ears in fusteration... grrrr.....


I found this: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100325130130AAsbrzi More steam is coming out of my ears...

even it was illegal i would do anything for my babies

 

[The Moonshiner]

even it was illegal i would do anything for my babies

You would face fines and imprisonment for them?

 

[notabitail]

You would face fines and imprisonment for them?

Up to $15,000 and 6 months. Not worth it.