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

[The Moonshiner]

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

Lol, $100 and 24 hours wouldn't be worth it.

 

[notabitail]

Lol, $100 and 24 hours wouldn't be worth it.

It'd be like shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[alinas2010]

While raptors can be a nuisance and cause heartbreak to us, they are magnificent in their own right. A lot of people would be surprised and probably equally as heartbroken to learn what they can go through to get a meal. Even just catching a fish can land a raptor with a hook in its mouth.

I know it seriously sucks that our flocks are considered fair game for them, but consider how important they are for our environment. They keep populations of small animals under control, help keep disease and Waste under control by scavenging dead carcasses and overall indicate how healthy our ecosystem is.

If you’d like to try to keep these guys away from your flocks, try attracting blue jays and crows. We see them terrorize the hawks by our house all the time. The blue jays alert to the hawks and the crows harass them and drive them away.

Consider visiting a raptor rehabilitation center before you jump to saying you’d take one of them out. Not only is that illegal but they’re phenomenal creatures that are essential to our ecosystem. Do you know how tough it is for them to get young reared and survive a rugged winter? As much as it hurts to loose our chickens to them, we need these creatures. And I say all that knowing at the same time they seriously, seriously suck for our flocks.

It’s sickening anyone would even think of ending the life of one of these creatures by choice.

 

[The Moonshiner]

It'd be like shooting yourself in the foot.

I'm pretty sure I'd be nothing like that but ok

 

[SunriseChickers]

We once had a (Cooper's?) hawk land on the power lines and get shocked on our property. I think we called the wildlife folks for that one, and they said just bury it. Obviously an accident, but no complaints about one less hawk flying around, that's for sure. We still had a Red Tail or two, but they weren't too overly bold.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

No. In fact it is illegal for an American citizen to pick up and look at a naturally shed hawk feather even if they find it laying on the ground. It'll get you 6 months to 2 years in a Federal prison. But as an old Moon shiner I knew once said, "Ketching comes fore hanging!"

Unfortunately there is an army of humans out there (The word people is way too kind) who have nothing better to do in their insignificant and boring little lives than to report you to the authorities so as to atone for their own pitiful self loathing selves.

2nd paragraph.............PHEW, but right said.

 

[Appalachickens]

I'm extremely skeptical that a hawk would try to get a chicken you are holding. But if hawks are getting your chickens while they are free ranging, you need to provide cover of some sort. Ideally, thick vegetation, or hawk netting if you can't do that. Raptors are amazing creatures and I'm happy to have hawks and owls around. Possibly I'll lose a chicken now and again, but I'm sure not risking jail time to get rid of them.

 

[TwoCrows]

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[akitafriendakita]

It can be legal if you get a permit to do so, it's not all that uncommon. Many large scale bird farmers have permits to shoot hawks that are repeat offenders, these hawks aren't great for wild population as they may learn to survive on human livestock which lowers their chances of actual survival in the wild.

I can't see a permit being issued for this though, it's a one time attack/kill and it's easy to secure your small flock. My advice is to just make it impossible for the hawk to get another one for a while, it will stop eventually once it has wasted too much energy trying to get nothing.

Many hawks are often on the fringes of survival and very hungry, they may only get a decent meal once a week and mostly survive on things like mice and voles. A big one time easy meal is very tempting so it will keep testing your chickens for a while, but they are smart enough to give up if there is no chance for them to get one again. It's too much energy wasted for them to fly to your yard constantly for nothing.

They are very afraid of things like dogs and humans so I would just keep scaring it off until it gives up. They also typically hate hunting through many branches, aside from maybe Cooper's hawks. The branches are dangerous and can break their wings so they just avoid hunting through bushes and similar low brush. If they can't see their prey, they won't hunt it. Lots of cover helps, if you have lots of dead branches around, start piling them up where your chickens hang out so they can crawl under them.