It really seems illegal to trap/'dispatch' any predator (update)

[jmc]

Haven't done oodles of research, but from what i can gather, here in MA, if you have a problem wild animal, you should call a licensed person to deal with it. we can't relocate a live trapped animal--any wild live trapped animal. so what is the point of using a live trap. so you can drown it or shoot it? but wait! the animal may be protected or have a 'season'.

it really seems that it is illegal for poultry people to actually kill a predator--any predator, except maybe a rat! have to call in (and PAY) an 'official' of some sort..............

thoughts?

that would make alot of the actions posted here illegal.........

are there actually exceptions for poultry people WRITTEN into the legal statutes, etc........?

i don't like this, btw............

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

There are usually exceptions to "seasons and limits" when dealing with predators preying on your livestock.

Most states make it illegal to transport live wild animals, so yes, you do need tokill tehm if trapped.

The best thiing is do what you NEED to do , and don't volunteer any information about it

 

[7L Farm]

All I can say is I'm gonna protect my chickens . How I do it is my business. Loose lips sink ships.

 

[theFox]

John,

You really need to read all of the laws that apply, trapping, hunting, and all of the exceptions that exist.

Never, ever set a trap or let lead fly without knowing what you legally can do.

Your particular state is one of the worst which is the reason a lot of folks from there come here and think they are great hunters.

Several of my uncles (long demised now) used to provide "alibis" for many who spent most of their time indoors, drinking and playing cards.

 

[6chix]

Heres my motto

SSS

I also L... T... and shoot the varmint

Been known to lay out some l.. H... T.... to take care of wild canine types.

 

[woodmort]

Generally speaking rats, mice, cats, dogs and people are about the only predators you can legal dispatch without running afoul of some fish and game law. Most have open/closed seasons and bag limits. If you're having problems with a predator that falls into this category contact your local fish and game dept for the name of a licensed animal control person.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Contact your Game & Fish department for advice. One reason to use a live trap is not so much for saving the predator, but to not be shooting just anything in your yard that moves, be it your cat or the neighbor's kid, the animal you want to protect, and you don't have to worry about bullets that miss flying out into the open beyond your property. When you catch ones of the above instead of the predator, you can let it go. When you catch the predator, you can deal with it in whatever manner Game & Fish has told you.

 

[Ivyblaze]

Quote:
John,
I understand your confusion/frustration with this matter and understand that you might not be the kind of person that can hunt/dispose of a predator...and that is ok. To each his/her own. That is your right for yourself and your farm/home...you have the right to not take any action whatsoever on your own private property. But if you are the kind of person who has no problems with this...but your state is too stringent then I would keep my lips shut as much as possible...what they don't know won't hurt you kind of thing. You have a right to protect your property however you can. If you can prove depredation they really can't do a lot to ya. One thing we do here is get a wildgame camera at any outdoors store like BassPro etc...set it up stick a memory card into it and it will take pictures constantly then check it everyday. Keep track of the pictures if you ever have to prove your depredation case. They are anywhere from 50-400 dollars depending on which one you get Moultree's work really good and so do Wildgame brand cameras.
But in my state you can contact the Department of Wildlife and/or look up any and all hunting regulations through their website as well as the booklets they disperse with this information. In my state the regulations read as follows: Coyotes-open season year round, racoon bobcat mink opossum weasel open from Dec 1 til Feb 28. EXEMPTIONS: Nothing in this regulation prevents the killing of furbearer actually found destroying livestock or poultry. In addition, nothing in this regulation prevents the running or chasing of coyote, bobcat, fox or raccoon with dogs for sport only except on public land in prohibited areas.
Depredation order: Federal law provides for a depredation order when an animal is committing or about to commit depredation or when there is a health hazard ie. rabies.
At any point in this state you can call a game warden to come out and help you to inspect or to dispatch an animal. You can also obtain through a game warden a special license to hunt out of season if the situation warrants it. i.e. depredation. In my state you do not have to pay a game warden to do his/her job that they are already receiving pay for.

I hope this helps you. I wish you luck on your endeavors

 

[theFox]

Quote:
John,
I understand your confusion/frustration with this matter and understand that you might not be the kind of person that can hunt/dispose of a predator...and that is ok. To each his/her own. That is your right for yourself and your farm/home...you have the right to not take any action whatsoever on your own private property.
But in my state you can contact the Department of Wildlife and/or look up any and all hunting regulations through their website as well as the booklets they disperse with this information. In my state the regulations read as follows: Coyotes-open season year round, racoon bobcat mink opossum weasel open from Dec 1 til Feb 28. EXEMPTIONS: Nothing in this regulation prevents the killing of furbearer actually found destroying livestock or poultry. In addition, nothing in this regulation prevents the running or chasing of coyote, bobcat, fox or raccoon with dogs for sport only except on public land in prohibited areas.
Depredation order: Federal law provides for a depredation order when an animal is committing or about to commit depredation or when there is a health hazard ie. rabies.
At any point in this state you can call a game warden to come out and help you to inspect or to dispatch an animal. You can also obtain through a game warden a special license to hunt out of season if the situation warrants it. i.e. depredation. In my state you do not have to pay a game warden to do his/her job that they are already receiving pay for.

I hope this helps you.

By now you should be getting the idea that each state has different laws and that you need to know them and the exceptions to them before setting a trap or letting lead fly.

In addition to the wildlife laws there are also local ordinances that frequently make it illegal to discharge a firearm (and further that what you may think isn't a firearm the ordinance may consider to be a firearm).

Frequently there are laws/ordnances that also dictate the types of traps and where you can place them.

 

[swordgeek]

Bah! I'm in northern MA, too, and got the same load of BS from the animal control officer when I first moved up here. I politely asked the guy if he might want to come over to my house and deal with the never-ending parade of woodchucks that were decimating my yard, and he declined. Once day, when I discovered a dead fox in my yard, apparently unharmed in every way (other than its being DEAD, mind you), which was freaking my toddler children out, he promised to come and deal with it. But he never showed up. I don't call him anymore. It did teach me one lesson: if he won't come out when I ASK him to, chances are, he won't come out uninvited, either.

The woodchucks had to go away. First, the spouse dispatched a few by drowning, but I hated that, and lost sleep over it. Then we borrowed my father's live trap and enrolled them in a "special woodchuck relocation plan" to a lovely wooded area a few towns away. One at a time. An entire family of them.

Anything else that happens into the trap has been dealt with the same way. It's always set out there.

Anything larger gets chased off at all hours of the day and night. I won't allow guns here, but actually made some arrows specifically for the task, if it comes to it. Not that I figure a fisher or coyote is going to give me enough time to fetch my bow and quiver and hold nice and still while I nock an arrow or anything, but it makes me feel better knowing I can. Nobody is touching my chickens!