Advice before the killin' spree.....(UPDATED)

[DanoInTx]

UPDATE 2/17/2007 5:10p.m.

The wife says they're turtle doves, that means they aren't black....so can I shoot 'em?

Dan






......ok, I don't hunt, but I have a problem and need some advice.  I have what appears to be a buttload of birds living in the tree just over my driveway.  They're not grackles, actually appear to be quail.....in a tree(I know, quail run around on the ground, but these look like quail, in a tree).  The problem is that I can't park in my garage because there are too many airguns, I don't like parking on the street because, well, I have a two car garage and a big driveway, I can't park in the driveway because my car keeps getting "carpet bombed" by our flying friends.  when I say I get bombed, I mean I get bombed to where I come out to go to work in the morning and it's hard for me to find a good clean spot on the door to open it from.  First thought that comes to mind is "I own a buttload of air rifles, kill the little b@$t@rd$!".  I just don't want to get a ticket or worse for killing out of season.  Anyone know the Fort Worth Texas laws, or if there may be a law that says, "If it $#!t$ on you car everyday then you can kill it?".  I honestly don't know anything about hunting, I barely fish, but I know I could make headshots pretty routinely at the distances I'm talking about.....

suggestions?

Dan

[daved]

How 'bout clean out the garage :-)?  Well, you asked for suggestions!  Yes, quail do roost in trees, can't help you with Texas game laws.  Car cover?  Owl scare crow?  Doesn't seem like it should be that tough to chase them off, they tend to be pretty flighty, and if you can make them feel unsafe in that roosting spot, they'll move on.  Got a high pressure nozzle for your garden hose?  Okay, I'll quit :-)!  Good luck.

Dave

[DanoInTx]

Garage is clean, just no room left for cars.  I have two large workbenches, floor standing drill press, belt/disc sander, bandsaw, 5 bicycles, ping pong table, trash/recycling containers....need I go any further?

I usually dry fire my CO2 guns and that makes them fly, next morning white rain everywhere.  I think my only chance is to actually thin the herd a little.  Someone else suggested rat poison, but I don't want any dead cats or anything else dead besides these flying poop machines.

Maybe I'll call the local Animal Control and see what they say...or maybe I'll wait till dusk or dawn and have me a little roundup, airgun style!

Dan

Hello Dano,

If they are not Starlings, pigeons or house sparrows than they are protected by laws in Texas. As Daved said, quail do not roost in trees. By your referents “a buttload”, My guess would be starlings or some other kind of blackbirds (which are protected in Tx). Spraying them with a water hose or making loud a noise to scare them away is about the only thing you can do short of cutting down the tree(s). By the time spring rolls in the birds will quit roosting in flocks and start to breed, to make the flock bigger for next year’s bombardment.

Glenn

[shadow]

Bird poo is hard on paint finishes, eat's the finish off em. Dano you know my reply already and I'd love to form a posse and clean up your town. Is there any way to get some pic's of these poo bombers so we can identify em. If protected though, you might have to resort to softer tactics.Here in South Dakota there are thousands of black birds, cow bird's and during summer the would come in to my feeders and run off everything else.They learned the sound of a airifle being cocked and soon understood not to land at death's cafe.Check your local laws bud and good luck. Ed

[longislandhunter]

The rubber snake idea is good,,, so is the owl or bird of prey decoy, they really do work.  Is it possible to get a good picture of one of the birds?  That would make it real easy to identify.  You should also be able to review your states game and pest laws online, the Texas game and fish agency (or whatever they are atually called) no doubt has a very informative website, I think all states do.

Of course the easiest way would be to have Shadow (Ed) over for lunch, heck, if they really are quail then just invite Ed and he'll "provide" lunch :)

Jeff

The Plastic owl works wonders on small creatures, scares the cr@p out of them (wait maybe you don't need anymore cr@p from them) Just hang it in the tree.
Bart

[shadow]

Have gun will travel hehe, kinda like that old western. THE RIFLEMAN, should I saddle up ol' paint and ride Dano. Will be waiting for telagraph from Texas hehe.Ed

[DanoInTx]

Wife says they're turtle doves, I think I would like to get a couple of those "12 pointer" ones for my wall....mwahahahahaha!!!!

Gamo 220 was recently converted to .22 shooting in the 640's with Gamo Hunters, about 14ft/lbs +/-?  Might be a good test of knockdown power:)

Dan

[shadow]

Test of knockdown power mmm:) Ed

[DanoInTx]

Rubber snake is probably the best idea since I don't want a ticket, would have made me feel better dispatching the little car$#!tters myself, but oh well,....good idea bullseye, thanx....are you related to my wife?

Dan

[Mikmark]

Here is what is legal in Texas (From Texas parks and Wildlife website).

Unprotected Birds:
• The only birds not protected by any state or federal law are European starlings, English sparrows,
feral rock doves (common pigeon - Columba livia), and Eurasian collared-doves; these species may
be killed at any time, their nests or eggs destroyed, and their feathers may be possessed.
• Yellow-headed, red-winged, rusty, or Brewer’s blackbirds and all grackles, cowbirds (does not
include cattle egret), crows, or magpies may be controlled without a federal or state depredation
permit when found committing or about to commit depredations on ornamental or shade trees,
agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in numbers and in a manner that constitutes
a health hazard or other nuisance.

[DanoInTx]

Had a look around the web, and I think....this is the car$#!tter I am looking for:



and NOT this like my wife said:



Will confirm tomorrow when it is nice and sunny and the sky is filled with lead!

Dan

[shadow]

And so it begin's, lead will fly and the sky shall rain bird's.:) hunting Dan, Ed

[Black Mamba]

Blast em boyo!!

Blast em to kingdom come!!!