Safety question: smallbore bird hunting

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BBroadside

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I know little about hunting, so here goes.

Would it be safe/ethical to hunt a bird in a tree with a scoped .22 LR if you could direct your shot so the tree trunk would be a backstop?

I am looking at buying a house; I figure I have about a 1% chance of winning the bidding. It's on about four acres with lots of solidly-trunked trees in the area, which will probably contain a lot of noisy crows at various times of year. If I got it, I'd of course know in which direction the neighbors are thinnest; I think there's at least one angle where the woods extend for hundreds of yards before the next house.

I have a CZ 452 with a nice scope and Uncle Mike's leather sling on it.

Not a legal question (that I can look up) ... I'm just wondering if a tree trunk counts as decent backstop, assuming I'm a decent shot. The rifle bullet would be travelling upwards, which might be a "deal-breaker", ethics wise, which is why I'm asking. For ammo, I guess I'd using the weakest thing that would be lethal on a crow at maybe 25 feet. .22 Short? CB Cap? Just curious.

Of course, I could use a shotgun. I plan on getting one. It would be louder than a .22, particularly if I were loading it with some kind of reduced ammo. Also, it would mean filling a target with a bunch of #7 lead, or something like that? Which might preclude grinding it to a meal and feeding the thing to my cats. Another theoretical question, since I don't have a meatgrinder.

If there are any ethical concerns at all, I'm not going to take the shot even if it is strictly legal. I'll just hurl sticks at the buggers....
 
The shot gun would be safer. Those .22s go a long ways if you miss that next tree trunk. And if you want to quietly chase the crows away, just get one of those good sling shots and a bag of heavy lead shot. My buddy uses it, and it works great.
 
I seriously doubt if cats would eat a crow. There's something about those type of birds (starlings, grackles, crow) that cats won't typically eat.

You might look at a .177 air rifle. I have a RWS that shoots at about 1,100 fps. I have every confidence it would kill a crow. I know it will kill squirrels one shot.
 
Ditto the airgun. At 25 feet, you'll have no problem head shooting crows, even with open sights.

I guess I'd compare it to squirrel hunting, you're shooting a .22 up into a tree. You can't take shots that don't have a 100% backstop. A single tree won't be enough, but a thick stand of trees would. In addition, only being four acres means there are other houses too close for comfort.
 
I totally hadn't thought of airguns. I had thought of the slingshot, but not seriously. I'll look into both!
 
One of those "Wrist Rockets" with a half dozen #2 shot in it can ruin a crows day. :evil: But I will say that an air rifle would likely make them a LOT easier to hit.
 
If you get within 25' of a crow, it most likely is already dead!

Or are you talking about shooting them at night with a flashlight while they are roosting?

In that case, you might ought to check with your State Fish & Game regs.

Many states prohibit jack-lighting any species at night.
And I think crows have a set hunting season in all? states.

In Kansas for instance, it is Nov.10 - March 10, 2008, and you must have a valid hunting license.

Crows fall under federal jurisdiction and are protected under international treaties. As is the case with waterfowl, crow season is dictated by the federal government.

Read about it here:
http://www.crowbusters.com/begart5.htm

rcmodel
 
And I think crows have a set hunting season in all? states.
Click to expand...

In my state, there's a crow hunting season. However, a landowner can legally kill all the crows he wants if they're predating on wildlife, agriculture, ornamental plants, or if they exist in such numbers as to be some other sort of nuisance.

There may be laws restricting the use of firearm rifles on birds, though.

Check your state for all of the above.
 
Federal Law (50 CFR Parts 20 and 21):
Section 21.43, which covers depredation situations, provides for the taking of crows without a Federal permit, when crows are found committing or about to commit certain depredations upon ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife or when they are concentrated in such numbers as to constitute a health hazard or other nuisance. For instance, a crow in the proximity of an agricultural field with documented depredation damage would likely be considered as "about to commit depredation"; whereas a crow in a forested area or on a game management area would not likely be considered in the same way. Provision would include that: a) none of the birds killed or their parts are sold or offered for sale b) anyone exercising the privileges granted by this section shall permit any Federal or State game law enforcement officer free and unrestricted access over the premises where the operations have been or are conducted and will provide them with whatever information is required by the officer concerning said operations and c) that nothing in the section authorizes the killing of such birds contrary to any state laws or regulations and that the person needs to possess whatever permit as may be required for such activities by the state concerned.

rcmodel
 
Up here we have season on crows, unless they are a nusiance or predating, crops etc.

I'm agreeing 200% with rcmodel , if you can get within 25 foot of any live crow he has to be blind.

I chased them #@*& black birds when I was a kid, hunted them so much they could tell if I had a gun in my hand,I could walk out the back door with out a gun and be able to walk within a 100yds or so before they took off, but if you stepped out the door with any thing that even resembled a rifle they would spook, even a broom would send them packing. They would post look outs, and any two legged intruder, was spotted immediatley!

If you want to have a good hunt get a plastic owl decoy and a electronic caller, then set up a blind and call them in, The first time you get mobbed is a real treat , but after the first time it gets real hard to get results they learn very fast, and you have to travel quite a bit of distance before you can dupe a new mob. I swear I think they have cell phones under their wings and call the neighbors to let them in on what your doing.
 
Would it be safe/ethical to hunt a bird in a tree with a scoped .22 LR if you could direct your shot so the tree trunk would be a backstop?
Click to expand...

folk use .22s all the time for shooting squirrels outta trees.......if it's considered safe and ethical for tree rats, it should be fine for crows..
 
Heck you might even have some fun. I remember hunting crows in Kansas with Owl and crow decoys and an electronic Johnny Stewart game caller. We would set up in a field even where there wasn't a crow in sight, turn on the game caller and within 5 minutes usually one or two crows would come in to check out the fight. The trick was you had to kill these sentries, because if you shot them and missed the would fly back to their murder and you might as well pack up and move. You would never see them again.

They are also very smart. We had to wear full camo even camo face masks. They are tough also. I started using #8 trap loads and after watching one crow take a direct hit and fly off, we started using #4 duck loads.
 
If you can get within 25 feet use CB's. Shoot em through the body, most will fly off and die elsewhere and you won't have to dispose of the caucus. A savage 24 is a good gun for such hunting. Still shots with the rifle barrel and the shotgun barrel for in flight. If you can get close enough or hide good enough to shoot one with a CB and not be discovered the flock will have a absolute fit and probably give you another shot, but you absolutely positively have to be hidden completely.
 
This works & it's dead-silent . . . .22 caliber Airforce TalonSS (tho this one has been "tweaked", a stock gun works just fine).

Talonandthetreeofdeath.gif
 
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