Targets of opportunity

[BigJake_old]

I was wondering, what animals would you folks consider targets of oportunity? some people say you should have a reason for hunting or killing any animal, what do you think there should be exclusions on? just curious, as i got a lecture for shooting coyotes for the fun of it (IMO, thats why i do it). On my list for critters to shoot whenever were coyoyes, woodchuck, starlings, crows (carry west nile round here) rats, and cats, feral or tame (if its in one of my fields, its considered feral, since the owner obviously didn't like it enough to keep track of it). Opinions?

 

[BerettaNut92]

Crows and seagulls are annoying, but if I don't have a reason to blow it away, I won't.

When I went to Catalina, stupid kids always try feeding the gulls, and they always hover over the boat crapping on us.

Times I wish I had my Benelli believe me I would be tempted!!!

And the crows always crap on my car.

 

[J Miller]

I have a very limited set of reasons to kill any animal.

A; For food
B; For self defense
C; For humane euthanasia
D; For serious pest control

I do not kill "just for fun", although I enjoy hunting
I do not kill just because an animal is on my property, there must be a good reason to do so.

 

[Beav]

I don't think killing anything solely for fun is justified. Different story when you need to eat or the population of such and such animal needs to be controlled or for survival etc etc etc...

 

[10-Ring]

Crows, wild rabbits, cats...annoying but w/o a real reason, I leave them alone.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Commies?



- Chris

 

[coonan357]

when I worked as a farm manager we shot any type of loose critter , feral dogs and cats (no collar it's not a pet ) woodchucks , groundhogs and racoons (in or out of season ) we had farm animals to protect like sheep and horses and esecially chickens we lost 10 sumatra chickens @ 50 bucks each ( yes they are fancies ) to a hungry racoon

 

[BerettaNut92]

I wonder how much money a year cities would save by having a volunteer pest control unit?

 

[dakotasin]

coyotes are reason in and of themselves. if i see one, i'm dumping it whether i called it or it just happened across my path.

crows, gophers, and prairie dogs are used to hone my long range ability. i mostly leave jackrabbits alone. i don't bother the cottontails, either unless they are gnawing on (and killing) the trees in the yard.

feral cats get dusted off, too, since they are extremely hard on the pheasant population. i try to be very forgiving w/ dogs that stray onto the property. somebody around here had 3 rotts running loose. the first time i saw them, i let them go. the second time, they got ahold of a pup that we were training and killed it. i was able to kill one then. the third time, i was bowhunting, and they came in and tried to take a bite out of me. i was able to get to my truck mostly intact. got one w/ the 1911 in the yard, and ran the other one down and got him w/ the 45 as well. other than those 3, i haven't shot any dogs.

skunks and coons are always shot on sight. mostly leave badgers alone unless they are too close to the yard... thats about it. everything else i shoot gets eaten.

 

[trapshooter]

Targets of opportunity?

Poisonous snakes. Yeah, I know. They are part of the ecosystem, blah, blah. So am I. If I see them, they die. It's a childhood predjudice. Sue me.

Other noxious varmints, like skunks, raccoons, etc., if they are being a pain and I can get it done cleanly. Better than poison or traps, for what should be obvious reasons.

Rats = serious target shooting. But I haven't seen any where I live. I know they're there, somewhere. They always are. They just aren't that thick. Too many snakes?

Not too many coyotes, here either. Or prairie dogs, etc. Have shot a few of these in the past, farther west. No lost sleep there. Had good reasons then.

If I planted crops and had a crow problem, no problem.

Outside of the snake/rat thing, I guess I subscribe to the categories J. Miller posted.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I had a friend twenty-odd years ago who maintained his eye-hand coordination by picking off flying sparrows with a .22 caliber pistol.

 

[ENC]

Coyotes and cats are always on the list.

Everything else like snakes i pretty much let them alone as long as they do the same to me.

Now my Dad. Two years ago had a chance to build his dream home. And nearly all of the work was done by Family members. Very little outside contracting. The place was pretty much built lby hand. The entire outside is rough cedar. He has since declared a holy war against woodpeckers. They nearly destroyed one whole side.

 

[Destructo6]

Coyotes and desert hares are pretty much fair game.

Domesticated cats are not. I have a half-dozen or so semi-feral cats that range the neighborhood and keep the gopher/rat/small varmit population to near zero. If I caught someone shooting one of my cats, I'd shoot him.

 

[Braz]

Dogs without a collar,

I don't shoot 'em. I just sic my collarless cat on them.

 

[larry_minn]

I always wonder why so many guys are paranoid about cats. They think any cat they see it a threat to the pheasant population. So I asked one guy if he felt I should shoot on sight any animal that was a threat to pheasant population. He said "H yes" So I asked if his will was up to date as he was a pheasant hunter who had just told me to shoot him.
Personally I shoot skunks, racoons, pigons, gophers, and dogs only if they have attacked animals. I attempt to find owner.

 

[dude]

I don't kill anything I'm not gonna eat, bad for the karma.
What's the point?? Sport?

I have stepped over or around 100s of rattle snakes while out river fishing, desert hiking (on the way to fish).......never seen any reason to kill any of them. I also enjoy seeing coyotes while out in the woods.

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

Wild pigs. Unfortunately, most of the time I'm in the scrubland they inhabit, I'm working and unarmed.

 

[John Galt]

When I was a kid:

Crows & ground squirrels, because the farmers wanted me to.

BlueJay & Magpie, because they kill all the baby birdies they can find.

The most fun I ever had was rats with a 22 rifle, in a rice field.

 

[Flying V]

Hoplophobia. Ailurophobia. Mental afflictions preventing any rationality concerning their objects.

 

[Bob Locke]

If I'm not gonna eat it, and if it's not bothering me or tearing up the property of a friend who asks for my help, then I'm not shooting.

I used to pop animals for fun (especially when I was about aged 10-14), but I stopped. Didn't seem right anymore.

 

[EJ]

If it's legitimately a pest--great==

We get alot of tree damage from beaver where I live--\
I don't like crows--but they clean up the dead stuff so they're OK--

I try to keep the squirrel and ground hog population down--

 

[swingset]

I shoot no animal that isn't a threat or a meal.

I have lost 2 nice family pets to jerk-off, blood-lust neighbors. Both were not trash pickers or vicious to anyone, just wondered into the fields between our houses, to meet their end for being curious.

Seriously weighing the worth of a person that mean spirited against the love of a companion animal, I'd hate to have a bead on someone bent on killing my pet and have to decide what to do. Ooops, did I say that outloud?

 

[V-fib]

Between Nov 15th and the 30th Deer can be a problem in my area and must be dealt with.

Seriously, Feral Dogs get three strikes. If after 3 attempts to drive them off doesn’t work its SSS time.
Our Animal Control officer never responds to feral dog complaints. Never had to do in a feral cat. I had one that nearly killed my cat but never could get a shot at him and then he stopped coming around. Fine with me. Generally if the animal is not causing any problems around my house, outbuildings or garden I leave them be.

 

[Seeker]

Neo-nazis are pop-up targets!

Polecats when the opprotunity presents - they don't play nice with the dogs.

Racoons whenthey tangle with the dogs, and 'cause they are hard on the pheseant pop. I'm tring to encourage.

Wouldn't shoot a cat. We have a herd of 'em so the isn't foder for feral cats. If'n I did see one (on my property) I'd point it out to the dogs and enjoy the resulting footrace.

 

[Kahr carrier]

Just for food.