crows legal issue's

[seth30]

I know that crow season is a ways off, and the regs state you can kill them in the act of predation.  Does that cover them scaring off my song birds from the feeders and harassing my bird houses to the point that all of them now stand vacant?  I stopped filling the bird feeder and now only fill the suet feeder, which I used to enjoy watching the wood peckers at.  Well the crows are at that now and they take the suet feeder and wrap it around the tree branch it hangs from so they can open it up and take the whole block away.  I have tried yelling at them, and have even sprayed a few with a garden hose to no avail   I want to pop them with a pellet gun now and send them a clear message but not sure if it would be covered in the regs or not.  Thanks for any help in this. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I do not know but when they wake me up in the mornings its not a good thing for them 

[seth30]

I do not know but when they wake me up in the mornings its not a good thing for them 

  I am surronded by neighbors and all it would take is one looking out the window at the right time   Thats why Im checking up on it so I can get my back yard back.

[bobcat]

With crows I would shoot first and ask questions later.   

Is anyone really going to care if a crow dies?   

[seth30]

Hopefully not, but I am on Whidbey Island and we have our share of earth muffins   Either way the next crow I see is going to either eat a paintball or some lead, depending on which one is legal

[Heredoggydoggy]

I have quite a few crows around here these days.  I had a robin's nest in a small tree in my back yard, not very well hidden.  A crow spotted the nest and when mamma robin left, he stole the eggs.  I figure if the birds can't hide their nests where crows can't find them, they deserve to lose their eggs.  I think "depredation" means the crows are damaging crops or gardens--not just being crows.  I mainly shoot Starlings.  I hate them, and they don't belong here anyway.

[BLR 243]

How do u know if there causing depradation ? They turn black when u shoot them.

[huntinguy]

Hopefully not, but I am on Whidbey Island and we have our share of earth muffins   Either way the next crow I see is going to either eat a paintball or some lead, depending on which one is legal

Paintball would be harassing wildlife... and that would get you in just as much trouble as crow pie. Don't think I would like to have evidence flying around. 

[Humptulips]

77.36.030
Trapping or killing wildlife threatening human safety or causing property damage — Limitations and conditions — Rules.
(1) Subject to limitations and conditions established by the commission, the owner, the owner's immediate family member, the owner's documented employee, or a tenant of real property may trap, consistent with RCW 77.15.194, or kill wildlife that is threatening human safety or causing property damage on that property, without the licenses required under RCW 77.32.010 or authorization from the director under RCW 77.12.240.

     (2) The commission shall establish the limitations and conditions of this section by rule. The rules must include:

     (a) Appropriate protection for threatened or endangered species;

     (b) Instances when verbal or written permission is required to kill wildlife;

     (c) Species that may be killed under this section; and

     (d) Requirements for the disposal of wildlife trapped or killed under this section.

     (3) In establishing the limitations and conditions of this section, the commission shall take into consideration the recommendations of the Washington state wolf conservation and management plan.


Here's what it says about damage;

(5) "Damage" means economic losses caused by wildlife interactions.

So unless you can show economic loss from the crows I would say you are on shakey legal ground if you kill them.

I tried to look up hazing wildlife and couldn't find much except for on The Application for Permit to Trap for Animal Problem it does list hazing as an appropriate method for nonlethal control that is required before a permit can be issued.

Sounds like the paintball gun would be OK but I couldn't find a specific WAC about it.

[Fl0und3rz]

Heard elsewhere: I've never seen a crow that wasn't in the act of, on the way to, or on the way back from, an act of depredation.
-unattributed WDFW officer

Depredation -
Noun: An act of attacking or plundering. The act of preying upon or plundering; robbery; ravage.

Crows - No bag limit - Oct. 1-Jan. 31 Crows in the act of depredation may be taken at any time.

It sounds to me like they are fair game, because they are plundering the feeder.  Killing seems fine in this instance according to the regulations.  You might only have to get one before the others start watching their backs.

[shoot-em-dead]

I wouldn't hesitate to blast one in my yard. If you got them with the garden hose then they are way too comfortable there.

[Special T]

I looked up the "depredation" clause and what it said for Magpies and Crows were If they were in or near a Agriculture field it was depredation. If they were attacking other animals native or domestic... Boom! I kill lots of Magpies around the farm in E WA. They eat the cutter bees used for pollination, and they get it year round.

[CP]

I’d like to see some brightly colored, paint ball splatted crows flying around.

I think your biggest issue is discharging a projectile, even an air rifle pellet, in your neighborhood on Tree Hugger Island.  You should check your local laws on that first.  You have a depredation argument for killing the crows but not if it isn’t legal to shoot an air rifle in your neighborhood.

[Fl0und3rz]

I looked up the "depredation" clause and what it said for Magpies and Crows were If they were in or near a Agriculture field it was depredation.

Source?

"Crows in the act of depredation may be taken at any time." p.68.

"Crows may be taken during the crow season or in the act of depredation. Magpies may be taken only in the act of depredation (damaging crops or other property)." p.77.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01383/wdfw01383.pdf

The regulations say nothing about agricultural fields for crows, and it only lists two examples of acts of depredation in the regulations for magpies.  If you are concerned about the agricultural aspect of depredation causing you problems, plant a raspberry plant, blueberry bush, or other "crop" nearby.  They seem to like cherries.

Otherwise,  wait for crow season to open (Statewide: Oct. 1, 2012 - Jan. 31, 2013).

And to be sure, check your local codes about laws regarding airguns.  Mine only says something to the effect of ensuring your backdrop (personal safety and property damage concerns).

http://www.mrsc.org/codes.aspx

[Special T]

232-12-005
Predatory birds.
  (1) HUNTING PREDATORY BIRDS:

     (a) It is unlawful to hunt for or take predatory birds without a hunting license except as allowed under RCW 77.36.030.

     (b) Crows and magpies: It is lawful to take crows during established hunting seasons and crows or magpies when found committing or about to commit depredations upon ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in such numbers and manner as to constitute a health hazard or other nuisance provided that none of the birds, or their plumage, be offered for sale.

I had a post that will not pull up that talked aobut the defintion of depredation... I will try and find it.