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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: jonny.177.22 on January 16, 2011, 03:18:25 PM

Title: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: jonny.177.22 on January 16, 2011, 03:18:25 PM
today i saw some blue jays squaking away some starlings and english sparrow, which made me mad because i had not shot A..SINGLE...ONE in three years. i wonder if it legal or not to kill them. any got insight?
oh and i live in ohio.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: Mebits on January 16, 2011, 03:27:00 PM
I wouldn't worry about them. They also make other birds feel safe. I bring them in away from my kill zone with peanuts. They'd rather come to my window sill for peanuts than but the sparrows at the feeder.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: big a on January 16, 2011, 05:57:12 PM
its not legal in new york they are song birds i believe and you will be fined if you get caught.I think they are mean and they always chase everything away from my feeders.I have even seen them chasing nutters,and they are loud as all h$%#
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: cactusrat on January 16, 2011, 06:16:59 PM
What Spysir said.

Grackles (witch are related to jays) are also illegal to shoot in all States. Again as Spysir posted about permits.

I don't have Blue Jays where I live. I do have Green Jays. However, it's illegal to shoot any jay in Texas and the state will not give a permit to shoot them. Jays do not cause any "real" problems in Texas.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: shadow on January 16, 2011, 07:03:57 PM
I don't mind them around my feeder's and they are a pretty bird. Ed
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: bowhunt on January 16, 2011, 07:54:36 PM
What Spysir said.

Grackles (witch are related to jays) are also illegal to shoot in all States. Again as Spysir posted about permits.

I don't have Blue Jays where I live. I do have Green Jays. However, it's illegal to shoot any jay in Texas and the state will not give a permit to shoot them. Jays do not cause any "real" problems in Texas.

Not true about the Grackles in IL. Below is information from the IL. DNR hunting regulations.

Grackles, blackbirds and cowbirds may not be hunted for recreational purposes. However,
any person may remove or destroy, by use of a shotgun, air gun or traps and only on or
over the threatened area, any red-winged blackbirds, rusty blackbirds, Brewer’s blackbirds,
cowbirds, grackles and crows when found committing or about to commit damage to 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, without a permit,
so long as he or she has written permision from the landowner or tenant. No hunting license
or stamp is required for this removal. No calls, decoys, etc. may be used when using
this rule to take the above birds causing damage. Crows may be hunted for recreational purposes
by properly licensed hunters using shotguns, calls, decoys, etc. during the crow hunting
season listed on page 2 of this Digest. It is illegal to recreationally hunt crows with
airguns, rifles or handguns.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: longislandhunter on January 16, 2011, 09:32:39 PM
I have a ton of blue jays at my feeders but they don't bother me, I enjoy watching them.  They are indeed very aggressive birds at the feeding stations but I just figure that's mother natures way, besides once all the peanuts and corn kernels are gone they aren't interested in any of the other seed on the ground and they depart, leaving the smaller birds free to feed at their leisure.

Jeff
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: oldpink on January 17, 2011, 09:15:59 AM
Blue jays are raucous and pugnacious as all get out, but they are some of the handsomest birds in existence.
They also plant millions of oaks when they lose the acorns they secret away.
As suggested above, you could lure them away with something they prefer eating, but (at least when I'm not trying to put my scope on them) I really like it when the bigger and smarter jays drive away those nasty starlings and English sparrows.
Those garbage intrusive species don't stand a chance against even one big jay.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: mac56 on January 17, 2011, 09:47:43 AM
I believe Blue Jays and Crows are cousins to one another as both are members of the ( Family Corvidae )....also considered as part of that family are Magpies.....       Mike
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: oldpink on January 17, 2011, 11:58:19 AM
mac56, you are exactly right.
Corvidae also includes the smartest bird of them all, the raven.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: Atchman2 on January 17, 2011, 12:04:59 PM
I actually feed blue jays on purpose.  I have a female that has nested in a vine covered pine tree the last couple of years. Every morning when she is nesting, I would get up and put some bread out on the deck rail for her.  One day, it wasn't just her, but her five little ones. :)  I don't mind them at all. 
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: only1harry on January 17, 2011, 12:22:37 PM
They 're illegal to shoot here too, but I have found that many times the Starlings won't come down from the trees or to the bait site, unless a Blue Jay or a comparably sized bird is at the bait site.  The Starlings seem to feel safer attacking the dry cat food when Blue Jays are there.  They usually kick the Blue Jays out.  When it's a single Blue Jay and a single Starling, I have seen them fight suspended in air a few feet above the food bowl clawing at each other.  It's pretty cool to watch.  Usually the Starling wins.  They are both very aggressive.  No other birds come to feed when one of these 2 are on the ground.  They seem to be the "boss" 2nd only to the crow.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: a1Bogey on January 17, 2011, 05:36:35 PM
In the state of confusion, I mean Georgia,  Blue Jays are not legal to shoot.  In the hunting regulations for 2010-2011 it states that "Starlings , Pigeons and English Sparrows have no closed season and no limit.   

Bogey
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: shadow on January 17, 2011, 06:13:12 PM
Jay's are good at getting after the Crow's also. I've watched them from my hide as two to three Jays would take turns diving at a Crow as he must of thought why can't you guys just leave me alone hehe. Now if I can just train some to drive some Crow's into my hunting area I would keep the Jays fat and happy with feed hehehe. Ed
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: Mebits on January 17, 2011, 07:02:01 PM
Agreed with Harry. I think that the sparrows and starlings feel more comfortable coming in. Just make sure you have another feeder off just a bit away for the song birds.

Peanuts for the Jays, corn for the grackles, sunflower for the doves, and &^^& seed for the sparrows. Catfood and beef fat for the starlings.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: anuthabubba on January 17, 2011, 08:27:53 PM
They are very beautiful birds. Not only are they bullies; they also kill other species. I witnessed a pair attacking a grounded fledgling mourning dove one day in the back yard. I went out, shooed them away and placed a large strainer over the bleeding young dove. The bold pair just perched in a tree 20 yards away and squawked.

Would I? You bet.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: DMikeM on January 19, 2011, 03:22:34 PM
I feed the Jays here, and yes they can be straight out mean birds. I've seen them attack hawks and other raptors, but one thing I like about them is they hate tree rats as much as I do. So "the enemy of my enemy..." comes into play. I also feed the ravens here and they even call out to me to find them something to eat. I just throw out some leftovers and they are always happy an polite to clean up the mess.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: jonny.177.22 on January 19, 2011, 10:56:34 PM
They are very beautiful birds. Not only are they bullies; they also kill other species. I witnessed a pair attacking a grounded fledgling mourning dove one day in the back yard. I went out, shooed them away and placed a large strainer over the bleeding young dove. The bold pair just perched in a tree 20 yards away and squawked.

Would I? You bet.
did it survive the attack?
anyone know if it's legal here in ohio?
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: cactusrat on January 19, 2011, 11:03:06 PM
They are very beautiful birds. Not only are they bullies; they also kill other species. I witnessed a pair attacking a grounded fledgling mourning dove one day in the back yard. I went out, shooed them away and placed a large strainer over the bleeding young dove. The bold pair just perched in a tree 20 yards away and squawked.

Would I? You bet.
did it survive the attack?
anyone know if it's legal here in ohio?


Nope. Can't shoot Blue Jay any where just for the fun of it.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: yote300wsm on January 20, 2011, 06:46:11 AM
In MN there is a list of about 2 doz song birds that are on the safe list. Grackles, sparrows, jays, crows and cowbirds are not on the list.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: only1harry on January 20, 2011, 06:58:51 PM
I did a quick Google search on birds you can shoot in MN and saw basically the same thing - as one forum goer stated below in my search:

"Here are all the birds that can be taken all year round per the Minnesota DNR regulations:

House sparrows,
starlings,
common pigeons,
chukar partridge,
quail other than northern bobwhite, and
monk parakeets

These birds are unprotected and may be taken at any time."

I am sure there are others you can take that have a season like crow, pheasant, etc.  But if you are not sure, always contact your DNR, Game Warden, or whatever the authority is that regulates hunting in your state, to be sure.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: oldpink on January 20, 2011, 08:40:51 PM
Yote, I wouldn't take that as an indication that MN allows jays to be killed, though.
In my state, since the list is much shorter for them, they list birds that are completely unprotected, including English sparrows, starlings, and pigeons.
They also list blackbirds and grackles as okay to take, but only while they are in the act of damaging agricultural plants such as fruit trees.
The rest of the birds, including the Blue jay, are protected, even though not specifically mentioned, and can earn hefty fines, possible jail time, and probably confiscation of the arm used to shoot them.
Killing raptors carries even heftier penalties, as well it should.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: yote300wsm on January 20, 2011, 09:16:25 PM
Crows may be taken at any time if "doing or about to do damage". That is a piece of "gray area" that we use a lot up here.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: JakePtehSniper on January 22, 2011, 07:15:57 PM
hate those things. Noisy, mean, everywhere. A nuisance. Gotta put up with them though.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: yote300wsm on January 22, 2011, 09:01:13 PM
No one around my area says boo if you knock-off a nest raider.
Title: Re: is it legal to kill blue jays in your state?
Post by: thekid on January 22, 2011, 10:55:54 PM
 Here in Ontario Canada you cannot shoot any native bird or song bird, my permit allows me to take hosp,starling, redwing black bird, grackle, and certain pheasents. right now is rabbit season, soon looking into powder burners. My buddy is having coyote problem and in cayuga ontario, you can hunt coyotes all year long. Although largest caliber used can only be .275, so that kind of rules out big bore air rifles. Much rather use an airrifle though. I love air rifles with a passion.