Pest birds illinois, Blackbirds and Crows Doing Damage

[Mosin Marine]

I didnt know this just got it off the updated Illinois DNR website.

Grackles, blackbirds and cowbirds may not be hunted
as a game species or for recreational purposes.
However, in nuisance wildlife cases, red-winged blackbirds,
Brewer’s blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles and crows
found causing serious injuries to agricultural crops, horticultural
crops, livestock feed, or wildlife recognized by
the Department or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as
species that are endangered, threatened, candidates for
listing, or special concern, or a health hazard or structural
property damage may, without a permit, take the
above listed species provided the person:
• has authorization from the landowner or tenant
• has tried non-lethal control methods prior to lethal control
• uses a shotgun (only non-toxic shot), air gun or traps
• uses no calls, decoys, etc.
• employs legal techniques only on or over the threatened
area

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/documents/hunttrapdigest.pdf

Page 24 Titles Blackbirds and Crows Doing Damage

[only1harry]

Very similar laws exist in most states, but in some of them you need a special permit.  In my state you are getting a summons if you shoot any of those birds outside a farm.

Glad to see the word "airgun" in there! 

[Tater]

Glad to see the word "airgun" in there! 

Yeah! Great to see.
This might be the only thing left in IL that does NOT require a permit. 

[bavaria55n]

Yes, house sparrows and starlings are unprotected here and I think pigeons. Just about everything else is off limits. Crows got on the list because of an agreement with Mexico years ago to protect something in the same family (or some scientific classification) and for federal agreements they had to include the whole list, not just the bird they were concerned about (some kind of a Jay).
Gary

[Mosin Marine]

Very similar laws exist in most states, but in some of them you need a special permit.  In my state you are getting a summons if you shoot any of those birds outside a farm.

Glad to see the word "airgun" in there!

I was very surprised to see no permit and airgun. Sounds like you better have a valid reason to shoot them. I better ask the farms around me if they have a "problem".

[mobilemail]

I wouldn't be airgunning for Crow in IL, I believe it could be trouble.  Here are excerpts directly from the 2017 Hunter's digest:
It is unlawful to…
use a rifle, handgun or airgun to take game
birds or migratory game birds.

All wild birds (EXCEPT the house sparrow,
European starling and domestic pigeon) and
parts thereof (their nests and eggs) are pro-
tected.

Crow Oct. 28, 2016 - Feb. 28, 2017 1/2 hour before sunrise
to sunset

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Brandon.    Things sure have changed since I was a young man and not necessarily for the Better, Either.    In the 1950's & 1960's there were non of these laws anywhere.     Best Wishes - Tom

[Mosin Marine]

I wouldn't be airgunning for Crow in IL, I believe it could be trouble.  Here are excerpts directly from the 2017 Hunter's digest:
It is unlawful to…
use a rifle, handgun or airgun to take game
birds or migratory game birds.

All wild birds (EXCEPT the house sparrow,
European starling and domestic pigeon) and
parts thereof (their nests and eggs) are pro-
tected.

Crow Oct. 28, 2016 - Feb. 28, 2017 1/2 hour before sunrise
to sunset

I thought the same thing but i took those exact words i used from the 2017-2018 hunters digest.  All i did was copy and paste. Its on Page 24. Its in a box that is in bold red, the headliner is Blackbirds and Crows Doing Damage.

[mobilemail]

And that's where IL stupid shows its ugly head. While the headline says crows, the specific text says Grackles, blackbirds and cowbirds.  I'm all for you plugging a noisy crow, I would just advise checking with an actual DNR agent before letting the lead fly.

I admit I'm a little paranoid.  It's Illinois.

[Mosin Marine]

And that's where IL stupid shows its ugly head. While the headline says crows, the specific text says Grackles, blackbirds and cowbirds.  I'm all for you plugging a noisy crow, I would just advise checking with an actual DNR agent before letting the lead fly.

I admit I'm a little paranoid.  It's Illinois.

I fully agree with you 100% and i am also paranoid, It also states after that recreational hunting of crows is illegal. Does that mean i have to eat them?

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

And that's where IL stupid shows its ugly head. While the headline says crows, the specific text says Grackles, blackbirds and cowbirds.  I'm all for you plugging a noisy crow, I would just advise checking with an actual DNR agent before letting the lead fly.

I admit I'm a little paranoid.  It's Illinois.

I fully agree with you 100% and i am also paranoid, It also states after that recreational hunting of crows is illegal. Does that mean i have to eat them?

[Mosin Marine]

And that's where IL stupid shows its ugly head. While the headline says crows, the specific text says Grackles, blackbirds and cowbirds.  I'm all for you plugging a noisy crow, I would just advise checking with an actual DNR agent before letting the lead fly.

I admit I'm a little paranoid.  It's Illinois.

I fully agree with you 100% and i am also paranoid, It also states after that recreational hunting of crows is illegal. Does that mean i have to eat them?

Perfect picture!!!!

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

Bon Appe'tit !

[outdoorman]

  Hunters digest's or guides are not the law and often contradict the law. Crows, Blackbirds, Grackles and Cowbirds are covered under the Migratory Bird Hunting federal regulations (CFR Title 50 part 20) and cannot be taken with any rifle or pistol. State regulations cannot supersede these federal regulations. In my state of Maryland, in the DNR Hunting Guide, they list crows as small game and state that small game can be taken with air guns but clearly, you cannot take crow with an air gun as per federal regulations. We have a regular crow season here from August-March Wednesday through Saturday only.

Added: Looks like crows can be taken with rifle or pistol but not air guns.

§20.133   Hunting regulations for crows.
(a) Crows may be taken, possessed, transported, exported, or imported, only in accordance with such laws or regulations as may be prescribed by a State pursuant to this section.

(b) Except in the State of Hawaii, where no crows shall be taken, States may by statute or regulation prescribe a hunting season for crows. Such State statutes or regulations may set forth the method of taking, the bag and possession limits, the dates and duration of the hunting season, and such other regulations as may be deemed appropriate, subject to the following limitations for each State:

(1) Crows shall not be hunted from aircraft;

(2) The hunting season or seasons on crows shall not exceed a total of 124 days during a calendar year;

(3) Hunting shall not be permitted during the peak crow nesting period within a State; and

(4) Crows may only be taken by firearms, bow and arrow, and falconry.

[anti-squirrel]

In VA, the orvids can only be pursued as legal quarry if they are damaging crops and livestock, and I still wouldn't go after them without physical proof of damage (such as photos and/or video), and even then I wouldn't unless I had WRITTEN permission carried upon my person at all times whilst pesting.

Plain and simple, I would ignore them despite the amount of damage they do to crops. 

I'll add that I've never personally seen RWBs do anything bad.  Unless you want to say a single male chasing away a small flock of crow, which is extremely entertaining.  And watching them defend their highway reflector post from everything is always good for a laugh.  They remind me of mockingbirds.

I fully agree with you 100% and i am also paranoid, It also states after that recreational hunting of crows is illegal. Does that mean i have to eat them?

Just have to provide proof of damage to aforementioned crop/livestock and thus prove that they are pests AND carry express permission from a landowner to provide pesting services.

[mobilemail]

I hope that you can find a legal way to hunt crow. They are smart as heck and will be challenging.

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

I hope that you can find a legal way to hunt crow. They are smart as heck and will be challenging.

Perhaps the Crows WROTE the restrictive hunting laws ?

[Alan]

There is another side to shooting pesting birds and animals which applies in many cases, but not all. That is, if you're shooting on private, deeded land (not leased from the fed or state), the rules are greatly relaxed. However, that fact doesn't allow you to take federally-protected species like eagles, kestrels and hawks.

And lets not forget about species which aren't protected no matter where you hunt, like feral pigs and collared doves. Lots of those to plink at to be sure.

[mobilemail]

There is another side to shooting pesting birds and animals which applies in many cases, but not all. That is, if you're shooting on private, deeded land (not leased from the fed or state), the rules are greatly relaxed. However, that fact doesn't allow you to take federally-protected species like eagles, kestrels and hawks.

And lets not forget about species which aren't protected no matter where you hunt, like feral pigs and collared doves. Lots of those to plink at to be sure.

Actually, we don't yet have official populations of feral pigs in IL where they have been deemed a shoot-on-sight nuisance.  Right now DNR considers them a "sight and report" curiosity. At least it's open season on coyotes, skunks, HOSPS and pigeons.   I'm still digging for dates and bag limit on grasshoppers...

[only1harry]

And that's where IL stupid shows its ugly head. While the headline says crows, the specific text says Grackles, blackbirds and cowbirds.  I'm all for you plugging a noisy crow, I would just advise checking with an actual DNR agent before letting the lead fly.

I admit I'm a little paranoid.  It's Illinois.

I fully agree with you 100% and i am also paranoid, It also states after that recreational hunting of crows is illegal. Does that mean i have to eat them?

No, that means you cannot go into the woods or state land to seek them out and shoot them, or shoot them in your backyard for fun or any other reason.  Only if they are doing damage to or affecting crops, livestock, etc. like it states.  Of course some of it is open to interpretation, but you have to keep in mind that most of these laws are written for farmers to protect the land, crops and livestock that they make a living from, not for most people.

This is also why we have similar rules here in the Hunting Gate.  The only time you can post a kill of a bird or animal that is out of season or has no season and is protected, is when you are in the act of protecting crops and livestock on a farm.

Harry