I would bet every homeowner on a golf course would beg the Feds to allow air rifles for goose control if they were educated on the benefits.
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Canada geese hunting with PCP?
- Thread starter markT
- Start date
I think you are correct. They are such a nuisance I can’t believe they are protected the way they are when all they do is eat grass and chit. They roost on a pond near where I deer hunt and come in, in groups of +50’s. I would think they chit in the water at night also. Can’t be good for the water/ eco system.
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Some times regulations are a little behind reality.
It is normal that no brake barrell should be allowed to take a geese. But a PCP in .25 Cal and above have enough power to take a clean kill on a geese.
Eventually regulation will recognize it, where still do not.
It is normal that no brake barrell should be allowed to take a geese. But a PCP in .25 Cal and above have enough power to take a clean kill on a geese.
Eventually regulation will recognize it, where still do not.
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I'd be careful shooting close to someone's dwelling though. I know a lot of states have a minimum distance that you have to be from any dwelling when discharging a firearm.
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Unfortunately this is all too accurate. The DNR down here is not very knowledgeable on the laws concerning airguns, even though at least one has been in force for quite a long time. They even have mistakes printed in the official Hunting Guide. For a long time most people thought that a .22 was the largest caliber legal for small game hunting with an air rifle. That was because of the confusing way they had it written in the guide. An examination of the actual law passed by the state assembly cleared that up - though it is still misstated in the guide. I also had a Warden tell me that air guns were only legal during primitive weapons hunts for large game (GA's large game law is new this year). However, the actual law clearly states that they are legal during firearms season. Some of them just haven't taken the time to read and fully understand all the laws - so it is incumbent upon you to do so.
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I know this is an old thread but I felt the need to register and reply.
First, I am a professional NWCO (nuisance wildlife control operator) who owns and operates Georgia Wildlife Services, Inc. I'm reading this board to broaden my airgun knowledge as I am looking to add strategic shooting to my portfolio of services.
Now in reply to this thread I hope to correct some misinformation that has been posted. It is indeed correct that geese and doves fall under the migratory bird treaty act. For that matter almost all native North American avian species fall under some form of federal and/or state protection whether they are considered game or nongame. However, all of those various statutes and treaties provide methods of take for abatement of depredation or scientific purposes.
In the specific case of geese we have a patchwork of regulation depending on whether the federal under the USFW retain control or if the USFW has deferred control to the individual state under agreement. In whichever case that may be a property owner may apply for a depredation permit and obtain one under certain qualifying conditions. Usually requirements of nonlethal methods having been attempted and failed with full documentation. Other requirements may be population and site assessment. If approved the permit will have specifications such as time frame, numbers taken and method. And, yes, method/time/number are exempt from existing regulation though first options will be steered towards existing regulation such as legal hunting. However, that's often not an option available in some environments such as the urban landscape.
The short of it is that, yes, air rifles are a perfectly legitimate method of take under a depredation permit IF the permit specifies such. Matter of fact the use of air rifles is probably the fastest growing segment of the wildlife control industry. Our national association NWCOA even offers courses for Shooting in Sensitive Environments.
Thanks for hearing out and I hope to learn more from y'all.
First, I am a professional NWCO (nuisance wildlife control operator) who owns and operates Georgia Wildlife Services, Inc. I'm reading this board to broaden my airgun knowledge as I am looking to add strategic shooting to my portfolio of services.
Now in reply to this thread I hope to correct some misinformation that has been posted. It is indeed correct that geese and doves fall under the migratory bird treaty act. For that matter almost all native North American avian species fall under some form of federal and/or state protection whether they are considered game or nongame. However, all of those various statutes and treaties provide methods of take for abatement of depredation or scientific purposes.
In the specific case of geese we have a patchwork of regulation depending on whether the federal under the USFW retain control or if the USFW has deferred control to the individual state under agreement. In whichever case that may be a property owner may apply for a depredation permit and obtain one under certain qualifying conditions. Usually requirements of nonlethal methods having been attempted and failed with full documentation. Other requirements may be population and site assessment. If approved the permit will have specifications such as time frame, numbers taken and method. And, yes, method/time/number are exempt from existing regulation though first options will be steered towards existing regulation such as legal hunting. However, that's often not an option available in some environments such as the urban landscape.
The short of it is that, yes, air rifles are a perfectly legitimate method of take under a depredation permit IF the permit specifies such. Matter of fact the use of air rifles is probably the fastest growing segment of the wildlife control industry. Our national association NWCOA even offers courses for Shooting in Sensitive Environments.
Thanks for hearing out and I hope to learn more from y'all.
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