So I've heard guys talking about getting permission to shoot on property's and I've heard guys say that they had a "job" to finish. So my question is do they get paid to do pest control or is it just for fun? and if they do get paid how much? Thanks B-core
Pest control jobs - getting paid to have fun?
- Thread starter Betancore
- Start date
In Washington state, it is actually illegal to be paid for pest control unless you're licensed for it. You can do it as a favour, as mentioned above, that provides a synergistic benefit for everyone...well, except for the pests.
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Ok that's what I figured. But if you got paid I was thinking how awesome that would be lol.
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I've done minor pest control job and have another one in the making, in both cases groundhog control.
I would not bring up getting paid with my contacts, as I really do it to shoot. But if anyone ever volunteered a per-head amount I would accept it.
I would NOT accept an amount "to get the job done", because now it is a job with an expected outcome/result and probably disappointment if the results are not as the contact... eh, client expects.
It's all for fun for me, I want to keep it that way.
I would not bring up getting paid with my contacts, as I really do it to shoot. But if anyone ever volunteered a per-head amount I would accept it.
I would NOT accept an amount "to get the job done", because now it is a job with an expected outcome/result and probably disappointment if the results are not as the contact... eh, client expects.
It's all for fun for me, I want to keep it that way.
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yea I don't get paid I asked a few farm owns if it would be ok if I shot on there land in exchange I would gladly help them with pigeons and crows ect and there really ok with that as they don't have to pay for it
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I am a licensed pest controller in California. Think long and hard before you start charging for pest control. A lot can go wrong, and if it does, its never a cheap fix, permission or no.
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Ya that's with job really but I was if was expected to get paid to do something like that. I rather just have fun and shoot for free and then when I get good I wouldn't mine picking up jobs to do pest control to pay for my expenses.
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I've had several people in the past come to me and say they had problems with prairie dogs or sparrows and ask if I would irradiate them for a cost. I always just say sure, and when I'm done I'll tell them they don't need to pay me, but I figured this would be a good way to make a few bucks on the side.
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I was just talking with Ted, Rossi, and some others at the Pyramyd Air Cup last weekend about this specific issue. You need to research the laws and regulations for the State, county, and municipality you would be shooting in first. Some states have licensing, special permits/licenses, liability insurance, and worker's comp requirements to name a few. I'll be focusing on the Ohio regulations as they are the ones I'm currently most familiar with.
First, before even shooting you need to make sure that the species you plan to shoot can be shot. As this species list changes from state to state, don't think that just because you can do it in one state you can do it in another. For example, in Ohio, you cannot shoot cotton-tailed rabbits at anytime other than during regulated hunting season without first receiving special permission from the Division of Wildlife. So if you have nuisance rabbits, not only must they live be trapped, they must also be relocated. If you plan to shoot pigeons, English House Sparrows, or European Starlings, the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918 offers them no protection and neither does the State of Ohio; however, they ARE protected in the city of Athens (where Ohio University is) as they have designated themselves as a bird sanctuary. Additionally, a lot of municipalities will have an ordnance that prohibits "...propelling an object towards a wild animal or bird with intent to harm or kill." Now if we move to crows, you can shoot them during their hunting season (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during specific months) or while they are in the act of depredation. But if you want to shoot crows outside of this time frame/season (where you are able to shoot) the property owner would need to apply for a special permit (costs $50 - $100 and may take up to 16 weeks to process) from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Now that you've determined if you can even shoot the animal, we can get into the license issue. In Ohio, our state law says if you charge a fee or receive compensation for services (i.e., let me shoot your groundhogs, pigeons, etc for hunting/trapping/fishing rights, or that apple pie sitting in the window) you must have a Commercial Nuisance Wild Animal Control License (CNWACL) and whomever the shooter is must have passed the Commercial Nuisance Wild Animal Control Operator (CNWACO) test. So even if you have a Commercial Applicator License with the vertebrate category for pest control (most pest control licenses are broken down into different classes based on where services are being conducted or what is being controlled), you still need to have the CNWACL and the shooter must be a CNWACO. Some other states have a requirement for having a Structural Pest Control license based on the species being taken and location while others require an inspection and permit authorizing the shooting of the animal/bird regardless of who is doing it. Then there are some states that have an apprenticeship requirements based on the required licenses (usually 1-3 years based on the state) and lastly, certain states require a minimum amount of general liability insurance, workers compensation insurance or even personal health insurance.
Also, realize that if you are charging a fee that means you are a business which also means registering that business with your states regulatory authority and tax department. This is usually the Secretary of State but you can register the business in another state (there lots of reasons for doing so that I won't go into here) but again check into what is required for that state and realize that you will most likely need to still register in the state you plan on shooting in as a Foreign entity or corporation. I won't go into registering companies, but realize that certain company names are protected under Federal Trade Mark law (i.e., Critter Control, Bats, Birds, & More, Wildlife Solutions, etc. to name a few) so you need to research what is available before wasting money on the registration process and then getting caught up in a lawsuit and/or having to pay damages. The pest control and wildlife control industries are very competitive and while most won't care if someone shoots a couple of starlings off someone's bird feeder, they will care when that person starts marketing services for farms and other businesses or homeowner associations. I can also say that if anyone believes that all "box" stores have someone come in everyday early in the morning to shoot birds, they are incorrect. Box store contracts are one of the most competitive market areas and in the big picture, only a small number of stores allow shooting to take place (either store policy says no or location has a no discharge ordnance) as there are many other methods that can be used.
Lastly, even if you decide not to charge a fee, realize that there may still be criteria you have to meet such as a current hunting license, written permission from the landowner, a document showing nonlethal control methods signed by the landowner, etc. I've worked with multiple states and their nuisance wildlife laws and no two of them are the same so make sure to do your research before pulling the trigger. Search your states revised codes and administrative codes. Talk to regulatory officials and get anything they give you permission for in writing because if there ever is an issue, I guarantee their job security will trump their memory of what was or was not said. And while I realize this may sound gloomy don't get me wrong, I fully support anyone who wants to get into either the pest control or wildlife control industry (yes, there is a difference between the two), but I do try and point them in the correct and legal way to do so. Just like many of us would do with someone wanting to get into hunting, trapping or fishing.
First, before even shooting you need to make sure that the species you plan to shoot can be shot. As this species list changes from state to state, don't think that just because you can do it in one state you can do it in another. For example, in Ohio, you cannot shoot cotton-tailed rabbits at anytime other than during regulated hunting season without first receiving special permission from the Division of Wildlife. So if you have nuisance rabbits, not only must they live be trapped, they must also be relocated. If you plan to shoot pigeons, English House Sparrows, or European Starlings, the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918 offers them no protection and neither does the State of Ohio; however, they ARE protected in the city of Athens (where Ohio University is) as they have designated themselves as a bird sanctuary. Additionally, a lot of municipalities will have an ordnance that prohibits "...propelling an object towards a wild animal or bird with intent to harm or kill." Now if we move to crows, you can shoot them during their hunting season (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during specific months) or while they are in the act of depredation. But if you want to shoot crows outside of this time frame/season (where you are able to shoot) the property owner would need to apply for a special permit (costs $50 - $100 and may take up to 16 weeks to process) from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Now that you've determined if you can even shoot the animal, we can get into the license issue. In Ohio, our state law says if you charge a fee or receive compensation for services (i.e., let me shoot your groundhogs, pigeons, etc for hunting/trapping/fishing rights, or that apple pie sitting in the window) you must have a Commercial Nuisance Wild Animal Control License (CNWACL) and whomever the shooter is must have passed the Commercial Nuisance Wild Animal Control Operator (CNWACO) test. So even if you have a Commercial Applicator License with the vertebrate category for pest control (most pest control licenses are broken down into different classes based on where services are being conducted or what is being controlled), you still need to have the CNWACL and the shooter must be a CNWACO. Some other states have a requirement for having a Structural Pest Control license based on the species being taken and location while others require an inspection and permit authorizing the shooting of the animal/bird regardless of who is doing it. Then there are some states that have an apprenticeship requirements based on the required licenses (usually 1-3 years based on the state) and lastly, certain states require a minimum amount of general liability insurance, workers compensation insurance or even personal health insurance.
Also, realize that if you are charging a fee that means you are a business which also means registering that business with your states regulatory authority and tax department. This is usually the Secretary of State but you can register the business in another state (there lots of reasons for doing so that I won't go into here) but again check into what is required for that state and realize that you will most likely need to still register in the state you plan on shooting in as a Foreign entity or corporation. I won't go into registering companies, but realize that certain company names are protected under Federal Trade Mark law (i.e., Critter Control, Bats, Birds, & More, Wildlife Solutions, etc. to name a few) so you need to research what is available before wasting money on the registration process and then getting caught up in a lawsuit and/or having to pay damages. The pest control and wildlife control industries are very competitive and while most won't care if someone shoots a couple of starlings off someone's bird feeder, they will care when that person starts marketing services for farms and other businesses or homeowner associations. I can also say that if anyone believes that all "box" stores have someone come in everyday early in the morning to shoot birds, they are incorrect. Box store contracts are one of the most competitive market areas and in the big picture, only a small number of stores allow shooting to take place (either store policy says no or location has a no discharge ordnance) as there are many other methods that can be used.
Lastly, even if you decide not to charge a fee, realize that there may still be criteria you have to meet such as a current hunting license, written permission from the landowner, a document showing nonlethal control methods signed by the landowner, etc. I've worked with multiple states and their nuisance wildlife laws and no two of them are the same so make sure to do your research before pulling the trigger. Search your states revised codes and administrative codes. Talk to regulatory officials and get anything they give you permission for in writing because if there ever is an issue, I guarantee their job security will trump their memory of what was or was not said. And while I realize this may sound gloomy don't get me wrong, I fully support anyone who wants to get into either the pest control or wildlife control industry (yes, there is a difference between the two), but I do try and point them in the correct and legal way to do so. Just like many of us would do with someone wanting to get into hunting, trapping or fishing.
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I do pest control at a dairy farm and other farms on a weekly basis. I don't charge and am not licensed.
If it wasn't for these farms, I'd hardly have any shooting outside of the range.
If it wasn't for these farms, I'd hardly have any shooting outside of the range.
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I think all states have regulations and licensing for professionals selling their services. No different than plumbers and roofers."T3PRanch"Thank God I do not live in Ohio!
@thehunter Nuclear Pellets?
Thurmond
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I believe that they are receiving money, but this is illegal. As I know, you should have some special licence on this and I even saw such vacancies on https://uk.jooble.org/jobs-royal-mail/Birmingham . It is rather a logical answer to your question, as I think. In my opinion, this is a work and every work should be paid. That is just a rule of life.
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Years ago I knew a airgunner that actually got paid to keep the Runway clear of birds.
This was in Hawaii and don't think he's doing that anymore.
This was in Hawaii and don't think he's doing that anymore.
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Aloha,
That's person(s) actually worked for the state of Hawaii, department of transportation. They would drive out on the different runways and shoot .22 blanks to scare the birds away. I know this because I worked at Hickam AFB, on the F-15 and YF-22 and would observe the guys scaring the birds before take off and landing of the aircrafts.
I know that pest control with airguns are not permitted here in Hawaii. We can't even use them for hunting on designated hunting areas, we can however use them on privately owned property as long as the projectile does not go into another property.
Aloha, Keone
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