Author Topic: Geese hunting (Read 1505 times)

meyer44 · « **on:** May 15, 2005, 02:59:17 PM »

In my area of Tennessee we are being overrun by pesky geese. I think the city bought some years ago and they unexpectedly spread like wildfire. Now all the walking/biking trails, and my backyard, are being attacked with goose droppings. I was wondering if a TF99m loaded with .22 crow magnums could get the job done? I have trid my dad's old sheridan .20 blue streak and it knocks off a few feathers at best..(those things have armor for feathers)

I know the only way to know for sure is to try it out but I was wondering your opinions and pellet choices.

Questor · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2005, 08:39:38 AM »

I recall reading that deliberately killing geese out of season is a federal felony. It struck me as odd that a game law could actually be a felony.

PeterF. · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2005, 10:30:25 AM »

Oh, yeah ... what you're proposing is definitely illegal. There's a season for geese in Tennessee (Sept 1-15), along with all kinds of laws and restrictions on hunting just about everything from deer to bullfrogs (do a "Google" search under "Tennessee hunting laws"). If you're going to shoot geese, you need a hunting license and you need to do it in-season.
Geese are a big problem in the Northeast, particularly in non-hunter-friendly urban areas. Golf courses and public parks are near overrun with them. And you pretty much can't shoot them. Some places use "cherry bombs" or other noise makers; generally most effective are border collies, who harrass them enough that they go elsewhere.
It's said that the geese that hang around in Winter in the Northeast are "feral" descendents of geese that hunters used to keep as live decoys. They don't have any migratory instinct. (you could try that as a legal defense ... they weren't "migratory" wildlife ... but I wouldn't count on it).
Some states allow farmers to go after otherwise-season-only game if they're harming their crops .... like deer in orchards.
That said, geese are pretty big and tough; with an airgun, only a solid head-shot will do (not impossible with a good airgun at close range). Otherwise, you'd do about as well with a hatchet. But, please note that ... considering the legal implications ... I'm not actually recommending anything here.

meyer44 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2005, 11:33:36 AM »

A judge lives next to me and he blasts them all the time with his 12 gauge so I don't think it will be a problem.. But c'mon people of course I won't break any laws anyway :wink:

Just saying "hypothetically" do you think that would do it? Any other ideas about pellets?

Lawdog · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2005, 12:21:25 PM »

meyer44,

I have taken Merriam Turkeys at ranges out to 40 yards with my TF 99M using Crow Magnum pellets. Dont try shooting at the breast area as the pellets wont penetrate deep enough. Pick your shots.

You do realize that agencies like the FBI monitor forums like Graybeard Outdoors, Hunt America, Accurate Reloading, etc. on a regular basis due to the Patriot Act? Are these geese tame farmers types or wild geese that have gone tame? If they are wild geese that have gone tame it is still against Federal Law to shoot them out of season and with an illegal weapon. And yes it is a FELONY. Up to five years in a Federal Prison first offence. Dont go by what any judge may do as they have been known to break the law too. Lawdog

meyer44 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2005, 02:11:18 PM »

ok thanks.. Yes I realize that and I wasn't planning on doing anything out of season. I also am aware of the fact that judges break laws. TY I will stay safe I was just wondering for when the time came..

dukkillr · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2005, 03:03:54 PM »

The Patriot Act did nothing to change who and what could monitor this chat. It's in the public domain and as such anyone could monitor it, for any reason, with or without the Patriot Act.

Lawdog · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2005, 08:56:31 AM »

Quote from: dukkillr

The Patriot Act did nothing to change who and what could monitor this chat. It's in the public domain and as such anyone could monitor it, for any reason, with or without the Patriot Act.

Try again. The Patriot Act has the Federal agencies monitoring Internet forums everyday. It is all being done by computer looking for certain words, phases, etc. being posted. Lawdog

victorcharlie · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2005, 09:53:02 AM »

How about asking the FBI to come clean up after the birds!

Xcopterdocter · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2005, 12:59:12 PM »

Try grape Koolade... Geese hate grape... buy the unsweetened pack, mix it in a sprayer and spray away. A little goes a long way, no need to mix it too strong. Also, you will need to reapply it after a hard rain or about once every 10 days.

meyer44 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2005, 01:08:02 PM »

ha I like your idea better victor.. lol

j/p if any of you "FBI" guys are reading this :grin:

victorcharlie · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2005, 02:35:06 PM »

Just be careful and don't leave any alkaseltzer laying around...........birds can't burp! I'd hate for them to explode on you!

meyer44 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2005, 02:41:56 PM »

HAHA Alright I will be sure to watch out for that.. That would be terrible huh?

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2005, 11:30:06 AM »

For the record this site has been getting regular visits from folks with computers linked to the Pentagon and the White House for at least 4 years I know of. We used to review the ISP addresses for those folks who visited periodically and had a program at one time which summarized where folks visited from. It always had visits from the proper addresses to be Pentagon and White House.

Who? Got no clue and don't really care. I do the best I can to keep the chatter legal here.

meyer44 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2005, 12:50:54 PM »

OK Graybeard I had no intentions of attracting any attention. And my thread was legal right? I never said anything about shooting out of season. Thanks though and I iwll try to keep them a little farther away from the border of illegal in the future.

Lawdog · « **Reply #15 on:** May 19, 2005, 10:54:15 AM »

Geese are migratory game birds and as such are regulated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The folowing is a list of the restrictions;

Quote

No person shall take migratory game birds:

With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fishhook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance.

From a sink box (a low, floating device, having a depression affording the hunter a means of concealment beneath the surface of the water).

From or with the aid or use of a car or other motor-driven land conveyance, or any aircraft, except that paraplegics and single or double amputees of the legs may take from any stationary motor vehicle or stationary motor-driven land conveyance.

By the use or aid of live decoys. All live, tame or captive ducks and geese shall be removed for a period of 10 consecutive days prior to hunting, and confined within an enclosure which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals such tame birds from the sight of migratory waterfowl.

By driving, rallying or chasing birds with any motorized conveyance or any sail boat to put them in the range of the hunters.

By the aid of baiting, or on or over any baited area, if the person knows or reasonably should know that the area is baited. Baiting includes the placing of corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed to serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them. It is a separate offense to place or direct placement of bait on or adjacent to an area for the purpose of causing or allowing hunters to take or attempt to take birds by the aid of bait or over a baited area. A baited area is considered to be baited for 10 days after complete removal of any bait. The maximum federal penalties are: for hunting over bait: $15,000/6 months jail; placing bait: $100,000/1 year jail.

With a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells.

By the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electrically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds

Shooting them with a pellet gun is illegal. Lawdog

dukkillr · « **Reply #16 on:** May 19, 2005, 11:01:20 AM »

You're ok meyer44... I don't see any "conspiracy to commit..." language there... plus i suspect wardens have better things to do that track down people who ask hypothetical questions about killing geese anyway.

Lawdog, I didn't see the penalties for the other offenses... I looked for them myself the other day in the Federal rules and couldn't find them... Someone claimed 5 years for a first offense which I suspect is incorrect but I couldn't find proof... do you know where that information would be found? I also had a hard time believing that shooting a goose in the off-season was a felony but I couldn't find that either...

Lawdog · « **Reply #17 on:** May 19, 2005, 12:54:28 PM »

dukkillr · « **Reply #18 on:** May 19, 2005, 08:56:17 PM »

well i thought you were going to edit that blank screen but it never changed... is this a riddle i'm meant to figure out on my own?

jh45gun · « **Reply #19 on:** May 23, 2005, 05:43:37 PM »

Yep folks when it comes to migratory game laws it pays to obey them!! It sounds like you folks are not complaining to the city enough to have them take care of the problem. As a side note it IS legal to shoot them with Archery equipment IF you can legally shoot a bow or crossbow in your city. In the city I live in there is a ordinance against it. So that is out for me. I shot 2 a few years ago and I had the local law upset with me. I was breaking no game laws just a local ordinance against shooting a bow in town. Needless to say I quit shooting them in town and the city let it lay with a warning not to shoot any more in town. The same ordinance is against pellet and bb guns too and slingshots. :cry: :cry: :cry:

victorcharlie · « **Reply #20 on:** May 24, 2005, 04:09:13 AM »

I watched a program where a golf course was using border collies to keep the geese run off..........your going to have to get creative to solve this.........

Flash · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2005, 02:11:54 AM »

Even though they might be resident geese which never migrate, they still fall under the Federal Migratory Bird Act and there wouldn't be any legal defense to killing them out of season. Just get a license and when the season starts, hammer them into oblivion.

alfsauve · « **Reply #22 on:** May 29, 2005, 12:49:47 AM »

You also have to be careful about using firecrackers or dogs to scare the geese away. Many states, and possibly federal statues, have provisions agains "harassing" wildlife.

Basically, they can get you coming or going.

As far as federal monitoring, I would think they'd either work out of clandestine locations, or disguise their IP so that it's not readily traceable. (e.g., purchase a high speed internet line at a clandestine location, then use a dedicated fiber to route it to their actual workplace.)

Alf
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