Grackles Inside City Limits?

sarcastech

sarcastech

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I am probably going to get more flack than useful responses on this one but I am curious. Is it illegal for me to shoot grackles in my back yard within city limits using a pellet pistol that is less than 500fps?

They chase all of the colorful songbirds away from my feeders and they will predate bird nests and I am pretty sure that they will even eat other birds if given the chance.

Any constructive insight would be greatly appreciated!
 
Check local bylaws

most have "discharge prohibitions" making it illegal to discharge anything within city limits
 
Circumstances dictate how to approach this.
Neighbours see ya shooting? Don't do it.
Neighbours hear ya shooting? Don't do it.
Dieing birds land and flop around in their back yard? Don't do it.
If you answered no to the above aim straight.
They make bird traps that work really well now a days. google bird traps
 
I smell what you are cooking

Addressing post 2: Local bylaw states that it is illegal to discharge a firearm within city limits. But after looking at Canadian Law it would seem that pellet guns shooting under 500fps are legally not classified as firearms. To me this seems to cause my original query to fall into a grey area.

Addressing post 3: I hear what you are saying and feel the same way. Out of site, out of mind. Discreetness is the name of the game and accuracy is key if one was to partake in such activities.

Thanks for the feedback!
 
We went gopher hunting down south a few weeks ago but there were very few. We ended up shooting a s**t load of those grackles..
 
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sarcastech said:
Out of site, out of mind. Discreetness is the name of the game and accuracy is key if one was to partake in such activities.
Click to expand...

This I agree witih. I guess the situation dictates, kind of like that "Racoon Problem," thread thats on new posts right now. If you know your neighbours, and/ or are prepared for the eventuality that you could get in s**t with bylaw, then do what you need to do.

Is having a police tac team showing up at your house worth having a shot at Gackles chasing tweety away ? Probably not. BUt, if you lived in a part of the city that was a lot more open, with no prying neighbours, then I'd do it.

You might also want to try a slingshot. Its an oldie, but a goodie..
 
500fps are legally not classified as firearms.
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either are muzzleloading cannons but I am thinking that firing one would be a recipe for trouble. If you absolutely have to kill these birds use a slingshot not something that will bring the swat team and get you some list of charges or another.
 
As others said.. many cities have bylaws that prohibit discharge of firearms and pellet / bb guns of any muzzle velocity..

But if you're in a place that no-one will see, then no big deal. Lots of those bb gun laws seem designed to stop kids from plinking at windows and eyeballs.

Grackles (like most blackbird species) are provincially regulated and often have no closed season (depending on province)... just make sure you know what you're shooting!
 
sarcastech said:
Addressing post 2: Local bylaw states that it is illegal to discharge a firearm within city limits. But after looking at Canadian Law it would seem that pellet guns shooting under 500fps are legally not classified as firearms. To me this seems to cause my original query to fall into a grey area.

Addressing post 3: I hear what you are saying and feel the same way. Out of site, out of mind. Discreetness is the name of the game and accuracy is key if one was to partake in such activities.

Thanks for the feedback!
Click to expand...

Do you want to be the first to test the local bylaws agaisnt Canadian Law?
I am sure it would be cheaper to google bird traps...
Then again s s s.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
Keep one very important point in mind. When you shoot a grackle with with a 22 LR, a pellet gun over 500 FPS or a pellet gun under 500 FPS the birds will react differently to the shot. A certain percentage will flop over dead when hit, some will flop around and some will run off wounded at a high rate of speed. I have seen them hit with a .22 and fly 50 yards before expiring.

You are talking about only getting perfect hits with a pellet gun under 500 FPS. Expect a certain percentage of these hits to result in wounded birds attracting unwanted attention. Never mind the fact that some of these birds will die slow painful deaths.
 
sarcastech said:
Addressing post 2: Local bylaw states that it is illegal to discharge a firearm within city limits. But after looking at Canadian Law it would seem that pellet guns shooting under 500fps are legally not classified as firearms. To me this seems to cause my original query to fall into a grey area.

Addressing post 3: I hear what you are saying and feel the same way. Out of site, out of mind. Discreetness is the name of the game and accuracy is key if one was to partake in such activities.

Thanks for the feedback!
Click to expand...

from what i remember the bylaw for brantford includes anything that shoots projectiles, not just firearms. this includes bow and arrow, pellet guns under 500fps, cannons, catapoults (sp?), sling shots, and from personal experience, potato guns. :D

i'll assume yours is probably the same.
 
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