Weaponry

[deadeer]

Not to keep beating a dead crow, sorry I couldn't resist. But, understanding all that you stated, the rules say archery or firearm as legal method of taking crows. Would a pellet rifle NOT be legal means then? Does the depredation part change anything from the sporting side? A firearm may not sit well with neighboring business/residents.

Thanks again.

[morrison]

The requirement that they must be taken with a firearm, bow and arrow or falconry is under the 'hunting' regulation requirements. It also establishes other regulations for 'hunting'. When you switch to taking crows under the depredation sections of the federal laws and statutes, the methods allowed are modified slightly just as the number of days are modified. A federal statute under the depredation allows for the use of air rifles and states that nontoxic shot is not required with them. I have posted the Federal statute below.

50 CFR 21.43
(d) Ammunition. In most cases, if you use a firearm to kill migratory birds under the provisions of this section, you must use nontoxic shot or nontoxic bullets to do so. See §20.21(j) of this chapter for a listing of approved nontoxic shot types. However, this prohibition does not apply if you use an air rifle or an air pistol for control of depredating birds.