# How do I help make it a federal law to -not- shoot Crows or Corvids **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 11, 2023, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021 "2023-03-11T09:59:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/21 "2023-03-11T17:51:54Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > I’ve never eaten crow I have, many times. But only metaphorically. Usually served to me by Mrs. solost on a silver platter. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/22 "2023-03-11T17:57:52Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > As with any law you would like to see you need to contact your representative and/or senator and have them sponsor a bill and then hope it gets passed. Or you could pass an amendment to the Constitution: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pSANTRnEBgg/hqdefault.jpg "The Simpsons - I'm an Amendment to Be") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSANTRnEBgg) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/23 "2023-03-11T18:03:28Z")
Crows are notoriously hard to hunt. There is a hilarious article about crow hunting in a hunting magazine like Field & Stream from probably the 1970s. I wish I could find it as it was priceless. Basically a large group of hunters hike to a hunting blind in small groups. They come and go in various combinations, switching clothes, hats and guns as they go while the crows watch from a distant tree. It wraps up with the only line I remember, _“…leaving a single hunter in the blind!”_ ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/24 "2023-03-11T18:14:38Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I find the last two posts to be a very interesting juxtaposition. Something somewhere is confused. My guess is that the local/state laws which permit hunting crows during certain seasons provide the “waiver” mentioned in the quote from the Wikipedia article on the federal law. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/25 "2023-03-11T18:19:53Z")
There are always exceptions to the law/rule. [[Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918)] _The [United States Fish and Wildlife Service](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Fish_and_Wildlife_Service) issues permits for otherwise prohibited activities under the act. These include permits for taxidermy, falconry, propagation, scientific and educational use, and depredation, an example of the last being the killing of geese near an airport, where they pose a danger to aircraft._ _After an update to administrative law in January 2021, the [United States Department of the Interior](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_the_Interior) ceased to enforce penalties under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for the accidental killings of birds by businesses or individuals.[[6]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918#cite_note-6) This change was revoked on October 4, 2021.[[7]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918#cite_note-7)_ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/26 "2023-03-11T19:15:17Z")
I fixed the title. Makes more sense now. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/27 "2023-03-11T19:44:29Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > want a pet crow. > > That’s all. Sorry Beck, it is illegal to own a crow in all 50 US states. It is one of those Catch 22 situations where crows are protectected under the Migratory Bird Act and also regulated as game birds by the states fish and game department. There are hunting seasons in most states, I know Oregon has one. You just missed Arkansas crow hunting season. It ran from Sept 1st throug Feb 20th. Unlimited bag limit but you could only hunt them Monday through Thursday. Local Crow 555 union makes sure they don’t have to put up with that shit on the weekends. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/28 "2023-03-11T21:48:01Z")
Yeah, I been hearing pinging like crazy on the state lands near me. But they won’t let me have one iddy biddy baby crow that I’d probably save from a 22 bullet. Dying for no purpose. No one eats them. My crow, who I’d name Bean, would have a purposeful life. Entertaining me.😊 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/29 "2023-03-11T21:50:53Z")
We don’t have a pet crow, but we feed the ones that hang around our house. They learn our routines and demand their treats. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/30 "2023-03-11T21:53:22Z")
My yard crows are masters at stealing any food they see. When it’s warm they go into the garage and steal the garage cats food remnants. The same family of crows have been around here for years. They know the routine. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/31 "2023-03-11T22:09:25Z")
I mean, there are certainly days I’d _like_ to shoot the blue jays near our feeder, but sure, I’d support that law. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/32 "2023-03-11T22:18:04Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I fixed the title. Makes more sense now. Sure, except for the split infinitive. (Even if it’s no longer considered improper, it still grates.) ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/33 "2023-03-12T01:04:57Z")
The crows I feed in the yard leave me tufts of grass on the deck railing. For my nest, I guess! They also sit in the trees outside of the bedroom and stare at me when they think I should feed them. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/34 "2023-03-12T01:18:19Z")
I get sticks on my deck rail. They have comfort issues, I guess. They’ve never forgiven me for Son-of-a-wrek scaring them one time. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/35 "2023-03-12T12:17:53Z")
Why do crows place these sticks and grass on people’s railings, (etc.)? I’ve never heard of this. Gathering things for their nest? Sure. But just leaving stuff piled about doesn’t make sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/36 "2023-03-12T12:38:28Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > there are certainly days I’d _like_ to shoot the blue jays near our feeder I don’t get the hate people have for jays. We have a peanut feeder just for them (& the squirrels). ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/37 "2023-03-12T13:04:50Z")
Me neither. Back when I lived where they were relatively common, seeing one was always a treat. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/38 "2023-03-12T13:17:22Z")
I like crows and all corvids, because they’re smart and funny and fun to watch. But I do wish there were less crows in our neighborhood. They’ve become overpopulated here and in a lot of places, I understand. We used to have plenty of robins and goldfinches and mourning doves, but these birds have all but disappeared, and have been replaced by lots and lots of crows. Since crows raid the nests of other birds for eggs and nestlings, it’s pretty easy guess what happened. The one benefit is that we also used to have gobs of noisy, messy starlings (an invasive species), but I haven’t seen a starling in years. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/39 "2023-03-12T13:28:53Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > Since crows raid the nests of other birds for eggs and nestlings, it’s pretty easy guess what happened. [Here’s an interesting article on that phenomenon.](https://corvidresearch.blog/tag/crows-hunting-other-birds/) > [@](#): > > Do crows indeed drive down populations of small, “desirable” backyard birds? > > The short answer is: not usually. > … > Why do we think that crows aren’t responsible for the any observed decrease in feeder birds? [Predator removal studies](http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/removal.htm). These studies are straightforward and essentially create two populations, a control population that has been unmodified and a second where the predator in question has been actively removed. Prey abundance or productivity is monitored and compared at the end of the trial. > > Recently, Madden et al. published a comprehensive literature review of 42 studies across 9 countries that looked at the impacts of corvid removal on a variety of avian groups including gamebirds, passerines, waders and other ground nesting birds. They found that in 81% of cases corvid removal made no impact on prey abundance or productivity. So, you could be right–but other factors, such as habitat loss, are also likely culprits for the loss of your smaller songbirds. ---
**Author:** ![Budstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/0ea827/32.png) [@Budstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budstone)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021/40 "2023-03-12T13:59:26Z")
Thats what i mean. If any person has a relationship with a crow u will find how much you will adore them. Their incredibly intelligent, family oriented. They even bring food to their elder or sick crows. They have compasion, and they are so curious of us humans. They like us but are so afraid of being shot. Someday, u will see , we are moving into the age of the Crows. Go read about them and wTch utube on them. Unbelieveable. I never knew. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-help-make-it-a-federal-law-to-not-shoot-crows-or-corvids/981021.md?page=3)