# Laws regarding hunting in urban area without weapons **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 11, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381 "2003-08-11T14:15:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/1 "2003-08-11T14:15:29Z")
Are there any laws regulating the hunting of wild game in urban areas if no weapons are involved? There is a lake near my house that is a popular hang out for Canadian Geese that have become too lazy to fly any further south for the winter. They come here, settle down, and crap all over the place. They are quite trusting of humans, and will happily eat out of your hand (oddly enough they are quite partial to dried apricots.) If I can just reach out and tuck him under my arm, can I just take one of these bad boys home with me and grill him up? Does he have to be in season? Is there a weight limit? I’m inside a heavily populated urban area, but since I’m not planning on using any weapons, what laws or regulations apply? For the sake of complete information, I live in Maryland, just outside of DC. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/2 "2003-08-11T14:29:27Z")
I have no cite, but I recall hearing that **Canada** Geese are federally protected wildlife, which is why they so easily invade greenswaths in urban areas. As for grilling one up, most local supermarkets offer rotisserie chickens for about four bucks, so unless you really enjoy making a spectacle of yourself, consider it an alternative for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![chickendoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@chickendoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chickendoc)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/3 "2003-08-11T14:53:00Z")
Ragnar Benson has several books on harvesting local wildlife without weapons. I’m not sure if his methods are legal or very humane though. Your local game warden or country extension agent should be a valuable resource for the info that you require. We have problems with deer damaging our fruit orchard back home and can’t do anything about it until deer season. Netting and electric fences help somewhat, but I haven’t any idea about geese. Maybe get one of those propane cannons. I’d wait till they are in season until you harvest one. Fines for poaching are severe. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/4 "2003-08-11T16:37:55Z")
We’ve had the same problem with Canada Geese here for years. Since they’re protected migratory fowl, as noted above, they can’t be killed. What is done instead is that the wildlife people remove the eggs from the nests and destroy them (and let’s not get into the whole “when does life start” argument). This has worked to some extent in reducing the population. You might suggest it to your local game management people. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/5 "2003-08-12T01:04:37Z")
If you try this, just remember that geese are mean and bite hard! ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/6 "2003-08-12T01:32:38Z")
**Balthisar** is right. I recommend a lassoo. Dang! That sounds exciting to watch. Sorry Calgary, the Stampede’s moving south. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/7 "2003-08-12T02:11:57Z")
I too was going to comment on what would happen if you tried to simply pick up a goose and tuck it under your arm. If you haven’t practiced waterfowl-fu before, and are completely empty-handed (not even a little club), you’ll look like you’ve had a hockey fight the next day… (and the bird will get away too ;)) ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/8 "2003-08-12T02:28:49Z")
This whole thread has me wondering what it would be like if different hunters were to try to take on their prey mano-a-mano. It could be called **Extreme Hunting** or **When Humans ATTACK!** or something like that. Other than geese, just imagine this for: Deer Turkey Wild Boar Sharks! (well, fishing IS technically hunting) These could all be the new fad for reality TV shows! ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/9 "2003-08-14T06:42:04Z")
Voltaire - are you familiar with catfigh grabbing? There are folks who hunt deer and some fowl with crude weapons ranging from pointed sticks to muzzle-loaders. I guess that’s what you turn to when being a war re-enactor becomes dull… ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-hunting-in-urban-area-without-weapons/194381/10 "2003-08-14T13:01:42Z")
Years ago a guy was arrested for stealing pigeons from Trafleger Square. He was feeding the to his snake or somesuch. Police caught him in the Tube with a coat full of pigeons. Monty Python, call your office.