Posted on 08/04/2008 2:29:50 PM PDT by agooga
I have a coyote problem in my neighborhood of Sun Valley (a suburb of Los Angeles just north of Burbank). We're near the hills, which is national forest land and get a lot of wildlife.
Over the last few years, the population and aggressiveness of the local coyotes has increased. We've lost a pet, and several neighbors with small children and pets have expressed concern. Many pets overall have been lost in this area and there have been reports of small children attacked.
I see coyotes walking around freely in the morning and evening hours, unafraid of humans. I could easily get within 20 - 30 yards. I've even thrown rocks at them and hit them.
My question to those who know more is what are my legal restrictions -if any- against killing coyotes out on my street or in my yard with a crossbow. I have decided to use a crossbow as I'd like to do this legally and discharge of a firearm within the city limits is obviously illegal.
Is there any such prohibition on crossbows?
Do I need a hunting license?
Can you "open-carry" a crossbow in the city limits?
Any other things I need to think about?
Any websites I should check out that address these issues?
Thanks in advance!
When we were invaded by swarms of wild boar here I got a “depridation permit” from the local Fish and Game office so that we could shoot or trap them. I don’t know if that applies in your case, just thought I’d toss it in.
Good luck.
Couple questions come to mind:
1) You’ve shot a crossbow before?
2) Why have you chosen to use a crossbow against the coyotes?
3) What is the likely response by the SPCA?
No— have not shot a crossbow, but this would be a great excuse to learn. I’m real good at learning new things.
As stated in initial post, this is in the CITY LIMITS, not in the forest land. I’m talking about taking out a coyote who is in my yard or across the street.
I don’t give a rat’s ass about the SPCA. I want to rid my neighborhood of a menace.
Crossbows can be ordered through the mail and there is no law of physics which would require you to tell anybody about shooting a coyote with one.
I’m a former JOAD archery coach and I’m just a little concerned about your proficiency with a crossbow and using broadheads where other people are around.
Shovel.
Shut up.
I can think of a couple laws of physics, easy . . . most relating to agooga’s next-door neighbor wondering why a bolt is sticking through the side of the car in his driveway.
As for shooting in city limits, here we have target ranges in city parks so I assume its ok but if you go walking around the neighborhood with an uncased bow I think you are asking for trouble.
crossbow bolts are also quite expensive, probably 5 or 6 bucks a piece so you may want to find a good old air powered pellet gun.
just my opinion, its worth what you paid for it!
“Crossbows can be ordered through the mail and there is no law of physics which would require you to tell anybody about shooting a coyote with one.”
True, but I want to be legally covered. I can’t think of a neighbor who wouldn’t support what I was doing, but when a coyote is hit, he can run around a while and make a lot of noise which might draw attention.
I prefer not to get cited for this.
An air rifle can drop a coyote easy at 30 yards. Open the back/front door and fire away. Do it when everyone is asleep.
> No— have not shot a crossbow, but this would be a great excuse to learn. I’m real good at learning new things.
My suggestion would be to spend at least as much time learning how to shoot a crossbow as you would learning how to shoot a rifle. Before you go shooting coyotes.
I probably don’t need to tell you that they aren’t toys: the better ones have better stopping power than most pistols.
> As stated in initial post, this is in the CITY LIMITS, not in the forest land. I’m talking about taking out a coyote who is in my yard or across the street.
Are you series?
If that is your intention, then with all due Respect you’d be as mad as a meat-ax to even give it serious contemplation. Sorry, there is no way to put a fine point on it.
> I don’t give a rat’s ass about the SPCA.
Be assured that they probably do give a rat’s ass about you.
> I want to rid my neighborhood of a menace.
I suspect that if you follow thru with your plans, you may find the SPCA and/or the cops ridding your neighborhood of a menace: a crossbow-toting menace.
Seriously, I’d stow that particular idea if I were you. It sounds like it might be fun to try, but then again so do most bad ideas.
As an animal lover and all around sensitive type guy I say dont kill the poor hungry coyotes....instead feed Democracts to them.
“I can think of a couple laws of physics, easy . . . most relating to agooga’s next-door neighbor wondering why a bolt is sticking through the side of the car in his driveway.”
A) Where I often see the coyotes there is nothing but trees and bushes for a few hundred feet.
B) I am sensible enough not to take a shot that would endanger another’s life or property.
C) What would you do if your neighborhood was being ransacked by coyotes almost every night?
A good book yu might want to read is Survial Poaching by Ragnar Benson lots of good ideas on how not to get caught.
If a coyote is a federally-protected species, and I suspect one is, then you are SOL.
You want to poison them, eh?
So instead of a humane death by crossbow, you are advocating poisoning the coyotes?
Great minds!
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