Shooting of pest animals

Roneut · Jul 30, 2012

I've been trying to find an answer to this issue but so far not found it directly addressed.

Several people (family and friends) have been complaining to me about various pest animals in their yards causing property damage. These include possum, raccoon and rabbit. They bring this up to me because I'm the only person they know that has any skill with bows, air guns and traps. They'd like me to trap or shoot these critters for them on their private land.

What I'd like to know are the legalities of this. I know you can legally trap raccoon and possum according to state law, but it's not clear what you can do to them afterwards other than relocate. It is also not clear if this can be done to rabbits. Further, it is not clear if any of these animals can be shot legally (the weapon discharge would be legal) and if this counts as hunting and thus requires compliance with seasons and obtaining a license. Any information you have would be appreciated.

lx1x · Jul 30, 2012

chech dnr and local laws. Some differ depending where the problems are.

Biggie313 · Jul 30, 2012

pest or not, they are small game, and can only be hunted/trapped in certain seasons as far as it looks to me. Then you have to follow the hunting rules (dates, limits, weapons, licenses, discharge of firearm/bow near occupied houses)
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
Nov. 3–Feb. 28
All counties
4 per day
8 possession limit

Raccoon & Opossum
Chasing—no kill
Aug. 1–Oct. 14
Mar. 16–July 31
All counties
—
—
Raccoon & Opossum
Firearms, Bow, Crossbow & Dog
Oct. 15–Mar. 15
All counties
No limit
No limit
Raccoon & Opossum
Trapping
Nov. 15–Mar. 15
In that portion of the state east of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River.
No limit
No limit
Nov. 1–Mar. 15
In that portion of the state west of the Chesapeake Bay and the Susquehanna River.
No limit
No limit

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/allspecies.asp

That is legally speaking... However some would recommend the SSS (shoot shovel shutup) method

browning guy · Jul 30, 2012

Biggie313 is correct about the animals listed as game animals. Also relocating any raccon or Opossum is not legal. These animals are known to carry rabies and it is not a good thing to just drop them off out of a havaheart to become someone elses problem.

If you have a real problem call a wildlife control agent or s.s.s.

wilcam47 · Jul 30, 2012

S.S.S.

Gardens need fertilizer.. :innocent0

Roneut · Jul 30, 2012

browning guy said:
Also relocating any raccon or Opossum is not legal. These animals are known to carry rabies and it is not a good thing to just drop them off out of a havaheart to become someone elses problem.

Well, Title §10–414 of the NR article states:

A landowner or the landowner’s agent may set or use steel traps or similar devices at any time to trap raccoon or opossum which are damaging property.

So if it's not legal to relocate, does that mean I'm required by law to "humanely dispatch" them when caught?

xd40c · Jul 30, 2012

glistam said:
Well, Title §10–414 of the NR article states:

So if it's not legal to relocate, does that mean I'm required by law to kill them?

A .22 makes almost no noise....

browning guy · Jul 30, 2012

glistam said:
Well, Title §10–414 of the NR article states:

So if it's not legal to relocate, does that mean I'm required by law to "humanely dispatch" them when caught?

I have been doing wildlife control for over 20 years and in very few case's is it ok to relocate a problem animal. Most animals are humanly dispatched.
coon's and op's that learn to feed off peoples gardens or trash can will keep up this behaivor and just become someone elses problem.

Every county has diffrent regulations as far as how you can trap animals, leg holds are not legal every where for land use. Killer traps, conibears are not legal for land use unless under certain size. these are just examples of the laws you have to be aware of.

I Have done work for people who have tried to deal with the problems them self and run afoul of the law because some dogooder jackass neighbor did not think the animals should be harmed or moved.

if you can s.s.s. then handle it and its all good. If you have ******* neighbors or some nutball treehugger in the family keep in mind the last "s" is the key.

Roneut · Jul 30, 2012

browning guy said:
I have been doing wildlife control for over 20 years and in very few case's is it ok to relocate a problem animal. Most animals are humanly dispatched.
coon's and op's that learn to feed off peoples gardens or trash can will keep up this behaivor and just become someone elses problem.

Every county has diffrent regulations as far as how you can trap animals, leg holds are not legal every where for land use. Killer traps, conibears are not legal for land use unless under certain size. these are just examples of the laws you have to be aware of.

I Have done work for people who have tried to deal with the problems them self and run afoul of the law because some dogooder jackass neighbor did not think the animals should be harmed or moved.

if you can s.s.s. then handle it and its all good. If you have ******* neighbors or some nutball treehugger in the family keep in mind the last "s" is the key.

I read you. No relocating. My MIL's place is a half acre in the middle of nowhere Eastern Shore; probably fine to handle myself. The one in Rockville, we might need to weigh our options.

Rem700fan · Jul 30, 2012

dropping a live trap in a barrel of water is quiet, if the sound of gunfire is a problem.

browning guy · Jul 31, 2012

Rem700fan said:
dropping a live trap in a barrel of water is quiet, if the sound of gunfire is a problem.

yes, that works great! if the 22 cb is not an option this is my next choice.

browning guy · Jul 31, 2012

glistam said:
I read you. No relocating. My MIL's place is a half acre in the middle of nowhere Eastern Shore; probably fine to handle myself. The one in Rockville, we might need to weigh our options.

just so you know I was not trying to sound like a dick or anything just trying to give you a heads up. I have seen people get locked up because some tree hugger neighbor freaks out over the poor ground hog or the raccoon is suffering in a trap or some crazy bullcrap like that. :sad20:

people can suck!

Roneut · Jul 31, 2012

Thanks for the heads up. I will be cautious.
At the very least, all my ranged items are nearly silent. I can hit a dime with my crossbow at 10 meters, and I've hunted small game with my spring-piston air rifle. When I've used a box trap in the past, I keep it well hidden, check twice a day and set a wireless camera when I can for good measure.

BlackBart · Jul 31, 2012

What county do you live in? Most have ordinances against shooting within x number of yards from a street or structure. Wicomico has none but the hunting laws still apply.

Roneut · Jul 31, 2012

BlackBart said:
What county do you live in? Most have ordinances against shooting within x number of yards from a street or structure. Wicomico has none but the hunting laws still apply.

The people that want my help live in different counties. My MIL lives in Talbot where they don't have discharge laws. Several others are in MontCo, where they do have regulations that apply to not only guns, but air guns and bows. Guns and air guns can't be fired within 50 yards of a public road or within 150 yards of a house without the occupant's permission. Bows can't be fired from, across or onto a road, or within 150 yards of a house without permission. Both of these regulations have exceptions for shooting "dangerous animals" such as being rabid or causing injury to people or pets.

TonyB. · Jul 31, 2012

I have a rat problem in my neighborhood. I spoke with other frustrated neighbors about shooting them with a .22 rifle. They all agreed not to call the police, and to stay indoors after we discussed when I'd be shooting. Everything worked out just fine. The rats are mostly gone and the neighbors are grateful. I'd imagine that if you approach the situation with a fair amount of common sense there won't be a problem. Don't shoot towards dwellings, always shoot into the ground, minimize ricochets and don't walk around brazenly with a rifle on your shoulder.

browning guy · Jul 31, 2012

TonyB. said:
I have a rat problem in my neighborhood. I spoke with other frustrated neighbors about shooting them with a .22 rifle. They all agreed not to call the police, and to stay indoors after we discussed when I'd be shooting. Everything worked out just fine. The rats are mostly gone and the neighbors are grateful. I'd imagine that if you approach the situation with a fair amount of common sense there won't be a problem. Don't shoot towards dwellings, always shoot into the ground, minimize ricochets and don't walk around brazenly with a rifle on your shoulder.

Winner

Biggie313 · Jul 31, 2012

TonyB. said:
...don't walk around brazenly with a rifle on your shoulder.

Wait... I thought open carry of a long gun was legal in MD? :rolleyes:

TonyB. · Jul 31, 2012

It may be, but will still likely garner a call to the police by a nosey passer-by. Then you'll have to explain to the LEO what you're doing.

Shooting of pest animals

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