Crows.net

All states in the U.S.A., with the exception of Hawaii, allow crow hunting. There is no limit on the number of crows that a hunter can kill during the "open seasons" of 124 days per year.

Sign the Petition to End Crow Hunting

crows.net has begun a petition to the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to repeal the regulations allowing states to have crow hunting seasons and to prohibit sport hunting of crows in the United States. Please use the link below to get to the petition on change.org. It only takes a minute or so to sign and ultimately it could help make the difference between life and death for America’s crows.

Petition to End Crow Hunting in America

IF YOU LIVE IN CONNECTICUT! We have begun the first of the state campaigns to end crow hunting with a petition to End Crow Hunting in Connecticut. Although we are happy to have everyone sign this petition, we are particularly interested in Connecticut residents telling their state officials that it is time to end the open season on these amazing birds. Please use the link below to sign the petition and also please send the link onward to all of your Connecticut contacts.

Petition to End Crow Hunting in Connecticut

HELP END CROW HUNTING

crows.net is beginning to organize a campaign to end all "sport" hunting of crows in America. During the next few weeks we will be posting actions which you can take to join the effort to end the senseless killing of these remarkable birds. If you would like to be kept informed about the campaign and how you can help, please email us at: end_crow_hunting@yahoo.com . Your email address will not be shared with any other person or organization. (Posted 3/2/13)

Federal Regulations Concerning Crow Hunting

Crows are considered to be migratory songbirds subject to the protection of various international treaties and conventions, but from which they are exempted by the following regulation initially proposed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service on January 30, 1973 and subsequently enacted.

Code of Federal Regulations , 50 CFR § 20.133, Hunting regulations for crows.

(a) Crows may be taken, possessed, transported, exported, or imported, only in accordance with such laws or regulations as may be prescribed by a State pursuant to this section.
(b) Except in the State of Hawaii, where no crows shall be taken, States may by statute or regulation prescribe a hunting season for crows. Such State statutes or regulations may set forth the method of taking, the bag and possession limits, the dates and duration of the hunting season, and such other regulations as may be deemed appropriate, subject to the following limitations for each State:
(1) Crows shall not be hunted from aircraft;
(2) The hunting season or seasons on crows shall not exceed a total of 124 days during a calendar year;
(3) Hunting shall not be permitted during the peak crow nesting period within a State; and
(4) Crows may only be taken by firearms, bow and arrow, and falconry.

Crow hunting is permitted in most, if not all of the United States. In general there are no “bag limits” and it does not appear that statistics are kept on the number of crows killed in any area. The number of persons actively hunting crows appears relatively small, although a few “sportsmen” boast of personally killing tens of thousands of crows. Some hunters will shoot them incidentally while hunting for game birds, and others will shoot them for fun when no other hunting season is open.

Audubon on Crow Hunting (from Birds of America,(1827 – 1838)

The Crow is an extremely shy bird, having found familiarity with man no way to his advantage. He is also cunning--at least he is so called, because he takes care of himself and his brood. The state of anxiety, I may say of terror, in which he is constantly kept, would be enough to spoil the temper of any creature. Almost every person has an antipathy to him, and scarcely one of his race would be left in the land, did he not employ all his ingenuity, and take advantage of all his experience, in counteracting the evil machinations of his enemies. I think I see him perched on the highest branch of a tree, watching every object around. He observes a man on horseback travelling towards him; he marks his movements in silence. No gun does the rider carry,--no, that is clear; but perhaps he has pistols in the holsters of his saddle!--of that the Crow is not quite sure, as he cannot either see them or "smell powder." He beats the points of his wings, jerks his tail once or twice, bows his head, and merrily sounds the joy which he feels at the moment. Another man he spies walking across the field towards his stand, but he has only a stick. Yonder comes a boy shouldering a musket loaded with large shot for the express purpose of killing Crows! The bird immediately sounds an alarm; he repeats his cries, increasing their vehemence the nearer his enemy advances. All the Crows within half a mile round are seen flying off, each repeating the well known notes of the trusty watchman, who, just as the young gunner is about to take aim, betakes himself to flight. But alas, he chances unwittingly to pass over a sportsman, whose dexterity is greater; the mischievous prowler aims his piece, fires;--down towards the earth, broken-winged, falls the luckless bird in an instant. "It is nothing but a Crow," quoth the sportsman, who proceeds in search of game, and leaves the poor creature to die in the most excruciating agonies.

Wherever within the Union the laws encourage the destruction of this species, it is shot in great numbers for the sake of the premium offered for each Crow's head. You will perhaps be surprised, reader, when I tell you that in one single State, in the course of a season, 40,000 were shot, besides the multitudes of young birds killed in their nests. Must I add to this slaughter other thousands destroyed by the base artifice of laying poisoned grain along the fields to tempt these poor birds? Yes, I will tell you of all this too. The natural feelings of every one who admires the bounty of Nature in providing abundantly for the subsistence of all her creatures, prompt me to do so. Like yourself, I admire all her wonderful works, and respect her wise intentions, even when her laws are far beyond our limited comprehension.