Pigeons are the source of bacteria like E-coli and can also transmit house mites into your house. So, they are known as Flying pests or Sky rodents. It is necessary to remove them. But is it illegal to kill pigeons in Oklahoma?
No. It is not illegal to kill pigeons in Oklahoma. You can take down Feral pigeons and other annoying pigeon species on your property. But all the doves in the state are protected under MBTA. So, you cannot hunt doves except during the hunting season.
Hunters can take down doves and pigeons in Oklahoma. But few of those are under the protection of the law. Below is complete detail on pigeon shooting and hunting.
Which Type Of Pigeons Are Illegal To Hunt And Eat In Oklahoma?
It is legal to hunt and eat all pigeon species in Oklahoma. State authorities protect all native and migratory birds. So, to take down the pigeons, you will need a license and a permit. But, hunters will have to wait for hunting season to shoot migratory pigeon species.
Mourning doves and White Winged doves are migratory. So, they are under the protection of the law. The Eurasian collared dove is not a migratory bird. But they are also protected by the law.
The hunting season in Oklahoma is for two months. It begins in September and ends in October. During this time, you can enjoy hunting and eating doves. But you cannot shoot them the rest of the year. Feral pigeons are unprotected pigeon species. So you can take them down at any time. It is better to avoid eating Feral or Rock pigeons.
Why Is It Illegal To Hunt And Eat Pigeon In Oklahoma?
It is not illegal to hunt and eat pigeons in Oklahoma. The law protects the doves living in the state. So, you cannot hunt doves off-season. The two protected dove species are part of the MBTA or Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
According to this treaty, it is illegal to harm, capture, kill or trade migratory birds without a permit. It was signed in 1918 by the USA. Later other foreign countries became part of it.
So, to hunt doves, you will have to wait for Small games. It is a part of the hunting season. During the Small games, you can shoot the doves but with a daily bag and possession limit.
The daily bag count of doves is 15. It is the number of doves you can hunt every day. But, the possession limit is the number of doves hunters can possess. It is 45 doves each day. So, to increase your harvest limit, you can eat the doves you have harvested.
Laws Governing About Pigeon Shooting In Oklahoma State
Pigeon hunting laws are the basic guideline for beginners. These laws ensure that hunting is safe and ethical. Some rules are general, while others are certain to each state. For example, the age and hunting of migratory pigeons. Below are some laws governing pigeon shooting in Oklahoma.
Hunter Education
In Oklahoma, Hunter education is to meet the safety hunting standards. It is the course on behalf of the government and teaches the laws and responsibilities of hunting. You can take lessons online or in class. There is a quiz at the end of each unit.
Hunters must obtain at least eighty percent marks in that test to move to the next. After completing online lectures, print the completion certificate. The minimum age for this course is ten. But, people ten and below are not given a completion certificate until they turn 12.
Hunting License
All hunters must possess a hunting license. People can purchase a hunting license online or through a wildlife agent. But, hunters will have to revoke their hunting licenses after every five years.
Hunters as young as nine years can hunt pigeons and participate in small games. But they must be under the supervision of a licensed adult above 21.
Private Property
Landowners, tenants, spouses, and children can shoot pigeons on their property without hunting licenses and permits. However, to hunt pigeons on someone else land, you must take permission from the landowner.
So, fill out the form and get it signed by the landowner to get your permit. When hunting on private land, hunters must abide by state laws and follow all the rules given by the landowner.
Weapons
It is illegal to take down doves with a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, or shotgun slug. You can only use shotguns that are not longer than a ten gauge. But the Shotgun should not hold more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
Baiting
It is not illegal to shoot doves by baiting or over any baited areas. Baiting means placing, depositing, distributing, or scattering salt, grain, or other feed that could serve as a lure to attract doves. The baited area is considered to be baited for ten days after the complete removal of any bait.
It is also unlawful to use live decoys. Using records or tapes of migratory bird calls, or sounds or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls’ is also illegal.
How Can You Shoot And Hunt Pigeons In Oklahoma State?
Shooting pigeons is necessary. To shoot and hunt pigeons in Oklahoma, you must follow the law. The law ensures the safety of hunters, wildlife, and the public. The pointers below will guide you all about it.
- You must possess a hunting license, whether shooting on private or public property. It can be on any e-device or in print.
- You can shoot pigeons on your land without a permit or license. But you will need permission to shoot and hunt on someone else land.
- Young people aged 16 or below can hunt without a license. But must be under the direct supervision of an adult hunter age 21 or above.
- To hunt doves, check official dates on the wildlife website or local newspaper.
- Collect and label all the harvested pigeons. You cannot leave any dove on the field or in the custody of another hunter.
- It is necessary to tag birds for transportation or for discarding as well. The doves must have a head or one wing intact for transportation.
- You cannot shoot pigeons by driving, rallying, or chasing birds with any motorized conveyance or sailboat to put them in range.
Summing Up
It is legal to take down pigeons in Oklahoma. The pigeon species in the state are Rock pigeons, Eurasian-collared doves, White Winged doves, and Mourning doves. The latter three species are protected. So hunters cannot take them down unless it is hunting season. Rock pigeons are not under state protection. So you can hunt them at any time.
But to hunt doves, hunters must wait for the yearly, Small games. The hunting season lasts only two months. There is also no decoy rule for shooting them. Plus, there is a daily bag count of 15 and a possession limit of 45.
