ALMOST bled the Wildcatt...

[duck'n]

...but it was on a stinkin grackle! I had one of those big, blackish purple suckers out in the back yard. After watching him do his business on my kids playscape, I snuck around through the laundry room, slipped on the tab, and nocked an arrow. After easing the door open, I picked a spot and began to draw...it was auto-pilot all the way. Just as I started relaxing my fingers, the booger turned and made eye contact but the arrow was away. It was as if it was laser guided and I center punched the void where he had been sitting. To make matters worse, my judos were in the shop so not only did I miss but I lost the arrow to boot (I need to borrow a metal detector). I will say though that the shot was awesome and felt great...it went EXACTLY where I was looking and although the sob jumped the string, it was cool that the shot was so dead on. I can't wait to get a shot at a deer or a hog...stay tuned!!!

[stikshooter]

I HATE grackels.Good luck on the deer and hogs.

[Bisch]

Hey Brian, since you lost the arrow I hope you didn't have one of those brand new Silverflames on it. No, wait, you couldn't have or you would still be looking for it and not posting stuff on the computer (HAHA).

See ya later,

Bisch

[duck'n]

No Bisch...I am willing to sling a Silver Flame at ALMOST anything but I draw the line at grackles! LOL!

[asj1953]

Be careful. Grackles are protected unless (from TPWD):
Unprotected Birds:
The only birds not protected by any state or federal law are European starlings, English sparrows, feral rock doves (common pigeon - Columba livia) and Eurasian collared-doves; these species may be killed at any time, their nests or eggs destroyed, and their feathers may be possessed.
Yellow-headed, red-winged, rusty, or Brewer's blackbirds and all grackles, cowbirds (does not include cattle egret), crows, or magpies may be controlled without a federal or state depredation permit when found committing or about to commit depredations on ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in numbers and in a manner that constitutes a health hazard or other nuisance.

I guess crapping on your kids playscape constitutes depredation. These birds should not be protected at ALL! There are so many of them - too bad they don't taste like quail...

[duck'n]

Be careful. Grackles are protected unless (from TPWD):
Unprotected Birds:
The only birds not protected by any state or federal law are European starlings, English sparrows, feral rock doves (common pigeon - Columba livia) and Eurasian collared-doves; these species may be killed at any time, their nests or eggs destroyed, and their feathers may be possessed.
Yellow-headed, red-winged, rusty, or Brewer's blackbirds and all grackles, cowbirds (does not include cattle egret), crows, or magpies may be controlled without a federal or state depredation permit when found committing or about to commit depredations on ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in numbers and in a manner that constitutes a health hazard or other nuisance.

I guess crapping on your kids playscape constitutes depredation. These birds should not be protected at ALL! There are so many of them - too bad they don't taste like quail...

Thanks for pointing that out! I guess I was still under the assumption they could be "controlled" without the "depredation permit"...goes to show it is good practice to read the annual hunting regs!

[asj1953]

Kill em, just don't tell anyone about it! I think my son stapled one to an oak in our yard with a blowgun. If they gather and s*** on your sidewalk or cause a health hazard on your kids play area, that is most certainly depredation.
One of our feed stores recommended to me that I use poison grain and kill the whole flock. But that would also kill the "good" birds. Thankfully, they are now gone...

Scott