Anyone ever shot a buzzard?

[robbyr]

I know of at least three other folks who have had the exact thing happen that Houstonscott mentioned. Was not aware there were different types of buzzards. Apparently the ones up north are not as aggressive as ours. Talked to a few others about this and the consensus is to shoot one or two and leave em laying there and the rest will leave.

 

[k0ua]

Boy! the things you learn on TBN.. I had never heard of a vulture killing newborn animals. But we don't seem to have the black vulture here, or just on the edge of their range. I have never seen one that I can remember. We have the turkey vulture here and these are what I see. Nope I have never shot a vulture, but would not hesitate if they were attacking one of my animals.

The black vulture is a scavenger and feeds on carrion, but will also eat eggs or kill newborn animals. In areas populated by humans, it also feeds at garbage dumps.

 

[i579rbd]

Plus one on Houstonscott's description. Our neighbor puts his cows that are ready to drop in a barn to protect the calves when they are born. For coyotes, get a donkey.

 

[robbyr]

Here's a pic my wife took a couple days ago. They were across the pasture by her mom's house. When she drove down there they flew up by our house. Waited for her to come back then returned. She said they were also sitting on the rolls of hay I put out.

 

[Country Geek]

Shooting buzzards and vultures is not a great idea, not only because of legal reasons but then you have to clean up the mess. Their carcasses are big and nasty. The better way is to run them off with bird bangers.

A bird banger is a pyrotechnic that will shoot up into the air and explode. You shoot it out of a flare gun aimed at the flock. This way the sound that scares them is in their midst or close to it, rather than on the ground. These birds are smart enough to get used to startling noises on the ground and ignore them but when you get a bird banger right into their midst they'll skedaddle and not come back. A few years ago I had turkey vultures roosting in a dead tree in my pasture. A few shots from the bird banger and they were gone and never came back.

That pic by robbyr is the perfect setup to launch a bird banger right into the flock.

Bird Bangers - Exempt (15mm 100 Rounds) | Wildlife Control Supplies

 

[Dr_Zinj]

It's common here in Texas for buzzards to kill cattle. They land and usually peck the eyes out of a new born calf seconds after birth. They peck and tear up the rear of the cow too and can kill it if she has birth issues. Many cattle loose the use of their rear legs during birth and can not defend themselves. HS.

Now that's interesting. I wonder if it's a recently learned behavior or if they've always done that even back in the free range buffalo days before us white guys got here?

 

[MoKelly]

Here's a pic my wife took a couple days ago. They were across the pasture by her mom's house. When she drove down there they flew up by our house. Waited for her to come back then returned. She said they were also sitting on the rolls of hay I put out.

View attachment 414005

Neat picture. I don't care who you are, that picture would make you think twice.

MoKelly

 

[houstonscott]

Now that's interesting. I wonder if it's a recently learned behavior or if they've always done that even back in the free range buffalo days before us white guys got here?

Sometimes with goats it's a matter of where the birth takes place. Births out in the open where the bird can land and take off without obstruction is most dangerous. Those under cover of big oak trees are more safe. HS

 

[KubotaToy]

I never shot one or even at one but I have seen several die from lead poisoning after roosting on top of my uncles chimney once.

 

[MoKelly]

I never shot one or even at one but I have seen several die from lead poisoning after roosting on top of my uncles chimney once.

:laughing: That is subtle.

MoKelly

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a pic my wife took a couple days ago. They were across the pasture by her mom's house. When she drove down there they flew up by our house. Waited for her to come back then returned. She said they were also sitting on the rolls of hay I put out.

View attachment 414005

Its creepy how they can hang onto the side of a tree like that.

 

[texasjohn]

I did not realize Buzzards would go after living creatures, Buzzards are scavengers not predators and help clean up potential hazards as a result. Born and raised on a farm, never heard of anyone shooting a Buzzard or at one and everyone had live stock at that time.

Walt Conner

I have seen a LOT of buzzards...never will those here in Texas attack any kind of healthy animal. Even baby calves. In the case of a very weak animal which is immobile and out in the open, they will go for the eyes first....causing injury which will result in starvation, although the reason for its weakness likely will get it before starvation. A weak baby calf, unable to stand and nurse, certainly will ultimately fall prey either to coyote or buzzard, depending on the mama's protective instincts.

 

[robbyr]

Its creepy how they can hang onto the side of a tree like that.

It's also creepy how our trees grow horizontally. that pic is not sideways in my phone so don't know why it came out like that.

 

[foreman Etexas]

It's also creepy how our trees grow horizontally. that pic is not sideways in my phone so don't know why it came out like that.

I have the same issue with taking pictures with mine and posting them. You have to make sure the camera part is on the left side when holding the phone long ways.

 

[Country Geek]

I have the same issue with taking pictures with mine and posting them. You have to make sure the camera part is on the left side when holding the phone long ways.

If you are a windows user, you can fix this when you upload the picture to TBN. When you are in the window to choose the picture file to upload, select to view as large icons. The icon will be a preview of the picture. If the picture you want to upload is sideways, right click on it and select "rotate clockwise" (or counterclockwise if that's what necessary to fix it). The file will be modified to be right side up and it will upload correctly.

 

[davesl708]

I never shot one or even at one but I have seen several die from lead poisoning after roosting on top of my uncles chimney once.

The lead most likely came from the fire.

 

[Streetcar]

Once I had one fly into my truck on highway. Leaded gas got that one

 

[foreman Etexas]

If you are a windows user, you can fix this when you upload the picture to TBN. When you are in the window to choose the picture file to upload, select to view as large icons. The icon will be a preview of the picture. If the picture you want to upload is sideways, right click on it and select "rotate clockwise" (or counterclockwise if that's what necessary to fix it). The file will be modified to be right side up and it will upload correctly.

It's sending from IPhone 5

 

[MossRoad]

Here ya go...

 

[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

Thankfully I have two of the "bird bangers" mentioned by another poster. Sadly mine doen't really resemble his. My first one came in a box with "Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge". That must a shipping code or something. It works very well.....almost to well. Every time I use it at least 1 of every 3 "bangs" scares a varmit to death. The other one was tagged Ruger Mini 14 Ranch something or other and with the "banana" shaped thing in the bottom it can "bang" a lot...from a long distance. As far as vulture/buzzards cleaning the environment....go ahead eat all the road kill 'possums and skunks you like, not my calves.