Same hereI’ve experienced the exact same thing.
A few introduced non-native species are exempt: Starling, House Sparrow, Eurasian Collared-dove. Also I believe the common Rock Pigeon (park pigeon). Federal regulations state fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years, if memory serves. "It's in the book."Pretty much all birds in North America are protected under the I think 1918 migratory bird act... There's only a few that can be shot... The fines are very high....
Do you know why you never see a Crow ran over in the highway? Because there is always one in a near by tree, going "cawr, cawr, cawr".Crows have ESP and are mind readers. They know if you're wanting to kill them or not. They know if you have a rifle or a shotgun when you're wanting to kill them and how much ammo you have.
They know where hunting is allowed and where it is not. They stroke me when I'm washing my truck because they know I can't shoot at them here. They will sit in the tree and give me a bunch of B.S. because they know they can. If I'm at camp where hunting is allowed and there is a crow in the tree 75 yds. away they will take off as soon as I crack the door, because they can read my mind.
Those that have tried to run them over with a car or truck when they're on some roadkill know it is damn near impossible to get them. One day I'm following a car down a country road and there's a crow on some roadkill and it looks like they are going to run him over and I'm starting to grin. Next thing I know the person driving the car slams on the brakes and stops short of the crow, and the crow sits there for a few seconds before it takes off. It read the drivers mind and knew they were going to stop, further proof of ESP. By the way, that is a true story, I wouldn't of believed it if I didn't see it myself.
So, in summation it's a wonder we can kill any at all.
Chris