Anyone ever shot a buzzard?

[texasjohn]

There's been a few occasions around here where the buzzards have started getting the calf before it was completely born and damaged the cow.

Yep, could happen if prolonged difficult birth and/or if nerves in spine pinched/damaged preventing cow from standing up. Can happen.

Yep, toward end of video they all dashed to one side to get a piece...it didn't last long at all.

 

[oldballs]

I've had a few take shots at me, but haven't been hit yet.

 

[SIMassey]

I was walking down a creek bank looking for snakes in the weeds when a buzzard fell out of a tree on me.

Talk about a wake up.

Once I recovered I picked up a limb and poked the obviously sick or hurt bird.

Not a good idea.

They can projectile vomit.

NEVER poke a buzzard with a stick.

They do not have a calm nature.

Was at an eagle watch years ago and they had live eagles, hawks, falcons, owls on display and had the owl and falcon fly around the room back to the handler. The owl was absolutely silent flying.

They talked about vultures, and said they will gorge themselves to a point they cannot fly. Their only defense is their vomit. They said someone once drove too close to a gorged vulture and it vomited on the car and the paint literally peeled off. They said the vulture stomach acids are so strong, it can digest any known form of disease to man without affecting it. Don't get too close.

 

[TomSeller]

Was at an eagle watch years ago and they had live eagles, hawks, falcons, owls on display and had the owl and falcon fly around the room back to the handler. The owl was absolutely silent flying.

They talked about vultures, and said they will gorge themselves to a point they cannot fly. Their only defense is their vomit. They said someone once drove too close to a gorged vulture and it vomited on the car and the paint literally peeled off. They said the vulture stomach acids are so strong, it can digest any known form of disease to man without affecting it. Don't get too close.

Based on what they eat, that would have to be true. I had a cow die near the fence of a problem neighbor. So I left it for the vultures until it was down to the big bones. Turns out that neighbor was out shooting pictures of the vultures constantly and the wind mostly blew into the middle of my place.

 

[Country Geek]

Was at an eagle watch years ago and they had live eagles, hawks, falcons, owls on display and had the owl and falcon fly around the room back to the handler. The owl was absolutely silent flying.

They talked about vultures, and said they will gorge themselves to a point they cannot fly. Their only defense is their vomit. They said someone once drove too close to a gorged vulture and it vomited on the car and the paint literally peeled off. They said the vulture stomach acids are so strong, it can digest any known form of disease to man without affecting it. Don't get too close.

The bird banger strategy (scare them off, don't shoot them) is looking better and better.

 

[DrRod]

Marginally off topic, but I was once pushing a stroller down a dirt road with a 3-month old grand daughter in it and a hawk hovered over us for quite a while. Occasionally he'd drop down a bit but then would back off. It was obvious that he could tell there was a vulnerable youngster there and was very interested in it.

 

[Kessler Farms]

Lost a calf to black headed buzzards today. As soon as the calf was born they came in. Too many for the cow to fend off. By the time I could get to it, the eyes were pecked out, and the intestines were pulled through its navel. They will attack live animals, and I will kill every one I can get a shot at.

 

[robbyr]

That's what I'm afraid of. I think they know my work schedule.

 

[TomSeller]

Lost a calf to black headed buzzards today. As soon as the calf was born they came in. Too many for the cow to fend off. By the time I could get to it, the eyes were pecked out, and the intestines were pulled through its navel. They will attack live animals, and I will kill every one I can get a shot at.

Dang right. Hope you are off of the county road a bit. Dig the hole and shut up.

 

[DT86]

Lost a calf to black headed buzzards today. As soon as the calf was born they came in. Too many for the cow to fend off. By the time I could get to it, the eyes were pecked out, and the intestines were pulled through its navel. They will attack live animals, and I will kill every one I can get a shot at.

That sucks. I've never had any problems with buzzards or coyotes getting calves but it's never stopped me from taking a shot at either.