Yes, you can hunt starlings in the United States. European starlings have no federal protection, which means no closed season, no bag limit, and no federal permit required. You still need a state hunting license in most states, and you still have to obey local firearm discharge laws and method restrictions, which is where most people run into legal trouble.
Why Starlings Can Be Hunted Year-Round
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects most wild birds in the U.S., but it only covers species native to the country.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 USC 703 – Taking, Killing, or Possessing Migratory Birds Unlawful Starlings were introduced to New York’s Central Park in the 1890s and spread from there, so they fall outside the treaty. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed in 2020 that the starling family does not qualify for protection.2Federal Register. List of Bird Species to Which the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Does Not Apply The USDA states plainly that “European starlings are not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act” and that “no state laws in the U.S. directly protect them.”3U.S. Department of Agriculture. European Starlings Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series
From a federal standpoint, that means no season, no daily limit, and no possession cap. Hunt them in January or July, take one or take fifty. States, however, can add their own rules. A few require a collection or scientific permit even for unprotected species, and some regulate specific control methods.3U.S. Department of Agriculture. European Starlings Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series A quick call to your state fish and game department will tell you what, if anything, applies.
Do You Need a Hunting License for Starlings
In most states, yes. The lack of federal protection does not exempt you from state licensing. On national wildlife refuges, a state hunting license is mandatory for all hunters regardless of species.4U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. General Hunting Laws Most states apply the same requirement on private land. Resident annual licenses typically run between $13 and $63.
Many states also require a hunter education course before you buy your first license. Course fees range from free to around $50, and completing it once usually satisfies the requirement for life. If you already hold a valid license, you are covered.
Where You Can Legally Shoot
Starlings cluster around buildings, feedlots, and suburban yards. That is also where discharging a firearm is most likely to be illegal, and location rules apply regardless of what you are shooting at.
On Your Own or Someone Else’s Land
You can generally hunt starlings on your own property as long as you comply with local discharge ordinances. On someone else’s land, get the owner’s permission in writing. A verbal okay disappears quickly when a neighbor calls the police about gunfire, and without proof you can face trespassing charges.
Firearm Discharge Distances
Most states and many municipalities prohibit firing within a set distance of occupied buildings, roads, or developed areas. Typical thresholds run from 100 feet to a quarter mile, with 500 feet common for firearms. Archery setbacks are usually shorter. Violating a discharge rule can bring criminal charges even on land you own, so check your local ordinance before shooting, especially in suburban settings where starling problems tend to be worst.
Public Land
National forests and grasslands may allow starling hunting but often have designated areas, user fees, or seasonal restrictions for other species that limit access in practice. National wildlife refuges have their own rules on what can be hunted and when.4U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. General Hunting Laws Check the specific unit before you go.
Legal Methods for Taking Starlings
Shotguns, small-caliber rifles, air rifles, and bows are all standard. Air rifles are especially popular because they are quieter, carry less risk of long-range projectile travel, and are legal in many places where firearms are not. State and local law may still limit caliber, muzzle velocity, or weapon type.
Trapping works too. The USDA notes cage traps, nest-box traps, and basket-style cage traps as common and effective, with basket designs often outperforming slot-style traps.3U.S. Department of Agriculture. European Starlings Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series Some states require a trapping permit even for unprotected species, so check first.
What You Cannot Legally Use
Poison is where people get into serious trouble. DRC-1339, the main toxicant used against starlings, is a restricted-use pesticide that only USDA Wildlife Services employees or people working under their direct supervision can apply.5U.S. Department of Agriculture. Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment for the Use of DRC-1339 in Wildlife Damage Management Avitrol, a chemical frightening agent used at feedlots and airports, is also restricted-use and limited to certified applicators.3U.S. Department of Agriculture. European Starlings Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series You cannot legally buy or apply either one. Using unregistered poisons to kill birds can violate the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and result in significant fines.
Handling and Disposal
Starlings carry bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses that can infect humans, and some pathogens survive in droppings for weeks or longer.3U.S. Department of Agriculture. European Starlings Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series Wear gloves, wash your hands afterward, and consider a dust mask if you are cleaning up around a roost, where histoplasmosis spores can be released from contaminated soil.
Disposal rules vary by state. The USDA accepts burial, composting, incineration, and disposal in a licensed landfill. For a handful of birds, bagging them in heavy plastic and putting them in household waste is usually fine, but confirm with local rules. Birds killed with any chemical toxicant should never be left on the surface, because hawks and owls can die from eating them; the USDA recommends burying or incinerating chemically killed birds.6U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wildlife Carcass Disposal
When to Call in Help
If the problem is bigger than a few afternoons with an air rifle, USDA Wildlife Services has an office in every state that provides technical assistance and direct management support, including the restricted-use chemicals private citizens cannot apply.7U.S. Department of Agriculture. Requesting Wildlife Services Support You can reach them at 866-4USDA-WS or find your state office through the APHIS website.