question about shooting a hawk

From: Shawn Pennington (smpenn30_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 03/16/05 

Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 09:21:57 -0500

I hate to even ponder this question but I think the time has come for me to
consider it.

A hawk has killed about 20 of my chickens over the past year and I noticed
that a second (mate) has joined it recently and they seem to be building a
nest right across the road from my house.

I have never killed an animal and don't even own a gun but am considering
buying one and killing the hawk lest my remaining few chickens fall prey.

It is legal in Ohio to kill a hawk if it is killing domestic fowl when the
incident is taking place (illegal to hunt them down).

My question is what type of gun should be used to shoot a hawk at close
range that would definitely kill him/her? I am a fairly good shot and do
not want to injure the bird at all, if I do decide to shoot it I want it to
die as humanely as possible. A friend has offered his 22 rifle.

If there are other options to stop the hawk, other than penning my chickens
up which I am not going to do, I'd definitely rather take a different course
of action.

Any thoughts?

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