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Absolutely NOT!!!!! Owls are protected by both federal and state laws! It's not worth serving 20 years of hard time [without parole] at Leavenworth for killing a bird that may be a suspect. If caught, you WILL be duely prosecuted by BOTH sides and it will NOT be considered "double jeopardy." No, I'm not saying owls are innocent. I happen to know from experience that the great horned owl is one of the most vicious, fearless and quite voracious raptors ever! I've NEVER lost any poultry or gamebirds to any other species. I don't recommend pole traps because the bird you kill may be anything from barn owl down to a turkey vulture--both harmless and most beneficial species. I've NEVER observed any bird strikes among the barn owls, even when nesting pigeons and their squabs are so readily available among the rafters the owls use for roosts and shelter. The long-eared and barred owls just stay in the woods or surrounding fields, but the GH's come right into the yard, under the light, to eat crickets with the coons, opossum, fox and even occasional skunk. If that owl is more interested in crickets than its favorite prey the skunk, more power to her, but I sure get the willies when I see one atop my quail pen, even if she can't get in! GH's are in the top 3 big owls of North America, but act like they are as big and powerful as a fighter plane! No wonder they are prized by falconers who want to hunt big birds as well as most any small game with them!
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