Random pest peacock

Our son has a small hunting competition soon and one category is random pests. He really wanted a turkey but I like our little wild mob so that’s a no. We have a HUGE peacock problem so thought maybe a peacock, maybe the one who likes to “honk” outside our window....
Would you think this is a suitable “random pest”? Part of me thinks it may be a bit over the top and not suitable for the category... thoughts? Any other pest recommendations? He’s 8 and needs to hunt it himself with supervision and a minimal helping hand.

Some people wouldn't see them as a pest but that's what they are. Tell him to shoot the lot:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bigbear

Some people wouldn't see them as a pest but that's what they are. Tell him to shoot the lot:D

---

Yeah it’s one of those controversial birds I think. Very pretty and I can’t wait to get one taxidermied at some point but they are a pain in the ass and shit everywhere. I did think take a rat but we have laid bait in the barns.

Attachment 200268
Friday nights effort, think we ended up with 16 breasted out 10 pen hens.
We have a white pea hen here that was in this group we didn't shoot that

I would count them as a pest, shot enough of the buggers in forestry blocks and farms around the place. Seem to be popping up more places.

The amount of shit they can deposit is amazing.
Most people who have them around wish they didn't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by erniec

The amount of shit they can deposit is amazing.
Most people who have them around wish they didn't.

---

absolutely. they make a huge mess and my god do they make a bloody racket every morning and evening

Had a turkey take up residence at our cattle yards. Became quite tame. Would whistle inbetween your legs and grab grubs when shovelling out the shit from the race.

He/she camped on top of the load out race, and in the three months it was there shat out an enormous qty of poo, 3/4m high. I shovelled it out and around the base of some small blackwoods and ye gods did they take off. The treated ones are now three times the size of the ones that missed out.

Are your peacocks resident around the farmhouses or are they in the bush blocks? Are they accustomed to humans or very wary and skittish?

go for it.....the peacock has become a pest the same as turkeys and for the same reasons...and many a bloke or blokess has run down to gully to find child in danger only to find peacocks squawking the loud call is oh so similar to a child calling out in trouble or pain.
oh and they can run more than 50kmph too...well they can when a fert sower is right up their bum anyway LOL

My old mate has film of him and a mate herding Peacock into nets, bloody hundreds of them. Was the fastest way to cull them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Are your peacocks resident around the farmhouses or are they in the bush blocks? Are they accustomed to humans or very wary and skittish?

---

Around the house and up near the barns and further down the back of the farm. Fairly skittish but big and slow birds so don’t always bolt. As soon as they see you coming to the barn they head off down the paddocks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

go for it.....the peacock has become a pest the same as turkeys and for the same reasons...and many a bloke or blokess has run down to gully to find child in danger only to find peacocks squawking the loud call is oh so similar to a child calling out in trouble or pain.
oh and they can run more than 50kmph too...well they can when a fert sower is right up their bum anyway LOL

---

That child like cry they can do has certainly got me a couple of times

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chelsea

Around the house and up near the barns and further down the back of the farm. Fairly skittish but big and slow birds so don’t always bolt. As soon as they see you coming to the barn they head off down the paddocks.

---

OK. Well what you have there obviously isn’t “wild” but don’t underestimate the potential for the flock to turn full feral and retreat to the bush and be very hard to hunt. Peacocks that get pressure eventually become extremely cautious, wily and observant. They have incredible eyesight and will soon learn to associate man with death when their mates go poof! in a cloud of feathers. If you end up staying there for a good while, your boy might end up having the perfect quarry to hunt. Getting close in to nervous peacocks is very hard but would teach him heaps.