Is It Legal?

So I was wondering if it was legal to "take" or kill fox or anything like that who is threatening my flock/livestock.

I didn't know if we needed a permit or anything.

I've mentioned losing SEVERAL chickens over the last couple of years.

It's traumatizing and just plain annoying.

Like, LEAVE MY FLOCK ALONE.

We just put a trail cam near the coop.

We always see footprints circling the coop/pen area.

Our chickens should be safe in there...I mean. I can't imaging a fox or anything getting under that wiring. But it happens all the time, I read online.

But, if we start seeing the same activity and animal, betchyerass I'll be dressed in camo and laying, waiting for that fucker to come around and if it's legal, I'm gonna shoot it.

Here's what I found on the DEC website.

So it appears that it's completely legal to "take" a coyote or fox if it's damaging my property. 

And, that definition, per the DEC is:

Damaging Wildlife - A wild animal that damages property, for example, digs up your yard, eats your landscape plants or vegetable garden, kills or threatens your livestock or pets, fouls your lawn, eats the fish in your pond, damages your home, etc.

And, since my chickens ARE being hunted and eaten, I think I'm completely within my rights to shoot the motherfuckers. 

The camera I got is nice, but is definitely not a high end one. It's around $40. Depending on what we see, we may invest in more that have wifi capabilities. We have to actually go outside and get the SD card and check it.

And Steve woke me up to show me this:

Motherfucker. 

I knew it and now I'm going to be prepared. I've lost like 15 chickens over the years.

I wonder if we'll see any coyote activity or if they stay closer to the tree lines and aren't as brazen as these guys.