If a person would study the life cycle of the starling they would find that the number of birds versus the number that are shot indicates that hunting has no effect on the population. Weather conditions, disease and natural predators are what keep the population in check. If it is legal in your area to shoot starlings and you enjoy it, go for it. While it probably wont do any good on population control it may help lower your blood pressure.

As a kid we lived in a rural area and were armed with the trusyt BB gun. We shot, killed and ate starlings, sparrrows, robins, meadowlarks and whatever else we could gather. They were all tasty.

In addition I take exception with namekagon's comments that coot are not worth eating. They are in fact quite tasty.

To each his own.

Tim