Kentucky approves sandhill crane hunting season

[Donna]

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/04/1762740/kentucky-approves-sandhill-crane.html story

FRANKFORT — Kentucky sportsmen could be hunting sandhill cranes by Christmas. 

[Bobbie Ireland]

Noooooo!

[Annette]

That is very very bad!   

[Donna]

Sandhills are so beautiful, how could they?

[MAK]

 

[Paul Hamilton]

Would this increase the possibility of endangered Whooping Cranes being shot by mistake?

Paul

[dale]

Would this increase the possibility of endangered Whooping Cranes being shot by mistake?

You'd think.
It'd also sure increase the possibility of sandhill cranes being shot, which is already nuts.

[Patti from Kentucky]

There was a huge and well-organized effort by my local birding club, the Kentucky Ornithological Association and the local and national Audubon societies to call, send emails, and write letters to the commissioners of the KY Dept of Fish & Wildlife, but it seems we were all outnumbered by a very vocal contingent of hunters who supported the season.  To be clear, there are plenty of hunters who think this is a bad idea and will put hunters in a bad light...

There was a web site that presented, in a very well-reasoned way (not just a general anti-hunting approach, which would have been immediately discounted by the commissioners) the arguments against a hunting season, and provided all of the addresses and emails for the commissioners, as well state senators and representatives...I sent out snail-mail letters to all of the above when the local bird club sent out the first call for help, and then recently fired off emails to the same just prior to the vote this week.

Of course, as Paul mentioned, the possibility of accidental Whooping Crane shootings is one of the arguments, among others.

They're planning to limit the number of permits to hunt to a fairly small number, and I think they're planning to have a lottery to give them out; the activists in my local birding club are planning to apply for permits because if any of us is lucky to get one, that may be one less crane that gets shot!

There are lots of downsides for the cranes, but the personal downside to me is that there are populations of cranes who are fairly laid back and easily seen at strategic locations during migration not far from home...just south of me and just north in the cornfields of Southern Indiana (here are photos from one of those spots an hour from Louisville in late winter: http://tinyurl.com/5vvah5b), and if this eastern population begins to be hunted, they'll quickly learn to be much more skittish around wildlife watchers just like waterfowl have learned to be.

Bummer...

[margaret]

These pictures of the sandhill cranes are gorgeous!  The story about the hunting of them is horrific!
I was telling a friend about this as he lives in Sarasota, Florida, and sandhill cranes lives all over his community.  They are quite tame and come pretty close to humans.   Where is the sport in hunting sandhill cranes?  I just don't get it!   They were hunted nearly into extinction once, so they want to to it again? 
Does not compute!
 

[czybuki]

I see what you mean, Patti, and that is such a shame.

[anneintoronto]

>>the activists in my local birding club are planning to apply for permits because if any of us is lucky to get one, that may be one less crane that gets shot!<<

Needless to say, I can't understand or approve of this action.  But am never surprised anymore, what some people can consider "sport"...

All I guess I can do, is wish you the best of luck in winning the lottery!!

Anne in Toronto

[Patti from Kentucky]

This post came through my KY birding list...in case anyone is interested in expressing their disapproval about the Sandhill Crane hunt

I assume everyone saw Linda Craiger's post regarding the unanimous vote by the Ky Wildlife commissioners to approve the crane hunt, thank you for posting Linda. 

The process is not over with and the hunt plan will be filed with legislators on June 15.  It's important to voice your opposition now by writing to Governor Beshear and the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary, Marcheta Sparrow. 

If you believe the cranes are more valuable as a wildlife-watching resource than as a game bird, tell them.  If you feel that the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) should have followed the International Crane Foundation's recommendation of delaying the hunt for 2-3 years, tell them.  If you feel that Kentucky being the first to hunt the eastern population of Sandhill Cranes in nearly a century does not cast the Commonwealth in a favorable light, be sure and tell them.   

If you threatened to withdraw your support from KDFWR if the hunt was approved, do it; I am, and tell the Governor and Secretary Sparrow that you are.  If you reside in another state and will boycott Kentucky by not spending money here, tell them.  They need to be aware of the magnitude of opposition.  Their contact information is copied below.

Governor Beshear online contact link here:
http://www.governor.ky.gov/contact/contact.htm

Mailing address:
Governor Steve Beshear
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 100
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Secretary Sparrow email address here:
Marcheta.Sparrow@ky.gov
 
Online contact for her office here:
http://commerce.ky.gov/officesecretary/contact.htm

Mailing address and phone number:

Marcheta Sparrow
Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet
Office of the Secretary
24th Floor, Capital Plaza Tower
500 Mero Street
Frankfort, Kentucky  40601
(502) 564-4270

Additional contact information here:
http://kyc4sandhillcranes.wordpress.com/call-to-action/

More info on the cranes and proposed hunt here:
http://kyc4sandhillcranes.wordpress.com/

Whether you reside in Kentucky or another state, please send letter/emails and phone calls expressing your opposition and urge others to do the same.  We still have work to do.

David Roemer
Bowling Green

[rssport]

Patti, Thanks for the information.
Rita Syr

[anneintoronto]

I see, Patti, that there is more that I can do, other than wishing you luck on the lottery!  Thanks for the information!  Will get busy writing!

Best wishes,

Anne in Toronto