Wisconsin Republicans Introduce Bill Authorizing Sandhill Crane Hunt

UngulateNerd92

UngulateNerd92

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After decimating the state’s wolves, conservatives are targeting the iconic birds.

Last February, Wisconsin’s Republican legislators made national headlines when they approved a hunt that led to the demise of nearly 20 percent of the state’s wolf population. Now those same legislators have set their sights on another vulnerable species: the sandhill crane.

In October, state senate Republicans introduced S.B. 620, which would require Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish a sandhill crane hunting season. If passed, the bill could spell disaster for the Eastern Population of greater sandhill cranes.

Wisconsin Republicans Introduce Bill Authorizing Sandhill Crane Hunt | Sierra Club
 
Cranes were already a game bird in the East. More of a lifting of restrictions than something new. Purple Gallinule, Common Gallinule, Sora, Virginia Rail, King Rail, and the coot are also gamebirds in the Southeast. Those that occur in the west generally aren't hunted.
It most likely stems from the West having a variety of land gamebirds, versus the Southeast having only Bobwhite and the turkey.
 
I strongly appose a crane hunt in Wisconsin. The problem is that most states that have crane hunts are just migratory corridors, but Wisconsin is a breeding ground and I think a hunt here would impact crane numbers more than, say, a hunt in Kentucky or Kansas.

This bill was largely introduced by farmers to stop crane damage to crops, but a hunt in the fall (which is what is being proposed) would do very little to actually limit crop damage by cranes. Farmers should use Avipel (a crane repellent that can be coated on seeds), which is highly effective.

Also, I am worried that hunters might shoot Whooping Cranes (either accidentally or on purpose). Wisconsin is a breeding ground for Whooping Cranes, and Wisconsin already has a problem with deer hunter accidentally shooting elk. Some of them also might not be accidents. There's no swan hunting in Wisconsin, but lots of waterfowl hunters shoot Trumpeter Swans anyway. Whooping Cranes are already occasionally shot in other states.

I'm not the only one with these opinions, either. There's a long list of Wisconsin conservation groups that have officially taken a negative stance on this, including several organisation largely based around hunting.
 
Pantheraman said:
WTH, Seriously? Sandhill Cranes of all things? (Facepalm)

Good lord, do people really need to hunt everything!? What's next? A season on blue jays?
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Currently 17 states have Sandhill Crane hunting: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Great Argus said:
Cranes were already a game bird in the East. More of a lifting of restrictions than something new. Purple Gallinule, Common Gallinule, Sora, Virginia Rail, King Rail, and the coot are also gamebirds in the Southeast. Those that occur in the west generally aren't hunted.
It most likely stems from the West having a variety of land gamebirds, versus the Southeast having only Bobwhite and the turkey.
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I knew some states hunt coots but I had no idea any states had hunting for gallinules or other rails. Wow.
 
This is stupid first they decimated the wolf population and now their planning to do the same with the sandhill crane. I can't help but worry what my own family (on my dads side) will do as they sadly did partake in the wolf hunting
 
Interesting from an ecological perspective is that, as the article briefly alludes to, crane population dynamics work very differently from other common game birds like like fowl or pigeons. Their life history traits of long lifespan, few young on average per year, low mortality when adult, and long maturation time make cranes particularly susceptible to over-exploitation. Pigeons, ducks, pheasants, partridges and the like tend to raise lots of offspring per year, mature rapidly, have a higher yearly mortality and generally shorter lifespans. Removing part of the population of these species is generally off-set by the decrease in winter mortality by the remainder (less birds means more food) and if the population dips below the carrying capacity these species generally respond fast with higher breeding success.* No exploitation is free from wider consequence, but these species are far more resilient to hunting pressures, which mitigates far-reaching cascading effects and gives hunters time to adapt to changes in densities if they happen.

* This happens to some extend too with cranes of course, but it takes a lot longer. Compare, for example, the response of different raptor populations after the banning of harmful pesticides in the 1960's in Europe. Sparrowhawks and buzzards (both relatively large broods, short lifespan, short maturation time) were back in good numbers within a few decades, while White-tailed eagles (small broods, long maturation time) took a lot longer (and some might even say they're still on the recovery).
 
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Here is another relevant article.

Groups warns hunting season could threaten endangered species

Four endangered whooping cranes were shot and killed in Oklahoma last month during the sandhill crane hunting season — a hunting season that could be created in Wisconsin if a GOP-authored bill is successful.

The International Crane Foundation, based in Baraboo, has warned that allowing a sandhill crane hunting season in Wisconsin could threaten whooping cranes, an endangered species the foundation has worked to reintroduce to Wisconsin. That threat appears to have just become a reality in Oklahoma.

Groups warns hunting season could threaten endangered species
 
UngulateNerd92 said:
Here is another relevant article.

Groups warns hunting season could threaten endangered species

Four endangered whooping cranes were shot and killed in Oklahoma last month during the sandhill crane hunting season — a hunting season that could be created in Wisconsin if a GOP-authored bill is successful.

The International Crane Foundation, based in Baraboo, has warned that allowing a sandhill crane hunting season in Wisconsin could threaten whooping cranes, an endangered species the foundation has worked to reintroduce to Wisconsin. That threat appears to have just become a reality in Oklahoma.

Groups warns hunting season could threaten endangered species
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Accidental or intentional shooting of Whoopers isn't new though, it's been a problem throughout the species' recovery. Sandhills can look pretty white in certain lighting, and thus accidental shooting of Whooping is a problem anywhere Sandhills are hunted inside of Whooping range.
 
Great Argus said:
Accidental or intentional shooting of Whoopers isn't new though, it's been a problem throughout the species' recovery. Sandhills can look pretty white in certain lighting, and thus accidental shooting of Whooping is a problem anywhere Sandhills are hunted inside of Whooping range.
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It's a bigger problem in Wisconsin because we're in Whooper breeding range, whereas all of other states it's a problem in just have them passing through.
 
birdsandbats said:
It's a bigger problem in Wisconsin because we're in Whooper breeding range, whereas all of other states it's a problem in just have them passing through.
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Texas has a Sandhill hunting season during the time Whoopers are wintering there.

Also per what I can find the bill was not moved forward into legislative discussion so far, so it may not even return to the table.
 
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