Wisconsin lawmaker wants hunting of sandhill cranes

Chicago Tribune ^ | 2-1-12

[SJackson]

A Wisconsin lawmaker wants to let hunters go after sandhill cranes.

Sandhill crane populations have grown dramatically across North America over the last 30 years. Wisconsin is a key nesting area for cranes that migrate up and down the eastern United States, and the International Crane Foundation is based in Baraboo.

But state Rep. Joel Kleefisch says the population has grown so much that they're causing too much damage to farmers' cornfields. He has introduced a bill that would require the Department of Natural Resources to set up a limited hunt.

[SJackson]

If you’d like to be on or off this Outdoors/Rural/wildlife/hunting/hiking/backpacking/National Parks/animals list please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

[cripplecreek]

They aren't exactly a rarity here in southern Michigan. I see them pretty much every single day. They love my neighbor's yards.

[riverrunner]

Sounds like a good idea to me.I see them on a regular basic in northern Wis. also.

We could use a limited hunt.

[SJackson]

They’re all over. I’ve never had crane, but I’m told they’re good, and were a food source in our early days.

[tractorman]

We have quite a few of them in Crivitz too.
Probably tastes like goose. Yum!!

[cripplecreek]

We even had a whooping crane hanging out in the area this fall.

Now how about a mute swan hunt.

[NautiNurse]

Wisconsin is a key nesting area for cranes that migrate up and down the eastern United States

An impressive detour to WI from the eastern U.S.

Side note--Somebody accidentally hit a sandhill crane today on the golf course shortly after a bald eagle swooped onto the fairway to attack a well-placed fairway shot.

[mosesdapoet]

While not as bad as deer which can destroy a garden 50 do congregate in newly planted fields and eat the newly planted seeds besides the work of re-planting seeds ain’t cheap either

[muawiyah]

We nearly ran down a 3 ft tall buzzard of some sort who was dragging a cat's dead body off the road.

What a nice animal. You can't get just anybody to do that!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Is Joel Kleefisch Rebecca’s husband? Rebecca Kleefisch is the Lt. Gov.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Beautiful! I’d hate to see them hunted, unless they were doing real damage to crops. I could use some hunters to come here after the wild turkeys. They are really plentiful the ast couple of years.

[ColdOne]

I would have no issue with hunting them as long as they are on the limited hunt i would do it.

[SJackson]

Don’t know, might be. I like her, can’t believe the unions are doing a recall on her too. Just do a Statehood recall.

[SJackson]

Sorry, meant to ping you for your list. I’ve no problem with hunting them, there are plenty. Don’t know how much the crop damage is. Less than deer, more than turkey.

[Paleo Conservative]

Do they taste better than Whooping Crane?

[afraidfortherepublic]

I think she’s terrific. I can’t believe that those punks are recaling everybody. It just stinks. I’ve examined a lot of petitions, and many of them look really phony.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Wisconsiin SandHill Crane Hunting Season ping

If you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list, just FReep Mail me.

[hinckley buzzard]

That's right. Buzzards are useful but underappreciated creatures. Commonly can be seen congregating at the Roadkill Bar and Grille.

[muawiyah]

You get a hot summer day they're out there ~ drifting higher and higher in the thermals ~ and then, all at once, one of 'em will fly down, and next thing you know you've got 2 or 3 dozen of the creatures disposing of the dead.

When they're done, they fly back up and circle around and around.