This is what it sounds like when doves die

CANOE ^ | March 1, 2002 | ALEXANDER PANETTA-- The Canadian Press

[prisoner6]

This is what it sounds like when doves die Quebec population minister and friends kill 18,000 birds during trip to Argentina By ALEXANDER PANETTA-- The Canadian Press BEAUPRE, Que. (CP) -- Quebec's population minister created a flap Friday when he admitted he and some buddies recently killed 18,000 doves and pigeons during a hunting trip in Argentina. But Remy Trudel says he was actually helping Argentina by reducing its pesky feathered population. "There are 20 million birds hurting the agriculture of Argentina," Trudel told reporters after the story was splashed over the front page of Friday's Le Journal de Quebec. "The hunt was done within the rules of the country and environment." Trudel's group of eight killed about 18,000 doves, pigeons and turtle doves during its six-day trip to Argentina's Cordoba Valley. "They're really easy to kill," he told Le Journal. "In fact, it's more shooting than hunting. "It might seem like a lot, but I always hunt with respect for the environment." Trudel said he and his pals ate some of the birds and gave the rest to area residents. The Cordoba Valley is well-known worldwide as a goldmine for bird hunters. "On a typical day, shooters will fire anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 shot shells," says the Web site www.argentinadovehunting.com. Another Web site states "high-volume, no-limit hunts for dove can be booked year-round." "There's no seasons or limits on doves in Argentina, where birds are considered pests by local farmers," says one site. The population also reproduces several times a year. But one animal activist told Le Journal hunting is a "cruel and inefficient" way to eliminate pests, and that the best method is to introduce natural predators into the wildlife. Trudel says he has loved hunting since growing up in western Quebec's rural Abitibi region. Reaction to his trip, however, has "made him think."

[prisoner6]

Apologies for posting an older article. I had bookmarked it for posting, but was distracted.

So,... Where's PETA?

prisoner6

[Kenton]

But one animal activist told Le Journal hunting is a "cruel and inefficient" way to eliminate pests, and that the best method is to introduce natural predators into the wildlife.

Well, rather than blathering on about what an idiot this person is, let me just address his points one by one.

1. Cruel? I watched a hawk kill a pigeon under my bird feeder a few weeks ago. No bird I've ever shot died as hard as that pigeon when the hawk tore it apart and ate it.

2. Inefficient? When you have unlimited bag limits and hunting parties taking thousands per day, you really don't get much more efficient than that when it comes to pest control.

3. Introducing natural predators? I absolutely guarantee you that with birds in that kind of abundance, there are already natural predators there in equal abundance, as sure as you get flies at a picnic.

[blau993]

So, the deal is that you keep going until you run out of ammo?

[SunnyUsa]

killed 18,000 doves and pigeons during a hunting trip in Argentina.

Argentina sure sounds like it's seen better days - I bet this kill didn't even put a dent in the pigeon/dove pest population. gross

I wish someone would start a campaign to kill the overgrown canadian geese population, they are the most disgusting birds, their feces ruining everything - parks, yards, property etc....

[Minnesoootan]

Natural predators= HUMANS

not suprising a greenie doesn't consider humans as predators!

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Or melt your barrel. Its gotta be hard on a shotgun.

[Sam Cree]

"I wish someone would start a campaign to kill the overgrown canadian geese population"

However, isn't there actually a moratorium on shooting migratory Canada geese at least on the Eastern flyways.

[Alouette]

Pigeons? Doves? Flying white rats is more like it.

[Sender]

Ahh, those aggressive barbarian Canucks and their gun culture. All peace-loving Canadians should emigrate South immediately :)

[ko_kyi]

prisoner6, thanks to the thread title I have that stupid song in my head.

I'll get you for this :)

[from occupied ga]

I wish someone would start a campaign to kill the overgrown canadian geese population, they are the most disgusting birds, their feces ruining everything - parks, yards, property etc....

Emphatic bump

[razorback-bert]

"They're really easy to kill,"

He must be a hell of a shot and have an iron shoulder.

[eastforker]

You should see the bird kill we get when we have an H2S release at the job site,dead birds everywhere.

[Dataman]

What is a population minister and what does he do if he thinks there are too many humans?

[Squawk 8888]

isn't there actually a moratorium on shooting migratory Canada geese at least on the Eastern flyways.

The migrating geese are not the problem (unless you're a pilot flying through them at 10,000 feet), it's the ones that don't migrate that become pests. When people feed them or if there is enough scraps lying around to scavenge they stay put because it's lack of food that prompts them to move on.

[Sam Cree]

Yeah, there is resident geese all over central VA, where I grew up, in large, numbers now.

There weren't any when I was a kid. You can hunt the residents, but not the migratory ones that come down to the Bay area.