A resolution to hunt Sandhill Cranes proposed in the Michigan Legislature by Sen Edward McBroom

[Beringia]

https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/resolution-to-have-sandhill-crane-hunting-season-draws-controversy


MICHIGAN (WPBN/WGTU) -- A new proposal in the Michigan Legislature is taking aim at sandhill cranes. The resolution was introduced by Sen. Edward McBroom for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create a hunting season for the large bird.

Now, Michigan Audubon is speaking out against the plan. The group helped protect the sandhill crane for more than 100 years. The controversial proposal was brought to a hearing on Wednesday before the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

"Several flaws and issues were brought to the attention of the committee the resolution sponsor and because of those flaws and issues," said Director of the Songbird Protection Coalition Julie Baker. "The vote to allow the recreational killing of sandhill cranes was postponed as of today, sadly though that does not mean Michigan sandhill cranes are safe but it does mean citizens now have more time to contact your senator."

The sandhill crane is still considered an endangered and recovering species. They were nearly wiped out in the mid-20th century due to hunting and loss of wetland habitat.




Video from Macaulay Library

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/290171191

[Yeehah]

1. How did republicans become so depraved and stupid?

The sickness of the republican party must be eradicated from our nation.

[Harker]

2. The phrase "recreational killing" says a lot.

The thought of it, as it relates to any species, is sickening to me.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

43. What do you suppose it means?

[Harker]

53. Killing for fun.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

54. If someone who hunts sandhill cranes eats them, is it still recreational hunting?

[Hortensis]

55. Not if they can get a meal out of one. But! They weigh almost nothing,

mostly feathers and hollow bones. I had to grab one once to get a string untangled. Guessing a typical hunter would net a significant calorie loss from it.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

56. Most daily limits in other states are more than one bird, and the breast is what's good eating.

I ask about "recreational hunting" because the Songbird Coalition director is the one who used the term, not a politician. It's a loaded term, and people are running with it.

[Hortensis]

63. :) I know. But people do claim the right to hunt

them for food, and the value to society of the food should be considered. In this case, virtually nonexistent. Except for poor people who may eat Sandhills, effectively all hunting is recreational whether the hunters dine on their kill or not.

Around here poor people leave the cranes alone and poach alligators, and wild hogs if they can find them. Pretty hunted down.

[Harker]

58. If someone's hungry and kills a sandhill crane to eat, that's different

from killing for the fun of it, yes.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

65. What if someone hunts a sandhill because they enjoy hunting AND they enjoy eating it?

[Harker]

68. That's when I hope there's a hockey game on.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

69. My team's on this afternoon.

[Harker]

71. While I savor a 4-2 loss...

[msongs]

3. sandhill cranes, 3 yr old human kids. nt

[Disaffected]

4. Recreational

Assholes.

Email sent.

His pics remind me of Eric the Dim.

[Beringia]

15. Thanks

[madville]

59. Recreational is a common distinction in hunting and fishing

It’s how many states define their regulations and licenses, you are either operating under a Recreational or Commercial license in many states.

[old guy]

5. Wi. wants this also to go along with Mourning Doves.

Killing just for killings sake. When the doves and cranes are gone what will be next? Cats, dogs? People not like the hunters?

[AleksS]

13. Cats are already fair game for hunters in WI.

Thanks sick GOP assholes.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/US/LegalCenter/story%3fid=662272&page=1

[NickB79]

24. Frankly, I'm fine with that one

Free-ranging and feral cats are one of the most destructive, invasive predators of native songbirds.

[Beringia]

29. Maybe they should microchip all cats and fine the person that abandoned them

Poor cats are abandoned and then hunted.

[NickB79]

36. It's any cats people let out of the house

Even well cared for cats that people let roam the backyard or neighborhood.

If a cat is out of the house, it's likely killing native wildlife.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. I've heard they're good eating.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Did a search for just that, and the common response is they taste like pork or beef tips.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. Yep, pork is what I have heard.

[Comatose Sphagetti]

11. Ribeye in the sky.

nt

[Beringia]

14. So much for loving wildlife

[Yeehah]

16. I hope anyone eating an endangered / threatened animal

would choke on it.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. Migratory sandhill cranes are not endangered, and are hunted in several states.

[DenaliDemocrat]

17. Ribeye of the sky they are called

They are VERY good to eat. Much better than goose and even better than teal.

[JanMichael]

9. "Recreational" killing/murder is degenerate behavior for sociopaths.

Killing animals for food for yourself, family, or donated to people that need it is ok I suppose. Also keeping high populations down like deer.

But taking aim at endangered or lightly endangered or kind of endangered creatures is EVIL. "Recreational" or otherwise.

Then again as a person who would like to be a Vegan (vegetarian for 15 years) as an aspirational goal, due to my aversion to killing any creature for food, I would like to not have any hunting of fish, fowl or other hoofed mammal creatures.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

22. "Recreational" is the term used by the person who doesn't want any hunting at all.

[madville]

60. There is nothing negative about the term Recreational

It’s literally how Florida differentiates between recreational and commercial hunting and fishing.

https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/hunting/

[WhiskeyGrinder]

61. Good point!

[llmart]

28. "Up North" in Michigan tells me all I need to know.

I've heard way too many of those beer bellied fat men justify their killing anything and everything by, "we need to feed our families". I've had to bite my tongue before I blurted out, "Doesn't look like you've missed many meals."

[keithbvadu2]

10. "recreational killing" - It must be a real challenge to kill a bird that just stands there.

"recreational killing" -

It must be a real challenge to kill a bird that just stands there.

[Bayard]

20. This

Sick, sick, sick.

[bmbmd]

12. Sandhill Crane hunting

is a time-honored tradition in West Texas. Their unique cry and propensity to gather in flocks of up to three thousand birds makes for a thrilling spectacle in the winter months. The great John Graves, in his definitive diary "Goodbye to a River" allows that no other sound conjures homesick yearnings for native Texans than the cry of the Sandhill. As for being good to eat, I'm going to have to disagree. I shot a bunch of them in my high school years, cleaned them, and brought them home to the kitchen. Mother lost interest after our first go-around. Dad and I tried every trick in the book-our best result came with thin sliced breast, marinated in milk, pounded, floured, and chicken fried. (fall back recipe for nearly everything in Texas) Gamey, fishy, stringy-I'm not a fan. So, I leave 'em in the skies. Every fall, though, it happens the same way. I'll be outside, I'll hear the sound, and my head will swivel here and there as I try to locate the traveling flock.

[DenaliDemocrat]

18. They are not "fishy" like a diving duck

They only eat grain and are very good

[bmbmd]

30. There may well be a difference

in a Denali crane vs a west Texas crane. They've flown three thousand miles to their new home, depleting much of their body fat. They stand around all night in alkali playa lakes. I can't imagine a scenario where a west Texas crane would be tasty. When I lived in northern Montana many years ago, big old orange legged mallard drakes were a culinary delight. They were juicy and tender and succulent. Back in West Texas, they seemed smaller, with brown legs, very lean and chewy. Maybe if I travelled three thousand miles in a month I'd be more lean and sinewy, also.

[DenaliDemocrat]

34. I could see the sinewy part

But cranes don’t eat fish. Ducks that eat fish are pretty bad. I was wondering if you might have eaten a heron thinking it was a crane. I know people who have done that

[bmbmd]

50. Oh brother.

You win. They’re not fishy. They taste like shoe leather.

[ornotna]

37. Not much grain in Florida and lots of Sandhill Cranes

Sandhill cranes feed on seeds, grains, insects and small animals.

Cranes are attracted by open settings (mowed grass) and the availability of foods such as acorns, earthworms, mole crickets and turf grubs.

https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/sandhill-cranes/

[DenaliDemocrat]

40. Plenty of corn, wheat, and rice in Florida

They love grain fields and still don’t eat fish

[ornotna]

42. Wheat in Florida

Haven't seen that one yet(here in SW Florida). But I've seen plenty of cranes eat grubs and small lizards.

[DenaliDemocrat]

47. Those are a different subspecies

And not the cranes that fly from Texas up to the Arctic. What is the point of arguing this? You are purposely trying to compare a local resident non-migratory subspecies of sandhill cranes (an exception) and somehow trying to compare it to the migratory flocks this post is about. It’s obtuse and perhaps intellectually dishonest. The cranes in this story are hunted from Texas through Canada and the outrage here is founded in disinformation that continues to be perpetuated.

[ornotna]

49. Seriously?

The only one outraged here is you it seems. You stated they only eat grain and I just pointed out that their diet is more varied than that. Also, you'll notice I didn't mention hunting at all. Are you done busting my balls? Might want to lighten up on the caffeine.

[GoCubsGo]

19. WHAT THE FUCK????????????

Why the hell would anyone want to hunt sandhill cranes??? I mean, other than the sickos who take joy in killing things?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

23. Because they taste good.

[USALiberal]

25. And they like killing things, sometimes just wounding one. Nt

[Disaffected]

31. Hmmm, I wonder

if recreational hunters taste good. And, the politicians who pander to them...

[WhiskeyGrinder]

38. What is a recreational hunter?

[madville]

57. They are called Recreational hunting and fishing licenses

Here in FL to distinguish between recreational and commercial licenses.

So you could say someone is a recreational hunter acting under recreational hunting regulations.

[DenaliDemocrat]

35. The only waterfowl that is better is teal

[perfessor]

26. I live in northern Illinois

The cranes have been returning. Today there were waves of them across the sky. They fly very high, forming long wobbly arcs in contrast to the well formed vees that geese make. They are very vocal with a chattering honk that can be heard for miles. Beautiful birds, I really can't understand wanting to kill them.

[Beringia]

27. It seems that is all they see when they view wildlife, a big target

[Blues Heron]

32. killing animals is a sure sign that you don't like animals

It's super sketchy behavior. Lets face it - meat is murder, there's no way around it. These people will spend 50,000 dollars on their gun hobby to get 5 dollars worth of free pork from the sky.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

39. Lmao at 50k.

[DenaliDemocrat]

48. They equated eating a hamburger to murder

So the drama factor here is extreme. I hunt moose every year. I spend about $120 on gas for the four wheeler, maybe $75 on cartridges.

Yes, there are trophy hunters who drop $50,000 on a hunt. They are about .1% of hunters. I’ve met like 2 in 50 years afield

[madville]

62. That was a good one

Of course, I have over a hundred pounds of venison in the freezer from this year, I didn’t pay anywhere close to 50k lol, maybe more like $1000.

[jeffreyi]

33. FFS.

that is all. And I'm not a hunting nazi, I used to hunt (and eat) geese and ducks back in the day.

[Crunchy Frog]

41. They hate life, they hate nature, they hate beauty,

and they basically want to destroy everything just for the Hell of it.

It's the party of pure nihilism.

[Coventina]

44. Anyone who would hunt, kill, and eat an endangered animal is complete scum.

Complete scum.

Regardless of political affiliation.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

45. Migratory sandhill cranes are not endangered.

[Coventina]

51. From the article:

The sandhill crane is still considered an endangered and recovering species. They were nearly wiped out in the mid-20th century due to hunting and loss of wetland habitat.

[DenaliDemocrat]

52. The article is WRONG.

Only two subspecies are endangered , the Cuban (found in Cuba) and the Mississippi (found in Mississippi). There are millions of cranes In Nebraska right now around Grand Island. They are moving north and are not endangered

[Coventina]

64. Migratory birds are protected in the US, and rightly so.

They don't belong to us.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

66. They are protected, but that doesn't mean you can't hunt them under the laws of the state you're in.

[Coventina]

73. Gross. n/t

[DenaliDemocrat]

70. Not protected, federally managed

And much of that has to do with hunting. The flyways extend into Mexico and Canada so international management plans are utilized, thus federal management. Bullshit article meant to get an emotional response

[Coventina]

74. Ah, the old "we must kill the animals to save them!" excuse.

[DenaliDemocrat]

75. Bullshit. Don't put words in my mouth.

It’s a DISHONEST article. Fake news.

[Elessar Zappa]

76. Cowards shooting at birds that can't shoot back.

Sounds honest to me.

[DenaliDemocrat]

77. Cowards who eat chicken who don't have the guts

To do their own killing, so hire it out, often to exploited labor, so they can do a little superior dance!

[Coventina]

78. I can't speak for the other poster, but I'm a vegetarian. n/t

[DenaliDemocrat]

79. Then a tip of the hat to you

For not being a hypocrite. I don’t agree with you, but you live what you preach. I respect that.

[pansypoo53219]

46. only starlings or english sparrows.

[Hotler]

67. "The vote to allow the recreational killing of sandhill cranes."

Nothing takes the stress out of a day at the office better than some "recreational killing" of some living thing. Fucking assholes.

[RandiFan1290]

72. 'Hunting'

We have them in Florida and they are not even afraid of cars.

Have to be careful of a family right next to the road and many times in the road.