Eric P - and anyone else around N. Alabama may find this interesting
- Thread starter Jaime Day
- Start date
Matt Masters
Active member
Doesn't really surprise me about the Sandhills, numbers have been increasing every year. Within 5 years we should be able to hunt them with a lottery type system. But with the ban of GMO crops, I wouldn't expect the numbers to stay up like they have in the past.
You lost me on this one, which GMO crops have been banned and how would that effect Sandhill populations? Just wondering.
In any case, I am pretty surprised by the number of sandies up there. And the number of ducks that wintered up there this year, especially given all the poor reports I heard about hunting the TN River Lakes this year.
Matt Masters
Active member
Carl, I haven't done my homework but a good friend of mine that his family is in the farming business told me that all GMO crops are banned from being planted on the refuges, I will try and find out more so I can give you a better answer. Considering 90% of the sandhill population stays on Wheeler Refuge I would see and impact on the population over the years.
And the poor reports are true as far as the rivers and lakes go. Majority of the population is on refuges, private land (especially with the amount of water we had later in the season), and no hunting zones.
And the poor reports are true as far as the rivers and lakes go. Majority of the population is on refuges, private land (especially with the amount of water we had later in the season), and no hunting zones.
Interesting article. To hear the hunters talk you'd think it was the lowest duck count in history. I can hear it now, "They dump grain everywhere so the ducks never come off the refuge!" Poppycock.
The sandhil numbers don't surprise me. Every year we hear and see more, especially around Fackler. I think the noise they make is one of the coolest of all waterfowl. I'll never tire of Canada honks either.
As for the whooping cranes lets hope they stay on the refuge. Last year, or maybe the year before, two were shot and killed near Gadsden(?). Whooping cranes are far outnumbered by shotgun carrying rednecks. They need to keep their asses on the Refuge. When you kill two from a population of about 120 that's two too many.
The loss of Wheeler's Canada geese, which I think peaked at 60,000, is one of the most striking changing I've seen as a waterfowler in 30+ years. 45, 000 to 60,000 Canada on a 30 mile stretch of the river was quite a population. In the early 90s their numbers started dropping and now you see the count is only 600. Wow, talk about a change. I wonder if those birds are wintering elsewhere or if the St. James population has taken a beating.
The sandhil numbers don't surprise me. Every year we hear and see more, especially around Fackler. I think the noise they make is one of the coolest of all waterfowl. I'll never tire of Canada honks either.
As for the whooping cranes lets hope they stay on the refuge. Last year, or maybe the year before, two were shot and killed near Gadsden(?). Whooping cranes are far outnumbered by shotgun carrying rednecks. They need to keep their asses on the Refuge. When you kill two from a population of about 120 that's two too many.
The loss of Wheeler's Canada geese, which I think peaked at 60,000, is one of the most striking changing I've seen as a waterfowler in 30+ years. 45, 000 to 60,000 Canada on a 30 mile stretch of the river was quite a population. In the early 90s their numbers started dropping and now you see the count is only 600. Wow, talk about a change. I wonder if those birds are wintering elsewhere or if the St. James population has taken a beating.
Matt Masters
Active member
Both of you bring up valid points.
Eric, I only knew of one Whooping Crane being shot over by Weiss two years ago. I am all for throwing someones butt in jail for killing something they are not suppose to or over the limit without any questions being asked. You have been around longer than I have and I know you can tell a drastic change as to where the birds are and will be due to hunting pressure and IQ level of most the hunters around our area.
Carl, I am curious to see how the non-GMO crops yield and their success rate over time.
Eric, I only knew of one Whooping Crane being shot over by Weiss two years ago. I am all for throwing someones butt in jail for killing something they are not suppose to or over the limit without any questions being asked. You have been around longer than I have and I know you can tell a drastic change as to where the birds are and will be due to hunting pressure and IQ level of most the hunters around our area.
Carl, I am curious to see how the non-GMO crops yield and their success rate over time.