32 replies to this topic

[mattknepley]

Here's a link to the SC DNR website's page concerning the legalities of taking double-crested cormorants, Phalacrocorax auritus.

My biases when examining this issue include: being a gun owner and occasional hunter, but no friend of the NRA's or "thrill killers"; I'm obviously a fish lover, but also very interested in birds. I don't view any agency as infallible, but SC DNR officials have always been sincere and helpful in my dealings with them and I am truly appreciative of their efforts.

I guess my biggest questions regarding this topic concern the necessity of P. auritus removal in these lakes, and whether or not it is a "best practice" if removal is appropriate. This may be my home state, but I know very little about this; I never knew we had a cormorant "problem".

Any thoughts?

http://www.dnr.sc.go...ants/index.html

[mattknepley]

Interesting comments all the way around. Thanks for the insights. While I soak in the posts, what they say and what they say between the lines, I'll just add a couple thoughts to the mix;

Isn't this against the migratory bird act? The Feds should stop this, http://thetandd.com/...19bb2963f4.html

It is irrelevant as to whether a state/local agency enacts legislation if the feds have no desire to counter it. For example, Brevard Co., FL, several years ago got all upset about nudists at the very end of Canaveral Nat'l Seashore. The county ignited a little fire and enacted legislation forbidding public nudity. The fed response was in essence,"Pass whatever law you want, but we have jurisdiction there and we aren't about to do anything to stop the practice." Also, I need to read the link you posted. I have respect for Audubon in general and would be interested in its point.

If the population can sustain the hunting pressure and there's a valid use for the dead bird beyond removing the competition I don't see a problem. Has anyone actually tasted a Cormorant? Edible is a much lower bar than palatable! I've made it a point to try just about anything I can legally take that walks, crawls flies or swims where I am, and my experience with animals that predominantly eat fish, and cold blooded prey in general (excluding fish) has not been good from an epicurean point of view. I don't think I've ever tasted anything fouler than a Northern Watersnake.

I imagine my final opinion, if I ever develop one, will be based on thinking similar to the first sentence of this post, Subrosa.

I plan to try whistle pig this year. Season is open all year. I read to look for the scent glands in the armpit area. I read that young ones are choice, but older ones are so so. I thing three or four days soaked in a milk/salt mixture should tenderize an older animal pretty well. I am going to have to take it private and get a hold of you sometime. I don't want to derail this thread any more than I have. I do notice that you have your private message option on the forum disabled.

Uh, who's in charge of the banquet at the convention this year?