[TN-Bird] Potential Sandhill Crane hunt in Tennessee in 2011 more background
- From: Melinda Welton <weltonmj@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: tnbird <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:03:02 -0500
I've gotten several emails with folks asking why TWRA, or anyone else, would
want to hunt a crane.
I spoke with Greg Wathen, Chief of Wildlife for TWRA, and asked him some of
the questions that I've been getting.
1) Yes, Sandhill Cranes are good to eat.
2) No, shooting a crane is not particularly difficult, at least not the
first one in a flock. Their behavior is similar to the Canada Goose as a
game species.
3) It was the TN Wildlife Federation that requested that TWRA re-initiate
the efforts to complete the Sandhill Crane Management Plan, so that a crane
hunt could be considered for the Eastern population of the Greater Sandhill
Crane.
4) The motivation to establish a hunt is not because Sandhill Cranes have
become a nuisance, although the USFWS has issued some depredation permits to
farmers near the Hiwassee Refuge who have experienced crop damage. The hunt,
however, would be conducted on private lands surrounding the Refuge and will
likely have the effect of concentrating the birds more at Hiwassee. It is
possible for TWRA to change the refuge designation of Hiwasee as a refuge,
but they have no current plans to do that.
5) The motivation is more that the Eastern population of Sandhill Cranes has
reached a level that can sustain a hunt. Sandhills are considered a game
species in the Central Flyway and hunters in the eastern portion of the
range have been interested in a hunt for some time.
6) It is valuable to remember that TWRA's management of Hiwassee is largely
responsible for the migratory spectacle that birders enjoy. They spend more
than $300,000 annually managing Hiwassee, and most of that money comes from
hunters. While the management is primarily directed towards waterfowl, this
management is what has made the refuge so attractive to Sandhill and
Whooping Cranes.
7) TWRA is poised to initiate new efforts at find mechanisms to better fund
the agency with a broader base of financial support. This is the agency with
sole responsibility for all of the wildlife in the state of Tennessee and
there have been few ways for the non-hunting public to financially support,
and thus have a say, in the workings and policies of the agency. One big
question that can not be answered until the public comment period, is what
kind of damage might TWRA suffer if, at the same time they are trying to
broaden their base of support, they change the status of a non-game species
to a game species. Something that has never happened in the history of
Tennessee.
8) The public will be given an opportunity to comment on the proposed hunt
in the near future. TWRA is committed to taking these comments into
consideration in their decision making process.
Melinda Welton
TOS Conservation Policy Committee Co-chair
Franklin, TN
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