Cormorant Bill PASSED!

[QuakrTrakr]

Good news! The Cormorant bill has been signed by the Governor and has been put into effect!

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(tmqbsvburrvaoc55jprly43k))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=2007-SB-0354

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(35hq2055b14cz055sdu1swe0))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=2007-HB-4471

[thousandcasts]

I'm trying to decipher all the stuff in those links, but don't have the patience at the moment. What's the short version--can we kill 'em?

[QuakrTrakr]

Sounds like we can't kill them, the DNR can.


"The order specifies that a person operating under it should first use nonlethal control methods, such as harassment and exclusion devices, when they are considered effective and practicable and not harmful to other nesting birds. Double-crested cormorants may be taken only by egg oiling (with 100% corn oil), egg and nest destruction, cervical dislocation, firearms, and CO2 asphyxiation. A person using a shotgun must use nontoxic shot. A person may use decoys, taped calls, or other devices to lure within gun range double-crested cormorants committing or about to commit depredation of public resources.

A person operating under the depredation order may not take double-crested cormorants contrary to the laws or regulations of the applicable state. None of the privileges granted under the order may be exercised unless the person possesses the appropriate state or other permits, if required.

A person must properly dispose of double-crested cormorants killed in control efforts. Individuals may donate the birds to museums or other scientific and educational institutions for exhibition, or bury or incinerate them. Individuals may not allow birds taken under the order, or their plumage, to be sold, offered for sale, bartered, or shipped for the purpose of sale or barter.
The order prescribes regulations pertaining to cormorant control activities conducted near nesting areas or critical habitat of specified endangered species. Additionally, if any agency plans a control action or succession of control actions that would kill more than 10% of the double-crested cormorants in a breeding colony, it must first provide written notification to the appropriate Service Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office. "

[thousandcasts]

I don't hunt (not enough time to add another hobby!), but I'd make an exception for this! :lol:

[QuakrTrakr]

I don't hunt (not enough time to add another hobby!), but I'd make an exception for this! :lol:

No $ Hl +! :lol: I'd just keep a shotgun with me while trolling! I see thousands of those things!

[SurfDog]

There are 2 of those bastard birds cleaning out the small pond in front of my office in Troy. This is a big win if they can start to put a dent into thier numbers, Lake Huron may come back yet....

[QuakrTrakr]

There are 2 of those bastard birds cleaning out the small pond in front of my office in Troy. This is a big win if they can start to put a dent into thier numbers, Lake Huron may come back yet....

With the plantings the DNR does, it'd only take a few years!

[EdB]

The bill is lip sevice, it is a step in the right direction but is a weak step at best. There is absolutely no state funding provided for this. Without money, nothing will happen.

If the legislature was serious, they should have appropriated funds for the program.

[Sin_X]

The bill is lip sevice, it is a step in the right direction but is a weak step at best. There is absolutely no state funding provided for this. Without money, nothing will happen.

If the legislature was serious, they should have appropriated funds for the program.

They're trying!!!

• Define the terms "cormorant damage" and "cormorant depredation order" (House
Bill 4471).
• Create a new "Cormorant Control Fund" (House Bill 4614).
• Require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to administer a program to
control and manage double-crested cormorants and to reduce damage caused by
the birds (Senate Bill 354).
• Require the DNR to participate in a regional effort to reduce cormorant damage
(Senate Bill 354).
• Require the DNR to seek funding from the Great Lakes Protection Fund for
deposit into the Cormorant Control Fund (Senate Bill 354).
Each of the bills is tie-barred to the others.
House Bill

[Due51]

the department shall participate in a federally recognized organization of states...to coordinate a regional effort to reduce cormorant damage that includes urging the federal government to do both of the following:Seek to amend the migratory bird convention with Mexico to designate the double-crested cormorant as a game speciesThe department shall seek funding from the Great Lakes protection fundThis amendatory act does not take effect unless all of the following bills of the 94th Legislature are enacted into law:

Sounds like a lot of "ifs" and "hopefullys" to me.

[Big_P]

Call me a dick but, if I had a gun with me and nobody was around I'd probably pop a couple of caps in those Cormorant asses!!:)

[Big_P]

And here's a dumb question......can someone post some pics of these different types of Cormorants that we have around here please?

[QuakrTrakr]

Here you go.
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i1200id.html

[Blaketrout]

Call me a dick but, if I had a gun with me and nobody was around I'd probably pop a couple of caps in those Cormorant asses!!:)

:whistle::whistle::D? Always carry a gun!!

[Oldgrandman]

I'm trying to decipher all the stuff in those links, but don't have the patience at the moment. What's the short version--can we kill 'em?

:lol:
Wouldn't it be nice? I'd bring the guns out of semi-retirement for that! Trollin and shootin. Bring a new meaning to a double header. Shot gun in one hand blasting at a cormorant and bringing in a fish with the other, fishing alone, steering with your 'johnson'..... DAM, I shot my line :lol: There's some material for you in this thousandcasts!

[QuakrTrakr]

:lol:
Wouldn't it be nice? I'd bring the guns out of semi-retirement for that! Trollin and shootin. Bring a new meaning to a double header. Shot gun in one hand blasting at a cormorant and bringing in a fish with the other, fishing alone, steering with your 'johnson'..... DAM, I shot my line :lol: There's some material for you in this thousandcasts!

:lol:Now, THAT would be fun! My luck, I'd shoot a hole in the bottom of the boat!

[doublell]

:lol:
Wouldn't it be nice? I'd bring the guns out of semi-retirement for that! Trollin and shootin. Bring a new meaning to a double header. Shot gun in one hand blasting at a cormorant and bringing in a fish with the other, fishing alone, steering with your 'johnson'..... DAM, I shot my line :lol: There's some material for you in this thousandcasts!:yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeaht hat:

[Richard6908]

Letting the DNR handle it is not enough,imo and many others is that they shouldnt even be here.There a useless bird that eat a ton of fish and kill plants and trees like none other.If they where smart and actually wanted to do something about this they would open a season for the people.Even if it was 2 birds a day it would make a big difference because of the fact on how many people would be blast'n these useless, inconciderate, waste of space fish eating and plant killing things they call cormorants.:rant:

Feel a bit better after that:lol:

[QuakrTrakr]

What I'm wondering, is that the Double Crested Cormorant is a Federally protected bird. What can the State actually do?
http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:TB0uJ6-WEmEJ:www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/intrnltr/mbta/mbtandx.html+federally+protected+cormorant&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

[Spoon Fed]

I was thinking also if the asian carp get into the great lakes we could have a "Asian carp skeet shooting contest!" somebody drive a jet ski in circles, and shoot them when they fly out of the water!:evilsmile (not the jet ski);)

[mkroulik]

No funding??? Where can I donate some shotgun shells?

Mike

[Marrble Eyes]

"The order specifies that a person operating under it should first use nonlethal control methods, such as harassment and exclusion devices, when they are considered effective and practicable and not harmful to other nesting birds. Double-crested cormorants may be taken only by <b>egg oiling (with 100% corn oil), egg and nest destruction, cervical dislocation, firearms, and CO2 asphyxiation. A person using a shotgun must use nontoxic shot. A person may use decoys, taped calls, or other devices to lure within gun range double-crested cormorants committing or about to commit depredation of public resources.


Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't this in the Wyle Coyote-Road Runner cartoon series?

I suspect it was written by the ACME Demolition Company.

That last sentence "committing or about to Commit", is a catch all. Ever seen a Cormorant that wasn't about to commit depredation of public resources?
If it's near the Public waters it's fair game... :evilsmile

I have no doubt that if it were listed as a game bird with no closed season or bag limit that it would take but a few months for the population to suddenly decline drasticly. With no public funds needed.

Hell I'd mount two double barrel 10 guages to my rig and erradicate the Saginaw Bay population myself. :evil: Or have a bang up time trying.

[Linda G.]

I haven't kept up with all the migratory stuff lately, but have the Feds let go of the cormorants?

Last I heard they were still listed as migratory birds, limited permits were being released to hatcheries, specific individuals with businesses suffering from cormorant depredation and DNR personnel ONLY.

Unless the feds have taken them off the migratory list, anything the state government does is, as Ed said, lip-service.

[West Side AK]

With the plantings the DNR does, it'd only take a few years!

Just Make sure all the cormorants are out of there before the plantings occure... I was up at rockport a couple years ago and the DNR had JUST planting a bunch of 5-8 inchers in the boat launch slip... There had to be about a thousand of them birds floating on the water to fat to fly... To bad the DNR was present... I had shotgun in hand...