Should Sea gulls be hunted?

[Keith Sage]

Shoul Seaguls be on the list of hunted vermin?

[SARDog]

Ther are so many of them they are just as bad as the comorants are now. back in the early 80's they were in trouble with all the dioxins in the rivers but now they are over populated and in need of thinning out like the wolf.

[Keith Sage]

in canada there called $#!t hawks. I have many times called then sky rats..

[rabbit whacker]

Somehow sitting down to a gourmet dinner of Seagull doesn't sound very appetizing to me.

[stevebrandle]

I think sportsmen have to be careful when we look to add a non-game species to hunt. Two reasons for this.

One, we need to funnel any leverage towards additional hunting opportunities towards game such as mourning doves. This is a legitimate game bird- hunted in other states and pretty good on the table.

Two, the anti's just love pointing the finger at varmant hunting such as crows, woodchuck, etc. where the animal or bird isn't usually utilized. They call it "using live creatures for target practice." It dosen't matter if controling these helps the ecology, it's tough to defend this kind of hunting with the non-hunting public. The only time the non-hunting public will approve of it, is when they see a benifit to them.

The last time there was a mourning dove bill up for a vote, there was a letter written to the editor of The Saginaw News voicing this sentiment. An obvious non-hunter questioned why hunters wanted to shoot doves for a small piece of meat. ("I like shrimp, too, said Ted Nugent" :D ) His resoning was, "why shoot a living target people like to see in their backyards, when all of the crows carry West NIle disease?" Although, I would tell him "let's be able to shoot both", this is the public's way of thinking.

With all this in mind, I'd have to agree sea gulls could be thined out. But, before we ask the DNR to do a study on how many gulls could be culled without harming the ecology, (gulls do serve as scavengers) I'd be focusing on other issues. The general population will request a sea gull reduction if it gets much worse. I think sportsmen need to stay neutral on the subject.

[Eastern Yooper]

Seagulls actually help keep the shorelines and waterways clean with their scavenging.

Yeah their numbers could use a little thinning, but they rank a distant 2nd place behind cormorants.

[One Eye]

You mean "white crows"??

Do you plan to eat them???? If not, then what other productive use would you make of them?

Dan

[Jackone]

I agree with Trout. It would be difficult to hunt Seagulls as they tend to congregate in populated areas and cities. Actually around here (Kalamazoo) we have Terns which are related to a Gull. Most people call the Tern a Seagull. Hunters would have to learn the different species just like a duck hunter has to learn the different species of ducks. We can't just go out and shoot any white bird flying over a parking lot. Besides, hunting is usually banned around parking lots anyway and that is where they all are. :rolleyes: :eek: ;)

[Bow Hunter Brandon]

My brother and I were talking about this just the other day.
Like has already been mentioned most live in populated areas so hunting them would be difficult at best.
When I was younger I remember being told that they were protected.

[SARDog]

Actually there is nothing such as the "sea" gull, It is called the Herring gull. 43 different species. They do need thining out because more and more a too far inland and compeat for food with other more common inland birds.

[Jackone]

I think now they're called "Parking Lot Gulls". LOL:D

[ESOX]

I think Gulls in general are as vital as the garbage trucks that roll by the house on a weekly basis, sometimes unpleasant, but vital. But I never did have a garbage truck try to fly away with a topwater bait. :eek: I believe most species of Gulls are federaly protected. Who would ever want to eat a winged garbage dump anyhow???

[Jackone]

Good point. I don't think I would want to. :p :p

[Lunker]

Even their feathers stink like rotten fish... I d hate to think of what they taste like. I like those little black headed terns and ring billed but they are always picked on by those huge Herring gulls. They do clean up all the gobies you leave on the peirs and all the dead sheephead and carp people kill and let lay.

[DaveW731]

I was originally in favor of shooting gulls, till I read the responses on this post. Now, it does seem like it would create more problems than it solves.
As far as cormorants are concerned.....I assume they are only around the great lakes...don't think I have ever seen one this far inland.
Now.....speaking of nuisance birds: What about a more liberal season on Canadian Geese....those suckers are a real pain in the ***** around here...I am tired of walking through goose droppings around the boat launches and shorelines around here!

[NEMichsportsman]

Originally posted by SARDog
but now they are over populated and in need of thinning out like the wolf.

I will agree with the seagull part....

I don't really know if their numbers have a detrimental effect on the environment. They certainly are annoying, but I am not sure that is a good enough reason to cull the population. If it was there would be a lot fewer people around these days:eek:

[MIFowlHunter]

Let me know when season opens, I need to get my dumpster blind, robo "flopping fish", and Burger King wrapper decoys ready!!!:D :D

[Steely-Head]

Yes

[Todder]

I wish there was a season on sky carp. I also have issues with Comorants and Canadian Geese. For now I'll just have to settle up with the geese.

[Lil' Tanker]

I love to hunt and I would love to hunt year round. But enough is enough there are plenty of seasons to kill plenty of species. It is alright if we can't kill everything at somepoint throughout the deer. If the existing seasons are not enough try fishing.:)

[Todder]

Originally posted by Lil' Tanker
I love to hunt and I would love to hunt year round. But enough is enough there are plenty of seasons to kill plenty of species. It is alright if we can't kill everything at somepoint throughout the deer. If the existing seasons are not enough try fishing.:)

My problem is not with the having enough to hunt. It is that sea gulls seem to be a nuisance.