What ARE we coming to???

[checking]

"there is No shortage of Canada geese."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_Pigeon#Causes_of_extinction

Quote - the extinction of the passenger pigeon aroused public interest in the conservation movement and resulted in new laws and practices which have prevented many other species from going extinct.

If you dispute this, they ask you to go on "citation needed" to challenge them.

I notice "new laws" and "preventing extinction", in the same sentence. You say "no written laws" and what, Parsley?

I would say "chaos", if it would help you out. (lol)

[parsley]

No written laws by asses, is the meaning.In other words, some dumb ass wrote it.

You're spunky today, though, checking. Vigour is refreshing. Pars

[dirtgirl]

Harder to prove intent when you decimate their nests with the air drill.

[rbrunel]

Your comments on wrecking nests with equipement is an interesting one. Did you know enviro canada wanted to impose permits to farmers for unintentional take while preforming farming operations. I know for a fact that all major farm groups in canada opposed this. This is way off in left field.
We have thousands of migratory bird pass over our farm every year. A shotgun and licence is a great way to protect my crops. And if its raining its a great passtime too. I have never tried mole pars. But I have eaten many of duck and gooose.

[rockpile]

The rules and regulations regarding migratory birds
have been in place forever. The best you could do
in Alberta was to get a permit to scare, but that did
not include to kill. As for planting disturbance, I
don't ever recall a goose nest in a field - ducks,
yes, but geese seem to be more discreet and nest
closer to waters surrounded by natural habitat. At
the end of the day, I feel in the case of Happytrails
post that like Paul Harvey, I await the rest of the
story. For starters, lead shot has been banned for
years. Someone suggested that our laws were
inspired by endangered species legislation but I
submit they were driven long before that by Ducks
Unlimited so that hunters south of the 49th always
had an ample supply of ducks and geese for winter
recreational shooting. Given all that, it amazes me
that enforcement of poaching and wildlife
legislation can get you into hotter water than some
of the serious criminal code violations.

[Happytrails]

Thanks for the discussion everyone. It is good to see that some of us believe in sticking up for ourselves. If we don't who will? My favorite definition of a liberal is someone too broad minded to take their own side in a dispute. We have a few of those too.

I know there are rules and one can't expect every authority to enforce them wisely. However beyond the specifics of this case a couple things bother me.

1 Our government putting out spys among us. In this case it is apparently to protect wildlife but what might be next? Maybe the animal health act or crop protection or whatever. We are citizens and should be presumed part of the solution not part of the problem.

2 If the wildlife officers are truely concerned about geese shouldn't they try to liase with the landowners upon whose crops they are feeding? Their charges are feeding on untold acres of private land during migration. Who knows more about what is happening on the land than the person who owns it? It seems to me that they should try to benefit from the landowners presence rather than treat him like a poacher.

I hope most of you are getting the crop off...it looks to be a good price. We're still haying... trying to get some green to go with the brown. HT

PS My neighbor doesn't need to loose his temper to protect his crops. If you think that shooting away from the geese will spook them I know who is stupid.

[Ron]

I call bullshit. If he was trying to
scare the geese off he didnt have to
shoot near them, if he somehow hit the
goose by accident then finish it with a
shot or a whack and leave the damned
thing.
Its thanksgiving weekend for christs
sake, he was poaching a goose for his
dinner and he got caught and is now
trying to get somebody on his side.

The federal agents, lead shot, distance
from town etc don't matter much. He
shot the bird for his supper and is now
lying about it.

[mustardman]

Ron I second that motion.

[Happytrails]

Ron. I've usually got some sparrows in my shop. I use a BB gun to deter them.
Shooting at them works a little. Hitting one works a LOT.

He is not lying. HT

[parsley]

So what the hell if he ate one goose? How many has he fed! One goose and the hanging party starts to twitch with anticipation.

Does any land owner really deserve a fine for shooting ONE goose on his land? Isn't that plain ludicous?

The government gives farmers tax bebfits for bulldozing every tree for and draining every ounce of water via tiles, but you object to one goose on the grounds of preservation?

That kind of reasoning prompts mules to fart.

Jeez, guys, I'm the conservationist. Pars

[wmoebis]

I'm with you in principal Pars.
I also have mule deer, Flagtail deer, Moose, Antelope, elk, geese, ducks, partridge and prairie chicken feeding on my land. I should eat well.

Maybe the first truck load of his grain will be contaminated with goose droppings. Then wildlife will pay to have crop comercialy cleaned. Saving him cleaning at port charges and frieght to port on screenings. Heck maybe even improve grade.

[oneoff]

Just proves there are consequences. That some don't like those consequences is immaterial.