What ARE we coming to???

[parsley]

I don't consider HT's neighbor (if the story reflects his normal behaviour) as lacking principles. He was fed up with marauding geese. They were not whooping cranes.

He is not a criminal offender, whichever way you try to paint him.

He simply isn't.

Officious enforcers were merely scooping up tax dollars. And they could because because stupid law, not smart law is in place. There is NO shortage of Canada geese. Farmers FEED geese year after year.

It's a stupid law.

The law would serve the preservation of wildlife better if it wasn't written, in this case, by an ass, and enforced, in this case, by complete asses.

Law should not be written so that it prompts disrespect. It has in this case, and as well, good will from the farm community has eroded, you'll notice, as you read this thread.

Is that sound legislation IF the goal serves the interest of preserving wildlife preservation?

I think not.

64 moles trapped in the yeard and still trapping. Has anyone grilled a mole filet? Pars

[TOM4CWB]

Parsley,

It is sad that gease and ducks have more rights to wheat and barley in western Canada than the farmers that grow that wheat.

No one should be surprised... as farmers are 'sweet hearts' in my far the majority of cases... and many do not even own guns any more. I am one that owns/has no gun. Gophers not-with-standing... no hunting either.

I convulse at the sight of blood... because I know spilt blood means someone is hurt... and in pain.

Blood is life... and life is precious.

God bless Canada... even if folks think we are wimps... we are Canada-ian wimps!!!

[parsley]

You are gunless? By choice or by legal proclamation? LOL

[TOM4CWB]

BOTH!!!

i ONLY WANT TO go to jail for selling our farms own home grown wheat and barley!!!

[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.