I'd be guessing AJ... But an adult may weigh 9lbs? For all we've shot in Saskatchewan I never thought to weigh one. No where near a dark goose.

Osky

Well I think that question came up this spring. Don't know If It came from the CC or not.
But I think It passed.

Yep, they can do some serious damage when the corn starts poking through the ground. They go after the cracked seed and leave the young plant laying on the ground. It looks like someone took a 1/2" drill bit where each seed was. I had big problems with them about 15yrs ago and that is when I started using Avitec seed treatment. It is called Avipel now and works like a charm!!

The Feds are the one that will decide if a season is in order, then the states will set that season up within the guidelines set up by the Feds. There has been talk of a season for several years. Michigan/USFWS have been issuing depredation permits for years. Many cranes are whacked each year.
One of my Yard Cranes almost made meat yesterday when it was in the driveway getting some shelled corn. A Chipmunk slipped too close and WHAM!, the crane jabbed it. The Chipmunk flopped a half second but the crane grabbed it up quick. The Chipmunk must have gotten it's wits about itself and squirmed enough the crane dropped it on the ground where it scampered off ASAP! That Chipmunk was only seconds from going down the hatch. I tossed those crane dead mice many times from snap traps in my shop, and they pounce on them a swallow them quick.

The sandhill cranes of Eastern Manitoba, minn wisc are a subspecies that is much larger than the birds that nest in the high attic areas
The largest cranes I have weight is 7.8 kg
The problem is that young Woopers birds look like sandhill cranes especially in low light shooting

Well if we get a season, and someone shoots a whooping crane, that'd be the end of the season.

Funny you mention Avipel, JB. I just learned about that this spring when a local farmer was telling me about it.

Farmers here have been treating seed with Avipel for years. The acreage goes up significantly every year as it works very well as a crane retardant. I teach Pesticide Applicator training every year and we advocate the product, especially in the lower lying acres near marshes that get planted later.

As to a season one will have to promote it more from the aspect of population stability and growth as lowering numbers won't help farmers much because the season will be in the fall and not in the spring when the emerging corn plants are vulnerable. Wisconsin being the center for the International Crane Foundation or some similar organization may make opening a season a bit more of a challenge.

Bryce

I know a guy that uses Avipel for his food plots. He's thinking it will deter more than just cranes from destroying his young corn plants.

That farmer by me must be quite frustrated. I've been out to the land the past 2 nights, and the pair was active in the farm on each side of our property.
They sure make quite a noise when they do their call. Though I've only heard them call once this week.
Tonight they flew over me (low). Dang, they are big.

Those cranes were back again this year. I haven't heard any more talk about a sandhill season.

This year in WI the cranes have had a field day, with thousands of acres planted over 2-3 months there has been new and emerging corn since early may to mid July. Usually when most corn is planted by the 20th of May crane damage in corn is over by early June.

Bryce

What say does a state have if a bird is designated migratory?
Why do many states have a season and we do not?

Zim

WI has made some initiatives for a season. I don't know where that is at now and when and how it stalled out. Instead of going rogue on things like this with federal influence on the issues with migratory species, I believe WI should check out how the other states were able to establish seasons and limits etc. No use just trying do something without having some plans and good evidence.

Also things may be held up or slowed down a bit as WI is the headquarters for the national or international crane association so that can have some impact on seasons and harvesting for cranes.

Bryce

Maybe after a year like this when crop damage is through the roof, we could try again to push something through the Conservation Congress in 2020. Although I doubt it's the farmers with crop damage due to cranes that need convincing.

But we made it work for mourning doves, so I would say theres at least some hope. Maybe get the feral cat thing back on the ballot to distract from the cranes!

I bet Mac the Diver would be willing to jump back on the cat wagon. He was getting familiar with death threats.

LOL Zim

One of the strongest arguments against a season if we want to use corn crop damage is the fact that a reasonably priced, effective, environmentally friendly product exists on the market to minimize or eliminate crane damage to corn. Much of the work to create that product was done by the UW extension specialists. I think it pays to look at how other states have been successful and what their season structures look like.

Bryce

Is that some sort of spray or seed coating Bryce? I'm no farmer, so I can't comment on how "reasonably priced" it might be, but allowing someone to hunt the land and shoot them for free or even for a small fee is a jump in the other direction.

As it stands, Tennessee and Kentucky are the only states east of the mighty Mississippi that allow crane hunting, with Alabama following suit and adding a limited draw season this year or next. Alabama has been studying crane populations since 2010 and has found approximately 15% population growth every year.

I wonder if the crane foundation has information on population for Wisconsin. Tough as hunters to put up the money year after year for a study like that with no promise of ROI. I wonder how Alabama funded their study.

It is a chemical that costs around $20 to $30 per acre and the liquid Avipel is far superior to the dry material that can get sorted out more easily. Most farmers are spending about 350-500 per acre to plant an acre of corn so adding 3 to 5% is not a major increase and it is extremely effective. Also hunting them in the fall does little to eliminate the issues as the crop destruction occurs for about 4-10 days during emergence in the spring depending upon temperature at the time. Later planted corn s far more likely to be damaged and those are the fields closest to our larger wetland areas where most cranes nest and stay.
I have not followed this as you have and having only two other states east of the Mississippi is not encouraging, plus the process will be lengthy but that should not detour us from trying to move forward.
We seem to get distracted or take on too many issues and then lose interest or energy. We have talked about feral cats, badgers, woodchucks, cranes etc.etc. we have only been successful with the woodchuck out of those. We should spend some time choosing policies we want changed and then do what is necessary to get it done.
I am sure the major farm organizations will be on board and they carry a lot of influence with several GOP legislators. We need to know how to work with these groups to move forward. I don't think the crane association is where we want to go with numbers for just WI. What we need and want are US or North American totals and how that compares to decades ago etc. Also if we do create a season we need to let all stake holders know that with seasons comes, management, resources, science etc. The best form of survival for many species is to have harvest seasons on them as that means R & D monies will come with that.

Bryce

Anyone know of a dnr or farm bureau person we could ask about the status of a potential season?

I do what I can to keep them from getting to thick.