Conservation Groups Say Fall Sandhill Crane Hunt Won't Protect Spring Crops From Damage

Monday, October 25th, 2021 -- 8:02 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) A proposed fall sandhill crane hunt is drawing the ire of conservation groups.

Conservation groups say that a proposed fall sandhill crane hunt is a poor idea if the intended reason is to prevent damage to crops. Ann Lacy with the Crane Foundation says that hunt will do little to prevent damages to crops in the spring. "It's almost like they're being sold a bill of goods: if we have a hunting season that your problems will be solved. And that is patently false."

Lacy with the Crane Foundation says there is a 100 percent effective bird repellant on the market that does not hurt cranes. "Cranes do not damage corn that is treated with Avapel if it is put on correctly in areas where there are cranes around that might damage their corn."

Lacy with the Crane Foundation says the sandhill crane holds a special significance in Wisconsin. "Cranes have a different quality about them and of course here in Wisconsin we often invoke Aldo Leopold and the famous shack and the Aldo Leopold Foundation is literally down the road from us here at the Crane Foundation."

The Wisconsin Corn Growers and conservative hunting rights groups Hunter Nation say a fall hunt will prevent damage to spring plantings of corn. The DNR says cranes did less than a million dollars worth of damage to 20-20's 2 point 1 billion dollar corn harvest.

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