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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,730 Likes: 289
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,730 Likes: 289 |
Wiley creatures - discouraged 9 since March
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
I used to detest the herons. Yes I've had some large valuable fish skewered too. But I won't apply for the $100.00 Fish and Wildlife permits or shoot them anymore. Why? There are nonlethal ways to discourage them and I would hope I'm smarter then they are. Killing them is only a short term solution until the next one shows up. It's like thinking you're going to eliminate flies by swatting them. It's just a never ending destructive process. And the process of eradicating them is wasted time i could be using for more productive endeavors. I also detest killing any amimal unless it's absolutely necessary. I guess I'm getting sentimental in my old age.
Additionally if you resort to just shooting them, most likely you will have one visit and do destruction when you're not around. I can assure you they can show up on a moonlit night while you're fast asleep. Been there done that.
My stakes and lines work for me 24/7. No dead birds, wasted time, and best of all no dead fish. I may even try and electric fence sometime.
If i was a recreational pond owner I wouldn't be concerned at all. I'd just enjoy their presence. Most of the time your larger healthy fish will be in too deep of water for them. Other than spawning time if a large bass or bluegill is hanging around in shallow water there is something wrong with them. Many times sick fish get speared by a heron and he gets the blame when the fish was on the way out anyway.
It's your smaller more abundant fish they are after. I once had a pond owner complain about the damn herons eating his fish, but in the same breath he complained about his stunted 3 to 5 inch bluegills. Go figure.
They eat snakes, mice, moles, and rats too. I started to have a problem with five star moles that hang around my waterline and do more damage than muskrats. And terrestrial crayfish that were digging up my yard. Guess what? After laying off the herons it seems their numbers are down.
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 06/11/10 08:22 PM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,801 Likes: 69
Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,801 Likes: 69 |
Appreciate as always your take on the issue, Cecil. You make some points that hit home in my scenario - I think the GBH are only taking my GSH and since my pondweed explosion I'm seeing far fewer signs of their presence than the last two years. Guess they have left for easier pickings as my vegetation probably presents some major issues in their hunting efforts. I haven't seen fresh tracks or their scat around the pond for several weeks.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,676 Likes: 889
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,676 Likes: 889 |
I kinda took you for a mink guy? I love their presence in my pond - hopefully helping cull my muskrat population of which I've successfully trapped ZERO animals! Argh! That's right, we didn't have time for any lessons, did we? I'll have plenty of time between Oct. 30th and Jan. 31st....
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,730 Likes: 289
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,730 Likes: 289 |
In case it was not clear, I was referring to muskrats.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,094 Likes: 287
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,094 Likes: 287 |
Herons are, like most birds, Federally protected. So, if any accidents happen, don't post the results of the accident here or anywhere else.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 914
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 914 |
I would feel bad if I knew someone that had an accident with a heron. And my customers would remain blissfully ignorant. But please do not take me for kill em all let God sort them out Frog. I go out of my way to take care of species I see at my ponds, even those I don't want. For emample Garter snakes. They are super frog killers. But not that difficult to catch. I have a critter container, normally carry it in my truck just in case. I catch them, get all stinky, and relocate them to a nature reserve creek area by my home.
Several times this season while mowing cattails I have come across active bird nests. Mainly coots and blackbirds. I actually leave them completely alone. Last week I was cutting back cattails and my son said there is a nest with a baby bird in it. We cut around it and left the stand and nest there. And I am under contract to cut this stuff down. I just explain to the customer and normally they are appreciative as long as I come back when the nest is empty and do my job.
The geese are another issue. Dam poop machines. Really bad. Even if I bottle rocket or popper them away I usually see them back later in the day or next week. If I could capture and relocate to a safe haven any animal or bird I would. Well, maybe not muskrats.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,505 Likes: 3
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,505 Likes: 3 |
The geese are another issue. Dam poop machines. Really bad. Even if I bottle rocket or popper them away I usually see them back later in the day or next week. If I could capture and relocate to a safe haven any animal or bird I would. Well, maybe not muskrats.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 108
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 108 |
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." Doug Larson
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 914
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 914 |
Concept, Herons are territorial and will bypass a pond where they see another heron. Reality, they get it figured out pretty quick, hey this is not a real bird. I have seen them feeding right next to them. As far as decoys one of the most realistic and working I have seen are the coyotes, not Wile E. Not much lands around them, ever.
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