got this net in today to see if I can rig it on my dock for during the week to keep the evil water turkey with the squirts off my dock when I'm not there.
will do Tbar....I wish I could net the entire pond during the time the water-turkey are mainly around these parts...but at 4 acres I just think it would be a stretch to make it work....plus the cost of that much netting...but gosh I'd like to stop these sob's
If their digestive tract is anything like a King Fisher's, they squirt immediately after they have gorged themselves on your fish. All that white is your fish they ate a little earlier in the day.
I have all sorts of fowl this year. Ducks, Canada Geese, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Heron, Water Turkeys and Pelicans. Its a wonder I have any fish left at all.
Tbar I've got an Overton's electro survey next month to see how bad the damage is...but it may be hard to determine otter vs bird damage.
If it's as bad as I think it might be...i may actually look into netting some or most of the 4 acre pond next year:
I have all sorts of fowl this year. Ducks, Canada Geese, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Heron, Water Turkeys and Pelicans. Its a wonder I have any fish left at all.
Tbar I've got an Overton's electro survey next month to see how bad the damage is...but it may be hard to determine otter vs bird damage.
If it's as bad as I think it might be...i may actually look into netting some or most of the 4 acre pond next year:
Maybe this could be useful for cormorant season, then could be taken down. Also, I wonder how easy this would be to set up & take down when you want to fish a netted area?
Maybe this could be useful for cormorant season, then could be taken down. Also, I wonder how easy this would be to set up & take down when you want to fish a netted area?
anthropic...if i do it..yes taken down after diving water-turkey season...I don't really care anymore about the herons that walk along the shore...they seem so much less damaging and tend to work alone.
I am not sure exactly what the season is for the diving under the water water-turkey. It seems like they appear here and there...but the big groups of them are just during a specific season..mating season? migration season? both?
As far as fishing I could live without fishing Jan/Feb or fish my smaller ponds which for some reason the water turkey appear to be ignoring.
Zep - Please let us know if you can see a reduction in cormorants from the reflective tape. I've been seeing a few scouts at my place in Fayette County, Tx also. My populations haven't exploded like I expected and believe the cormorants are impacting my pond negatively.
I just got some reflective tape in and will put it out in a couple weeks. My pond is about 3 acres, long and narrow and I don't know how much reflective tape I need to put out.
Al, like you, the cormorant will take to the opposite end of the pond when they hear or see my side by side. So to solve this problem I stop short of the pond. Up on the hill some 100 yds away from the pond where I take position. I just replaced my Remington 22 mag with a new Eagle 22mag simi automatic. Made @ Magnum Research Pillager MN. Bull barrel, Carbon coated. Mounted with a Nicon 3x12 scope. Purchased yesterday. I then went to our new indoor riffle range. Red River Riffle Range. All new facility and a really nice club. After shooting around 40 rounds the riffle is Bulls eyed @ 100 yds with a 40 grain bullet. Now going back to the pond, it may take a 300yd shot to discourage the birds. It's all about elevation and windage
Last edited by TGW1; 02/20/1909:24 AM.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
ZEP, you may not remember my posting a few yr's ago where the cormorants drove hundreds of 4" TFS to a corner of the pond where I found the shad dead a floating, along with a couple of 14" hsb and one 8 to 9" cnbg. After all that I declared war! I remind you of this because of the damage they can and may do at your pond. You may want to re-read my last post here for discouraging the cormorants @ your place. OH! the 22 mag will also discourage River Otters and beavers.
Last edited by TGW1; 02/20/1910:00 AM.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Fayette, find the posts here from anthropic and his experience with the tape. I think he is in his second year of experience with the tape. Maybe he will join back in to tell of what he has seen at his place.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Mark, look at fiberglass garden hoops for your dock. Just drape netting over it while you're gone. The bottom of the hoops should fit in the gaps between the decking boards.
Tracy, I can reach out and touch aerial evildoers, but the problem is houses, cows, and horses. I'd be shooting a flat round at water, and a bounce could be a big problem. Using a shotgun makes me sleep better.
Zep - Please let us know if you can see a reduction in cormorants from the reflective tape.
Will do Fayette....I placed quite a bit of the reflective tape out last Sunday and was there at the property like 3-4 hours afterwards and it appeared to be working, but after I left to go back home...well I dont know? An additional roll of tape arrived yesterday and I will add more this weekend. Even if it's 50% effective that's a start.
The shooting them...which I know no one is advocating beause it's illegal....seems over-rated....especially if you dont live on site....ok lets pretend it's legal to shoot them....lets say you kill 1, 2, 3, 4, of them on a weekend....wont others the next day that were miles away and not aware of the shooting just land and start eating the fish again? If it were legal...shooting them may provide some satisfaction...but I doubt it would actually be very effective with so many birds in and out of the area.
Al, like you, the cormorant will take to the opposite end of the pond when they hear or see my side by side. So to solve this problem I stop short of the pond. Up on the hill some 100 yds away from the pond where I take position. I just replaced my Remington 22 mag with a new Eagle 22mag simi automatic. Made @ Magnum Research Pillager MN. Bull barrel, Carbon coated. Mounted with a Nicon 3x12 scope. Purchased yesterday. I then went to our new indoor riffle range. Red River Riffle Range. All new facility and a really nice club. After shooting around 40 rounds the riffle is Bulls eyed @ 100 yds with a 40 grain bullet. Now going back to the pond, it may take a 300yd shot to discourage the birds. It's all about elevation and windage
Tracy I use a .22 mag with Hornady 30 grain 2200 FPS and a lot flatter shooting. I have had good luck out to 150 yds...... not on cormorants of course......
Mark, that's what I was referring to. It shouldn't be rigid enough to do anything but support the bird netting. They're just flexible plastic or fiberglass rods that you bow into shape. Just a thought.
There are some people around here that would want to know 2 things about these birds: Is there a limit on them and do they taste like chicken?
Nothing like seeing your bobber bobbing. 1 acre pond with LMB BG GSF BH CC and whatever else I can find Not after trophies I just like catching and eating fish Buddy R Hill
Maybe this could be useful for cormorant season, then could be taken down. Also, I wonder how easy this would be to set up & take down when you want to fish a netted area?
anthropic...if i do it..yes taken down after diving water-turkey season...I don't really care anymore about the herons that walk along the shore...they seem so much less damaging and tend to work alone.
I am not sure exactly what the season is for the diving under the water water-turkey. It seems like they appear here and there...but the big groups of them are just during a specific season..mating season? migration season? both?
As far as fishing I could live without fishing Jan/Feb or fish my smaller ponds which for some reason the water turkey appear to be ignoring.
One plus with netting is that you can put it over feeder areas. Fish can still get the feed, but geese will find it more difficult to steal. Also, cormorants don't get so many easy fish.
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