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Joined: Jul 2010
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Hall of Fame 2014
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anybody else have water-turkey right now? last weekend when I saw one for the first time i didnt know what it was at first I though it was a duck but it seemed a bit large for a duck it was diving under the water like crazy then i found out what it was Plus Tues I got this e-mail from a pond mgt company: "Howdy, Please keep a lookout for cormorants (water turkeys) now that the weather has cooled. We have already seen a few lakes completely wiped out in the last 30 days and there is still several months left before they migrate on. They can be scared off by whatever method you prefer or there is a permit that can be obtained to shoot them as well. Please note that they can each eat 2-3 pounds of fish daily which means a flock of 30 can eat almost 100 pounds of fish (retail value of $2,250) in one day and at that level it does not take long to ruin a lake. I cannot overemphasize how destructive these birds can be in short amount of time". Water Turkey Eating Fish
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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I've been seeing them around DFW for awhile. You've just gotta hope that they don't drop by. Like most birds, they are Federally protected. However, you can get a depradation permit that will enable you to protect your fish. The problem is being there 24/7.
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: Nov 2011
Posts: 910
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910 |
There is an island located about 8 miles from my house that has over 400 of these pests. Google cormorant on Swift Creek Reservoir. Sometimes they will be 50 or more on one of my ponds. They are like trespassers, I have no clue as what to do for them. We are only up there only on the weekend and if you shoot at them on one pond they go to the other pond.
Two ponds, 13 and 15 acres on the Mattaponi River.
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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You stay at one pond with a shotgun and I will stay at the other... They'll learn quick I hope. HAHA
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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If any of you guys unintentionally damage one of them, keep your mouth shut.
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: Nov 2011
Posts: 910
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910 |
Dave, up here we can take plug out of gun to hunt deer. Since my bird dogs are long dead, this is the perfect red neck hunting. My next goal is 5 for 5 on the rise. You Texans would do the same. Have you tried them baked with stuffing?
Two ponds, 13 and 15 acres on the Mattaponi River.
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Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
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If any of you guys unintentionally damage one of them, keep your mouth shut. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8105U1WY9ro
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910 |
Mark, they are here year around. They have 2 colonies that nest here within 50 miles of my ponds. They clean out goldfish ponds pronto.
Two ponds, 13 and 15 acres on the Mattaponi River.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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ken....how bad are they on your regular ponds? Do they destroy a bass/bluegill/crappie population?
when i saw the one at my pond he was constantly diving under the water but I never saw him surface with a fish....do they swallow the fish while underwater or do they normally surface with the fish and eat the fish above water?
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 721
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 721 |
Here Commercial aquaculture facilities are permitted by law to take cormorants as required to protect their business interests. In other words alot of people have fish farms in my area. This allows them to aviod going thru the state for permits before the taking. Alabama generally reports moderate predation problems from them.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910 |
I use bucket feeders to bait catfish so we catch them easily. The cormorants will stay around them and you have to get super close to them before they go to another part of your pond. They will not leave the pond until dark. I don't know if they eat the pellets or bg. The catfish are too big for them. When I can remember to take my Rem. super mag. I don't have to get close to discourage them.
Two ponds, 13 and 15 acres on the Mattaponi River.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910 |
Mark, I didn't see your question until now. If your ponds are fertile you should be fine. The front pond has a ton of smaller fish that need to be thinned anyway. The back pond has shad which I believe is their fish of choice there, so big loss there either. Otters seem to prefer catfish or turtles as we find the heads of cats up on wood and turtle shells in the fields. It is nice how they don't leave any thing but the main shell. They eat head, toenails and bones. I have no idea why. Travis(CJBS2003) found 2 new shells Tues.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300 |
Mark, we had one at the farm yesterday. First one I've seen in months, and it was raining to hard to worry about. I'll try to relocate him later this week.
Last edited by FireIsHot; 12/26/12 06:03 AM.
AL
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