Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

[rossman]

Here is an article of how a deer hunting opperation helped bring back a rare woodpecker.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051213/sc_nm/environment_bird_dc

Well, it's good they are crediting deer hunters with helping. But they make it out to be a rarity that hunters help preserve wildlife. Hunters main purpose is to maintain and preserve wildlife!!!! A deer hunters main purpose is to conserve deer herds. The trophies, stories and all of the good times we share a field come while preserving wildlife. These antis have to get it through their head that we hunters preserve wildlife in a way that they could never dream of!!!!!

Hunters are the main reason this world and our country has a natural balance of wildlife. In the article, they make it seem like it is a surprise that deer hunters could actually have it in them to let a rare species flurish. We hunt because we like the outdoors and enjoy the wild animals that are apart of it. We don't kill to descimate species of animals, we kill to help support a healthy balance of numbers in animals!!!!

I thought it was interesting, so I thought I would share!!!!!

--Rossman

[rockefeller66]

Re: Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

I agree with ya, good story

[Tominator]

Re: Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

Good story. I always thought the ivor bill was extinct, hopefully it will come back. We have Pileated Woodpeckers here, which are very similar to Ivory's. I once had a Pileated land about 5 feet from me while bowhunting. He was a bit surprised when he saw me blink.

[popgun]

Re: Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

It is a good article and shows the American Hunter in good light, however the bird may still be extinct.

Another epistle of popgun:

Or if you prefer to stick with a title that fits a hunting site, I’ll call this Another E-Pistol from Popgun.

Are we taking conservation a few steps too far?

I suppose by now most of you have heard of the recent sightings of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker here in Arkansas. This huge bird has a wingspan of about 30” which must make it a spectacular sight to witness. The Ivory Billed Woodpecker has been thought to be extinct. Up until now, there had been no sightings for over 44 years.

So far the Federal Government has stepped in and cordoned off approximately 5,000 acres until a complete study can be made to determine what kind of range these birds utilize. Of course you must realize that these birds do fly, and therefore could have a territory of hundreds of square miles.

I don’t know why the Ivory Billed Woodpecker is named as such. It should probably be called the Ivory Beaked Woodpecker to be a little more scientifically correct; after all, it is not in the duck Family, Class or Species. It has a beak, not a bill.

In 1966 an Ornithologist by the name of John Dennis thought he saw one of these magnificent birds in an area known as Big Thicket; a cypress bayou in east Texas. His sighting was never proven, and other ornithologists ruled out the possibility, because the habitat was just not right for the bird to exist there.

Nevertheless, in October 1974, an 84,550-acre preserve was set aside by Congress, and it is still called the Big Thicket National Preserve. Now that’s a lot of land.

I suspect the same thing will happen here in Arkansas.

A Corps of Engineers, Grand Prairie Irrigation Project worth over $319 million has been put on hold until a thorough study can be made. This project affects thousands of farmers in the area.

I am 58 years old and have never seen the Ivory Billed Woodpecker.

Thinking it was extinct, I never looked for it. I may have missed out on an awesome experience, but I can say the fact of having never seen this bird has not affected me personally.

I have also never seen a real, live dinosaur, even though my grandson probably thinks I grew up with them.

Does anyone remember the Snail Darter, or the Spotted Owl, or the strange cave salamander? How about the strange new species of deep water ocean creatures?

This sighting of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker has been verified by seven people, few of which are experts on this bird.

Were any of you adversely affected when this Ivory Billed Woodpecker was thought to be extinct?

Do any of you think the extinction, or salvation of a species is really worth all the hype?

I consider myself to be a naturalist, but also a realist, and I think they are going a little overboard again.

I wrote the above article 05-05-05 for another purpose, but this is still the way I feel about it 7 months later.

Since May, when I wrote this, there have been a few new developments.

1. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has cordoned off a large part of the Cashe River Bottoms for the observation teams, and has limited or stopped all access to close to 55,000 acres, of prime duck and deer habitat.

2. Over $10 million has been appropriated by the Federal and State Governments for study of this elusive bird.

3. Several observation points have been established.

4. Hundreds of “Birders” have been searching for this bird since May.

5. There still have been no further sightings.

6. The “video footage” of this bird is less than 10 seconds in length, and is in black & white.

7. There is some evidence that the footage may be of a type of duck and not a woodpecker at all.

8. In this modern age, why was the footage grainy, and in black & white?

9. There is a possibility that the footage was old footage and changed to video.

10. The photographer who took the footage was not an authority on the Ivory Billed Woodpecker.

11. No loud calls or noises may be made to attract this bird.

12. They have now searched 552,000 acres and still have not made any progress in seeing a bird with a 3 foot wing-span.

I won’t go on.

However:

Fool me once; shame on you.

Fool me twice; shame on me.

Fool me three times and I must be a complete fool.

Does anyone remember the Professors Richard and Louis Leakey?

They discovered the skull of one of our ancient ancestors and fooled everyone until it was later discovered that it was a skull made of several different species glued together.

Does anyone remember the Tasaday Natives, found living in the South Cotabato province in Mindanao, Philippines?

They were discovered in June of 1971 still living in caves, speaking a language all their own, and living naked in the jungle eating whatever they could find.

There were scores of professors from famous universities fooled on that hoax. Even with all the resources that the National Geographic Society had at their disposal, they were all taken in. In August 1972 they even devoted a 29 page article in their prestigious magazine to this subject. Finding 27 cavemen in the twentieth century was a “Big Deal”, but it turned out to be a hoax.

I mentioned earlier about this Ivory Billed Woodpecker having been discovered several years ago. Only after thousands of acres were set aside for its preservation, was it determined that the area in question was not suitable for the habitat of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker.

I want more proof.

Even if thousands of acres are set aside for the preservation of this “Last” Woodpecker, don’t the “Powers That Be” realize that this darned bird can fly?

What makes them think it won’t seek out a new region; or go where no bird has gone before, seeking out new and better tasting insect life forms, in a region far far from their designated area?

….popgun

[Guest Xen]

Re: Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

hmm, good point, i'd like to have faith in humanity at times like this and just hope (even if i do end up sounding naive) that they can bring some good out of all this

[whttlbucksteve]

Re: Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

It sounds to me like they are useing it as a way to stop hunting there.If hunting was going on with the bird there why stop them from doing so.All sounds a little fishy to me.

[browning_gold_12]

Re: Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

exactly whttlbucksteve, this supposed find has ruined alot of hunters seasons. this is the exact statement i made to one of our commisioners. "you have made these guys jump thru hoops to get into their duck holes, (a limited permit system is now in place), and here comes the IBW flying over. one good 'ol boy says to the other, theres that SOB thats messing up our hunting, BOOM BOOM, down he goes. BUT, on the other hand, if you leave it alone like it always has been, if old IBW flies over they might just say, there he goes boys, aint life grand!" IF it really exists, it has existed with hunters in the area, why screw it up now?? BG12

[wtnhunt]

Re: Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

Been hearing for a while now on the news out of Memphis about the Ivory billed woodpecker being in Arkansas. Seems there was a report just the other night about birdwatchers coming to the area who are searching for the thought to be extinct bird.

[arrow32]

Re: Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

Great story! Your right rossman we are hunters but i think our main mission is to preserve wildlife. We dont go a field just to be killing animals there is great friendships starting with hunting or fishing. And its about showing younger people to care that way there will always be those rights of hunting for them. Look at the NWTF it has brought turkey back to places where they have been run out. I think we are here for that purpose and for the taking of game!

[LETMGROW]

Re: Deer hunters save rare bird!!!

Something positive! We can hold our heads up most of the time. However sometimes a few make it a little rough on all of us.