Duck-baiting hunters fined

[Wendell]

Anson P. Atwood, 47, of Beaverdam Lake Road and Richard T. Atwood, 52, of Clark’s Harbour pleaded guilty in Shelburne provincial court last Wednesday. A third hunter, Gordon A. Atwood, 58, of Clyde River went to trial, but Judge Jim Burrill found him guilty of the same offence. The three Atwood men are related.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1231874.html

Halifax, NS | Tue, March 8th, 2011

Duck-baiting hunters fined

By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau
Tue, Mar 8 - 4:54 AM

Two Shelburne County duck hunters recently pleaded guilty to sprinkling corn — lots of it — all around a blind they had set up next to a little pond off Clinton Road, near Beaverdam Lake.

Anson P. Atwood, 47, of Beaverdam Lake Road and Richard T. Atwood, 52, of Clark’s Harbour pleaded guilty in Shelburne provincial court last Wednesday.

A third hunter, Gordon A. Atwood, 58, of Clyde River went to trial, but Judge Jim Burrill found him guilty of the same offence. The three Atwood men are related.

It has been illegal to hunt ducks using bait in this country since 1916.

Anson and Richard Atwood were fined $2,000 each and Gordon Atwood was fined $500.

Richard Atwood was also fined $100 for hunting ducks without a federal migratory bird permit.

Someone who knew what the Atwoods were up to tipped off federal wildlife officials, said Craig Smith, operations manager for Environment Canada’s wildlife enforcement division in the Maritimes.

Officers were hiding when two of the gunners came to their blind at the crack of dawn on Oct. 8, the opening day of duck hunting season. The area had already been heavily baited with corn.

A third man arrived a little later.

When the shooting began, federal officers watched from concealment.

After the smoke had cleared, the hunters had just one bird, a green-winged teal, between them when a group of federal officers sprang from cover.

Officers told the gunners to hand over the bird. They also took three Remington semi-automatic shotguns and 2½ boxes of ammunition.

Fishery officers also played a big role in the operation, Smith said.

Anson and Richard Atwood were in the blind since daybreak. Gordon Atwood arrived at about 10 a.m.

The duck hunters did not have to use a duck call once, said Smith.

"The bait was bringing them in," he said.

"Once birds start coming to bait, you can’t stop them. You can shoot at them and they’ll just keep coming and coming and coming. That’s why it’s illegal.

"That urge to feed is so overwhelming.

"Yarmouth and Shelburne counties have traditionally been problem areas for baiting of ducks. The $2,000 fine is a substantial increase."

Previously, fines were in the $400 range.

None of the men will be allowed to hunt ducks for at least a year.

( bmedel@herald.ca)

© 2011 The Halifax Herald Limited
http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1231874.html

 

[2fat2fly]

The duck hunters did not have to use a duck call once, said Smith.

Must be pretty ####ty poachers to only get one bird between the three of them...over bait yet. Glad they got caught. Wonder how many times in the past they didn't.

 

[7mmlefty]

Most goose hunters lay decoys in cut corn fields... lots of corn all over the place....
Does that mean I cant shoot migratory birds in the corn patch ?... is there a difference in the law?.

I think the mnr and fisheries are looking for a cash cow that no farming community wants to be a part of, so they are only pleasing themselves.

The guy who snitched is either an anti hunter or simply wasnt invited to the hunt and got jealous

Might also be a city type living in the country, and doesnt like gunfire on the weekends while entertaining?.

 

[CROWCA]

Protect the poachers thats the CGN way!!!!

 

[TheTooner]

Most goose hunters lay decoys in cut corn fields... lots of corn all over the place....
Does that mean I cant shoot migratory birds in the corn patch ?... is there a difference in the law?.

...

The difference is if you put the corn there yourself, as they are said to have done, you put out bait to bring the animals to you. If the corn grew there, you didn't put out bait, you went to where the animals were going to go anyway.

 

[Sardaukar]

Most goose hunters lay decoys in cut corn fields... lots of corn all over the place....
Does that mean I cant shoot migratory birds in the corn patch ?... is there a difference in the law?.I think the mnr and fisheries are looking for a cash cow that no farming community wants to be a part of, so they are only pleasing themselves.

The guy who snitched is either an anti hunter or simply wasnt invited to the hunt and got jealous

Might also be a city type living in the country, and doesnt like gunfire on the weekends while entertaining?.

Yes.

One is legal, the other is poaching. And the first absolutely does not excuse the other.

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

Most goose hunters lay decoys in cut corn fields... lots of corn all over the place....
Does that mean I cant shoot migratory birds in the corn patch ?... is there a difference in the law?.

If you spent much time in fields hunting geese you would realise that spillage from farm practices is eaten up quickly and will not keep birds returning day after day.

The federal laws that regulate migratory bird hunting make allowances for hunting in areas that may contain agricultural byproducts.

 

[.17]

I have watched birds feed in a field for two weeks on grain left over after combining,also have seen them feed for a week or ten days when getting shot at just about every day.People bait bears,deer,coyotes,decoy ducks with mechanical devices and use scents and calls to bring in animals close enough to shoot and spreading corn out on the ground is a bad thing?

 

[dastt]

Some people just don't understand...

 

[7mmlefty]

If you spent much time in fields hunting geese you would realise that spillage from farm practices is eaten up quickly and will not keep birds returning day after day.

The federal laws that regulate migratory bird hunting make allowances for hunting in areas that may contain agricultural byproducts.

Thats the biggest load of bu!! s#!t Ive ever heard.

 

[CROWCA]

Moving the cause forward as usual !!!!If you can read, the regulations is a great place to start,if you choose to ignore them you have made a choice.Don't cry later if you get caught.

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

Thats the biggest load of bu!! s#!t Ive ever heard.

Please explain it to use less-enlightened folks.

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

I have watched birds feed in a field for two weeks on grain left over after combining,also have seen them feed for a week or ten days when getting shot at just about every day.People bait bears,deer,coyotes,decoy ducks with mechanical devices and use scents and calls to bring in animals close enough to shoot and spreading corn out on the ground is a bad thing?

Your are in Saskatchewan, the birds are probably cycling through as they head south. Also your fields tend to be quite large, I highly doubt that the birds were feeding in the same spot in the field for 10 days. Maybe feeding within the boundaries of the field but not in the same spot.

Baiting was outlawed along with market gunning because at the time it was used to concentrate large numbers which could then be killed and collected quickly for sale. When you put out bear bait you don't attract hundreds of small easily removed and sold birds.

Outlawing the baiting of waterfowl was to curb illegal market gunning.

 

[.17]

The selling of bear parts is a huge market Im guessing much more lucrative than selling a green winged teal which these criminals shot, it maybe against the law but I dont agree with the gun registry either.Sorry I just dont see the point of some good old boys throwing corn on the ground when I can use a robo duck and suck in birds by the hundreds.

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

The selling of bear parts is a huge market Im guessing much more lucrative than selling a green winged teal which these criminals shot, it maybe against the law but I dont agree with the gun registry either.Sorry I just dont see the point of some good old boys throwing corn on the ground when I can use a robo duck and suck in birds by the hundreds.

The laws where enacted at a time when market gunning was a big business.

Robos quit working when the ducks wise up to them, again you are in Saskatchewan your birds are fresh and more easily fooled.When your birds stay in the same area for a whole season, they wise up to the robos after the first month of the three month season. The bird can't wise up to bait, they are hardwired to eat as much as possible.

 

[mg34]

i know all 3 atwoods and DNR has been after them for many years, they made a slipup and got caught. if they got caught for the many things they have done over the years they would be in jail for 50 years.

 

[the spank]

Any avid waterfowler knows a little something about the migratory birds convention act so they generally know it is illegal to hunt anywhere witin 400 m of a place where they know bait has been placed(THAT IS RIGHT ON THE INFO SHEET WITH YOUR MIGRATORY PERMIT, HAS BEEN FOR YEARS). Bait can be placed up to 14 days prior to the start of the season but none must be present 7 days prior to the season so in other words dump all the corn you want until two weeks before your season starts but make sure there isnt any left 7 days prior to season. So what I want to know then since I field hunt alot for geese and ducks in fields harvested under normal agricultural practices, since this is not considered baiting but agricultural waste is.........HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH HUNTING WATERFOWL IN UNHARVESTED FIELDS OF CORN THAT ARE PURPOSELY FLOODED TO ATTRACT WATERFOWL FOR HUNTING PURPOSES???? IF YOU WATCH THE HUNTING SHOWS OR HAVE READ ANY HUNTING BOOKS YOU WILL SEE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR EONS ESPECIALLY IN THE US AND THEY SAY IT IS LEGAL.WHY AND HOW? FLOODING A CORN OR GRAIN FIELD OTHER THAN RICE IS NOT A NORMAL AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE THEREFORE THAT CROP IS NOT AGRICULTURAL WASTE. IF YOU HAVE EVER WATCHED OR BEEN NEAR ONE OF THESE AREAS LIKE A BAITED SPOT THE BIRDS JUST KEEP COMING AND COMING AS THAT OFFICER STATED, ESPECIALLY LATE SEASON WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS REAL COLD!!!

 

[.17]

i know all 3 atwoods and DNR has been after them for many years, they made a slipup and got caught. if they got caught for the many things they have done over the years they would be in jail for 50 years.

You have just made the best argument of them all.

 

[2fat2fly]

I have watched birds feed in a field for two weeks on grain left over after combining,also have seen them feed for a week or ten days when getting shot at just about every day.People bait bears,deer,coyotes,decoy ducks with mechanical devices and use scents and calls to bring in animals close enough to shoot and spreading corn out on the ground is a bad thing?

Yes, it's called POACHING.

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

HOW DO THEY GET AWAY WITH HUNTING WATERFOWL IN UNHARVESTED FIELDS OF CORN THAT ARE PURPOSELY FLOODED TO ATTRACT WATERFOWL FOR HUNTING PURPOSES???? IF YOU WATCH THE HUNTING SHOWS OR HAVE READ ANY HUNTING BOOKS YOU WILL SEE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR EONS ESPECIALLY IN THE US AND THEY SAY IT IS LEGAL.WHY AND HOW? FLOODING A CORN OR GRAIN FIELD OTHER THAN RICE IS NOT A NORMAL AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE THEREFORE THAT CROP IS NOT AGRICULTURAL WASTE. IF YOU HAVE EVER WATCHED OR BEEN NEAR ONE OF THESE AREAS LIKE A BAITED SPOT THE BIRDS JUST KEEP COMING AND COMING AS THAT OFFICER STATED, ESPECIALLY LATE SEASON WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS REAL COLD!!!

They harvest portions of the fields before hand and most clubs that do that That I'm aware of only shoot 3 or 4 days a week, on the non-shooting days the impoundments act as sanctuaries for the birds.

Flooding fields is a common practice in the south because it helps restore the nutrients in the soil. They have been doing it with all kinds of field for a century or two.

In alot of cases flooded corn provides refuges for birds that would otherwise fly on south. The fellows that run the clubs manage for not only bird numbers but sustainability and they definitely have an effect on wintering bird numbers and health.