Cormorants

So update from opening day Sept 15,2024. Foggy on the St Lawrence River this morning at 4:45am. Set the water decoys and all the shoal decoys and ready for action at 6:00. Legal was 6:13 in our zone so good to eat our Timmie’s breakfast sandwiches and second coffees. Oooh I feel a cramp haha. Packed up at 11:45 with a limit of 60 plus all the new winter residents lol. I occasionally forget how disgusting they stink or how bad the shoal smells when the wind changes!! The beautiful black lab is cash and this makes 800 retrieves on cormerants. Including all other fowl she’s at 2800 plus retrieves. A real pleasure too watch.IMG_0993.jpegIMG_0996.jpegIMG_1004.jpegIMG_0997.jpegIMG_0999.jpeg
 
MiG25 said:
I think they're a "Traditional Food" in the North Atlantic; Norway, Scotland, Iceland, etc.
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Never heard of them being consumed in iceland, but they do eat Puffin. They also eat Harkarl (sp?) Which is for lack of a better description, is putrified shark. Surprisingly, if you didn't know what you were eating, you would likely think old cheese.
 
You also dont wanna be on the downwind side of the shoal theyve been deficating on for the last ten years. The ammonia stink is undescribable . Just like smelling a decaying human. Its hard to explain unless youve experienced it which I hope none have too.
 
Growing up here on the east coast, Terence Bay, NS...in my area, they're know as Shag's !! There's harbors, islands and large rocks named after them. As youngsters, we'd row a mile to Shag Island with our trusty cooey repeaters and put a hurt on the local population. Didn't much matter tho...the island is now devoid of trees ! Killed off from the extremely acidic feces from the nesting sites.
A second island locally here (Woody Island) off of lower Prospect has gone thru the same tribulations. Nothing but grass and dead sticks that were once trees ! It's like that up and down the NS coastline...any point that juts out into the bays...sheltered coves and harbors all bare the Shag sh*t scars !!

We can't shoot them (( legally that is ..wink..wink..))...not sure what good the gub'ment or DNR or DFO SEES in em ???
 
kevin g said:
Growing up here on the east coast, Terence Bay, NS...in my area, they're know as Shag's !! There's harbors, islands and large rocks named after them. As youngsters, we'd row a mile to Shag Island with our trusty cooey repeaters and put a hurt on the local population. Didn't much matter tho...the island is now devoid of trees ! Killed off from the extremely acidic feces from the nesting sites.
A second island locally here (Woody Island) off of lower Prospect has gone thru the same tribulations. Nothing but grass and dead sticks that were once trees ! It's like that up and down the NS coastline...any point that juts out into the bays...sheltered coves and harbors all bare the Shag sh*t scars !!

We can't shoot them (( legally that is ..wink..wink..))...not sure what good the gub'ment or DNR or DFO SEES in em ???
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Any idea why those trees would have survived up until the days of your childhood, but haven't survived the last few decades? Were cormorants not around that area historically or something?


Longstud are you doing anything with the birds you are shooting, or are they all destined for the landfill? Obviously they're not considered good tablefare, just wondering if you've found a different use for 'em?
 
Suther said:
Any idea why those trees would have survived up until the days of your childhood, but haven't survived the last few decades? Were cormorants not around that area historically or something?
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There were dead trees back then on the islands as well. Not sure about the populations before my time...but oft Heard the uncles and older fishermen talk about them as nuisances !

We'd toss em in the ocean and let the sea critters have a feed ! Seagulls will pick em apart...if enuff feathers get off them they'll sink for the crabs and starfish and perry winkles
Suther said:
Longstud are you doing anything with the birds you are shooting, or are they all destined for the landfill? Obviously they're not considered good tablefare, just wondering if you've found a different use for 'em?
Click to expand...
 
Suther said:
Any idea why those trees would have survived up until the days of your childhood, but haven't survived the last few decades? Were cormorants not around that area historically or something?


Longstud are you doing anything with the birds you are shooting, or are they all destined for the landfill? Obviously they're not considered good tablefare, just wondering if you've found a different use for 'em?
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As much as I’m against wasting hunted anything, there’s no use that any of us can find for them. I live in the country and a tractor with a bucket makes a hole quick. We tried years ago to use them as food for other critters but nothing ate them other than turkey vultures. The smell is unbelievable. There are so many now that they’ve moved inland and are expanding their range at an alarming rate.
 
Hunted yesterday and it was rough with a straight stiff east wind. Shot a few from the first location but decided a move down river might give more opportunity for two hunters that had never shot cormorants. The move paid off with a limit for the two hunters. I played retriever with my boat. The shotkam pic shows what a skilled shooter and Tungsten can do!! Rather impressive.IMG_6996[1].JPGIMG_E1016[1].JPG
 
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The Common Cormorant, or Shag
Lays it's eggs in a paper bag
The reason, you will see no doubt,
Is to keep the lightning out.
But what these unobservant birds
Have failed to notice is that herds
Of wandering bears will come with buns
And steal the bags to hold the crumbs
 
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