Racial Composition of Migrant Populations of Sandhill Cranes in the Northern Plains States

Authors

Douglas H. Johnson, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Robert E. Stewart, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Date of this Version

1973

Comments

Published in The Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 85, No. 2 (Jun., 1973), pp. 148-162.

Abstract

During recent years, there has been increasing pressure to expand hunting seasons on Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) in the northern plains states. Hunters desire to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the sizable flocks of this large bird in this area. Prior to passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918, the Sandhill Crane was hunted and considered to have high sporting and eating qualities. In addition, complaints have been received from farmers regarding grain crop depredations by cranes. It has been suggested (Boeker et al., 1961:16) that flocks of cranes would be more widely dispersed by hunting pressure, thus alleviating local damage to crops.