Officials Alert Hunters To Crane Migration

[Jerry]

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Updated: November 13, 2004 7:22 AM

Officials with the US Fish and Wildlife Service are asking hunters to know their targets as the annual whooping crane migration reaches its mid point.

The birds often rest in Oklahoma on their way to their winter destinations along the Texas coast.

Officials in Kansas recently investigated the shooting of two migrating whooping cranes.

Service Special Agent Tom McKay says anyone who kills the endangered birds could be fined up to 100-thousand dollars or spend a year in jail under the Endangered Species Act.

The whooping cranes have white plumage and a red facial mask.

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[KSRobin]

Hey Jerry,

I read about this - the incident actually happened in our part of the state. Thanks for bringing it to everyone's attention. It's important that we preserve these endangered birds.

It's also important that we know exactly what we're aiming at *before* squeezing that trigger. Accidents happen. . . but I've heard of some funny (& some not so funny) 'accidents' over they years.

Such as the pair of hunters who mistakened a cow for a deer, and a posted 'no hunting' area as available for hunting. To top it off - they were taping their 'hunt' so the entire incident was on film!

Saw a lot of hunters in the western part of Kansas over the weekend - opening pheasant weekend!