Men cited for crane killing, hunting violations

ADDISON TWP. – Two young hunters were cited on the morning of Oct. 31 for allegedly killing a sandhill crane, a non-game bird that’s protected under both federal and state law, and multiple game law violations concerning waterfowl.

A 19-year-old Lapeer man and 18-year-old Oxford man are facing a 1:15 p.m. Dec. 14 arraignment before Judge Julie Nicholson in Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court on the misdemeanor charges of hunting waterfowl over bait, violating bag limits for ducks and hens, and taking a protected species.

In addition, the 18-year-old Oxford man will be arraigned on the misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He allegedly had a case containing three containers of marijuana, a pipe, rolling papers and a lighter.

The alleged crimes occurred in the 2600 block of Noble Rd.

According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s report, two women on a neighboring property witnessed the shooting of the sandhill crane. “As I was walking back to the barn, I heard the cranes overhead,” wrote one of the witnesses in a statement to deputies. “I looked up and they were the only birds in the sky. Just then, I heard a gunshot and watched as the crane fell to the ground.”

The other witness reported seeing the same thing in her written statement.

Both men denied shooting the crane, the report stated.

Unlike some other states, such as Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, “Michigan does not have a sandhill crane (hunting) season,” according to Tim Payne, southeast regional wildlife supervisor for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“They’re not considered threatened or endangered under Michigan law, but they are protected,” he said.

Sandhill cranes have an additional layer of protection on the federal level under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.

Sandhill cranes are 31.5 to 47.2 inches in length with wingspans of 5 to 6 feet, according to the National Geographic website. They weigh 6.5 to 14 pounds, have long legs, are gray in color and have heads topped with featherless, crimson crowns.

“Nobody should mistake a sandhill crane for a duck,” Payne noted.

In addition to allegedly shooting the crane, the two young men allegedly shot a total of 18 ducks – 15 mallards (nine drakes and six hens) along with three female wood ducks – much more than the law allows.

The daily bag limit is six ducks of any species, but no more than four can be mallards and no more than two of those can be hens, according to the DNR’s 2016 Waterfowl Hunting Digest.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Keith Weir, commander, of the Addison Township substation, noted all 18 ducks were actually taken illegally “because they were hunting over bait.”

According to the sheriff’s report, corn was found in the water beneath their duck decoys. “They admitted to placing it there (approximately) 10 days ago prior to hunting,” the report stated.

Violations of permits, game seasons, bag limits, shooting hours and legal methods of taking game are punishable by fines of up to $500 and/or up to 90 days in jail.

If convicted, the young men could also be required to make restitution payments of up to $500 per duck to the state’s Game and Fish Protection Fund.

 

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