Stop the Utah Crow Hunt

Calling Fish Crow, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, FloridaCalling Crow

UPDATE: The Utah Wildlife Board foolishly approved a Crow Hunt for Utah

This is a follow up on my post from yesterday titled “Help Stop the Utah Crow Hunt” and deals with the codes of the Division of Wildlife Resources and Wildlife Board. I have made bold the sections of this code that I feel need to be addressed or that I have questions about.

Utah Code – Title 23 – Chapter 14 – Division of Wildlife Resources and Wildlife Board

23-14-3. Powers of division to determine facts — Policy-making powers of Wildlife Board.

(1) The Division of Wildlife Resources may determine the facts relevant to the wildlife resources of this state.

(2) (a) Upon a determination of these facts, the Wildlife Board shall establish the policies best designed to accomplish the purposes and fulfill the intent of all laws pertaining to wildlife and the preservation, protection, conservation, perpetuation, introduction, and management of wildlife.

(b) In establishing policy, the Wildlife Board shall:

(i) recognize that wildlife and its habitat are an essential part of a healthy, productive environment;
(ii) recognize the impact of wildlife on man, his economic activities, private property rights, and local economies;
(iii) seek to balance the habitat requirements of wildlife with the social and economic activities of man;
(iv) recognize the social and economic values of wildlife, including fishing, hunting, and other uses; and
(v) seek to maintain wildlife on a sustainable basis.

(c)
(i) The Wildlife Board shall consider the recommendations of the regional advisory councils established in Section 23-14-2.6.
(ii) If a regional advisory council recommends a position or action to the Wildlife Board, and the Wildlife Board rejects the recommendation, the Wildlife Board shall provide a written explanation to the regional advisory council.

(3) No authority conferred upon the Wildlife Board by this title shall supersede the administrative authority of the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources or the director of the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Amended by Chapter 211, 1995 General Session

I have added my own thoughts and notations below the items I highlighted above by making them bold.

23-14-3. Powers of division to determine facts — Policy-making powers of Wildlife Board:

Where are the facts? Where is the science? Where is the data that a study would provide?

(2) (a) Upon a determination of these facts:

What facts? No facts were presented, the information shared so far has been anecdotal. No official complaints of depredation have been addressed that include names, dates and how much damage was done to the crop. Was it ten peaches or 100? Failure to disclose that information makes the alleged depredation appear to be nothing more the hearsay.

Wildlife Board shall establish the policies best designed to accomplish the purposes and fulfill the intent of all laws pertaining to wildlife and the preservation, protection, conservation, perpetuation, introduction, and management of wildlife:

What policies were best designed by the Wildlife Board to accomplish the preservation, protection, conservation, perpetuation and management of Utah’s crow population when there have been no scientific studies done on the crow population, counts of nesting birds, nestlings that survive and fledge? Does the Wildlife Board understand that in Utah we have resident and migratory crows that are only here during a few weeks in winter? That the number of crows we see swells when those migratory birds are here. That during the proposed hunting dates resident crows will be the only crows around because the large flocks of migratory crows don’t arrive until after the first season closes?

(i) recognize that wildlife and its habitat are an essential part of a healthy, productive environment;

Crows; much the same as any other bird species, are an essential part of a healthy, productive environment. In addition they are carrion eaters which helps to clean up the environment.

(iv) recognize the social and economic values of wildlife, including fishing, hunting, and other uses; and:

Has the Wildlife Board fully recognized the social and economic value of bird watching, photography, wildlife watching and how all bird species fit into those values including the American Crow?

(v) seek to maintain wildlife on a sustainable basis.

How can this board seek to maintain crows on a sustainable basis when there are no studies that give an official number for the crow population, for the number of nests in Utah, the number of eggs in the nest and the number of young that survive? How can they say the number of crows is increasing without those studies? How much the crow population has increased in Utah at this point is merely an uninformed assumption or worse yet, a guess.

We need facts, data, studies and science not misinformation, assumptions and vagueness about alleged crop and livestock depredation complaints.

There are 71.1 million wildlife watchers in the U.S. who spend $55 billion dollars each year in the pursuit of wildlife activities. A portion of those wildlife watchers are people from out of state and country who come to Utah to view and photograph birds including our crows. And they spend money which in turn helps the economy.

The members of the Utah Wildlife Board should be aware that the number of wildlife watchers, birders, nature photographers, cyclists, hikers and people in general who enjoy and participate in outdoor activities are increasing and that our voices count and will get stronger as our numbers rise.

So far we have not seen the science, the data or the actual complaints about crows. Perhaps it is time for the Utah Wildlife Board to “be on the right side of history” and make informed decisions now about hunting crows in Utah instead of basing them on non-scientific assumptions, guesses and hearsay.

I think we should expect more from the Utah Wildlife Board than that.

UPDATE: The Utah Wildlife Board foolishly approved a Crow Hunt for Utah

Mia

Utah residents who want to comment but can not attend the hearing scheduled for July 29, 2014 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in the Department of Natural Resources Auditorium please send your comments to Staci Coons; UDWR Wildlife Coordinator, by email at stacicoons@utah.gov, by phone at 801-538-4718 or by FAX at 801-538-4709. Please indicate that you are a Utah resident.

Out of state viewers who want to let the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources know how you feel about the Utah Crow Hunt why not contact them and let them know how you feel about this unethical hunt at DWRcomment@utah.gov. Let them know you will spend your money elsewhere.