Leo:
I have never seen a leg band or neck collar on any crane in the Central Flyway, as these are a different subspecies (greater sandhill Grus canadensis tabida). The subspecies that nests in Alaska is the lesser sandhill crane (Grus canadensis canadensis). They winter in California, primarily centered around the Cosumnes River south of Sacramento.
As far as waterfowling goes, I believe it is awful unless you have a significant amount of money to lease land. That is to be expected though, the State has lost over 90% of its wetlands. Any wetlands or ricefields that have any hunting value can run up to a $1,000,000 a year (that is not a typo). This is truly a rich man's sport in this state. On the contrary, the public hunting opportunities have been some of the worst experiences I have ever had in my life, bar none. If I didn't go back to North Dakota every year, I would hang up this recreational pursuit. It is that bad. I spent $1,500 for a lease two years ago and I ended up shooting one duck. Worst mistake I ever have made.
Needless to say, I am not high on hunting ducks in this State and anyone who says that waterfowling is good in this state is full of B.S. Maybe 30 years ago, but not now. I know of one person who spends $12,000 a year (along with 11 other guys) to lease a 160 acre ricefield located between two refuges. His group has had this lease for two decades an he says the hunting is nothing like it used to be. The rice farmers can not legally burn their fields anymore, so the State now has an additional 200 square miles of ricefields that are under water as the farmer's have switched (unsuccessfully) to flooding/decay methods. You always hear about guys shooting over a 100 ducks a year, but I have not met a single one in my five years as a resident.
I have never seen a leg band or neck collar on any crane in the Central Flyway, as these are a different subspecies (greater sandhill Grus canadensis tabida). The subspecies that nests in Alaska is the lesser sandhill crane (Grus canadensis canadensis). They winter in California, primarily centered around the Cosumnes River south of Sacramento.
As far as waterfowling goes, I believe it is awful unless you have a significant amount of money to lease land. That is to be expected though, the State has lost over 90% of its wetlands. Any wetlands or ricefields that have any hunting value can run up to a $1,000,000 a year (that is not a typo). This is truly a rich man's sport in this state. On the contrary, the public hunting opportunities have been some of the worst experiences I have ever had in my life, bar none. If I didn't go back to North Dakota every year, I would hang up this recreational pursuit. It is that bad. I spent $1,500 for a lease two years ago and I ended up shooting one duck. Worst mistake I ever have made.
Needless to say, I am not high on hunting ducks in this State and anyone who says that waterfowling is good in this state is full of B.S. Maybe 30 years ago, but not now. I know of one person who spends $12,000 a year (along with 11 other guys) to lease a 160 acre ricefield located between two refuges. His group has had this lease for two decades an he says the hunting is nothing like it used to be. The rice farmers can not legally burn their fields anymore, so the State now has an additional 200 square miles of ricefields that are under water as the farmer's have switched (unsuccessfully) to flooding/decay methods. You always hear about guys shooting over a 100 ducks a year, but I have not met a single one in my five years as a resident.
