I cut and pasted this from a website discussing a WC shooting in 2013:
The flock that migrates to Texas is the only self-sustaining one in the world. This year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that it includes 257 birds.

Wiles pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Janice Ellington in Corpus Christi to one count of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

He was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and make a $10,000 community service payment to the nonprofit organization Friends of Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuges. He will also serve a one-year term of probation.

Under federal law, the maximum penalty for killing a whooping crane is a $100,000 fine and a year in prison.

This year, a man in South Dakota pleaded guilty to violating the Endangered Species Act for killing a whooping crane and was ordered to pay $85,000. He also had to forfeit the rifle he used to kill the bird and is prohibited from hunting, fishing or trapping anywhere in the United States for two years.

Man, I hope they're good eating.

Like I said, they are not spectacular. They taste like spotted owl.

So your saying Jesus Christ couldn't hit a curve ball?

Yea almost like bald eagle with a little twang haha

Wow, 85000 for a crane, he could have bought a real nice whitetail or 2 for that...

...you're spending too much on deer killing amigo.

So back to my original question tree hugging Jesus. How much do you think we've spent on those birds?

I think hes talking to you UTAhunter

Anyone heard any updates on this story?

I think I've got much in equipment just at the lease, so my first deer will cost about $85,000. Yummy.

I'd rather give it to the birds than to a good portion of the folks on welfare.

The very definition of a troll/trolling.

How can someone mistake a 5 foot bird for any kind of legal game bird?

So to whom do we cast the blame, the redfish or the fisherman?

mmmmmmm redfish on the 1/2 shell

I have no idea how much they have actually spent, but I know for the whooping crane it's in the tens of millions of dollars.

This thread has gotten funny.

Good! That means you will fit right in. I do say you need to lay in wait for an opportunity to zing old Garrett back. A shot across the bow such as that, need not go without a reply. It is simply the right thing to do.

cooper, Lewisville, ray bob!!!!

ok, now lock the thread!

20 minutes before LST on a cloudy day, a Goose, a Crane and an Ibis fly within 60 yards of a blind containing two couyons (if you're from La. you know what that is...) with 3 boxes of shells each. That's how a crane and the Ibis get it, they miss the Goose.

Charlie

IDK. A sandhill is a big bird. Low light, limited experience? I can see it. Glad it wasn't me.

Im sure the culprit was also an atheist, with DU stickers all over his two wheel drive pickup, you know the do it yourself guy from north Texas who doesn't need a guide.

Probably a NTX pond popping guide, used to seeing ducks on small pond, compared to the big coast, a 5 foot bird could look small.

Guy you are so right!! Im sure it was!! No never mind I still bet it was a internet tough guy who kills trash ducks on public and has only been hunting ducks for 5 years. With a two wheel drive pickup, or (truck if your from the city) with DU stickers and doesn't think Jesus Christ could hit a curve ball that did it.

BTW Guy I basically grew up on Mustang Island and worked for captains down there taking sports like you duck hunting before I was old enough to drive