I know that it will never happen but

John W
[subject]
Sunday, January 17, 2021, 04:59 (2037 days ago)

I was thinking about this while reading Al Goerg's book and looking at some of his photos in the work.

Prior to 1973 seals were legal targets for hunters and in some places they had a bounty. In fact Massachusetts had a five dollar bounty on fur seals. A kid with a 22 in the good ole days could make a few bucks. Turn in a seal nose at the town hall and get five dollars.

The rationale was that they were seen as competitors for the fishing industry.

Since protection their numbers have skyrocketed. The Cape Cod area is well known for recreational fishing but it has dropped off. You hear a lot of stories of people who lose their fish from a seal. Nothing like having a nice stiper bitted in half.

Now this isn't the only thing. The numbers of seals have created another problem. Great White Sharks.

So far there have been a few attacks and I believe three deaths. Last one was in Maine of all places. Lady from NY thirty feet from shore killed.

Anyways. I was thinking that it would be a neat handgun hunting trophy to be able to take a fur seal. Also seal oil is supposed to be rather heart healthy.

Al used his XP 100 in 6mm to take seals in Alaska and Washington State.

Like I said I am kind of fantasizing a bit as I sip my morning coffee.

Unfortunately...

Curt
[subject]
Sunday, January 17, 2021, 08:19 (2036 days ago) @ John W

Due to lack of ammo you’ll have to club them. Seals are too cute to kill now... if it has eyelashes, you will get too much push back in todays world of animal “lovers”. “They” would rather see them eaten by sharks “humanely”. Those days are passed but you educated me on a unique hunt from not so long ago

I talked to a Government trapper

Ed
[subject]
Sunday, January 17, 2021, 13:47 (2036 days ago) @ Curt

from Montana that said they use to have a bounty on eagles. Seems as they could kill a lamb when very young. Supper predators for sure when a nest is near by. Every duck, pigeon, pheasant, cat groundhog, small dog is prey. Same with all predators. Back when people had sence , they would put bounties on everything to control that population of predators as needed.

Like you... I was amazed when I first read Goerg`s

james
[subject]
Sunday, January 17, 2021, 13:59 (2036 days ago) @ John W

book about shooting seals... However, it looks like we are a little late to legally hunt seals along with tiger and polar bear.

Al Goerg's son Jim, came to one of our HHCs

Gary Reeder
[subject]
Monday, January 18, 2021, 13:05 (2035 days ago) @ james

It was the Al Goerg Memorial Hunt. He brought some of his Dad's guns to show me. Needless to say I tried to buy one or two of them from him and again needless to say he said hell no. Here is his Dad's XP-100 that was damaged in the plane crash.
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Columbia River

~JM~
[subject]
Monday, January 18, 2021, 07:39 (2035 days ago) @ John W

Seals & Sea Lions have learned how to swim up the Columbia River to feast on the Salmon that collect at Bonneville Dam while attempting to travel upstream to spawn.

Some are from California!

Not only can they transition from salt water to fresh water, they also communicate about a rich food source.

I recently saw footage of a Shark attack on a Seal on the Columbia River near Astoria.

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