[rec.birds] Shooting soras and other rails

tjo@edsel.siemens.com (Tom Ostrand) (11/01/88)

Yesterday's NY Times (in the New Jersey section) had a story
about the good ol' boys who guide hunters in the marshes of southern
NJ to shoot soras, Virginia, and clapper rails. Declining activity,
fewer rich hunters who can afford the time, fewer folk who know the
ins and outs of the marshes, etc.  Lots of local color.

But what gives? I thought that killing any migratory birds is illegal,
except for certain ducks, with appropriate permits.  The article 
mentioned limits of something like 25 birds per day (!), during a
season from Sept through November. 
And here are all these poor bird watchers who'd give several eyeteeth just 
to SEE a single individual of any of these species.