2 Salmon-Eating Sea Lions Killed at Bonneville Dam

[TONTO]

Honestly I wouldn't want hunters/fisherman to be shooting on the water. With all the people and boat traffic I can see the headlines.

 This is a very valid point, but what if hunters/tag applicants were first required to take a class in the safe harvest of a sealion? I'm sure there would be weapon/equipment restrictions as well to minimize these concerns. Just as trappers are required to take a class before a license can be issued. I also imagine if it were to happen it would probably be only open to those who have completed the master hunter course as well.

[Button Nubbs]

Can you say bowfishing?

[pianoman9701]

can you say explosive-tipped harpoon? Ooh rah!

[Curly]

I'd love to have a coat made out of sealion.   Maybe some gloves and boots too....... 

[Tealer]

Honestly I wouldn't want hunters/fisherman to be shooting on the water. With all the people and boat traffic I can see the headlines.

 This is a very valid point, but what if hunters/tag applicants were first required to take a class in the safe harvest of a sealion? I'm sure there would be weapon/equipment restrictions as well to minimize these concerns. Just as trappers are required to take a class before a license can be issued. I also imagine if it were to happen it would probably be only open to those who have completed the master hunter course as well.

I hate to say it, but I would rather a 'pro' shoot them as close to the dam as possible. I firmly believe that if you shoot one the rest will vacate at least for a short time. The trap and removal just opens up a spot for another one.

[Curly]

This looks to be an interesting article about sealions.  It discussed historical uses and butchering methods used in Alaska.  I have only skimmed it real quick so far.

http://www.subsistence.adfg.state.ak.us/techpap/tp198.pdf

[uplandhunter870]

So the meat and the hide is wasted? Does anybody know?

i know a guy that used to work for US fish and wildlife at wells dam not sure what his official job description was but his job was to haze and kill (when required) seagulls that attacked and ate salmon fry that got dumped over the spill way.  when he did kill a seagull he had to retrieve the bird put it in a plastic bag, freeze the bird and fill out a form for each kill (not sure what info was required) every friday he had to package up the frozen dead gulls and drive them to a regional office and a bio would do some research on them (dont know what they were looking for, id imagine they were examining stomach contents) and that was the last he saw of the birds.

i dont know what happend to the birds after the autopsy but id imagine they were thrown into a road kill pit, i bet this is what is being done with the dead sea lions

[TONTO]

So the meat and the hide is wasted? Does anybody know?

i know a guy that used to work for US fish and wildlife at wells dam not sure what his official job description was but his job was to haze and kill (when required) seagulls that attacked and ate salmon fry that got dumped over the spill way.  when he did kill a seagull he had to retrieve the bird put it in a plastic bag, freeze the bird and fill out a form for each kill (not sure what info was required) every friday he had to package up the frozen dead gulls and drive them to a regional office and a bio would do some research on them (dont know what they were looking for, id imagine they were examining stomach contents) and that was the last he saw of the birds.

i dont know what happend to the birds after the autopsy but id imagine they were thrown into a road kill pit, i bet this is what is being done with the dead sea lions

 Once talked with a guy that worked for the port of Astoria at the Warrenton, OR airport. One of his duties was to shoot canada geese on the runway, he pretty much had the same story, he gathered em up, tagged and bagged em then tossed them in the trash. He wasn't allowed to salvage or donate any of the meat.