now the US has decided that we can't bring geese shot in canada back into the US. Don't know whose brilliant idea this is., We'll have to put signs up on the border to notify the migration that they can't come here without a passport. zeez

Looks like it was shortlived Butch,

Ban lifted on hunter-killed wild birds from Saskatchewan
By MARK HENCKEL
Gazette Outdoor Editor

After stopping hunter-killed wild birds from Saskatchewan at the Canadian border last weekend, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has lifted its ban and hunters can once again bring harvested upland birds and waterfowl into the U.S.

The import ban was put in place Friday in the wake of an outbreak of avian influenza H7N3 that was discovered Thursday at a poultry farm near Regina. The USDA banned imports on all poultry and poultry products from the province, including wild birds taken by hunters.

But the wild bird portion of the ban was lifted Sunday. The USDA said that harvested wild birds and wild bird products would be allowed. Still banned are all commercial shipments of unprocessed avian products from Saskatchewan.

Tim Feldner, with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said today, "One of our guys called the Sweetgrass Port on Sunday and as of Sunday morning they were still confiscating wild birds. I called this morning and they told me they are now allowing hunter-harvested birds across the border."

With waterfowl seasons open on both sides of the international border and the fall duck and goose migration already under way, Feldner said it was only reasonable that the ban be lifted.

"It looks like the USDA has recognized the futility of stopping hunter-harvested birds from crossing the border when the non-harvested birds are flying over in flocks," Feldner said.

The avian influenza outbreak hit about 100 chickens at a poultry operation near Regina. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) placed a quarantine on the facility and killed the remaining chickens there.

Avian influenza H7N3 is a highly pathogenic strain, but not the one that is causing all the problems around the world. HPN1 is the strain that has killed 150 people worldwide.

Avian influenza viruses do not pose risks to human food safety when poultry and poultry products are properly handled and cooked, CFIA reported.

"The risk to humans (from H7N3) is minimal," Feldner added. "Cooked meat is OK. Avian influenza is always out there. It's out there in the birds of Montana. It always will be. It's just when you get into these different strains (like HPN1) that you run into problems."

Gazette outdoor editor Mark Henckel can be contacted at 633-2598 or at henckel@billingsgazette.com.

What are you doing with my bird? USDA blunder irks hunters
BY CHRIS NISKANEN
Outdoors Editor
Article Last Updated: 10/01/2007 04:53:24 PM CDT


U.S. hunters traveling from Saskatchewan, Canada, last week had their game birds confiscated by U.S. customs agents after the U.S. Department of Agriculture misinterpreted its importation rules.

On Thursday, the USDA banned all imports of poultry and poultry products from Saskatechwan province after an outbreak of avian influenza H7N3 was discovered on a chicken farm near Regina.

U.S. customs agents were told the ban also included hunter-killed birds. But the timing was diastrous because thousands of U.S. hunters travel to Saskatchewan each fall.

On Friday and over the weekend, scores of angry hunters - including some from Minnesota - had their birds confiscated at border crossings and airports. Some were told the birds were thrown away.

"We were dumbstruck,'' said Mike Borchert of Le Seuer, Minn., after his group of five hunters had more than 200 ducks and geese confiscated Saturday. "We asked the U.S. customs agents where they were taking them, and they said, 'To the landfill.' ''

Late Saturday night, the USDA rescinded the order on hunter-killed birds, but not before the damage had been done