Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire How Can You Catch a Blue Heron?

I live near the little town of Weaverville NC. They have a pretty little town park, the center of which is Lake Louise. About a 4 acre lake, or, big pond.
I was down there 8 days ago taking the Beagle for a walk. I saw a "Wanted Poster." 8 x 10 piece of paper nailed to a tree. Had a picture of a blue heron, which had a 3 inch long fishing lure, stuck to his beak.
It said, if you see this poor bird, call these animal rescue guys.

So, in about 5 minutes I saw the bird. It was a 3 inch long artificial lure, bright orange and yellow, treble hooks on both ends. It was stuck in his beak on the right side.
I was reaching for my cell phone, but before I dialed the number, this lady came up. She said she was with the bird rescue group, and they were going to try to catch the bird.
In a little while, a guy showed up, he had a 2 foot diameter net, like a bass fisherman would use. He had duct taped a 15 foot extension handle onto this net.
I watched this guy and gal try to catch the bird. If you got within 20 feet of the bird, it just flew away 500 feet, across the pond. It looked to me like, they didn't know what they were doing.
I went home.

So I went back 3 days ago, I didn't see the bird, and the wanted posters had been taken down. I assumed they had caught the bird.

Today I was back at the park, and I saw the bird again. This time I got within 10 feet. The bird didn't look good he looked weak. I could see that the lure had worn a 1 inch long hole in the top right part of the bird's beak.
This time I could get a lot closer to the heron, I got within 10 feet of him, and he hopped up and flew away, but he just flew 15 feet.
I am not sure if this guy can eat or not, but he looks like he is dying.

I called the local tv station, WLOS and talked to a reporter, he didn't seem too interested. I called an animal rescue outfit, Wild For Life of Asheville, left a voice message, and left them an email message.

I ordered a 6 foot diameter cast net on Amazon tonight for 50 bucks.
I want to catch this bird. I have seen it done in the ER a dozen times, you just cut off the barbs with a wire cutter and the hooks will just fall out of the bird's mouth.
I could fix this bird up in 2 minutes.
How do you catch a blue heron?

I'd use #5 shot

Most likely with a snare either around the neck or up the legs (paracord). They are birds of habit often exploiting the same foraging site, so probably a sit and wait deal with the trap already arranged. Amazed that one can actually get that close, as they are pretty skittish. They typically roost in trees or on mid-stream rocks, so a night deal might be tough.

Do not look one in the eye without having a firm grasp on its head/neck.

A buddy once had a hold on an injured egret. It was looking through his eyes at the back of his head and nailed him. Fortunately, right between the eyes. Either way, and he would have lost one.

Good luck

I was talking with a vet lady some years back and the topic of dangerous critters came up. I asked her what the most dangerous critter was she had to work on. She thought for a couple seconds... blue heron she said. She said they can strike with their beak to 6 or 8 feet away at lightening speed. Yes she'd worked on a couple there were lots around there. Just be careful, goggles'd be a good plan.

22lr is quieter than #5 shot

That's funny, but not funny.

Hell, I dunno.

1 3/4oz. Of #2 or #4 shot.

Edit:
Damn you gotta be quick around here......

Egrets, I've had a few
but then again
too few to mention

Bass lure.

Jump in a pond and act like a $2,000.00 koi.

Odds are easy to catch now with long net at night with a bright light in its face.

I believe the cast net is about your best bet. Once you trap him, put some tape around his beak to hold it closed and handle him with the beak. I had to remove one last year from a leg-hold beaver trap. Once I got my hands on his beak he calmed right down.

When you get your cast net, learn how to catch some bait. That bird is hungry. It will eat from your hand in a day or two.

Pics or it didn't happen...

"Once I got my hands around his NECK he calmed right down!" Now he is a good heron.

Around here they are spooky. Hard to get close enough with a rimfire to catch one. I would say a 223 is about perfect.

Cast net, cover its eyes with a towel and it will settle down a bit. Clip quick set it free. Be careful...they can hurt you badly.

I hear that they have a helluva good neck roast on em ........

DO NOT TRY TO HANDFEED A BLUE HERON!!!!!

I live close by. Call me and I will come videotape it.

^^^^^^

This is how the pros do it.