Extended season

[dos gris]

I don't have a strong opinion on the extended season but I believe that in no way should politics govern the process by which bag limits or season frameworks are set. These issues should be based on biological research. I think Trent Lott, if he is involved with this, is way out of line here.


LONGER, LATER DUCK SEASON PROPOSED FOR SOUTHERN STATES

(this was released a few days ago)

In a surprise move today, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed
changes to its initial ruling on the 2001-02 duck season. The change
would allow six states in the southern Mississippi Flyway (Alabama,
Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee) to set duck
seasons of 60 days ending as late as January 31. The proposal reverses
the Service's previous decision for duck season, published in the
Federal Register less than two weeks ago. That decision allowed the
January 31 closing date for only 3 states (Alabama, Mississippi, and
Tennessee), and required those states to take a 9-day penalty in season
length (51 days). The original season length reduction was designed to
offset any potential increase in duck harvest caused by the later
season, in effect keeping this option "harvest-neutral".

The duck season "framework" issue has been simmering for many years.
There is no consensus among states or flyways about appropriate opening
or closing dates for duck season, essentially forcing the Service to
maintain the status quo. Except for the three states mentioned above,
current rules allow states to hold their regular duck seasons during
the approximate dates of October 1 to January 20.

If approved, the new proposal would pressure those six states to change
the length or timing of the duck seasons they recently adopted. Many
legal and administrative challenges would arise, requiring special
rulemaking sessions of governing boards and commissions, and corrections
to hundreds of thousands of waterfowl regulations brochures that were
printed and distributed.

The new proposal smells of pure politics. The Service offered no
explanation for its reversal, stating only "Upon reconsideration, the
Service proposes to change the previously established "liberal"
alternative for the Lower Region of the Mississippi Flyway to provide
for a framework......closing date no later than January 31, with no
reduction (offset) in season length or bag limit." In earlier Federal
Registers, the Service gave lengthy technical and administrative
reasons for denying changes to the duck season frameworks. Word on
the street suggests Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi pushed through
the first round of season extensions three years ago, and rumors hint
he may be involved again.

There are several reasons to be concerned about this proposal. Some
biologists worry that harvesting ducks in late winter, when they are
pairing and acquiring nutrient reserves for spring migration and
breeding, could harm populations. Others are concerned about further
shifting the balance of the duck harvest from northern states to
southern states. Managers and hunters alike argue that potentially
higher duck harvest under the new proposal could lead to shorter duck
seasons and smaller bag limits in the near future. Perhaps the best
reason for concern is that these actions compromise integrity of the
established season-setting process. Although not perfect, the process
has effectively maintained waterfowl populations and hunting
opportunities. Record duck populations and harvests achieved over the
past few years attest to that.

By issuing this announcement today, the one-month anniversary of the
terrorist attacks, the Service reminds this waterfowler of higher
priorities in life, and in migratory bird management.

The proposal is open for public comment until October 26. Comments
should be sent to:

Jon Andrew, Chief
Division of Migratory Bird Management
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dept of the Interior, ms 634-ARLSQ
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240

[ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: dos gris ]

[Anatidae]

Boy, that oughta stir-up some 'poop'! Ain't gonna kick THAT dog, today [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img]
.....tomorrow's another day [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: Anatidae ]

[BrianB]

That's the way it should have been all along. They (USF&W under the Clinton Administration) initially said that the "extra" days would have a huge impact on harvest numbers. Well, the study was done and the results showed that the numbers harvested were not significant. And the pair bonding theory is just that, a theory that has never been proven. Honestly, I believe that spinners have had a much, much larger effect on duck numbers than the season extention ever will. Maybe this is just the USFW trying to set it right, or maybe they are offering this up first before they pull the plug on the spinners?

[Meeka]

Whew, Dos Gris that was a mouthful. I couldn't disagree more. Instead of spending time tomorrow researching all the data that says there was no sound, biological basis for making us take a reduction, I oughta just ask Benny to go kick your _ _ _ _. I know, I know, we ought not have that kinda language around here, but I did it cause I am in shock and quite perturbed that someon on a Mississippi forum, even if you do have a cajun moniker, is against me getting to hunt till 1/31/02!!!! There is something inherently wrong with you wanting to take duck days away from me. Period. Mind your own business.

Well, I know you will say there is some kinda good, biological argument for taking days away from me, but I won't buy it and will dispute it even if you can find some such hogwash.

The January 31 deadline is fair and makes sense - we ought to be able to hunt ducks when we have ducks in Mississippi. The guys up north want to hunt ducks when they have them - and they get to. But they want us to hunt ducks here in Mississippi when the ducks are still up north. Go figure. Sounds like they are competetive and jealous of our opportunities. Hell, I wish I could go hunt up there too.

The 61 days would not make have a significant impact on numbers of ducks taken, IMO. If we get the 1/31 deadline here in Mississippi, I will likely kill a few more ducks in those few extra days, who knows. The days up front do not really matter, cause few ducks will be killed in the early season.

To reiterate, you have always had posts that indicated that you have half sense, but I don't see how, or especially WHy, you have taken up with that pack of carpetbaggers from up north! I predict even my archenemy Delta Duck will be with me on this!

[Meeka]

Is everything after the first sentence a quote from somewhere?

Are you saying Lott ought not try to get my duck season like it ought to be? What gives? I bet Breaux had a hand in it, too!

[Micah]

Meeka,
Cool down man...I think the post was directed more towards the political nature of the FWS's sudden change in position regarding the issue.

We've all seen the damage that political decisions can make when they are based on personal agendas rather than thoughtful debate and research.

I think you should read Dos Gris' words...and then note that the majority of the post reflects the opinions of the journalist that wrote the article that Dos Gris cut and pasted here for us to see.

Micah

[Delta Duck]

Meeka,
Do they have certain dates you are supposed to hunt ducks? I hunt til they leave, then start shooting sporting clays.

60 days thur 1-31 would be okay with me.

" I think you should be able to do what ever you want to do on your own land." That is just for me, the rest of ya'll should have to abide by the game laws. And go to the chair if you break them.

It want be long!!!

[BrianB]

A letter was written by a delegtion of Miss. congressional leaders, namely Chip Pickering, Roger Wicker, Thad Cochran and Trnet Lott, to the Sec of the Interior, Gale Norton, thereby bypassing the USFW, asking for the season extention. You can find it at waterfowler.com, link is here:

http://www.waterfowler.com/features/hijacked.php
Sorry, Micah, couldn't get the letter, maybe you can.

Anyway, they have an open thread that will be sent to the Chief of Migratory Bird Management before October 26, 2001. Here is the link:
http://www.waterfowler.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=2114&forum=3&115


I post this because there are alot of non southern posters on there, and i thought that yall might want to contribute. If you're not a member there,it takes 20 seconds to become one, then you can post. Be sure and include your name and address in the text of what you write in order for it to be submitted.
P.S., Mine is on page 12 of their thread
[ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: BrianB ]

[ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: BrianB ]

[BrianB]

Here is the text of the letter. Of note, the article is entitled:
Waterfowl Regulations HIJACKED by power politics. In light of what has happened, I find that a rather offensive choice of words.

The Honorable Gale Norton
Secretary
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20240

Dear Madam Secretary:

From 1979 to 1984, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allowed Mississippi to have a waterfowl season that ended on January 31 with no reductions in length. Since 1985, Mississippi and area states have requested a return to an ending date of January 31, which is also the ending date of the duck season for two U.S. Territories. In 1998, the Service provide a January 31 closing date for the duck season in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, but shortened the length of the season to fifty-one days so that harvest would not increase proportionally greater than other states.

As in previous years, this year the Lower Region Regulations Committee of the Mississippi Flyway Council voted in favor of hunting opportunities with no penalties of days that better coincide with the timing of the migration. In March of this year, the National Flyway Council, which consists of the fifty state fish and wildlife agencies, suggested framework dates beginning on the Saturday nearest September 24 and ending on the last Sunday in January. This was denied by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Mississippi has one of the lowest wetland loss rates in the Mississippi Flyway, and leads the country in acreage restored through the Wetland Reserve Program. Through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serivce's Partners for Wildlife Program, they are leading the nation in the amount of acres for wintering waterfowl. These accomplishments make Mississippi one of the largest contributors to the conservation of waterfowl habitat in North America.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act states that "...the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed, form time to time, having due regard to the zones of temperature and to the distribution, abundance, economic value, breeding habits and times and lines of migratory flight of such birds, to determine when, to what extent, if at all, and by what means...to allow hunting...and to adopt suitable regulations..."

Using data provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks have shown that a January 31 closure does not significantly impact the duck population or the Adaptive Harvest Management model. Although this additional habitat is providing more hunting opportunities, we are concerned about the magnitude of the nine-day offset proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Since the majority of mallards that winter in Mississippi arrive after January 1 each year, the offset is not consistent with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Therefore, we feel that we have not been given due consideration of "times and lines of migratory flight" or zones of temperature."

We request that you reevaluate the offset for Mississippi so that our season is consistent with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and we are not penalized for the 2001-2002 season.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

THAD COCHRAN
United States Senator

TRENT LOTT
United States Senator

ROGER WICKER
Member of Congress

CHIP PICKERING
Member of Congress

[mottlet]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didn't just change their position without a significant reason. There's a lot more political pulling going on here than a simple letter to the Sec. of the Interior. But for better or worse we might get to hunt sixty days this year and keep huntin' right up to the end of January. What's done is done. Hunt when you can. If you're convinced that it will mean lower limits later, then don't go. I agree that hunting until Jan.31 isn't going to make a whole lot more difference than hunting till the 21st. But I also do agree that we have biologist for a reason, and that politicians should stay out of the biological arena.

mottlet

[magnum]

I wrote a reply-on page 11-screenname mississippiduckhunter. We need to defend our state and our Senators and Congressmen. So everyone that has an opinion about this go and say something. There are a lot of anti-southern waterfowlers that are blowing this way out of proportion.

MAG

[Greenhead22]

Well I know the group of people that are pulling the strings with Cochran and Lott on this one. The people have gotten a lot done for them using Cochran and Lott before, wouldn't be surprised if they are in on this also.

[Delta Duck]

It's not what you know, It's who you know!!!

[duckhuntalot]

Well here's my 2 cents worth.

I moved to MS about five-six years ago. Had been a Duck Hunter two-three years prior. From Arkansas (Hold the jokes)

Anyway, the first year they cut us days I was upset. Other people were blaming AR, TN, and other northern states. I really didn't see how we could blame other States but knew that our season had been shortened. But!!!! not like the way they broke it up this year. I commend the way they have structured our season.

Think about it! How many of us actually are REALLY affected by the missing weekdays (Anatadae, you don't count this time in order to try to make my point with your sixty day excursion)

I for one have to work. I am not complaining about work. Please don't read into that. I am simply saying, I think that the Department has kept the weekend hunters in mind.

I also want to add that, and maybe I am wrong, the increase of the geese has caused a serious problem at the nesting sites.

I for one am going to blast some snow goose booty this year. I almost invested in some dekes last year but didn't have the funds. I will find the way this year. I am going to take advantage of the, what two extra months!

[feathhd]

I am against the extended period of season!
Flat out! Politics should stay out of wildlife regulation period! Let science do what it was meant to do! [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]