Framework Change Denied

[professor]

Here is the full text.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it is withdrawing a proposal made last month to modify duck hunting season frameworks for six states in the lower Mississippi Flyway. Accordingly, frameworks for the 2001-2002 season will remain unchanged from those approved by the Service on September 27.

On October 11, the Service published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would modify the final regulatory alternatives for the 2001-02 duck hunting seasons for states in the Lower Region (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee) of the Mississippi Flyway to allow for a season length of 60 days beginning no earlier than September 29 and ending no later than January 31, 2002.

The proposal eliminated a 9-day reduction in season length imposed by the Service in 1998 to offset any additional duck harvest gained by those states that chose to extend their season to January 31. The comment period for that proposal closed on October 26.

After evaluating public comments, the Service determined that issues raised by the framework extension proposal warrant further evaluation that cannot be resolved prior to the imminent start of the duck season. As a result, the Service proposes to continue to work with State wildlife agencies, Flyway Councils and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to resolve this issue within the framework development process for the 2002-2003 hunting season.

"The Service is working to resolve this issue within an established regulations development process that involves all affected interests and ensures the long-term health of duck populations," said Tom Melius, assistant director for Migratory Birds and State Programs.

The Service plans to meet in early December with a newly-formed working group established by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, representing a cross-section of all Flyway Councils and states, in order to develop a proposal for framework extensions for the 2002-2003 season. At this meeting, the Service will propose that the group consider incorporating key elements of a 2001 National Flyway Council recommendation.

Last summer, the Council proposed to give all states a framework opening date of the Saturday nearest September 24 and a closing date of the last Sunday in January, with no offsets in days or bag limits, if duck population and habitat conditions warrant selection of "moderate" or "liberal" harvest alternatives.

The Service is committed to monitoring and evaluating the impact of any potential framework changes on duck harvests and populations within the current adaptive harvest management approach. Increases in harvest associated with framework extensions will likely result in an increase in the frequency of more conservative regulations. Successful implementation of any revised framework dates for the 2002-03 hunting season will require an expanded monitoring program for North American waterfowl, including the initiation of a band reporting rate study in 2002 that will provide better estimates of harvest rates for mallards and other important waterfowl species. In addition, the Service will continue efforts to improve the national harvest survey and enhance aircraft survey capabilities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 535 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

- FWS -

[GulfCoast]

Thanks Prof.

What are the "official" dates now???

[Greenhead22]

the original three season split.

[go24]

This just goes to show that mass response sometimes works. Of course it went against us this time. But we need to remember that a
million phone calls gets attention.

[GulfCoast]

Someone please post the dates for the 3 season split.
Thanks

[Wildfowler]

I think this is a bunch of garbage. I think we should have a 60 day season just like the rest of the MS flyway. The nerve of those yankee states who think that we are going to kill all of their "brood stock" during those last few days in January. What about right now, those same yankee states are probably killing the stew out of the ducks. I hunted in AR this weekend, and I can tell you that the ducks obviously haven't been frozen out of the northern states yet. The hunting was poor, and that's putting it nicely (I did bring home a band, though). What about the fact that those yankee states get the opportunity to shoot all of those ducks before they ever even get to MS each year? I am mad as heck about this. What do y'all think?

Why not go pick on California, look at their season and limit. It's over four months long with 7 Mallards to boot!
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/waterfowlsummary.htm

I understand that CA and Minnesota are not in the same flyway. But please, give me a break.

All I am asking for is to have the same number of days as the states in the rest of MS flyway. I don't even think the season is that great, the last week in January. For me personally, the season has peaked before that time anyway. I can only recall one closing weekend in January when I think we would have been better off with a few more days. Think back on all of the years you have been duck hunting. Do your most memorable hunts of the season always occur at the very end of the season each year? I would think not.

What I am trying to say is that in my 19 years of duck hunting, there has been only one time that I can recall having the most memorable hunt of the year occurring the very last weekend of the season. I hate the thought of giving up days a field for something that is typically not the most memorable time of the year for me.

This is just my opinion. But if I could set the season based on the number of days as handed down by the fish and wildlife service. My formula would end on January 31. Counting back, I would allow for two splits so that the season would open on the Thanksgiving weekend. My most memorable 3 day hunt of my entire life happened that year when duck season opened on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Last year, the most memorable hunts occurred before we froze up. 2 seasons ago, my most memorable hunts occurred before the middle of January.

All I am advocating is letting everyone have an equal opportunity to shoot ducks. If the yankee states freeze up half-way through their season, then let 'em open the season earlier in the year. I doubt they are frozen up by the end of September. I would even support giving them an extra 9 days to open their season early if they would let us close our season when the majority of Mississippians want their season to close.

[DuckE]

Season Dates: Dec 1-2, Dec 8-9, Dec 15-Jan30
The way I look at it is that this will be looked at much eariler next year and I think it will probably go through. Good Hunting!

[magnum]

Dec. 1 and Dec. 2,

Dec. 8 and Dec. 9,

Dec. 15 through Jan. 30.

Oh well, it is only 9 days at the beginning of the season. It could work out better for the weekends since there will be NO hunting pressure in the state during the week for those first two weeks. I personally like the season like it is.

MAG

[ November 19, 2001: Message edited by: magnum ]

[professor]

It is now official. There will be no change in this year's season (no replacement of the 9 days in December). However, there will be a discussion of making the change next year with no early season penalty. When I get the full text of the press release, I will post it here.

[ November 19, 2001: Message edited by: professor ]