03 Dec 2008 - Arkansas Weekly Waterfowl Reports
December 3, 2008
LITTLE ROCK – Just before sunrise this Saturday, duck season officially arrives in Arkansas. Hunters have already turned their attention to the state’s countryside looking for the flash of mallard’s wings. One weapon in the waterfowl hunter’s arsenal is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission waterfowl report.
View the Current Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Waterfowl Report
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3 Dec 2008 - Texas Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
December 3, 2008
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.
High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Goose hunting has been better with the cooler temperatures. Lots of Canadas have been decoying, but many of the concentrations are spread throughout the region due to the abundance of water. Some days snow geese work, and some days they do not. There are lots of juveniles in the flock which has helped put more white in the bag this year. Sandhill cranes have decoyed well when the wind blows. Best hunts have been in plowed ground and corn. Outfitters report lots of ducks on playas, but with the abundance of water, ducks have many places to go. Hunters are hoping for colder weather that freezes these shallow playas and congregates the ducks on open water. Waterfowl hunting will really turn on when the first freeze or snow falls. Pheasant season opens Dec. 6 and roadside reports indicate a good population of birds. Prospects are good.
North Zone Duck: The first split ended at sunset Nov. 30 and generally the first 30 days of the season were fair at best. Many hunters in traditional mallard counties did not see many greenheads. Mild conditions in Texas and the northern states played a major role in the absence of the prized duck. Gadwalls and wood ducks were the most prevalent birds harvested on lakes and reservoirs. The region could use some rain to fill sloughs and backwaters. Divers like scaup and ringed-necks were taken on deep water on Caddo Lake, Lake O’the Pines and Toledo Bend. Canvasbacks are building on Toledo Bend and Lake O’The Pines. Lake Palestine was good for gadwalls. Hunting slowed along inland ponds around the coast. The season began fair then slowed to almost a halt as mild temperatures did not prompt birds to migrate. Lots of blue-winged teal still showing which echoes the warm weather notion. The second split opens Dec. 13*.
South Zone Duck: Duck hunting along the coast did improve during the last weekend of the first split. What had been a lackluster Thanksgiving week, picked up steam with stiff north winds. The ardent winds seemed to disperse wads of bluewings and greenwings, which helped marsh hunters and prairie hunters. The most consistent hunting during the first 30 days occurred in Wharton County near Wharton and East Bernard. Outfitters said hunter numbers were down by approximately 30 percent on the coastal prairie. Hunters near Port O’Connor and Rockport saw fair hunting. Many outfitters say bird numbers are down. Redheads, wigeons, gadwalls and pintails were the species most harvested. Inland ponds in Calhoun County faired better as of late. Goose hunters have enjoyed steady shooting for snows and specklebellies. A strong hatch of juvenile snows has helped decoying action tremendously. Specklebellies have been a given for experienced goose hunters, but their attitude has become a bit wary as of late. A few Canada geese are beginning to show, but don’t expect them in force until a significant cold front pushes through. Most of the geese are feeding in fresh-cut rice fields. There are still some fields that are being harvested, which is much later than in years past. The second split of duck season opens Dec. 13.
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Bear Hunters Harvest Stands at Fifth Highest in Pennsylvania History So Far
December 2, 2008
Archery bear hunt results in a harvest of 68
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission preliminary bear harvest figures show that 2,936 bears were taken during the recently completed three-day season (Nov. 24-26), and an additional 68 bears were harvested during the two-day archery bear harvest (Nov. 19-20).
So far, the total bear harvest of 3,004 for the two seasons preliminarily ranks as the fifth highest statewide harvest. However, with the extended bear season in certain Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) continuing through Dec. 6, the total preliminary harvest will increase. Concurrent with the first week of the firearms deer season, there is an extended bear season that is open Dec. 1-6, in WMU 3C and portions of 3B, 2G and 4E; and Dec. 3-6, in all of WMUs 4C, 4D and 4E.
Preliminary total bear harvest figures – including the ongoing extended bear seasons that end Dec. 6 – are expected by Dec. 10. Official total bear harvest figures for all three seasons won’t be available until early 2009, after a thorough review of all bear harvest reports.
The preliminary three-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 20 (7 in 2007); WMU 1B, 67 (29); WMU 2A, 1 (1); WMU 2C, 216 (217); WMU 2D, 163 (91); WMU 2E, 114 (49); WMU 2F, 236 (223); WMU 2G, 676 (525); WMU 3A, 305 (177); WMU 3B, 289 (113); WMU 3C, 69 (49); WMU 3D, 199 (126); WMU 4A, 142 (98); WMU 4B, 41 (41); WMU 4C, 65 (54); WMU 4D, 307 (180); WMU 4E, 25 (24); and WMU 5C, 1 (0).
County harvests by region for the three-day season, followed by the three-day 2007 preliminary harvests in parentheses, are:
Northwest: Clarion, 63 (24); Venango, 63 (39); Jefferson, 60 (38); Forest, 58 (55); Warren, 57 (71); Crawford, 31 (4); Butler, 11 (9); Erie, 10 (2); Mercer, 6 (0); and Lawrence, 1 (0).
Southwest: Somerset, 98 (79); Indiana, 63 (30); Armstrong, 50 (41); Fayette, 40 (67); Cambria, 35 (10); and Westmoreland, 35 (37).
Northcentral: Potter, 288 (100); Tioga, 231 (116); Lycoming, 214 (123); McKean, 134 (100); Clearfield, 109 (80); Clinton, 106 (158); Elk, 89 (61); Centre, 88 (58); Cameron, 72 (116); and Union, 40 (27).
Southcentral: Huntingdon, 114 (70); Bedford, 78 (60); Blair, 37 (34); Mifflin, 42 (20); Snyder, 33 (19); Juniata, 18 (14); Fulton, 13 (8); and Perry, 13 (6).
Northeast: Sullivan, 93 (22); Pike, 73 (59); Wayne, 58 (25); Monroe, 54 (19); Bradford, 52 (38); Luzerne, 46 (35); Lackawanna, 34 (18); Wyoming, 30 (10); Carbon, 25 (28); Susquehanna, 18 (19); Columbia, 11 (20); Northumberland, 2 (2); and Montour, 1 (0).
Southeast: Schuylkill, 24 (14); Dauphin, 8 (6); and Northampton, 4 (2); Lehigh, 2 (0); Berks, 1 (0).Â
The two-day archery season harvest by WMU (with 2007 figures in parenthesis) was: WMU 1A, 1 (0); WMU 2C, 11 (12); WMU 2D, 3 (1); WMU 2E, 3 (0); WMU 2F, 9 (0); WMU 2G, 23 (3); WMU 3A, 5 (2); WMU 4A, 3 (2); WMU 4B, 1 (1); and WMU 4D, 9 (2).
County harvests for the two-day archery season (with 2007 figures in parenthesis) by region was:
Northwest: Butler, 2 (0); Clarion, 2 (0); Forest, 2 (0); Jefferson, 2 (0); Warren, 2 (0); and Venango, 1 (0).
Southwest: Somerset, 5 (3); Fayette, 3 (5); Indiana, 3 (0); Cambria, 2 (0); Westmoreland, 2 (3).
Northcentral: Clinton, 8 (2); Tioga, 5 (0); McKean, 5 (0); Lycoming, 4 (0); Potter, 2 (2); Centre, 4 (1); Clearfield, 4 (0); Cameron, 1 (1); Elk, 1 (0); and Union, 1 (0).
Southcentral: Huntingdon, 3 (2); Bedford, 2 (1); and Perry, 1 (0).
Northeast: Bradford, 1 (0).
So far, the top 10 bears processed at check stations through Tuesday all had estimated live weights exceeding 600 pounds. Morgan C. Neipert, of Tobyhanna, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at 716 pounds (estimated live weight). The bear was taken in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 25.
Other large bears included: a 691-pound male taken by Ray E. Barrick, of McAlisterville, in Todd Township, Huntingdon County, at 1 p.m. on Nov. 24; a 680-pound male taken by Brian R. Clark Jr., of Olanta, in Pike Township, Clearfield County, at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 24; a 651-pound male taken by Ryan M. Miller, of Pittston, in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County, at 9:50 a.m. on Nov. 24; a 650-pound male taken by Walter Rupnik, of Breinigsville, in Green Township, Pike County, at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 24; a 642-pound male taken by James P. McDonough, of Moscow, in Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County, at noon on Nov. 25; a 636-pound male taken by Albert C. Leddon II, of Pittsburgh, in Girard Township, Clearfield County, at 12:55 p.m. on Nov. 24; a 612-pound male taken by Jay P. Martin, of Lewisburg, in Hartley Township, Union County, at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 25; a 611-pound male taken by Matthew N. Shirk, of East Earl, in Union Township, Huntingdon County, at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 24; and a 607-pound male taken by Mark B. Blough, of Stoystown, in Shade Township, Somerset County, at 2:15 p.m. on Nov. 24.
Brian Ristau, of Clarendon, harvested the largest bear during the two-day archery bear season. Ristau harvested a male that weighed in at 575 pounds (estimated live weight) in Glade Township, Warren County, at 7:15 a.m. on Nov. 19.  Also, Terry D. Rothrock, of Wallaceton, harvested a 550-pound male in Boggs Township, Clearfield County, at 4 p.m. on Nov. 20, during the archery bear season.
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26 Nov 2008 - Texas Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
November 26, 2008
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.
High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Colder weather helped decoying action for geese near Dumas, Etter and Spearmon. Some outfitters said the stiff north wind kept many geese on the deck. The weather quickly warmed after the front, which hurt bird movement. Outfitters say Canadas have been cooperating but snow geese have been their usual wary self. Lots of ducks are roosting on playas and feed lot ponds. More mallards moved in with the last front and expect more with the forecasted front Thanksgiving weekend. Wigeons and gadwalls have taken up the slack when mallard have been absent. Sandhill crane hunters have been taking limits over corn and plowed ground. Outfitters say the abundance of water has all the birds scattered throughout the region, instead of roosting in traditional spots. Prospects are good.
North Zone Duck: Cold weather exited and mild weather set in over the region during the weekend. However, a forecasted front mid-week and into the weekend should help prompt birds to move. Many hunters in Northeast Texas say they are not seeing the number of mallards they normally see this time of year. Most of the mallards have been harvested in ponds and sloughs near the Red River. Lake Wright-Patman has been good for gadwalls, teal and wood ducks. Lake Palestine has been good for gadwalls and wood ducks. Caddo Lake has been steady for gadwall, teal and ringed-necks. More divers have shown on Sam Rayburn, Lake Fork and Toledo Bend. Along the coast near IH-10, mottled ducks, pintails and green-winged teal have made up the brunt of the bag. Many hunters set up on rice fields say they are seeing more birds this year, probably due to poor conditions in the nearby marsh. The first split end at sunset Nov. 30. Prospects are fair to good.
South Zone Duck: Duck hunting has been average across the coast during the first split. Lack of water and significant cold front to push ducks south may be the culprit. Best shoots have come from Wharton County fields near East Bernard and Wharton. Eagle Lake, Garwood and El Campo fields have been fair at best. The one noticeable absentee has been the northern shovelers. Many outfitters have said few spoonbills have been harvested. More green-winged teal moved along the coast during the past 10 days. Bay hunters in Port O’Connor, Rockport and Port Mansfield have seen fair hunting at best. Redheads were late finding the coast, but stronger concentrations have begun to raft on shoalgrass shorelines of late. Many hunters reported seeing more wigeons than normal during the first split. Goose hunting picked up during the week. Many spreads are getting their limit of specklebellies due to a large batch of young, bare-chested birds. Snow geese have readily decoyed in hot feeding fields due to large gaggle of juveniles. Some estimates support upwards of 30 percent young in the flock. Hunters have not enjoyed optimal goose hunting weather, with calm, clear days dominating since the opener. The first split of duck season ends at sunset Nov. 30. Prospects are fair to good.
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Pennsylvania Bear Hunters Have A Fine Opening Day
November 26, 2008
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Game Commission officials today announced that hunters started the 2008 black bear season by taking a preliminary harvest of slightly more than 1,700 black bears in 50 counties.
Game Commission employees processed 1,725 bears at the agency’s check stations on the opening day of the three-day statewide bear season. The 2008 first-day preliminary harvest compares with 1,005 in 2007; 1,461 in 2006; 2,026 in 2005; 1,573 in 2004; 1,454 in 2003;1,348 2002; 1,812 in 2001; and 1,691 in 2000.
“The first day harvest is the third highest opening day harvest recorded for Pennsylvania,” said Mark Ternent, Game Commission bear biologist. “Weather cooperated, there was some snow on the ground and hunters appear to have had a fine day afield for the opener. Our season is off to a good start.”
The top 10 bears processed at check stations on Monday all had estimated live weights that exceeded 580 pounds. Ray E. Barrick, of McAlisterville, harvested the largest bear, which was a male that weighed in at 691 pounds (estimated live weight). The bear was taken in Todd Township, Huntingdon County, at 1 p.m.
Other large bears included: a 680-pound male taken by Brian R. Clark Jr., of Olanta, in Pike Township, Clearfield County, at 2:30 p.m.; a 651-pound male taken by Ryan M. Miller, of Pittston, in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County, at 9:50 a.m.; a 650-pound male taken by Walter Rupnik, of Breinigsville, in Green Township, Pike County, at 9:30 a.m.; and 611-pound male taken by Matthew N. Shirk, of East Earl, in Union Township, Huntingdon County, at 10:30 a.m..
The preliminary first-day bear harvest by Wildlife Management Unit was as follows: WMU 1A, 14 (2 in 2007); WMU 1B, 40 (17); WMA 2A, 1 (1); WMU 2C, 145 (120); WMU 2D, 97 (44); WMU 2E, 63 (36); WMU 2F, 152 (134); WMU 2G, 363 (257); WMU 3A, 169 (88); WMU 3B, 186 (54); WMU 3C, 42 (18); WMU 3D, 123 (48); WMU 4A, 85 (53); WMU 4B, 20 (19); WMU 4C, 41 (22); WMU 4D, 174 (83); WMU 4E, 9 (9); and WMU 5C, 1 (0).Â
The top bear harvest county in the state after the first day of season was Potter with 152 (54 in 2007), followed by Lycoming, 135 (54); Tioga, 124 (63); McKean, 95 (38); and Clearfield and Huntingdon, both with 67.
County harvests by region for the opening day, followed by the opening day 2007 preliminary harvest in parentheses, are:
Northwest: Venango, 44 (14); Clarion, 36 (14); Warren, 34 (51); Jefferson, 33 (22); Forest, 31 (38); Crawford, 19 (1); Erie, 6 (1); Butler, 5 (5); and Mercer, 3 (0).
Southwest: Somerset, 64 (56); Armstrong, 37 (21); Indiana, 37 (16); Westmoreland, 30 (19); Fayette, 28 (35); Cambria, 20 (4); and Beaver, 2 (0).
Northcentral: Potter, 152 (54); Lycoming, 135 (54); Tioga, 124 (63); McKean, 95 (38); Clearfield, 67 (49); Clinton, 55 (78); Elk, 48 (38); Centre, 47 (27); Cameron, 26 (57); and Union, 22 (11).
Southcentral: Huntingdon, 67 (38); Bedford, 52 (29); Mifflin, 27 (7); Snyder, 17 (5); Blair, 11 (13); Juniata, 11 (9); Fulton, 8 (2); and Perry, 4 (4).
Northeast: Sullivan, 56 (12); Pike, 45 (22); Monroe, 37 (7); Bradford, 33 (16); Wayne, 32 (14); Luzerne, 30 (10); Lackawanna, 19 (5); Wyoming, 18 (2) Carbon, 14 (8); Susquehanna, 11 (7); Columbia, 6 (8); and Northumberland, 1 (2).
Southeast: Schuylkill, 18 (7); Dauphin, 5 (4); Northampton, 2 (2); and Berks, 1 (0).
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26 Nov 2008 - Arkansas Weekly Waterfowl Reports
November 26, 2008
LITTLE ROCK – Just before sunrise this Saturday, duck season officially arrives in Arkansas. Hunters have already turned their attention to the state’s countryside looking for the flash of mallard’s wings. One weapon in the waterfowl hunter’s arsenal is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission waterfowl report.
The popular report begins Wednesday and long-time users will notice a new look for Saturday’s opener. Information has changed somewhat and several links have been added for local weather conditions and water level gauge readings, AGFC waterfowl biologist Luke Naylor expalains. “I think hunters will find the information more timely and better suited to their hunting needs,” he said.
Read the Current Weekly Waterfowl Report
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Results from Third Week of Montana Big Game Season
November 24, 2008
Warmer than average temperatures and lack of snow continue to hamper elk hunter efforts along the Rocky Mountain Front.
“The number of elk brought through the Augusta check station is down by over half as compared to the 10-year average,” says Brent Lonner, Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife biologist.
So far this season, hunters have brought in 92 elk compared to the 10-year average for this date in the hunting season, which is 208.
For deer hunters, however, it’s a different tale. Hunters have checked in 113 white-tailed deer going into the fourth week of the five-week season. That compares favorably with the 10-year average of 116 animals.
Mule deer numbers this year at the check station are 178, only slightly below the long-term average of 195.
“Deer numbers have picked up a little,” Lonner says, “with the rut starting.”
The elk rut peaked the third week of September. Now hunters need snow and cold to move elk into more accessible locations.
While the numbers at the Augusta check station - FWP Region 4’s sole biological check station - apply only to a handful of hunting districts on the Rocky Mountain Front, they often mirror conditions elsewhere in north central Montana.
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Wisconsin’s 2008 Black Bear Season Harvest
November 21, 2008
Permits to increase by 50 percent for 2009 season
MADISON — Preliminary figures indicate hunters harvested more than 2,900 black bears in Wisconsin during the 2008 bear hunting season. This figure is expected to increase slightly in the next month as remaining registration data is entered and is very close to the 2,950 harvest goal for the 2008 season.
Price, Sawyer, and Marinette counties led the state with 259, 220, and 209 bears registered respectively. The preliminary harvest by Bear Management Zone is Zone A: 1,029, Zone B: 657, Zone C: 621, and Zone D: 582.
Hunters submitted 34,529 applications for 4,660 Class A Bear Harvest permits. A total of 81,453 hunters applied for either a harvest permit or a preference point, 1.5 percent more than in 2007. Hunters who apply for but do not receive a Class A harvest permit will receive a preference point for the next year’s drawing. Depending on the zone applied for, it currently takes five to ten preference points in order to draw a harvest permit.
Population study results in; biologists recommend 50 percent more harvest permits
The results of a two-year cooperative study of Wisconsin black bears indicate the population is likely more than two times larger than previously thought. The DNR-funded mark-recapture study was conducted by the University of Wisconsin – Madison Wildlife Ecology graduate student, Dave MacFarland, under the guidance of Dr. Timothy Van Deelen. Members of the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association provided valuable assistance by gathering data and providing research supplies and funding.
“This is a great example of the benefits of working with our partners to complete a large and important project,” said Keith Warnke, Department of Natural Resources deer and bear ecologist.
The DNR’s Bear Committee, comprised DNR wildlife biologists and representatives from various groups such as USDA-APHIS, the Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, met this week to establish recommended harvest permit levels for the 2009 bear season.
“With this new information we can confidently make more bear permits available next year-that’s good news for bear hunters.” The following harvest permit levels are proposed, taking the results of the bear population study into consideration: Zone A: 2,585, Zone B: 1,100, Zone C: 2,040, and Zone D:1,230. The total of 6,950 permits is an increase of 50 percent over the number of permits available for the 2008 season. The bear harvest permit recommendations will be reviewed by the Conservation Congress Bear Study Committee and final quota and permit levels will be approved by the Natural Resources Board at the January 27-28, 2009 Natural Resources Board meeting.
“Over the next couple years, we will be working with our partners to re-write the bear management plan to incorporate this new information and structure our goals to address future bear management,” Warnke said.
2009 Season Applications
The deadline for 2009 Black Bear hunting season applications is Dec. 10, 2008. Hunters can apply over the Internet through the Online Licensing Center; by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236); at license sales locations; or DNR service centers during their regular business hours (check service center link for hours of operation, which vary by service center; service centers are closed Saturdays).
The 2009 bear hunting season will run Sept. 9 through Oct. 13. The opening week of Wisconsin’s bear hunting season alternates between those hunting bear over bait and those hunting with trailing hounds. Hunters using trailing hounds will go first in 2009 in management zones A, B, and D, where the use of dogs is permitted. Hunting over bait will have the first week of the season again in 2010.
Information on bear hunting, hunting seasons, and links to online application information can be accessed at bear hunting page of the DNR Web site or at any DNR Service Center or license vendor.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: contact Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023 or Linda Olver (608) 261-7588
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Missouri Opening-day Deer Harvest Dips Slightly
November 21, 2008
Blustery weather caused hunters to fall 2 percent short of last year’s figure.
JEFFERSON CITY—Cold, blustery weather may have cut into the opening-weekend harvest of Missouri’s main firearms deer season, but hunters still posted a two-day total of nearly 100,000.
Hunters checked 98,386 deer Nov. 15 and 16. That is down 2,049, or about 2 percent from last year’s number. The record for opening weekend of the November hunt was set in 2004, when hunters checked 133,136 deer.
High counties for the opening weekend were Macon with 1,992 deer checked, Benton with 1,967 and Callaway with 1,693. The top counties in 2007 were Callaway with 1,984, Benton with 1,962 and Texas with 1,817.
Resource Scientist Lonnie Hansen said he considers the opening-weekend harvest surprisingly good, considering the weather and a significant change in deer hunting regulations that went into effect this year.
“Opening morning felt colder than it really was, because the wind was so gusty,” Hansen said. “Lots of areas had snow flurries. That might have reduced the amount of time hunters spent in the woods on Saturday.”
Hansen noted that deer are more skittish in windy weather, because they can’t see movement or hear as well as on calm days. This probably made hunting more difficult.
Deer-kill statistics from the first two days of the season seem to confirm that hunting was tougher than usual. Hunters killed 52,131 deer on the first day of the season this year, compared to 64,206 last year.
The weather was much more favorable for hunters on the second day of this year’s season, with temperatures in the 50s and moderate winds. On that day, hunters checked 46,255 deer, compared to 36,229 last year.
Hansen said expansion of the area where hunters could only take antlered deer if they had at least four points on one side also played a role in the slight drop in deer harvest.
“The doe harvest was up on opening weekend compared to last year, and the buck harvest was down,” said Hansen. “The fact that hunters in 36 new counties had to pass up shots at younger bucks could account for the entire difference in last year’s opening weekend harvest and this year’s.”
The November Portion of Firearms Deer Season runs from Nov. 15 through 25. The opening weekend harvest typically accounts for approximately half of the total November portion harvest. The November firearms deer harvest usually accounts for approximately 70 percent of all deer taken by hunters throughout the various firearms and archery hunting seasons.
The Conservation Department recorded one firearms-related deer-hunting accident during the opening weekend. The nonfatal accident was classified as self-inflicted.