S.C. waterfowl season gets underway Nov. 26
November 21, 2008
The 2008-2009 late waterfowl season will soon get underway with the first segment opening on Wednesday, Nov. 26 running until Sunday, Nov. 30.
Changes in regulations include an increase in the wood duck bag limit from two to three, a hybrid daily bag limit for scaup, and a closure of the canvasback season. This season will also include three youth waterfowl hunting days. State youth day is Dec. 6. Federal youth days are Jan. 31, 2009, and Feb. 1, 2009.
Copies of the regulations booklet and migratory bird brochure are available by writing to DNR, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202; or by calling (803) 734-3886 in Columbia.
DUCKS (Excluding Sea Ducks) - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset – Differential bag limit: 6 total, including no more than 4 mallards (1 hen), 1 pintail, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 1 black-bellied whistling duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads and 1 black duck or 1 mottled duck. The 6 total shall include no more than 1 scaup for the period Nov. 26-Nov. 30 and Dec. 12-Jan. 5. The 6 total shall include no more than 2 scaup for the period Jan. 6-Jan. 25. - Possession limit: 12 total, including no more than 8 mallards (2 hens), 2 pintails, 2 fulvous whistling ducks, 2 black-bellied whistling ducks, 6 wood ducks, 4 redheads, (2 black ducks or 2 mottled ducks or 1 black duck and 1 mottled duck). The 12 total shall include no more than 2 scaup for the period Nov. 26-Nov. 30 and Dec. 12-Jan. 5. The 12 total shall include no more than 4 scaup for the period Jan. 6-Jan. 25.
Dec. 6, 2008 is State Youth Day. Only hunters 17 years of age or younger may hunt waterfowl (ducks and geese) on this day. The youth(s) must be accompanied by an adult of at least 21 years of age. The adult is not allowed to carry a gun or hunt, but must be properly licensed, including state and federal duck stamps. Youth who are 16 and 17 years of age who hunt on this day are not required to be licensed or have a state waterfowl stamp but must possess a Federal Waterfowl Stamp. The regular duck season limits apply except on this day, the 6 total limit may include no more than 1 scaup.
Jan. 31, 2009 and Feb. 1, 2009 are Federal Youth Days. Only hunters 15 years of age or younger may hunt waterfowl (ducks and geese) on these days. The youth(s) must be accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age. The adult is not allowed to carry a gun or hunt, and does not have to be licensed. The regular duck season limits apply except on these days, the 6 total limit may include no more than 2 scaup.
MERGANSERS - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 5 (not to include more than 1 Hooded Merganser) - Possession limit: 10 (not to include more than 2 Hooded Mergansers).
SEA DUCKS - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Oct. 11–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 7 (Not to include more than 4 scoters) - Possession limit: 14 (Not to include more than 8 scoters) — Sea ducks taken outside of the regular duck season may be hunted only in Atlantic Ocean waters separated from any shore, island or emergent vegetation by at least one mile of open water. Sea ducks include eiders, scoters and long-tailed ducks.
COOTS - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 15 - Possession limit: 30.
CANADA GEESE/WHITE FRONTED GEESE (Late Seasons) - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan 30, Feb 2-Feb 15 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 5 (not to include more than 2 white-fronted geese) - Possession limit: 10 (not to include more than 4 white-fronted geese). Excludes all of Clarendon County, that portion of Orangeburg County North of SC Highway 6 and that portion of Berkeley County North of SC Highway 45 from the Orangeburg County Line to the junction of SC Highway 45 and State Road S-8-31 and that portion West of the Santee Dam.
BLUE and SNOW GEESE - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 15 - Possession limit: No limit.
BRANT - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 3 - Possession limit: 6.
There is no open season on canvasbacks or harlequin ducks.
Shooting hours for late season duck hunting are uniform statewide. Hunters should take notice that DNR law enforcement officers will pay special attention to “late shooting violations” throughout South Carolina. Check local newspapers for sunrise and sunset times. Any South Carolina hunter born after June 30, 1979, must complete an approved hunter education course to purchase a hunting license.
Nontoxic shot (such as steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, or other federally approved shot) is required for all waterfowl hunting. The possession of lead shot is prohibited for all waterfowl hunting statewide.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
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DEC Warns Against Feeding Waterfowl After Finding Dead & Dying Geese
November 21, 2008
Birds Afflicted with a Fungal Disease After Ingesting Moldy Grain
Recently, a dozen Canada geese were found sick or dead on a pond in northern Clinton County by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Wildlife staff responding to a report from a concerned citizen.
The sick geese were disoriented and unable to fly, and all are expected to die. A necropsy of the dead geese determined that they were infected with Aspergillosis, a fungus that grows in the birds’ lungs and air sacs causing respiratory distress and, eventually, suffocation.
Aspergillosis is transmitted to waterfowl by the ingestion of moldy grain, such as bread or livestock feed. It has been known to cause large-scale mortality events in waterfowl, and for every one dead bird recovered, many more may die in remote locations or go unnoticed. Aspergillosis is not contagious and does not present a health risk to humans.
DEC is attempting to locate the food source that contains the fungus. Once located it will be removed and disposed of (or covered) to prevent any further waterfowl deaths.
DEC is asking the public to not feed geese, ducks, and other waterfowl to help prevent this disease and other negative impacts on waterfowl populations. Feeding causes poor nutrition, overcrowding, unnatural behavior, delayed migration, and facilitates the spread of diseases, like Aspergillosis, that may result in death.
DEC recommends that anyone feeding waterfowl, stop before winter sets in, and remove any food, such as bread or corn, that is or may become moldy. In recognition that some insist on feeding, despite the negative impacts on waterfowl, DEC urges the following precautions to prevent the spread of Aspergillosis:
- Only provide enough food that will be consumed in less than a day.
- Remove all food and food remnants from the feeding area at the end of each day.
- Check the food while putting it out and remove any moldy food items.
- NEVER feed moldy bread to any birds - throw it out.
Farmers should keep grain piles covered and dispose of moldy grain or silage by burial or tilling into the soil. Ducks and geese must be discouraged from using areas where moldy agricultural products have accumulated.
Please report diseased or dead waterfowl to your nearest Department of Environmental Conservation Wildlife Office. The phone number of the nearest DEC wildlife office may be obtained from the DEC web site.
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White-fronted Geese Are Special for Some Waterfowlers
November 6, 2008
LITTLE ROCK – Use the term “waterfowl:” in Arkansas, and the usual connection is with mallards, specifically the male mallard known as the greenhead.
There is another variety popular with many hunters, the white-fronted goose, also known as the specklebelly.
These are found in many areas the state, not in the large numbers of snow geese or even in today’s numbers of Canada geese. But white-fronted geese are around, they are huntable, and they are challenges for the hunter.
Goose hunting has grown in Arkansas in recent years. A shortage of ducks at times during hunting season has led some waterfowlers to go after geese. Another factor has been the large flocks of snow geese in the state for the past decade or two, partially attributed to the increase in winter wheat production in many areas of east Arkansas. Snow geese are too numerous in their far north breeding grounds, leading to an extended and liberalized season called a “conservation order” by federal authorities.
The season for 2008-09 for white-fronted geese is in three segments. These are Nov. 15-Dec. 1, Dec. 6-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 30. Daily bag limit is two, with a possession limit of four. As with other goose and duck hunting, both federal and state waterfowl hunting stamps must be signed across the face and carried by a hunter. Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration is also required.
White-fronted geese (scientifically, Anser albifrons) at a distance sometimes are mistaken for blue geese, the blue color phase of snow geese. “Blues” are a slate gray over much of their bodies. White-front–s are more of a brownish gray. “Blues” have white heads and upper neck; white-front–s have a white face but brownish-gray heads and necks. ”Blues” have pinkish legs and bills; white-front–s have yellow-orange legs and yellowish
The “white front” of the birds’ name is a little misleading. It stems from the white face, not the breast, which is a lighter shade of the brownish-gray of the body. But the belly is splotched with darker, nearly black, feathers, leading to the term “specklebelly.”
In size, white-fronted geese in general are a little larger than snow geese but smaller than Canada geese, a good bit smaller than the resident giant Canada geese subspecies that is common along the Arkansas River Valley and around some large lakes in the state.
The white-fronted goose has a different call from snows or Canadas and these birds’ one-note or two-note calls. Many hunters term the white-fronted call a yodel. Special calls for white-front–s are sold and used in the field.
White-fronted geese often hang around snow geese or at least on the edge of snow geese flocks feeding in fields. Arkansas goose hunters use large numbers of decoys for snow geese, and these seem to work for white-front–s also.
Most goose hunters believe white-fronts are more wary – and thus more challenging – than either snow geese or Canada geese.
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Texas Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report - 10/15/2008
October 15, 2008
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.
North Zone Dove: Rain throughout the Panhandle from a stalling cool front put a damper on the dove flight. Waterfowlers are welcoming the rain as it recharges playa lakes. Doves have been best in milo and sunflowers near Abilene, Amarillo, Dumas and Knox City. More doves have moved into the areas north of Fort Worth. Fields around Paris have been fair to good in the afternoon. Expect more birds in the area with the front. The season ends Oct. 30. Prospects are fair to good.
Central Zone Dove: Lack of hunting pressure has allowed doves to build in Central Texas fields. Brownwood, Stephenville and San Saba have taken birds around watering holes in the afternoon. San Antonio fields have been best in the afternoon on the full moon. Many of the whitewings have been staying in town early then leaving late in the afternoon to feed. Milo and sunflowers near Uvalde and Del Rio have been good for near-limits. Brookshire and Sealy fields of goatweed saw an influx of birds with the recent fronts. Outfitters said few hunters are in the field which has allowed birds to build. The first split of the season ends Oct. 30. Prospects are fair to good.
South Zone Dove: Best hunts in South Texas have come around water in the afternoon. The full moon and dry conditions have been a factor in the evening flight. Forecasted rain this week with the approaching front could put more water on the parched ground. Good hunts have been posted near Laredo, Harlingen, Freer and George West for mourners and whitewings. In the northern portion of the South Zone, El Campo continues to produce limit shoots in fields of sunflowers. A few more birds are showing around Bay City and Collegeport as well. Prospects are fair to good.
Waterfowl Migration: Despite the mild conditions, significant numbers of specklebellies continue to find the rice prairie. Many are finding wet second-cropped rice fields. With rice prices up, quite a bit more rice acreage was farmed on the prairie this year. This bodes well for all waterfowl. Pintails, teal and shovelers are showing on bay flats and marshes. Expect another push of birds with the front moving through Texas this week. Conditions look good in the High Plains Mallard Management Area. The region has received heavy rains during the past two months which has playas in good shape. The youth season in the HPMMA runs Oct. 18-19. The regular seasons runs Oct. 25-26 and Oct. 31-Jan.25, 2009. Duck season for the rest of the state opens Nov. 1.
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“Water” is the Important Word in Missouri Waterfowl Forecast
October 13, 2008
JEFFERSON CITY—Waterfowl hunters’ wishes came true this year when Missouri got more rain, but they backfired, damaging wetlands and reducing the availability of food that might induce ducks and geese to linger in the Show-Me State.
Drought has plagued Missouri in recent years, hampering efforts to keep wetlands wet. This year, however, those who manage wetland areas for the Missouri Department of Conservation tore their hair as floods destroyed levees, drowned out native, seed-producing plants, killed crops planted for ducks and geese and made any kind of active management impossible on many areas.
“You need water for good duck habitat,” said Resource Scientist Andy Raedeke, “but this year much of this rain has come at the wrong time. Many wetland-dependent species depend on spring floods to recharge basins and provide habitat. However, late summer and early fall floods are unusual in Missouri and can destroy much-needed food resources and habitat for migrating waterfowl. One bright spot is that floods at this time of year do provide more habitat for wading birds and migrating shorebirds.”
Data from the weather station at Sanborn Field in Boone County give some idea how much of a “good thing” Missouri has gotten this year. From January through September, the gauge there collected 51.74 inches of rain. During the same period in 2007, the same gauge showed only 24 inches, and in 2006 it gathered a mere 21.92 inches. The area’s average rainfall is approximately 40 inches.
Wave after wave of torrential rain affected the Conservation Department’s managed wetland areas dramatically for the worse. Rivers smashed through some levees. Others were simply drowned by rising streams. Raging waters destroyed pumps, drains, gates and other wetland infrastructure. Without those tools, managers were unable to manipulate water levels, grow food crops and flood pools according to seasonal schedules after the floods receded.
“Hunters are going to find conditions that are very different than normal on many areas as a result of flooding,” said Raedeke. “Besides structural damage, rain and floods destroyed crops intended to provide food for ducks.”
That is bad news for ducks and geese, which will not find much to replenish their energy in Missouri. It is bad news for hunters, because hungry waterfowl are not likely to linger in Missouri if food supplies are sparse.
The deluge killed more than crops. In many areas, water covered wetland areas for weeks, killing even moisture-tolerant native plants, such as millet, that produce vast amounts of waterfowl food in normal years. The same plants usually grow tall enough to hide hunters, but large expanses of wetland will have short vegetation this year, making duck hunting extra challenging.
Raedeke said native moist-soil plants could make up for some of the lost time if warm weather lingers well into October, but some areas simply have sparse food and cover.
Nor are hunters getting particularly good news about waterfowl numbers. Raedeke notes that while this year’s fall flight forecast remains above the long-term average for many ducks and geese, many are down from last year.
The 2008 fall flight estimate of 37.3 million ducks is down 9 percent from last year and 11 percent above the long-term (1959-2007) average. Estimated numbers of mallards, scaup, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and redheads were similar to last year’s. However, wigeon numbers declined by 11 percent, gadwalls declined by 19 percent, pintails by 22 percent, shovelers by 23 percent and canvasbacks were down 44 percent compared to 2007.
Raedeke said hunters should not be too discouraged, however.
“Last year we had fairly tough conditions, and the season turned out way better than expected,” he said. “Floods early in the year hurt our wetland areas, and a late-summer drought cut into food production in southern Missouri. But we got good weather during the hunting season, and that kept a lot of ducks around. We ended up with a record harvest, and we could still have a very good season this year, too, if the weather cooperates.”
If there is good news in all the flooding news it is that aquatic insects, snails and other invertebrate foods will be abundant this year. Raedeke noted that floods are an indispensable part of wetland ecosystems. While they cause trouble for managers and hunters, they also have positive effects.
For more information about the waterfowl season outlook, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/765
or www.mdc.mo.gov/770.
Missouri’s duck season runs from Oct. 25 through Dec. 23 in the North Zone, from Nov. 1 through Dec. 30 in the Middle Zone and from Nov. 27 through Jan. 25 in the South Zone. Youth-only hunting seasons take place the weekend before the opening day in each zone.
The daily limit on ducks is six, including no more than four mallards (no more than 2 females); one black duck; three mottled ducks (new this year); one pintail; one scaup (down from two last year); three wood ducks (up from two last year); two redheads; and two hooded mergansers. The season for canvasbacks is closed.
Other species may be taken in any number up to the daily bag limit of six ducks total. Possession limits are twice the daily bag limits.
For zone boundaries, goose seasons and other waterfowl hunting information, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/7559, or pick up a copy of the 2008-2009 Waterfowl Hunting Digest, available wherever hunting permits are sold.
Following are summaries of conditions at Conservation Department wetland areas.
NODAWAY VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA (CA) was covered with water June 7 and 8 due to levee failures. Area managers had barely gotten crops replanted when the area’s west side flooded again in late July. As a result, hunting on the west side of the area will be poor this year. Hunters will find fair to good moist-soil vegetation on the area’s east side. Pumping enough water to flood this area could be difficult if the Nodaway River is low this fall.
BOB BROWN CA got off lucky, with no flood damage to area infrastructure or crops. Crops and moist-soil vegetation are in good shape, and good hunting conditions are expected. The only possible limiting factor at this area is water availability.
Two pumps draw water from the Missouri River to flood Bob Brown’s wetland pools, but they can only operate when the river is high enough. Both pumps were in operation early this month, but that could change when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reduces water flow at the end of the commercial navigation season. As of Oct. 6 the refuge and a few other pools were well-flooded, and water was being channeled into pools with crops.
GRAND PASS CA avoided over-levee flooding but got a fair amount of rainwater and seepage in June and July. Hunters may notice patchy corn crops in northern parts of Pools 5 and 5 West, where seep water hampered crop production. The rest of the area is in good shape, and hunting should be as good as it has been in recent years. Like Bob Brown CA, Grand Pass relies on the Missouri River for water to flood wetland pools. One of the area’s water pumps already is out of commission, so a low Missouri River could make water management a challenge.
Twelve flood events from February to mid-September not only held up renovation work at FOUNTAIN GROVE CA, they caused levee damage that had to be fixed before work could resume. No crops grew in pools 1, 2, 3, H or J, which were flooded for most of the spring and summer. Portions of these pools will be closed to hunting this fall, since renovation work continues there. Food production on the area’s east side is fair to good. The Mac 1 and 2 pools have fair crop production, whereas the Mac 3, 4 and 5 pools will have poor crop but fair to good moist soil plant production. Stinson has no crop but fair moist soil plant growth.
Continuing work on water control structures in Pools 2 and 3 will keep that area dry this fall, so hunting on the area’s west side will be greatly reduced. Hunting will be somewhat better on the east side of Fountain Grove CA, but late planting likely will delay hunting opportunity in some areas.
All waterfowl hunting at Fountain Grove will be walk-in type this year that closes at 1 pm. They expect to start the season with four to eight shooting positions and close with as many as 12 with ideal water conditions. Additional positions may be available if wet conditions prevent continued progress of the renovation project.
EAGLE BLUFFS CA experienced some heavy rainfall and seepage through saturated levees but avoided overtopped or breached levees. Higher than normal water levels prevented crops from producing seed in five pools, but native vegetation responded well and replaced this loss somewhat. Hunters will find little corn but fair moist-soil vegetation. High water prevented production of food around either of the wheelchair-accessible blinds.
TED SHANKS CA was harder hit by this year’s floods than most areas. Levees breached in the north and south ends of the area, putting it under water from the middle of June until August. Cover is limited as a result, and food is very scarce. Area staff expects to cut the number of hunting spots by as much as half this year, and no blinds will be available.
Many of the approximately 90 blind sites at UPPER MISSISSIPPI CA were damaged by late-summer flooding. Area managers are working with blind registrants to get these blinds repaired, but some may be in poor condition for the upcoming season.
B.K. LEACH CA disappeared under as much as 11 feet of water last summer. Levee damage was minimal, but planting was delayed. Millet planted in mid-August suffered from heavy rainfall that marked the passage of Hurricane Ike. Millet and smartweed survived in some areas, but cover and food are likely to be sparse. Hunting conditions could change, depending on weather, but right now the area looks poor to fair at best.
MARAIS TEMPS CLAIR CA avoided major flooding, but heavy rains prevented normal crop planting, so there are no floodable crops. Moist-soil vegetation did well in more elevated parts of the area. Overall, however, hunters will find fair hunting with less food for ducks than normal.
This is the first year of hunting in a new wetland area – Pool 6A – at Marais Temps Clair. This pool will provide hunting for one or two additional parties, bringing the maximum number of parties the area can handle under ideal conditions to 10.
COLUMBIA BOTTOM CA experienced extensive flooding from April through July, limiting growth of native vegetation and planted millet. Some of the upper pools will have fair to poor moist-soil vegetation for cover and food, but the lower pools, including the refuge, will have little or no food to hold waterfowl. There is no corn or other grain. Hunting opportunity will be very limited early in the season, and late-season hunting will depend on progress repairing a pump station. The area was left out of the waterfowl hunting reservation system this year in recognition of the limited hunting potential there.
The Little Osage River got out of its banks seven times between April and June, inundating the AUGUST A. BUSCH JR. MEMORIAL WETLANDS AT FOUR RIVER CA. Late plantings of millet and sorghum were doing well when Hurricane Ike blew in. The area got more than 12 inches of rain between Sept. 3 and Sept. 13, flooding the area again. The flooding damaged the moist-soil vegetation and crops, leaving the area short on both food and cover.
The main water-control structure in Unit 3 failed during early flooding, leaving that area at the mercy of the river. There will be plenty of huntable water in the draw units and the open hunting units, but food and cover will be limited
SCHELL-OSAGE CA suffered eight floods this year, sustaining damage to levees, roads, blinds and water-control structures. Planting of millet did not start until late July, and later floods largely drowned out those plantings, along with moist-soil vegetation. Montrose’s wetland pools are full, but availability of crops and moist-soil plants is rated poor.
MONTROSE CA lost all its row crops and moist-soil vegetation to flooding. The lake is slightly higher than normal, but 14 blinds will be available for hunters.
SETTLE’S FORD CA missed flooding, and it goes into the hunting season with eight of 14 pools full or nearly so. Wet weather prevented timely crop planting, so floodable grain acreage is only fair, and crop harvests will be delayed. Moist-soil vegetation on this area is in good condition.
COON ISLAND CA was under water until the first week in July, so there are no food plots. However, moist-soil vegetation grew well, creating food and cover, and the timbered areas look good.
DUCK CREEK CA experienced extensive flood damage to its infrastructure in March. Much of that damage has been repaired, but hunters may have to take detours around damaged portions of some area roads. Area managers were able to get some grain planted, and native, moist-soil vegetation did well, creating a good mix of habitat for ducks. Pools 2, 3 and 8 will be flooded late this year to help maintain the health of green-tree hunting areas.
The area formerly known as Dark Cypress Swamp CA now is the Greenbrier Unit of Duck Creek CA. It will have one hunting spot available if Castor River is high enough to flood the area.
A new addition to Duck Creek CA, north of the town of Greenbrier, now is called the Dark Cypress Swamp Unit of Duck Creek CA. It will have four to six hunting spots to be allocated through the morning draw at Duck Creek.
Of all the state’s managed wetland areas, TEN MILE POND CA seems to have been flooded deepest. Inundations from March through June covered parts of this area with up to 18 feet of water. Then drought set in. This double whammy made grain plantings sparse, but native plants, millet plantings and marsh grasses did surprisingly well. The end result is good habitat for migrating waterfowl. However, continued dry weather could hamper efforts to flood wetland units. Wheat, winter rye and annual rye grasses have been planted to attract geese to the area.
OTTER SLOUGH CA had no flooding this year, and hunters should find conditions there the same as last year. Moist-soil vegetation is in good condition, and floodable crops fair.
LITTLE RIVER CA’s crops failed due to flooding. Subsequent dry weather allowed only fair moist-soil vegetation growth, and continued dry conditions could interfere with flooding wetland units. Overall predictions are for poor to fair hunting.
Little River CA will be open to hunting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays again this year. Four of the area’s units will be open each hunting day, and these units will be rotated to provide resting days. This strategy is designed to prevent waterfowl from deserting the area due to hunting pressure, a condition hunters often refer to as being “shot out.” Like last year, hunting will be on a first-come, first-served basis. This provides a spillover hunting location for hunters who fail to draw in at Duck Creek, Otter Slough and Ten Mile Pond CAs.
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Arkansas in Second Year of Project to Test Convenience of Electronic Duck Stamp
September 25, 2008
LITTLE ROCK – In an effort to make federal duck stamp purchasing more convenient, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is beginning the second year of a three year program to test electronic stamps. The AGFC, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is testing the pilot program to make it simpler for hunters, birdwatchers and stamp collectors to buy Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, commonly known as duck stamps.
The pilot program allows the AGFC along with fish and wildlife agencies in the states of Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Texas and Wisconsin, to sell stamps electronically through their individual automated licensing systems providing proof of purchase.
This proof of purchase – a unique code given to the purchaser instantly, will be accepted as evidence of the federal duck stamp purchase for 45 days. This will give the purchaser – time enough for the physical stamp to arrive in the mail. Duck Stamp purchasers will now be able to buy an electronic duck stamp from Arkansas and the other eight states’ retail licensing locations or by telephone or by their website.
Every waterfowl hunter over the age of 16 is required to buy a federal duck stamp in order to hunt waterfowl. In addition, federal duck stamps provide free entry into any national wildlife refuge in the country that charges an entrance fee. The electronic duck stamps are $2 higher in cost than the over-the-counter version.
The electronic proof of purchase will fulfill the requirement for waterfowl hunters to possess the stamp nationwide and allow visitors to National Wildlife Refuges gain free access. After the 45 days, the proof of purchase will expire and the purchasers must possess the paper stamp to receive its full benefit.
The federal duck stamp is currently available at many major sporting good stores selling hunting and fishing licenses, select post offices and online through the U.S. Postal Service and AMPLEX, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s duck stamp fulfillment center.
The Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2005 directed the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with state management agencies, to conduct a three-year pilot program under which up to 15 states could issue electronic migratory bird hunting and conservation stamps. The pilot program will allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to evaluate the program and make adjustments or assess other distribution options to better serve stamp buyers.
Click this link for more information about the Federal Duck Stamp Program.
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North Dakota Residents Open Waterfowl Season Sept. 27, Nonresidents Oct. 4
September 22, 2008
Dry conditions covering much of North Dakota have waterfowl biologists cautioning duck hunters to scout early to determine whether favorite marshes will be huntable this year.
Mike Szymanski, waterfowl biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said below average annual precipitation will affect areas available to hunt. “Much of the state was without significant snowfall last winter, and spring was very dry,” Szymanski said. “These conditions left habitats such that few ducks initiated nesting efforts early.”
While June rains didn’t necessarily improve wetland conditions, it did spark some late nesting by mallards, gadwall and some blue-winged teal. However, reproduction was spotty, as few ducks were produced in the western two-thirds of the state, with average production further east.
“We carried a relatively large breeding population from previous years, so it’s not to say that hunters won’t encounter ducks this fall,” Szymanski said, while noting breeding conditions in prairie Canada appear to be similar to those in North Dakota. “It’s just that a higher proportion than normal will be adult birds that are not as naïve to hunting pressure.”
While most of the state is drier than it was last year, the eastern third appears to have the most moisture. Biologists will conduct a fall wetland survey in mid-September to quantify wetland conditions across the state.Â
Goose hunters can expect another good fall flight based on biologist observations. Resident Canada geese continue to be abundant across the state. However, Szymanski said a low nesting effort will result in fewer geese in the western portion of the state. “Dry conditions out west not only resulted in lower reproduction, but also more adult birds leaving the area to molt their flight feathers,” he added.
Reports from the Arctic indicate good weather conditions this summer. While biologists have not yet conducted reproduction surveys for Arctic nesting geese, conditions should result in a good fledging rate. “There certainly will be more young birds in the fall flight of light