Instead of the usual summer hearing, the waterfowl regulations public hearing is coming up on Feb 17th this year.
Next season's proposed dates, bag limits, etc. are already posted - including the sea duck changes. http://www.maine.gov/ifw/aboutus/laws_rules/rulemaking_proposals.htm
Anyone with suggestions, questions, recommendations can send them to me along with your name and location. I will be happy to share with the rest of the Waterfowl Council for discussion prior to the meeting. Thanks. Courtney Hagenaars.
..my contacts can also be found under the waterfowl council on the MDIFW website at Maine. Gov.
How did it go?
I'm sure the early meeting was done to give seaduck guides a head start on getting information to their clients
Were there any other issues brought up?
There was little opposition to the regs as proposed. One attendee wished to move the new 60 day restricted sea duck season as late as possible to January 30th. Also, not that it affects many here, but the mid winter surveys showed more Brant than expected so the limit will be 2 rather than 1. Also, there is a concern that the Atlantic fly way may now be exceeding the kill threshold for wood ducks. If this continues, we may see the limit return to 2 birds. The Carolinas shoot 80%+ of the wood ducks harvested in the Atlantic fly way.
My suggestion is that if you want the sea duck season to be basically Dec and Jan then you should write a letter and send it in. I was amazed that with the people at the meeting, hardly anybody spoke...at all, neither in favor, opposed or general comments. I was basically the only one that voiced any opposition to the proposed dates. Bringing up that it would be nice to have Dec and Jan as the sea duck season. Just my two cents.
There was little opposition to the regs as proposed. One attendee wished to move the new 60 day restricted sea duck season as late as possible to January 30th. Also, not that it affects many here, but the mid winter surveys showed more Brant than expected so the limit will be 2 rather than 1. Also, there is a concern that the Atlantic fly way may now be exceeding the kill threshold for wood ducks. If this continues, we may see the limit return to 2 birds. The Carolinas shoot 80%+ of the wood ducks harvested in the Atlantic fly way.
It would be federal for the flyway,if it happens. We acknowledged that even if maine reduced to 2, it would mean a reduction in harvest if less than 1 percent across the flyway. Little chance SC and NC will self impose a more restrictive bag.
Fyi - The information and feedback considered by the Waterfowl council showed that the majority of guides and private hunters prefer the dates as written.
I just hope it helps sea duck numbers. Also there will be an upcoming study looking at eider chick mortality from black back gulls. We fear it may be in excess of 95%! The theory is that the gulls have increased targeting eiders in recent years due to a sharp decline in other food sources, such as invertebrates. We will see...
Fyi - The information and feedback considered by the Waterfowl council showed that the majority of guides and private hunters prefer the dates as written.
I just hope it helps sea duck numbers. Also there will be an upcoming study looking at eider chick mortality from black back gulls. We fear it may be in excess of 95%! The theory is that the gulls have increased targeting eiders in recent years due to a sharp decline in other food sources, such as invertebrates. We will see...
Fyi - The information and feedback considered by the Waterfowl council showed that the majority of guides and private hunters prefer the dates as written.
I just hope it helps sea duck numbers. Also there will be an upcoming study looking at eider chick mortality from black back gulls. We fear it may be in excess of 95%! The theory is that the gulls have increased targeting eiders in recent years due to a sharp decline in other food sources, such as invertebrates. We will see...
1 day $2 a tag. Im rolling in with a hundy and half a case of shells! :groovin: Same should go for cormorants they need to be thinned out too!
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