Im continuing my gripe on a new thread instead of hijacking the other one. Ohioboy mentioned "why we see so many birds when we arent on the major flyway" in the RP zone. I responded by saying there are birds in the RP zone, they are just concentrated more on private land where they are safe. It is MY OPINION, that if we had more refuges like the AP zone has, then we would see more birds, and the migration would adjust to the opportunities farther west to winter safely. That just seems logical to me. It is also my opinion, that if the migration moved west because of more wintering opportunities to the west, then states to the south of us in our flyway would also start seeing an increase of birds. Ive heard stories that Lake Mattamuskeet used to be the canada goose wintering capital of the Atlantic Flyway but now they have short stopped that area and have wintered around MD for the last decade or so. It also has been discussed here, and on other forums, that NY and NJ are becoming major wintering grounds for fowl, and PA and MD have been on the decline the last few years. I am not foolish to say that weather doesnt play a significant part in that, obviously... but where does our money go that we put into Fed stamps, MD state migratory stamps, banquet tickets, raffles and our DU/Delta memberships?
I am going to play dumb here and ask someone else to find the real answers because the answers in my head are hear say from the old timers I hunt with. I have been told the following things; whether or not they are true, I do not know but someone correct me if I am. Politely of course :biggrin:
1. Our DU dollars mostly get spent on preserving other flyways, mainly the "duck factory" and prarie pothole region because it is "better spent" and more ducks get use out of it.
2. Maryland state waterfowl stamp money gets used mainly for refuges and projects that are all in the AP zone. Some gets allocated to DNR, which I can understand, but no projects for waterfowl get funded in the RP zone from this money.(Pretty please, if someone finds some RP zone projects, or knows who is in charge of them, post contact info. I would like to help when I can!)
3. Reasoning for not doing any local projects in the RP zone with funding from DU, Delta or DNR is because we are not in the migration flyway. There are no migratory birds coming through the RP zone so why spend money there to purchase wetlands or fund projects?(Total bs, put 5 of the guys on our hunting crew together with our bands and I can tell you 80% of them are shot in the RP zone of MD are from out of state, some out of country)
I have many more questions, and can only speculate the answers that I think are total BS from DU, DNR, Delta etc. I have been approached before about helping with DU banquets, helping on the local chapter board, or coming to meetings with the board from our local chapter. I responded by saying let me know when our local chapter is willing to start doing projects locally and stop sending all our fundraising money elsewhere. I have done private projects around the county to give back to the ducks(Yes on areas that I hunt(food plots, wood duck boxes, mallard tubes). I would love to volunteer to do projects on refuges where nobody is allowed to hunt or even public places that are huntable. I continue to pay my annual dues and spend money at the banquets. But someone give me a reason why my money isnt used locally in the RP zone! Sorry to sound selfish too, im sure this post probably sounds that way to some of the AP guys out there. Just remember, this was all things ive heard, and never have seen written evidence on DNR's website. Im reaching out for answers, hopefully proving me wrong.
I am going to play dumb here and ask someone else to find the real answers because the answers in my head are hear say from the old timers I hunt with. I have been told the following things; whether or not they are true, I do not know but someone correct me if I am. Politely of course :biggrin:
1. Our DU dollars mostly get spent on preserving other flyways, mainly the "duck factory" and prarie pothole region because it is "better spent" and more ducks get use out of it.
2. Maryland state waterfowl stamp money gets used mainly for refuges and projects that are all in the AP zone. Some gets allocated to DNR, which I can understand, but no projects for waterfowl get funded in the RP zone from this money.(Pretty please, if someone finds some RP zone projects, or knows who is in charge of them, post contact info. I would like to help when I can!)
3. Reasoning for not doing any local projects in the RP zone with funding from DU, Delta or DNR is because we are not in the migration flyway. There are no migratory birds coming through the RP zone so why spend money there to purchase wetlands or fund projects?(Total bs, put 5 of the guys on our hunting crew together with our bands and I can tell you 80% of them are shot in the RP zone of MD are from out of state, some out of country)
I have many more questions, and can only speculate the answers that I think are total BS from DU, DNR, Delta etc. I have been approached before about helping with DU banquets, helping on the local chapter board, or coming to meetings with the board from our local chapter. I responded by saying let me know when our local chapter is willing to start doing projects locally and stop sending all our fundraising money elsewhere. I have done private projects around the county to give back to the ducks(Yes on areas that I hunt(food plots, wood duck boxes, mallard tubes). I would love to volunteer to do projects on refuges where nobody is allowed to hunt or even public places that are huntable. I continue to pay my annual dues and spend money at the banquets. But someone give me a reason why my money isnt used locally in the RP zone! Sorry to sound selfish too, im sure this post probably sounds that way to some of the AP guys out there. Just remember, this was all things ive heard, and never have seen written evidence on DNR's website. Im reaching out for answers, hopefully proving me wrong.