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New Hampshire 2010 Waterfowl Season Dates

NH Waterfowl Seasons (2010-2011)

Maine 2010 Waterfowl Season Dates

(USFWS)

http://www.state.me.us/ifw/laws_rules/pdf/Migratory_Bird_%20Sched_2010_final.pdf

Delta Waterfowl Scientific Director Discusses Plans to Shortstop Migratory Waterfowl from Oil-fouled Wetlands

BP's Macondo well is capped--at least for now--and that's welcome relief to Gulf Coast residents who are grappling with the economic, environmental and emotional fallout from the largest oil spill in U.S. history.

But serious questions remain for the millions of migratory birds that will begin descending on or through the Gulf Coast beginning this month.

"The fact is, when blue-winged teal start to show up here in August, no one knows what they're going to find," said Delta Waterfowl Scientific Director Dr. Frank Rohwer, who is also a professor at Louisiana State University's School of Renewable Natural Resources. "We're in unchartered territory."

Over the last several weeks, two complimentary plans have emerged to "shortstop" ducks, geese and other migratory birds from oil-contaminated portions of the Gulf Coast.

In what has been characterized as an unprecedented attempt to alter migration routes, the federal government is spending more than $20 million on "alternative habitat" in eight states to attract southward-bound birds. The Natural Resources Conservation Service--an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture--will establish as much as 150,000 acres in states as far north as Missouri.

In addition, Ducks Unlimited recently received a $2.5 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The funds are being used to "flood alternative habitats" in the rice regions of coastal Louisiana and Texas.

(Delta Waterfowl Media Photo)

Waterfowl Pre-Game Projects

(Steve Hickoff photo)

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Steve Hickoff's Yamaha Outdoors Waterfowling Tips

Arkansas Flooded (Frozen) Timber, Jan. 2010

(Steve Hickoff photos)

Buried in Snows

Special Snow Goose Harvest Opportunity

Waterbury, Vermont - Hunters will once again have the opportunity to pursue snow geese this spring as a result of a special management action referred to as a "Conservation Order" allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and adopted by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board.

The measure was adopted at the recommendation of federal and state wildlife scientists in response to concerns about a growing number of snow geese across North America and the damage they cause to their arctic habitat. Eight states in the Atlantic Flyway (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Vermont) will hold a Spring Snow Goose Conservation Order in 2010.

The Vermont 2010 Spring Snow Goose Conservation Order will occur statewide from March 11 through April 23. The daily bag limit is 15 snow geese, and there is no possession limit. Waterfowl hunting regulations in effect last fall will apply during the 2010 Spring Snow Goose Conservation Order with the exception that unplugged shotguns and electronic calls may be used, and shooting hours will be extended until ½ hour after sunset.

A 2010 Spring Snow Goose Harvest Permit is required and is available at no charge on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's website (vtfishandwildlife.com). Hunters may also call the Essex Junction Office (802-878-1564) to request a permit.

In addition to this permit, a hunter will need a 2010 Vermont hunting license (residents $20, nonresidents $40), Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification, a 2009 federal migratory hunting stamp ($15), and a 2009 Vermont migratory waterfowl stamp ($7.50). Hunters can register with the Harvest Information Program by going to the department website mentioned above or calling a toll free number (877-306-7091) during normal business hours.

The populations of snow geese, blue geese and Ross's geese in North America, collectively referred to as "light geese," have grown to record levels over the past three decades.

The overabundance of light geese, which nest in far northern regions of North America, is harming their fragile arctic breeding habitat. The damage to the habitat is, in turn, harming the health of the light geese and other bird species that depend on the tundra habitat. Returning the goose population to sustainable levels is necessary to protect this delicate habitat and every species dependent on it.

Greater snow geese make up a large share of the light goose populations in the Atlantic Flyway.

"The population of greater snow geese has grown from approximately 50,000 birds in the mid-1960s to 1.4 million today," said Bill Crenshaw, Vermont's waterfowl project biologist. "This increase has resulted in damage to agricultural crops and marsh vegetation in staging and wintering areas from Quebec to North Carolina. The Atlantic Flyway has established a goal of 500,000 greater snow geese to bring populations in balance with their habitat and reduce crop depredation."

Hunters who obtain a permit will be required to complete an online survey after April 23 whether they hunted or not. Hunters without access to the internet may obtain a copy of the survey by calling 802-878-1564.

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved the Spring Snow Goose Conservation Order in order to better manage the population of geese," said Crenshaw. "We are currently working with the Fish and Wildlife Board to make this a standard regulation so it won't have to be voted on each year."

Contact: William Crenshaw, 802-878-1564; Scott Darling, 802-786-3862

Maine's Annual Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey Completed

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife conducted its annual mid-winter waterfowl survey early in January 2010 and recorded numbers identical to or lower than 10-year-average figures.

The mid-winter waterfowl survey is conducted at the same time each winter in every state in the Atlantic Flyway. MDIFW wildlife biologists Brad Allen and Kelsey Sullivan and U.S. Geological Survey biologist Dan McAuley flew with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pilot John Bidwell for nearly 40 hours to conduct the low-level survey between January 4 and January 16.

This year, the team counted slightly more than 56,000 ducks and geese, a figure significantly lower than the latest 10-year average count of 69,000.

According to Brad Allen, leader of MDIFW’s bird group, this year’s count likely was low because of the relatively mild, ice-free coastal conditions encountered during the survey. In years when the survey is preceded by cold, harsh weather conditions, waterfowl become concentrated along the coast and are more likely to be counted. In years when the weather is mild, waterfowl are either along the coast or are dispersed in freshwater sites near the coast that remain ice free. These inland areas are not searched by the survey team.

Despite the mild conditions, a relatively good number of black ducks were recorded at 16,388 birds. This figure is nearly identical to the latest 10-year average for this species.

The most disappointing numbers recorded this year were for the sea ducks, according to Allen. Fewer than 1,000 scoters were encountered during the survey. Long-tailed duck numbers also were low at 1,253. Common eider numbers were the lowest ever recorded during mid-winter waterfowl survey flights. The survey team tallied fewer than 15,000 eiders, well below the latest 10-year average of 26,500 for this species.

Other numbers recorded for waterfowl in Maine in early January 2010 were as follows:

· Mallards: 2,778

· Scaup: 232

· Goldeneyes: 7,549

· Buffleheads: 6,561

· Mergansers: 2,613

· Ruddy ducks: 107

· Harlequin ducks: 24

· Canada geese: 3,286

While Maine’s numbers were relatively low this year, the overall status of winter populations cannot be determined until Maine’s data are pooled with the other state’s numbers from Maine to Florida. Collectively, these data provide a relative index to the abundance of all waterfowl species and their distribution within the flyway.

Alabama: Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) has designated February 6-7, 2010, as Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. On those two days, youth under age 16 may hunt when accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. Regular waterfowl season shooting hours, bag limits, legal arms and ammunitions apply to the special days.

ADCNR Commissioner M. Barnett Lawley thinks the two select hunting days give young people a chance to learn and grow as hunters. "Hunting under the supervision of an experienced adult hunter is one of the best ways young hunters can acquire the necessary skills to become a good hunter," said Lawley. "Learning the correct way to handle firearms, to practice hunting safety and the ethics of hunting during these appointed days begins a positive step toward becoming an accomplished, lifetime hunter."

Youth are defined as individuals age 15 years and younger. Adults are defined as individuals age 25 years and older, or as the parent of the youth. The adult must have a state hunting license, state and federal waterfowl stamp, and a free harvest information program stamp.

To participate in the hunt, individuals must be accompanied by an adult supervisor. The adult supervisor, who may not hunt, must remain within arm's length of the youth at all times. The adult supervisor may accompany up to two youth participants during the hunt.

Only one firearm will be allowed per youth, and only the youth hunters will be permitted to utilize the firearm for hunting. The adult is expected to review the rules of firearm safety and hunter ethics with each youth and ensure they are followed.

For more information on the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days, contact David Hayden at (334) 242-3469 or visit the Outdoor Alabama Web site at www.outdooralabama.com.

More Arkansas: Photos by Steve Hickoff

(Steve Hickoff photos)

Arkansas Waterfowl Report

Hunted flooded timber and zero-grade rice fields on the recent trip.

Hunters in camp recorded the following species over the three days I visited: mallards, shovelers, a Ross' goose, a blue (color phase of the white lesser snow, of course), white-fronted geese (specks), and a pintail.

Flooded timber hunts involve ice chopping, sliding sheets underneath to open up holes. Gunned from a pit blind twice. Took all ducks & geese over GHG dekes.

--Steve Hickoff

(Photos: Van Holmes, Yamaha; used with permission)

January Report

Surf scoter, common goldeneye, black ducks and mallards in the New Hampshire coastal zone of late; along with Canadas feeding in tidal marshes, and local fields. Ends January 11, 2010.

Report of a Eurasian widgeon flying with American widgeon on Great Bay has the waterfowl grapevine buzzing . . .

Off to Arkansas tomorrow with a deep freeze about to hit there by Thursday. A full report on the other side.

-S.H.

(Steve Hickoff photo)