waterfowl hunting seasons
August 14th, 2005 by Administrator
Government sets new regulations on fowl - Federal regulations have been established for this years’s waterfowl hunting seasons.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will establish wildfowl hunting seasons and regulations from within this federal framework at its Aug. 26 meting.
During the interim, the NCWRC will conduct a series of public meetings to gather sportsmen’s input in determining those seasons and regulations. The meeting most convenient for local area residents will be held Thursday, Aug. 18, at the courthouse in Nashville beginning at 7 p.m.
If you want to voice your opinion on the federal guidelines and can’t attend the meeting, you can send a letter to: NCWRC, Division of Wildlife Management, 1724 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1724, or you can telephone 919-733-7291.
The federal guidelines propose a 60-day season for most species of duck and seasons, as well as bag limits, for geese and other waterfowl as well. One big change to federal guidelines, especially to those old-timers who remember when Pintails and Canvasbacks ruled the late autumn skies, is that Canvasbacks are again eligible for a 30-day season while Pintails are eligible for the full 60-day season.
Just three years ago, there was no season for Canvasbacks in North Carolina.
Another important guideline is the allowing of the first Atlantic population Canada goose season in N.C.’s Northeast Hunt Zone since 1991. This would be a late season permit only hunt with a one-bird seasonal limit.
Additionally, this year’s six-duck-per-day bag limit can be comprised totally of mergansers — but only one can be hooded. Goose restrictions vary according to N.C.’s goose hunting zones which can be found in the 2005-2006 Hunting Regulations Digest.
Just because there is a 30-day season for Canvasbacks this year isn’t reason to get your hopes ups for collecting one of these speedsters. Considered a delicacy among waterfowl, a Canvasback roasted over an open fire and basted in butter was the featured fare at the internationally famous duck hunting clubs of Currituck Sound as far back as the Civil War.
For a century, Currituck was the most famous duck hunting destination in the world bringing hunters, including royalty, shahs, and potentates, from England, Scotland, Germany, France, the Middle East and the Far East. The Canvasback, fastest flying of all ducks, was the bird that lured them to eastern Carolina.
Each year, waterfowl biologists with the NCWRC conduct duck counts from aircraft flying over eastern N.C. duck-hunting areas. The latest count, done at the close of last season, revealed just 573 canvasbacks, as reported by biologist Joe Fuller, who works out of his New Bern office. It’s common knowledge that aircraft counts can only be approximate but should provide fairly accurate yearly estimates of declines or increases in population.
It is interesting to note from Fuller’s report that the greatest number of Canvasbacks were counted, not in Currituck Sound, but in the lower Pamlico River and areas around its mouth.
The reasons for the shift from formerly favored resting and feeding grounds is unknown, but the tremendous decline in milfoil in Currituck may be the culprit.
This aquatic vegetation, a favored food of ducks, once literally clogged Currituck Sound, attracting sky-darkening flocks of ducks and large stocks of largemouth bass.
Milfoil has disappeared from many areas of the sound and is greatly diminished in others. The reason for the decrease in milfoil is also unknown but changing salinity may be at fault.
Milfoil is also considered an invasive plant by many even though it is being planted in some states as an attractant for large-mouth bass.
While N.C. counts were extremely low, counts by the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service conducted in the breeding areas of Canada and the northern tier of the U.S. showed a slight increase in Canvasback populations this year. The federal count is used to establish seasons, bag limits, and other regulations throughout the lower states.
ROCKY MOUNT WORKSHOP
The NCWRC, along with N.C. State University, will conduct a deer management workshop in Rocky Mount on Aug. 25. Among the topics to be discussed are deer biology, habitat management, food plot management, improving herd health, and deer diseases. A registration fee of $75 is charged, which includes lunch and materials, and the deadline for registration is Aug. 18.
The workshop will be held at the East Carolina Agriculture and Education Center, located at 1175 Kingsboro Road in Rocky Mount. For more information or to register, telephone Becky Townsend at 919 515-9563 or send an e-mail to becky_townsend@ncsu.edu
Tom Sullivan Outdoors Columnist