September October 98

Bird Dog & Retriever News

Back Issue

Table of Contents

MIDWEST STATES

ILLINOIS

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is proposing an expanded 16-day teal season Sept. 5-20 with a daily bag limit of four and a possession limit of eight birds. The agency also is proposing a statewide, 15-day resident giant Canada goose season Sept. 1-15, including the South Zone for the first time this year. The daily bag limit would be 2 throughout the state except for the Northeast Zone where the limit would remain 5 per day. The proposal has been approved by the Natural Resources Advisory Board, but it must still be approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Meanwhile, spring aerial population surveys of the Mississippi Valley Population of Canada geese breeding grounds in Ontario showed a 40 percent decline from last year. Nearly 60 percent of Illinois' harvest is MVP geese and their status determines Illinois' statewide quotas and seasons. The spring population was about 50 percent below the population goal and the lowest it has been since surveys began in the late 1980s. Though we don't know the total impact yet, hunters can expect reduced quotas and a reduced regular goose season length and or bag limit.

Illinois' snow goose season has been tentatively set. In the north zone it is Oct. 8-Dec. 27 and Feb. 13-March 9; in the central zone it is Oct. 22-Jan. 3 and Feb. 6-March 9; in the south zone it is Nov. 26-March 10. The bag limit is 20 geese. The season is subject to approval from thU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

CANADA GOOSE SEASON, 60-DAY DUCK SEASON

Waterfowl hunters in Illinois may see a 67-day Canada goose hunting season and a 60-day season for duck hunting, based on recommendations approved Thursday by the Natural Resources Advisory Board to the Department of Natural Resources. The Mississippi Valley Population (MVP) fall flight forecast for Canada geese of 652,000 represents a 36-percent reduction compared with the estimate for 1997. The Illinois statewide harvest allocation for Canada geese is 40,800, compared with 74,600 last year, a 45-percent reduction from last year. As a result, the Canada goose '98-99 season length is proposed to be 67 days in all zones, compared with 78 days last year.

Fall Duck Flight Status

"It appears that habitat conditions for ducks could be poor and we may not see many ducks staying in Illinois very long this fall," Marshalla said. "High water conditions in the Illinois River valley and on Shelbyville, Carlyle and Rend lakes will make it unlikely that many moist-soil plants will have time to produce seeds before the first frost. But those areas with food could have great duck hunting."

IOWA

UPLAND NESTING OUTLOOK, NOT PROMISING

There is some concern for upland nesting birds this spring according to DNR upland wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz. Weather during April and May looked very promising for a good hatch, but abnormally cold temperatures and heavy rainfall across much of Iowa in early June may have killed numerous chicks.

Pheasants and other ground nesting birds need warm, dry weather during the first weeks of June, typically the peak of the pheasant hatch, to successfully raise their young. Newly hatched chicks cannot regulate their body temperature until about two weeks of age, said Bogenschutz. Keeping chicks dry and warm can be nearly impossible for the hen if the weather at hatching is rainy and cold as it was this year.

Nighttime temperatures dipped into the 30 - 40 F range over much of Iowa the first week of June with temperatures still 5 degrees below normal over much of the state the second week of June. Coupled with heavy rains across Western, Southern and Central Iowa the second and third weeks of June and the nesting outlook does not appear very promising, said Bogenschutz. In addition to the poor weather, many pheasants across Northern, Western and Central Iowa have lost valuable nesting habitat in the form of CRP. This region had almost 1/2 million acres of CRP plowed up last fall, said Bogenschutz. Pheasant populations in these areas will decline because of this habitat loss, said Bogenschutz, but the decline could have been stalled with a few, dry nesting seasons.

Bogenschutz remains cautiously optimistic that Iowa could still see good pheasant numbers this fall because pheasants are persistent renesters. During the flood of 1993, many nests were destroyed. Hunters still had a good fall because of a strong renesting effort. The difference between 1993 and 1998, said Bogenschutz, is we still had CRP in 1993.

Duck Populations Show Significant Increases

According to the annual breeding duck survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the number of breeding ducks rose to 42.6 million this spring, the highest level since the survey began in 1955. The survey estimates the number of ducks in important breeding areas by using samples taken across more than one million square miles of the north-central United States, western and northern Canada, and Alaska.

Redheads, gadwall, and northern shovelers were at record high levels, and blue-winged and green-winged teal recorded the second highest counts since the survey began. Mallard numbers increased 25 percent to nearly 10 million, the third highest count since 1955. Both pintail and wigeon numbers rose more than 30 percent. Canvasback and scaup populations were similar to last year, but concern continues for scaup; the population is 25 percent below the long-term average and showing little improvement.

"Pintail and wigeon numbers have been below average in recent years and the increase in their population is especially welcome news," said DNR waterfowl biologist Guy Zenner.

"Improved wetland habitat conditions in the primary nesting areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta may be largely responsible for the rebound, but even with the increase, pintail numbers were still 19 percent below the long-term average."

"We have come a long way," said USFWS acting director John Rogers. "The breeding population has grown by nearly 70 percent since 1990, when drought, agricultural practices and predation reduced the breeding population to one of the lowest on record at 25.1 million." Rogers said favorable weather conditions and the millions of acres of restored wetlands have boosted duck populations, but conservation efforts must be continued in preparation for another dry cycle.

"The excellent wetland habitat conditions will not last forever," warned Zenner. "Drought will once again strike the prairies and duck numbers will dwindle with the drying wetlands. Waterfowl enthusiasts must guard against becoming complacent and continue to support ongoing wetland conservation efforts."

Zenner said this year's fall flight should be more than 100 million ducks, and hunting success generally improves with increased populations. Last year, waterfowl hunters harvested 13.9 million ducks, more than twice the number harvested in 1990. However, he cautioned hunters not to assume that increases in the duck population automatically means vastly improved hunting success, noting that Iowa's waterfowling success is greatly influenced by the fall weather, both here and to the north, as well as local habitat conditions.

The DNR and the USFWS participate in a number of programs to conserve and restore waterfowl habitat, such as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), an international partnership effort that has protected, restored, or enhanced more than 2.5 million acres of wetland habitat since 1986.

Provisions of the Farm Bill, such as the Conservation Reserve and Wetland Reserve programs, have also provided significant acreage of wildlife habitat in recent years. The wetland protection provisions of the Clean Water Act and the Swampbuster provision of the Farm Bill have also helped conserve waterfowl habitat. And, outdoor enthusiasts and conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited have conserved and restored millions of acres of prime wetland habitat.

MICHIGAN

RUFFED GROUSE BAG LIMIT IN UPPER PENINSULA INCREASED

Ruffed grouse hunters in the Upper Peninsula will have an increased bag limit this fall, but a proposal to restore the December season failed to win support of the Natural Resources Commission this week.

In a 4-3 vote, the Commission agreed with a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommendation to increase the daily bag limit in the U.P. from three birds to five birds. DNR research showed liberal grouse hunting regulations are not detrimental to grouse populations in northern Michigan during periods of moderate or high grouse abundance, and wildlife biologists said the proposed bag limit increase wouldn't adversely affect U.P. grouse numbers.

But the Commission was split on whether a December season in the U.P. should be implemented. Ruffed grouse hunting has been closed in the Upper Peninsula for the past several years.

A review of ruffed grouse regulations was prompted by the fact that populations in the U.P. and the northern Lower Peninsula have recovered substantially the last several years. Grouse hunters in the northern Lower Peninsula for years have enjoyed a five-bird daily limit and a split season (Sept. 15 to Nov. 14, and Dec. 1 to Jan. 1), while U.P. hunters have been restricted to a daily limit of three grouse per day and no December season.

MINNESOTA

September Canada goose seasons, youth waterfowl hunt set for 1998

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has finalized the September Canada goose seasons for 1998. The season will be open Sept. 5-15 throughout the state except in the Northwest Goose Zone, where the September season remains closed.

Daily bag limits will be five Canada geese, except in the Two Goose Zone, an area of southeast Minnesota that is south of the Twin Cities Metro Goose Zone and east of Interstate 35. This represents an increased limit in much of northern Minnesota, where the limit last year was two. In addition to the daily bag limit increase in northern Minnesota, a second change this year will be to allow over water hunting in the West Goose Zone (south of I-94, west of U.S. 71 and State Highway 60) beginning the second Saturday of the season (Sept. 12 - 15).

"The over water goose hunting beginning the second Saturday will essentially provide two openers for increasing goose harvest in the West Zone," according to Larry Nelson, acting chief of the DNR Wildlife Section. "Local goose populations have been increasing in these areas and these regulation changes will increase September harvest to help bring this population growth down." Migrant goose populations that use this area have declined and regular Canada goose seasons that begin in early October will be more restrictive this year. Given that fact, the over water hunting provision was one of the few available options to maintain harvest pressure on local breeding geese.

Hunters, except those under age 18 or over age 65, will be required to obtain a $3 permit, available from license agents, county auditors and the DNR License Bureau. Hunters must also possess a valid small game license and federal and state duck stamps.

The Youth Waterfowl Hunt is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19. The hunt will be similar to the last few years except shooting hours will begin at one-half hour before sunrise and a goose will be allowed in the daily bag. Shooting hours for the youth hunt began at sunrise the past few years; however, the decision was made to make shooting hours for the youth hunting day consistent with the regular waterfowl season.

"Minnesota and other states had been requesting since 1996 that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allow young hunters to take a goose on the Youth Hunt Day," said Nelson. "We are pleased with this change."

Details about the September Canada goose seasons and Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day will be available in the 1998 Hunting Regulations Handbook and the 1998 Waterfowl Regulations Supplement.

1998 Minnesota hunting seasons announced

Minnesota's hunting and trapping seasons for this fall were announced this week by the Department of Natural Resources. As usual, there is a mixed bag in the fall hunting outlook, but overall the news for hunters is good, according to DNR Commissioner Rod Sando. "The mild winter and the warm, dry spring were just the prescription to help wildlife recover from two years of severe winters and a year of flooding and high water," Sando said.

Despite some setbacks, there are many reasons for optimism as DNR wildlife managers assess the hunting outlook for this fall. "Ruffed grouse are up again in the core areas of their range and are near the peak of their 10-year population cycle, bear and wild turkey populations are at all-time highs, and locally breeding mallards and giant Canada geese are abundant," Sando said. However, populations of Canada geese that nest on the tundra and migrate through western Minnesota have declined because of several years of poor production, while hunting harvests remained relatively high in some areas.

Pheasants have been hurt by loss of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) cover, lowland flooding, and direct mortality from the severe winters of 1996 and 1997, but are having a good nesting season and could rebound quickly with good habitat and another year or two of favorable weather.

More details about waterfowl and upland game populations will be available in late summer after summer wildlife surveys have been completed.

Sando advised Minnesota hunters to be aware of a few regulation changes for 1998. The most significant include: a person in the vicinity of a motor vehicle may not shoot at a grouse, or at a decoy of a grouse placed by an enforcement officer, unless the hunter is at least 20 yards from the vehicle and the motor is shut off youth-only antlerless permits are available in some otherwise "bucks-only" areas of zones 1 and 2 over-water hunting will be allowed in the West Goose Zone for the second weekend of the early September goose season the bobcat season this year will be shortened by three weeks

SMALL GAME

There is a continuing requirement that a visible portion of at least one article of clothing above the waist must be blaze orange for anyone hunting small game, except for those hunting wild turkeys, migratory birds, raccoons or predators, or anyone hunting with nontoxic shot.

Woodcock

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue restrictive frameworks on hunting of American woodcock, which means that last year's three-week delay in the season opener, reduction in bag limit, and shorter season will be continued in 1998. The Minnesota woodcock season will run from Sept. 19 through Nov. 2, with a daily bag limit of three.

Pheasant and Gray Partridge

Surveys to assess population trends of pheasants, gray partridge and other upland wildlife throughout the agricultural areas of Minnesota are not conducted until August. Although information from 15 Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) study areas in southern Minnesota indicated a 78 percent increase in pheasants seen this spring, much of that increase is attributed to improved visibility of pheasants because of loss of CRP cover for them to hide in. After taking the improved visibility of birds into account, researchers believe the population this year is similar to last year.

In west-central Minnesota where pheasant flocks were hard-hit by blizzards in 1996, special crowing count routes indicated birds persisting in good habitat areas, but a near absence of birds even in good habitats in the northern fringes of the pheasant range.

The number of gray (Hungarian) partridge observed was up 200 percent. While that is believed to represent a real population increase, it was from a very low starting population.

The warm, relatively dry spring and early summer in most areas has provided good overall nesting conditions so far, but the cool, wet early June and recent storms have likely affected production in some areas. A better indication of fall pheasant and gray partridge numbers will be available after the completion of roadside counts in late August.

The pheasant season will be Oct. 10 - Dec. 13 and gray partridge season will be Sept. 19 - Dec. 31.

Ruffed Grouse

"Ruffed grouse are probably nearing the peak of their 10-year cycle," Sando said. "Nesting conditions this spring have again been favorable." Drumming counts of male ruffed grouse were up for the fifth consecutive year, increasing 6 percent statewide from 1995. The number of ruffed grouse drums was up 33 percent in the central hardwoods survey zone, while the northern zone increased 17 percent and the southeast zone rose 25 percent. Drumming counts decreased by 20 percent in the northeast and by 15 percent in the northwest survey zones. The high of 2.7 drums per stop counted in the northern zone has not been equaled in northern Minnesota since the early 1970s.

The ruffed grouse season will be Sept. 19 - Dec. 31.

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Sharp-tailed grouse counts increased over the entire range for the third consecutive year. The number of male grouse observed on their mating grounds increased by 28 percent in the bird's northwest range and increased by 20 percent in the east-central range.

"Sharp-tailed grouse need open brushlands," Sando said. "The recent increases are likely the results of increased prescribed burning, shearing, and cooperative programs of brushland management to maintain healthy and vigorous open brushlands."

The sharp-tailed grouse season will be Sept. 19 - Nov. 30.

Other Small Game

The mild winter and warm weather through May has led to higher survival of squirrels, rabbits and hares in many areas, suggesting a good fall hunting season may be in store for these species. Snowshoe hares exhibit an approximate 10-year population cycle, similar to ruffed grouse and appear to be continuing the increasing phase of their cycle. More information on upland game populations will be available following completion of August counts. Rabbit, hare and squirrel seasons will be Sept. 19 - Feb. 28.

DUCKS AND GEESE

All of the state will again be open for early September goose hunting from Sept. 5-15, except that the Northwest Zone will be closed due to lower resident goose populations in this zone. This year, hunting over water will be allowed in the West Zone (including the Lac qui Parle and West-Central zones) beginning on Sept. 12 (the second Saturday of the season). Also, the daily bag limit will be increased from two to five geese per day in the open areas of the northern part of the state. These changes are intended to increase the harvest of locally breeding giant Canada geese before the migrant Eastern Prairie Population geese arrive from Canada.

Based on waterfowl population status and the duck regulations packages proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the duck season should be similar to last year's 60-day, six-duck daily bag limit season, with an opening date of Oct. 3. The general goose opener is also expected to be Oct. 3, except in the West-Central and Lac qui Parle zones, where the season will open later in October.

General waterfowl season dates and bag limits will not be finalized until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the federal framework within which states must select their regulations. The framework includes the earliest opening date, bag limits, and the maximum numbers of days allowed for hunting.

Drier conditions and the advanced spring may have contributed to observed lower numbers of Minnesota breeding ducks this spring. May pond numbers in Minnesota decreased 22 percent compared to 1997 and were near the long-term average. Mallard breeding populations in the state were down from 1997, but were still 87 percent above the long-term average. Blue-winged teal also declined from last year and are now 24 percent below the long-term average, according to results from the annual May waterfowl breeding ground survey conducted by the Minnesota DNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Information on waterfowl production this summer is not yet available.

The mallard breeding population this spring is estimated at approximately 368,000, compared to 407,000 in 1997.Blue-winged teal populations in Minnesota decreased from 253,000 in 1997 to 175,000 this year.

Canada geese observed on the Minnesota survey increased 31 percent from 1997, and were 140 percent above the long-term average.

Breeding population surveys for the Eastern Prairie Population of Canada geese, that breed in northern Manitoba and migrate through western Minnesota, showed a 37 percent decline, from 258,000 last year to 161,000 this year. "We are committed to do our part in managing harvest of this population to help reverse its decline, so we expect regular goose seasons to be more restrictive than last year in Eastern Prairie Population goose harvest areas," Sando said. Minnesota harvests more birds from the Eastern Prairie Population of geese than any other single state or province.

The status of North American waterfowl populations will be discussed in late July at a meeting of the Mississippi Flyway Council, an organization of waterfowl biologists and administrators representing 14 states and three Canadian provinces. This group will develop recommendations on waterfowl hunting regulations to be presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in early August in Washington, D.C.

"We will know more about the status of ducks and geese and predicted fall flights in late July when more population and production data are available," Sando said.

Grouse hunting rule approved

A proposed rule that would prohibit shooting at grouse within 20 yards of any motor vehicle has been approved by an administrative law judge. The rule will be adopted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for grouse hunting seasons beginning this fall.

Following public comments and hearings, Judge Phyllis A. Reha, Office of Administrative Hearings, recommended adoption of the rule based on her findings that the rule was in compliance with all legal and procedural requirements and was demonstrated to be necessary and reasonable.

The rule will prohibit discharge of firearms or bows at grouse, or at decoys of grouse placed by enforcement officers, unless the vehicle's engine is shut off and the person is at least 20 yards away from the vehicle. Exceptions will be made only for hunters with disabilities who are in possession of a valid permit allowing them to shoot from a stationary motor vehicle.

The rule addresses the issue of "fair chase" in taking grouse by requiring that people using motor vehicles to access hunting areas park the vehicle, turn it off, and walk away from it before shooting at grouse. "Fair chase" is a concept in hunting related to the balance between the hunter and the hunted.

"This is a complex and difficult issue that becomes particularly important to address as modern technology continues to advance much more rapidly than wildlife's ability to adapt to it," said DNR Commissioner Rod Sando.

This rule is directed narrowly at some aspects of fair chase related to the use of motor vehicles and grouse hunting. It does not address the broader issue of conflict between hunters using motor vehicles in back-country areas and those on foot, Sando said. Those conflicts, and other resource and recreation issues regarding use of motor vehicles off of roads, are being addressed in revisions to state forest use rules and in comprehensive planning for managed off-highway vehicle recreation.

DNR spring surveys show state ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse populations up

As it has for the previous four years, Minnesota's ruffed grouse population has once again gone up. Recently completed spring drumming counts conducted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and other agencies indicate that ruffed grouse populations increased in most of the bird's primary range. The survey tallied the number of drumming male ruffed grouse on 133 routes throughout the species' range.

The biggest increase came in the central hardwoods zone, where the number of drums was up 33 percent (an average of 1.2 drums per stop). The northern zone increased 17 percent (2.7 drums per stop), and the southeast zone rose 25 percent (0.5 drums per stop). A 20 percent decline was noted in the northeast zone (1.2 drums per stop), and drumming was down 15 percent in the northwest zone (1.7 drums per stop).

"Most increases came in the main grouse range, from south of Mille Lacs up to the Canada border," said Bill Berg, a DNR research biologist who coordinates the agency's annual spring grouse population surveys out of Grand Rapids. "The declines were in the fringe areas in the northwest and extreme northeast."

Berg noted that the 2.7 drums per stop heard in the northern zone hasn't been equaled in northern Minnesota since the early 1970s. "Some of our listeners couldn't believe the amount of drumming they heard," he said.

The regional differences averaged out to a statewide ruffed grouse population increase of 6 percent. The rise indicates that the bird is near the top of its 10-year population cycle.

"This increase is great news for grouse hunters," said Berg. "Nesting and brooding conditions appear to be good this spring. Hunters could harvest a million birds this fall."

Berg said the million bird mark was last reached during the last ruffed grouse population peak in 1990. The ruffed grouse's 10-year population cycle occurs naturally, but Berg said that hunters enhance populations overall by providing the birds with additional food and shelter through DNR management programs that improve grouse habitat.

DNR biologists also report that sharp-tailed grouse numbers over their entire range are up for the third consecutive year. The number of male grouse observed on their mating grounds increased by 28 percent in the bird's northwest range, and increased by 20 percent in the east-central region.

The increase in sharptails cheers Berg, who has watched the population drastically decline since 1980. The decline, he said, is due almost entirely to the loss of the bird's brushland habitat. "I think what we're seeing now is the results of more prescribed burning, shearing and other cooperative brushland management," said Berg.

According to Larry Nelson, acting chief of the DNR Wildlife Section, a 1998 legislative appropriation of $375,000 for brushland management will further help in the recovery of sharptails and other diminishing brushland bird species.

"When you combine a third year of sharptail population increases with habitat work that will be done with the legislative appropriation, anyone who cares about sharptails and other brushland wildlife has to be smiling," Nelson said.

Grouse surveys are conducted each spring by DNR staff and other cooperators. This year, 133 ruffed grouse drumming routes were completed by cooperators who include workers from the DNR; Chippewa and Superior national forests; Tamarac and Agassiz national wildlife refuges; White Earth, Leech Lake, Grand Portage, Red Lake, Mille Lacs and Fond du Lac Indian reservations; Fond du Lac Ceded Lands; 1854 Authority; Central Lakes and Vermillion community colleges; Beltrami and Cass County land departments; and Blandin Paper Co.

Sharptail dancing ground counts were conducted by staff and volunteers from the DNR and Rice Lake and Agassiz national wildlife refuges and by volunteers from the Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society.

Minnesota breeding waterfowl populations lower in 1998

Breeding duck populations declined compared to last year in Minnesota, according to results from the May waterfowl breeding ground survey. The survey is conducted annually by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Total May duck populations declined 20 percent, mallards were unchanged (-10 percent), and blue-winged teal declined 31 percent compared to last year," said Jeff Lawrence, DNR waterfowl specialist. Mallards and blue-winged teal each comprise about one-third of the breeding ducks in the 40 percent of the state that is surveyed each year.

"The mallard breeding population in Minnesota this spring was estimated at approximately 368,000, compared to 407,000 in 1997 and 315,000 in 1996," Lawrence said. Mallards are 87 percent above average since the current waterfowl survey began in 1968 and remain at good population levels. Blue-winged teal decreased to 175,000 in 1998 from 253,000 in 1997, dropping to 24 percent below the long-term average. Canada geese observed on the Minnesota survey increased 31 percent from 1997, and are 140 percent above the long-term average.

Drier conditions and the advanced spring may have contributed to the lower numbers of some species observed this year. May pond numbers in Minnesota decreased 22 percent compared to 1997 and were near the long-term average. Remaining wetlands were generally in good shape, but the number of temporary and seasonal wetlands declined. "We usually observe many flocks of blue-winged teal, a species that migrates and nests later in the spring than mallards," Lawrence said. "However, this year few flocks were observed, suggesting that teal may have migrated earlier and moved to areas with better habitat conditions."

To conduct the survey, a DNR conservation officer pilot and DNR biologist count ducks, geese and wetlands from a low-flying, single-engine airplane along the same routes each year. A U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service ground crew obtains a count of waterfowl along a portion of the routes to correct for birds missed by the air crew.

The number of breeding waterfowl in Minnesota is estimated each year as part of an annual inventory of North American breeding waterfowl. "Data on breeding duck populations from Canada and other states is not yet available, but preliminary reports suggest good duck numbers, but dryer conditions in many areas," Lawrence said. "Typically, production of young will be poorer under dryer conditions."

The status of North American waterfowl populations will be discussed by the Mississippi Flyway Council, an organization of waterfowl biologists and administrators representing 14 states and three Canadian provinces, at its July meeting in Alton, Ill. This group will develop recommendations on waterfowl hunting regulations to be presented to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in early August in Washington, D.C.

Goose hunting station application deadline near for Lac qui Parle goose zone.

Hunters wishing to reserve a goose hunting station in the controlled hunting zone at Lac qui Parle wildlife management area are reminded to submit their application postmarked between Aug. 24 and Sept. 16. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Proposed goose season dates at Lac qui Parle will be Thursday, Oct. 15, through Tuesday, Nov. 3, or until a harvest index of 10,000 Canada geese is reached.

NORTH DAKOTA

Waterfowl Season Proposals Sent to USFWS

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has proposed a number of changes to this year's waterfowl seasons. Among the changes, if season proposals are approved, Canada goose season and daily shooting hours could be longer, and there will be fewer waterfowl rest areas and no Canada goose closures, according to Mike Johnson, waterfowl biologist for the state game and fish department.

The department has proposed changes in Canada goose hunting regulations. The first eliminates closed-to-Canada-goose-hunting areas throughout the state. Because of North Dakota's successful giant Canada goose restoration program the population has grown to the point where closures can be eliminated (Johnson reminds hunters that one waterfowl rest area, on the Missouri River from Washburn to Garrison Dam, will remain closed to goose hunting).

The second change, a longer season, would allow more hunting opportunity in both the statewide season and the late season along the Missouri River. Past seasons were closed in mid-November to protect resident giant Canada geese that breed in North Dakota.

Full-day shooting hours are proposed for Wednesdays and Saturdays during the season as a way to increase the snow goose harvest. It also would apply to Canada geese. "We've used half-day goose hunting for many years as a way to keep the birds in the state longer and to increase hunter success. We hope that limiting full-day shooting to two days a week will not drive birds from the state prematurely and allow hunters to bag more birds," Johnson said.

The department proposes to eliminate a number of waterfowl rest areas based on recommendations from staff and cooperating landowners and sportsmen. Areas to be eliminated have not been effective in recent years in holding ducks and geese and, consequently, did not improve the hunting in local areas. Rest area numbers will drop from 55 to 44.

The proposed duck season is expected to be similar to last year's. Pending approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state could see a 74-day season with a bag limit of six ducks, of which five could be mallards. Other species restrictions would be the same as last year'except for pintails, which will likely drop from three birds to one bird per day. According to Johnson, proposals at the recent Central Flyway Council meeting, called for reductions in scaup harvest because there is concern that the population is declining. "While no changes are expected for scaup this year, we probably can expect some changes for the future," he said.

Overall, the USFWS predicts an excellent fall flight of about 84 million ducks; down only slightly from last year's 90 million. For mallards, the continental fall flight remains high at a predicted 11.7 million birds, 18 percent below last year's 14.3 million.

The Central Flyway Council recommended liberalizing snow goose bag limits as a way to reduce the population. Snow geese are currently at about the three million mark, far above population objectives set by waterfowl managers. The Central Flyway Council recommended an increase from last year's limits of 10 daily and 40 in possession. Reports from the Arctic indicate mid-continent snow goose reproduction ranged from average to above average this year, which means more young birds in the flight and better hunter success, Johnson said.

The USFWS and the states are working on strategies to resolve the snow goose crisis, Johnson said. "The fish and wildlife service is currently preparing an environmental assessment with the goal of implementing some type of management harvest in the spring of 1999. There are still many legal hurdles and controversies which must be overcome before this is implemented. For example, it is expected that animal rights groups will oppose any attempt to increase the harvest of snow geese," Johnson said.

G&F Considering Modest Changes in Small Game Seasons

The proposed small game-furbearer regulations for 1998 are only slightly different than last year's, according to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

New for this year, all migratory bird hunters must be certified through the Harvest Information Program. HIP is designed to track the harvest of migratory species and provide a clearer picture of harvests on a national basis. Hunters who purchase licenses from the game and fish department are automatically issued a HIP number. Those who purchase licenses from vendors simply have to call a toll-free number (1-888-634-4798), answer a short survey, and receive a HIP number to write on their license.

Pheasant hunters will see progressive limits as they did several years ago. From the season opener on Oct. 10 through Oct. 25, the daily limit and possession limit are two and eight. Starting Oct. 26 and running through the season end, Jan. 3, 1999, daily bag and possession limits are three and 12.

Hungarian partridge limits were reduced from four to three daily.

G&F Gives Upland Game Details

Just as a farmer plants his crops and hopes for the right mix of rainy and sunny days, the fortunes of upland game biologists also rise and fall with the weather. A mild winter surely enhanced upland game bird survival. If the hatch was good, and if juvenile survival is too -- and it is still too early to make more than an educated guess -- pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse hunting could be as good as or better than last year. No matter what happens, though, the outlook is dismal for Hungarian partridge, according to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Pheasant

Results of this spring's pheasant crowing counts show a 12 percent increase in the statewide number of crowing cock pheasants from last year and 22 percent below the number counted in1996, one of the best pheasant years in decades. Overall the total spring breeding population in North Dakota is about six percent higher than last year but still about 38 percent below 1996, reports Lowell A. Tripp, upland game biologist, Oakes.

According to Tripp, "Winter survival was good throughout much of the state and spring nesting conditions appear to be fair to good. If the hatch and juvenile survival are similar to last year's, the fall population should be about the same. But, we will have to wait until we get a good start on our reproductive survey in July and August before we can make any better predictions," he said.

The impact of recent rains, with any luck, coming as they did after the June 15 peak of the hatch, had minor impact on this year's young. Young birds, Tripp said, lacking body fat and having little plumage to protect them from the elements, can perish quickly during cold rains. "I'm only worried about chicks less than a week old. It's tough for them to survive. The birds a week or older probably did okay."

Crowing counts are normally conducted in May and early June. Counts begin at 30 minutes before sunrise on mornings when wind velocity is low, so that observers can hear the birds.

Observers stop at two-mile intervals and count the number of crowing cock calls during a two-minute period. If the weather permits, cooperators make at least three surveys on each assigned route.

Information collected from crowing counts is only one of several indicators used in gauging the pheasant population and setting the fall season. Other survey data include information from roadside counts, previous year's harvests, winter sex ratio studies, and rural mail carrier surveys.

Sharp-Tailed Grouse

This spring's sharp-tailed grouse survey shows that statewide numbers are up by 35 percent from last year, a surprisingly good increase and higher than anticipated. Only one of almost two dozen study areas was down, reports Jerry Kobriger, upland game management supervisor, Dickinson.

"I'm cautiously optimistic. Generally we have good habitat. If sharptails have good brood survival it could be an above average year, though we'll have to wait and see what effect June's cold, wet weather had on young birds." A better idea of this fall's expectations will be available when summertime roadside counts and other surveys are completed, he said. "The farther we get into August the better the estimates of the season."

Kobriger also provided survey information from last fall's season. The number of sharp-tailed grouse hunters dropped almost 17 percent, from 38,691 in 1996 to 32,211 in 1997. Harvest declined by 40 percent, with 89,065 birds taken in 1997, compared to 149,370 in 1996.

Age-ratio data from birds taken last fall indicate stable populations in the area southwest of the Missouri River and the Coteau region of the state. The Drift Prairie, Kobriger said, had even better age ratios and increases in the population were anticipated.

Hungarian partridge

Hungarian partridge numbers are discouraging and, even with an exceptional hatch, little potential exists for a good season, Kobriger said.

The population for unknown reasons took a dip in the early 1990s and has not recovered since. Last year's harvest, Kobriger added, was the lowest harvest since 1950 and the April Rural Mail Carrier Survey indicated a 26 percent drop in numbers from last year. "They weren't good last year. It looks pretty dismal for partridge."

Data from the 1997 season showed a decline in the number of partridge hunters and a reduction in harvest. The number of hunters dropped 28 percent, from 28,997 in 1996 to 20,909 in 1997.

Total harvest declined by nearly 57 percent from 61,714 birds in 1996 to 26,683 in 1997.

N. Dak. Ruffed Grouse Show 23 Percent Increase

North Dakota's spring ruffed grouse population shows a 23 percent increase statewide when compared to population data collected in 1997, said John W. Schulz, Devils Lake, wildlife resource management supervisor for the state game and fish department.

Sunrise drumming counts conducted on 215 miles of survey routes this spring indicated a 14 percent increase in male activity in the Turtle Mountains, a 34 percent increase in the Pembina Hills, and a 27 percent increase in McHenry County (J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge).

Ruffed grouse populations run in 10 year cycles. The last population peak occurred in 1990 and the last population low in 1993. The birds are well on their way to the peak of the cycle, which should occur in 1999 or 2000, Schulz said.

Last fall 1,127 North Dakota ruffed grouse hunters took 1,367 birds. Fifty-six percent of the harvest occurred in the Turtle Mountains.

Ducks Down from Last Year, but Numbers Still Terrific

This spring's breeding duck index shows duck numbers down by 23 percent from last year's record high. But, even with the drop, ducks are still 112 percent above the average recorded over the past 50 years and this fall should provide great hunting if the weather cooperates, reports Mike Johnson, waterfowl biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

"The drop in duck numbers is due to fewer areas holding standing water compared to last year when we had abnormally wet conditions. During our survey we saw significant decreases in temporary and seasonal wetlands," Johnson said. Water areas are down by 31 percent from last year, but still 33 percent above the long-term average (1948-1997), he added.

By species, all are down from last year, from seven percent for gadwall to 57 percent for scaup. Mallards, the favorite of waterfowl hunters, are down by 21 percent, but still the second highest on record by a long ways, Johnson said.

Despite a dry winter and spring over most the state, North Dakota still has good water conditions and excellent duck numbers. By comparison, Saskatchewan, Montana, and Alberta are very dry this year.

"Our July brood surveys will give us a much better idea of duck production and a better insight into what we can expect this fall. From what we've seen production should be good this year.

As for the hunting season it is too early to predict. We will have to wait to see what the weather brings because it always has a big impact on the success of our hunting season," Johnson said.

Predator Populations Down

Population densities of coyotes and fox are declining in many areas of North Dakota, according to data compiled by Steve Allen, furbearer biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The decline is attributable to higher mortality related to two factors. First harvest pressure by sport hunters and trappers has increased. Second, and more significant, has been the recent five year outbreak of sarcoptic mange.

Mange is especially severe in the general area east of the Missouri River and north of Highway 200 and is becoming more common in other areas in the state as well. Large outbreaks have been reported in the southeast and in the far southwest during the past two years. "We receive reports from persons who are seeing more and more fox and coyotes with the mange, in places where it's not been seen before," Allen said.

"The decline in population densities of both fox and coyote is probably in the neighborhood of 10-15 percent each year statewide. Even though statewide numbers are declining, there are localized areas where numbers appear to be stable or increasing," Allen added.

Sarcoptic mange is a contagious skin disease found mainly in furbearers. It is caused by a mite that burrows under the skin. Symptoms of the disease are hair loss, running-oozing sores similar in appearance to a bad burn, offensive odor, and intense itching. In advanced cases an animal with the disease will be gaunt and ragged looking and eventually will become worn down and die.

Although this disease can be transmitted to humans, it generally is not a human health hazard. In those rare instances, it may cause a localized, transient skin disease in humans. The disease is treatable in humans, dogs, and captive predators, although treating a wildlife population would be nearly impossible.

Goose Season Changes Under Consideration

Some proposals under consideration for the 1998 waterfowl seasons could provide hunters more goose hunting opportunities. The proposals include eliminating closed-to-Canada-goose-hunting areas, allowing full-day shooting two days each week, and making the optional late season dark goose hunt a permanent part of the yearly season strategy, reports Mike Johnson, waterfowl biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

According to Johnson these proposals were advanced during the recent fall game and fish advisory board meetings. "We wanted to publicize the proposals and get public comment before making any changes. The proposals were well received," he said.

In the following questions and answers, Johnson details the proposals and the rationales behind each.

Q: Why are you considering changes to Canada goose closure areas?

A: Over the years these closures have been adjusted, changed, and eliminated as local conditions warranted. It appears that they have outlived their usefulness and it is appropriate to eliminate them.

Q: What was the purpose of Canada goose closures?

A: The closures, first put in place in 1969, were designed to increase survival of resident giant Canada geese while the population was building.

Q: What Canada goose closures do you propose dropping?

A: All of them. Including, the Missouri River closure south of Bismarck and the one on Lake Sakakawea.

Q: How about the Missouri River closure from Garrison Dam to Turtle Creek, south of Washburn?

A: This is not a Canada goose closure but a waterfowl rest area. It was closed only from riverbank to riverbank to keep geese in the area longer to increase their harvest. The area will remain closed to Canada goose hunting.

Q: Would you eliminate the Canada Goose closure on Audubon Wildlife Management Area?

A: Yes. This closure has been in place since 1965. The number of resident birds in this area has really expanded and it allows us to provide additional hunting opportunities.

Q: Are you considering changes in the overall statewide Canada goose season length?

A: No. The statewide Canada goose season would still end about mid November each year to prevent over harvest of local breeding populations after the migrants have departed. We would still have the late season area along the Missouri River as we have had since 1991.

Q: What is the history of half-day goose hunting.

A: The first half day hunting was instituted in North Dakota in a 27 square mile area near Ashley in 1955. In 1956 a larger area near Devils Lake was added. It kept birds in the state longer and was eventually expanded to the rest of the state. It is responsible to a large part for the good goose hunting North Dakota hunters experience. Before half day hunting, geese did not stage in the state for extended periods because they could not rest and feed prior to migration.

Q: Why allow full-day goose hunting? Won't this drive birds from the state?

A: The change in shooting hours is being proposed to try to increase the harvest of snow geese to deal with the overpopulation problem. Full day hunting would only be allowed two days a week, Saturday and Wednesday, to limit pressure on the migrating birds. We would like to try this and have hunters tell us how they think it affects goose migration behavior and hunter success.

Q: Do you think half-day goose hunting has accomplished anything?

A: Yes. I believe half day hunting, in combination with the sanctuary provided by our many refuges and waterfowl rest areas, is what allows North Dakota hunters to take from one half to one third of the snow geese harvested in the Central Flyway each year.

Q: Would full day hunting apply to all geese, including Canadas?

A: We are considering it for Canadas, just to simplify the regulations. We also wonder if it shouldn't apply to cranes as well.

G&F Lists Tentative 1998-99 Season Dates

Though some hunting seasons are open for several more weeks, many North Dakota hunters already are preparing for next year's seasons. They must give employers advance notice in order to plan vacations and balance work schedules and knowing tentative dates early in the year allows them do just that. The following dates represent the department's best estimate of its recommendations for the seasons at this time.

Season & Tentative Opening Date

Mourning Dove - September 1

Sharptail, Hun, Ruffed Grouse-- Sept 12

Sage Grouse --- September 14

Goose*, Duck*, & Swan* -- October 3

Pheasant ---- October 10

*official waterfowl dates are set in August

South Dakota

PHEASANT DENSITIES HIGHER STATEWIDE

With the exception of the extreme northeast, pheasant hunters in South Dakota will likely experience one of the best pheasant seasons in recent memory, according to Game, Fish, and Parks officials. John Cooper, Department Secretary, said survey results indicate that the statewide pheasant population in 1998 is almost double that of 1997. "To put this in perspective," he said, "our surveys indicate that we now have more pheasants in South Dakota than we have had in the last 35 years. While this in itself is nothing short of astonishing, what is most encouraging is that our surveys indicate pheasants are well distributed across most of the state."

According to Cooper, many areas that had good pheasant densities last year, now have abundant populations. At the same time, many areas that had suppressed pheasant populations following the harsh winter of 1996-97 have not only rebounded but will have populations that far exceed levels prior to the severe winter.

Areas in south-central South Dakota around the cities of Winner and Chamberlain have traditionally supported high pheasant densities and will again offer exceptional hunting. Hunters destined for the counties of Tripp, Lyman, Brule, Charles Mix, Aurora, and Gregory need to note that hunting pressure= there parallels the traditionally high bird numbers. Getting access to private land can be difficult, and public hunting areas may be crowded.

Pheasant numbers in the area of the state north of Pierre to the Mobridge area and east to Aberdeen have fully recovered from the suppressed pheasant population levels of the past few years. Additionally, pheasant populations from the Huron area east to Brookings and south to the Mitchell, Sioux Falls, and Yankton areas are also at levels that exceed those of the past five years. Cooper said the rebound of pheasants in these locations should provide hunters with areas of plentiful pheasants.

"Hunters in the northeastern part of the state in the Watertown and Sisseton areas will experience noticeable increases in pheasant densities, although this area is at least another year or two away from full recovery from a five-year slide in pheasant numbers," Cooper said.

No matter where you hunt, good habitat is the key for wildlife expansion, and much of the credit for South Dakota's pheasant populations belongs to CRP.

"Since USDA's Conservation Reserve Program established an abundance of wildlife habitat in South Dakota, the state's pheasant population has been poised for expansion. CRP is the main reason why South Dakota is looking at one of the biggest turnarounds in pheasant populations it has ever experienced," Cooper said.

Weather is another factor contributing to pheasant survivability and reproductive rates. Prior to this year, weather conditions have been fair, but less than ideal. "But this past mild winter, early spring, and warm summer with timely precipitation brought about the substantial increase in pheasant numbers that we observed in our survey," Cooper said. Finally, CRP areas have been left untouched, so pheasant broods have not been hampered by emergency mowing of CRP.

Cooper said, "The bottom line is that we are all set for a great pheasant season."

EARLY CANADA GOOSE SEASON APPROVED

The Game, Fish and Parks Commission approved an early Canada goose season for resident hunters that will be open from September 5 through 15 in many eastern counties of South Dakota.

The only change increased the daily bag limit of Canada geese from two birds to four; and the possession limit from four birds to eight in all open areas. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.

WATERFOWL FINALIZATIONS

The Game, Fish and Parks Commission finalized changes to the Special Canada Goose season and to Nonresident Waterfowl license quotas at the June commission meeting in Pierre.

The number of Special Canada Goose permits increased from 2,400 to 2,570, while the number of tags increased from 6,900 to 7,120.

Season dates in Unit 127A changed from November 22 through December 21 to November 21 through January 17. Unit 127A now includes all of Fall River County.

An agreement with the Oglala Sioux Tribe provides for Bennett County tribal members to apply for a permit with a tribal license as a prerequisite. All permit holders are allowed to hunt on tribal and non-tribal land with landowner permission.

A new nonresident 3-day fall waterfowl license was finalized for the central area of South Dakota that includes the counties of Potter, Sully, Stanley, and Hughes. These licenses are valid only on private land. A maximum of 2,000 licenses are available with a cost of $70 per license.

The quota for the new 5-day spring snow goose nonresident waterfowl license (created by the 1998 Legislature) was set at 10,000 at a cost of $40 each. This license is valid for all areas that may be open to snow goose hunting in the spring.

Tundra Swan regulations were changed to expand the open unit southward to include 12 additional East River counties.

POSSIBLE 3 GOOSE LIMIT FOR SEPTEMBER

The 1998 September Canada Goose season proposal would include only one change from last year. The daily limit would increase from 2 to 3 birds, and the possession limit would increase from 4 to 6 birds.

Spencer Vaa, waterfowl biologist with the Game, Fish and Parks in Brookings, says this harvest increase is intended to reduce the number of local Canada geese in parts of 13 eastern counties of South Dakota.

Vaa says this growing population of geese are a problem for some farmers, as they forage on crops, primarily adjacent to wetlands. "We have developed a crop damage reduction program in an attempt to keep the damage to a minimum. But the simple fact," says Vaa, "is that we need to harvest more resident giant Canada geese."

The proposed season would be September 5-15, and would only be open to resident hunters. Hunters could shoot from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

WISCONSIN

Beginner Waterfowl Workshop Offered

Anyone interesting in learning how to recognize common ducks of Wisconsin's marshes and in developing the hunting skills to pursue waterfowl should consider attending the "Beginner Waterfowl Hunter Workshop" on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center located 20 miles west of Wisconsin Rapids.

The workshop is being held by the Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and the Tomah and Wisconsin Rapids chapters of Ducks Unlimited. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the skills center, located on County Highway X, 1 mile north of Highway 80 near Babcock on the 9,000-acre DNR Sandhill Wildlife Area.

The workshop will include: identifying common ducks; hunter ethics; shotgun shooting practice; and demonstrations on decoying, calling, use of retrieving dogs, boater safety tips and more. The workshop is open to people 12 years old and older and is limited to the first 20 registrants. Register by September 4 by sending your name, address and daytime phone number to: Waterfowl Workshop, Sandhill Wildlife Area, Box 156, Babcock, WI 54413

The workshop is free. A lunch and refreshments will be provided compliments of several area Ducks Unlimited chapters. Participants should bring clothing suitable for the out-of-doors.

Participants completing the workshop will be able to return to Sandhill to hunt on one of several flowages on the duck season opener in October. Participants under age 18 who have a hunter safety certificate and desire to return for the hunt can bring an experienced duck hunter with them to the workshop.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center at: (715) 884-6333 or (715) 884-2437

USFWS delays decision on extending southern flyway states duck season

A proposal to extend the hunting season for migratory ducks in the southern portion of the Mississippi River Flyway has been delayed until more states, including Wisconsin, have a chance to provide input to the proposed season change. The proposal had been offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) following a request from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Earlier, the federal agency had proposed the change without consulting other flyway states. Extensive public comment persuaded the service to withdraw the proposal until a comprehensive national review of hunting season frameworks could be completed.

"I'm extremely pleased with the action the Fish and Wildlife Service has taken on this proposal," said Department of Natural Resources Secretary, George Meyer. "Working with the flyway councils is the most appropriate way to go about this proposed change. We want to thank the numerous conservation clubs and individuals that took the time to make their opinions known to the service. We agree with this decision and it fits with our philosophy of involving the public in decisions like this."

Meyer had expressed the Wisconsin DNR's opposition to the original proposal in a June 1998 letter to the federal agency.

The department's principal objection was fairness to Wisconsin hunters, Meyer said. The original proposal would have extended the southern hunting season, giving southern hunters more opportunities, but did not allow northern states to open their seasons any earlier thereby providing similar opportunities. The Wisconsin duck season effectively closes in mid- to late-November because most wetlands have frozen by that time and birds have moved farther south. The proposal would have kept the southern season open until January 31.

Nationally, four flyway councils, Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific, and the National Flyway Council will participate in a review of how seasons are structured. The councils will consider fairness in allocating the allowable duck harvest and the biological implications of any changes.

The review process will begin this fall with the goal of developing a consensus recommendation for season alternatives that would possibly take effect in the 2000-2001 hunting season.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: John Bergquist (608) 266-8841

1998 early September Canada goose hunting season set

Wisconsin will have an early Canada goose season that will run from Sept. 1 through 4 and Sept. 8 through 15, according to wildlife officials with the state Department of Natural Resources. The season will be closed over the three day Labor Day weekend holiday.

There is no application deadline this year. However, DNR officials recommend that interested hunters have their applications in to the department by August 7 in order for the permit to be mailed back to the applicant by the beginning of the season.

The season is open to all hunters who possess an Early September Canada Goose Hunting Permit. Hunters can purchase their permit for $3 from DNR offices and many license vendors through the last day of the season. There will be a bag limit of 5 in subzone A and a bag limit of 3 in subzone B. Hunters who hunt in both subzones in one day have a combined maximum bag limit of five Canada geese.

Also for 1998, hunters must report each goose taken within 48 hours of the harvest by calling 1-800-99-GOOSE (1-800-994-6673).

The early September hunt is directed toward a subspecies of geese that breed locally and are viewed by some as a growing nuisance in urban areas.

"A hunting season is not going to solve the problems that this growing population of birds is causing in highly urbanized areas," says Jon Bergquist, DNR waterfowl specialists. "It is, however, a population control method that is doing some good by slowing the growth of these local flocks in rural areas."

Local duck and Canada goose numbers show little change from last year

Local duck numbers show little change from a year ago, according to the Department of Natural Resources' spring breeding waterfowl survey.

"This year, our total duck estimate for the surveyed portion of the state was 427,465 ducks, up about 12 percent from last year and 19 percent above the long-term mean," said Jon Bergquist, DNR migratory game bird specialist.

"This number is a minimal number because wood ducks, probably the number two breeding duck in the state, are very difficult to survey and are greatly underestimated in our survey."

The DNR has conducting spring breeding waterfowl surveys across about three-quarters of the state since 1973.

The mallard continued to be the number one breeding duck in the state, and this spring's population was 21 percent above the 25-year mean, but showed a slight decline (-4 percent) compared to last year. The greatest decline for mallards this year occurred in northeastern Wisconsin while southern Wisconsin's population showed no change from last year.

Blue-winged teal numbers showed a 9 percent increase statewide from last year, but were still 45 percent below the long-term mean.

Wetland numbers were down in all three survey areas this year compared to last year. In fact, Bergquist said, the survey found the lowest density of wetlands recorded since 1990 in the southeast and central region of the state and the lowest density of wetlands observed since 1985 in the other two surveyed areas.

"This was probably due to this year's very early spring and little runoff to fill shallow, temporary wetlands," Bergquist said.

Based on the survey results, Bergquist predicted that the number of ducks produced in Wisconsin this year will be similar to last year and that the number of ducks hunters see this fall in Wisconsin will be similar to what they saw here last fall.

Local breeding Canada goose numbers also showed little change from a year ago. The population estimate was down 6 percent compared to last year, but still 138 percent above the 12-year mean. The population of locally breeding Canada geese has grown at a rate of about 10 percent a year Bergquist said.

"This spring's count may have underestimated the population in the surveyed area because the observers reported seeing more goose broods than normal. Geese associated with broods are more difficult to observe during the survey than geese associated with nests. We are waiting information about the status of migrant Canada geese. The results of that survey are not available yet," he said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon R. Bergquist at (608) 266-8841 or Ron Gatti at (608) 221-6348.

Survey finds increase in ruffed grouse drumming

Results from this spring's 38th annual Ruffed Grouse Spring Drumming Survey suggest that hunters of this popular game bird should have excellent opportunities this fall.

Conducted since 1964, the drumming survey has proven to be an accurate indicator of ruffed grouse population trends. This spring's survey recorded a 41 percent increase in drumming over 1997 levels. The higher drumming count indicates a larger breeding population that should produce a large number of new birds, according to Eric Lobner, assistant upland wildlife ecologist with the Department of Natural Resources.

"Ruffed grouse is the most heavily hunted game bird in Wisconsin," said Lobner. "Our hunter surveys show that 33 percent of all small game license holders hunt this bird. The next most popular small game species are squirrel and then pheasant. Hunting grouse is a real challenge. They flush from their hiding places unexpectedly and then fly at breakneck speeds through thick cover, making a very difficult target."

Drumming is a spring mating ritual and is performed by the male bird. The sound is similar to a slowly increasing drumroll and is produced when the bird beats its wings against its chest. The sound can be heard for a quarter of a mile or more and is used to attract females and establish territories.

The results of the survey support field reports that Wisconsin's ruffed grouse population is in the upswing portion of its10-year population cycle. The reasons for the 10-year cycle of population growth and decline are not fully understood. One theory says that it is part of a predator-prey relationship that involves northern hare populations and avian predators. Hare populations also increase and decrease in cycles and when they're down avian predators, such as goshawks and great horned owls, turn to other prey.

DNR personnel and volunteers driving established routes with 10 stopping points that are approximately 1 to 2 miles apart conduct surveys. At each stop the observer listens for 4 minutes and records drumming activity. The survey begins around April 10 in the north and is completed by May 15 in the south. Environmental conditions on the day of a survey can affect the outcome. Windy or rainy conditions can make it difficult to hear or keep birds quiet. This year's survey conditions were excellent according to survey observers.

"The largest increase was seen in the northern part of the state where drumming counts were up 52 percent from 1997. The central and southeastern parts of the state also experienced an increase in the number of drums heard with 39 and 3 percent increases respectively. The only decrease was seen in the southwestern part of the state where counts were down 4 percent," said Lobner.

"Provided there is good nesting success this spring and early summer, hunters and nature lovers alike should experience abundant ruffed grouse numbers this fall."

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Lobner (608) 261-7588

CENTRAL

KANSAS

KDWP ANNOUNCES WATERFOWL RECOMMENDATIONS

On Aug. 20, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will present its recommendations for the 1998-99 Kansas waterfowl seasons at the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission meeting in Wichita. The meeting will be held at the Great Plains Nature Center, 29th and Woodlawn, and waterfowl dates will be set at the evening session, which begins at 7 p.m.

Duck and goose hunters should be pleased with this year's recommendations, which include longer seasons and more liberal bag limits. The department will recommend early teal season to run Sept. 12-27 in the Low Plains and Sept. 12-20 in the High Plains. Youth waterfowl hunt days -- when youth 15 and younger may hunt waterfowl supervised by a licensed adult (who may not hunt) -- will be Sept. 26 in the High Plains Zone, Oct. 3, in the Low Plains Early Zone, and Oct. 17 in the Low Plains Late Zone.

For late-migrating ducks, a conventional bag limit of six will be recommended. Of the six ducks in the daily bag limit, only one hen mallard, one pintail, one canvasback, and one mottled duck may be taken. No more than two wood ducks and two redheads may be taken per day. The merganser limit recommendation is five, including no more than one hooded merganser, and the coot limit recommendation is 15. The possession limit would be twice the daily bag limit.

Late migrant season recommendations are as follows:

Low Plains Early Zone Oct. 10 through Dec. 13 and Dec. 26 through Jan. 3, 1999

Low Plains Late Zone Oct. 24 through Nov. 1 and Nov. 7 through Jan. 10, 1999

High Plains Zone Oct. 3 through Jan. 3 and Jan. 14 through Jan. 17, 1999

Under the department's recommendations, goose hunters may experience the most liberal bag limits since the 1940s. Canada and white-fronted geese would be separated into two different seasons, instead of being lumped together under the category of "dark geese." The recommendation would allow the hunter to take three Canadas and two whitefronts in one day, with a possession limit twice the daily bag limit. The daily bag limit on light geese would be 20 with no possession limit.

Season dates for geese would include the following:

Canada Geese Season: Nov. 7-Feb. 7, 1999, White-fronted Geese SeasonNov. 7-Jan. 17, 1999, Light Geese Unit 1 Season: Nov. 21-March 7, 1999, Unit 2 Season: Nov. 7-Dec. 4 AND Dec. 19-March 7, 1999 Seasons in the special dark goose management units would run Dec. 19-Jan. 24. The bag limit in the Marais des Cygnes and Southeast units would be six dark geese per permit. In the Flint Hills Unit, the bag limit would be the same as the statewide goose limit.

LOWER DUCK MIGRATION EXPECTED

Numbers are still well above long-term averages

Fewer ducks will be flying south this fall, according to the latest fall flight index from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). USFWS biologists forecast that 84 million ducks will make the timeless journey from northern breeding and nesting grounds to wintering areas in thsouthern U.S., Mexico, and South America.

Last year, wildlife watchers and hunters enjoyed a modern-day record fall flight of 92 million ducks, including 14.4 million mallards. Lower numbers this year have apparently been caused by a two factors: a dry winter and warm, early spring on the prairies of the south central Canada (and to a lesser extent in the north-central U. S.) where the majority of ducks breed and nest. Dry weather caused some ducks to overfly traditional breeding grounds and fail to breed. Despite the drop, overall duck numbers are still well above long-term averages, and some, such as blue-winged teal, are at record levels.

MISSOURI

Doves, public hunting areas plentiful for season opener

There is upbeat news for Missouri hunters who start their upland shotgunning season in hot September weather. A survey by the Conservation Department show a 38 percent increase in the statewide mourning dove population.

"Doves have had a good nesting season this year," says John Schulz, wildlife research biologist with the Conservation Department. "Our survey was run the first 10 days of June, and it showed improved numbers of birds in almost all of the state."

Mourning doves are among the 10 most numerous birds in North America, a bonanza that makes them popular with wing shooters. Dove numbers measured in the Conservation Department's annual surveys were up compared to last year in all but one of the state's regions. The average number of doves observed per mile in Conservation Department surveys were: Mississippi Lowlands, 3.2; Northeast Ozark Border, 1.0; Ozark Plateau, 0.7; Western Ozark Border, 1.6; Western Prairie, 2.7; Northeast Riverbreaks, 1.2; Northern Riverbreaks, 1.1 and Northwest Prairie 1.7.

The high number in the Mississippi Lowlands is an increase of 123 percent over the previous year. Large gains also showed up in the Western Prairie (55 percent), Ozark Plateau (42 percent) and Northwest Prairie (39 percent). Only the Northern Riverbreaks lagged behind last year's figure, with a decline of 4.7 percent from 1997.

Extended teal season could be the best in years

A bumper crop of teal may be migrating through Missouri in September.

A last-minute change in waterfowl hunting regulations for 1998 will give Missouri hunters seven extra days to hunt teal. Meanwhile, rebounding teal populations promises to make this the best teal season in years.

In July, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service extended teal season from 9 days to 16 days--Sept. 5 through 20. The liberalization was prompted by growth in the continent-wide populations of blue- and green-winged teal, both of which now are well above goals set by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

Bluewing numbers are estimated at 6.4 million this year compared to a target population of 4.7 million. Greenwings are estimated at 2.1 million, compared to the goal of 1.8 million. The current levels are about twice the levels seen during the prairie droughts of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Migrating teal are often swept into Missouri by the same September cold fronts that push mourning doves out of the state. The longer season improves hunters' chances of catching flights of teal as they pass through the state.

Even with high populations of teal, Missouri hunters still must be concerned about habitat conditions. The annual question, after a typical dry Missouri summer, is whether there is enough water on the state's wetlands to attract and hold teal during their migration. August and September rains can produce sheet water on wetlands and make ideal hunting conditions. In dry years, the best hunting is at wetland areas managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Biologically, there is no reason not to allow hunters added opportunities while teal numbers are at a peak. If populations recede in the future, conservation regulators will return to shorter seasons.

NEBRASKA

Proposals for the duck hunting season are similar to those of last year.

The only change is that the daily limit on pintail ducks would be reduced to 1. Last year the daily bag was 3.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated the reduction. The harvest of pintails in the U.S. last year increased by 32 percent last year, to 705,000. That compares to a 1996 harvest of 533,000. The harvest in the Central Flyway, which includes Nebraska, wa186,000. Information gathered from the 1997 harvest indicated goodintail production had occurred.

--The regular season would run a total of 74 days.

--The High Plains Mallard Management Unit would get 23 additional days

of hunting.

Recommendations Summary for 1998-99

Waterfowl Seasons

DUCKS

Low Plains Early: 3 Oct - 13 Dec (72 days); 19-20 Dec (2 days), 5 day split.

Low Plains Late: 10 Oct - 20 Dec (72 days); 26-27 Dec (2 days), 5 day split.

High Plains: 3 Oct - 14 Dec (Monday) (73 days) and 18 Dec (Friday) - 10 Jan (24 days), 3 day split.

Pheasant Surveys Provide A Glimpse Of What Might Be Expected

The annual surveys used by the Game and Parks Commission provide a glimpse of what hunters might be able to expect in the next pheasant season.

The operative word usually is "might," when it comes to analyzing the future of pheasant numbers.

It's important to remember that a survey provides a snap shot reflecting what is observed by rural mail carriers. It is not a literal head count.

"It is a snapshot, not a census," noted Kirk Nelson, Assistant Director of the GPC. "In years when you have a freezing winter and a lot of birds are lost, or when there is extensive flooding, you can draw on experience in making a projection. You usually will know when something really goes wrong."

In years when weather is neither ideal nor disastrous the situation is different.

Biologists note that pheasants can produce a late hatch after a wet spring, leading to autumn numbers that far outdistance the survey.

At other times, as hunters in virtually every state have joked, every pheasant must have paraded during the spring and summer surveys, and then gone on vacation.

The GPC surveys try to get a picture of the bird population statewide.

"Good numbers of birds statewide obviously don't guarantee hunter success in every area of the state," Nelson said.

The July survey by mail carriers seems to indicate that pheasant numbers may be comparable to those seen last year.

"The advantage we hope hunters will enjoy this year has to do with the thousands of acres of walk-in hunting available on CRP-MAP land," Nelson said in reference to the project involving the GPC and Pheasants Forever.

"When more acres are available it's going to increase the opportunities of getting to where the birds may be," he said. "The CRP-MAP program is making more than 60,000 acres of private land available for walk-in hunting. We're optimistic about it improving the experience of a lot of hunters."

OKLAHOMA

September teal season expanded to 16 days

Hunkered down among a tall clump of grass and brush, a pair of camouflage-clad figures swivel their gaze to the far edge of a field where a ditch curves past a crop row into a distant treeline.

Like a storm cloud blowing in from the north, a dark blur appears over the horizon, swirling and churning like a tornado in the making. For an instant, small, iridescent bursts of powder blue flutter in the morning sunlight as a large flock of blue-winged teal banks sharply at the treeline and hits the straightaway along the ditch.

Still concealed in the brush, the hunters barely have time to shoulder their shotguns as the teal bear down on them at astonishing speed. The sound of air rushing through their wings sounds like a small jet when they flare skyward as the hunters spring to their feet.

Thunder rolls as spent hulls tumble from shotgun chambers like dice at a gaming table. Within seconds, the sky is empty as the teal vanish as quickly as they arrived, their number diminished far less than the number of hulls floating in the water would indicate. The birds are flying this morning, so the hunters won't have to wait long for another chance.

If you crave that kind of excitement, you'll be able to enjoy it longer than ever this year as Oklahoma celebrates its first 16-day teal season. It runs statewide Sept. 12-27 except in Beaver, Cimarron and Texas counties, where the season will run Sept. 12-20.

The seven-day bonus for teal hunters this fall is the result of cooperative efforts between Central Flyway waterfowl biologists and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel to enhance hunting opportunities for teal hunters. Since 1965, teal seasons have been limited to nine days, with a daily limit of four birds, said Mike O'Meilia, migratory bird biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The extended season will help establish a September season to coincide with periods when teal are most likely to be in the state.

"In Oklahoma, it is very difficult to consistently time a relatively short September teal season to coincide with the early blue-wing migration," O'Meilia said. "Unfortunately, we could not provide a 16-day teal season in the panhandle because they are already afforded 107 days of total duck hunting opportunity. By treaty we are restricted to no more than 107 total days of hunting on any migratory bird."

Teal, O'Meilia added, are more plentiful than they've been since 1955, when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first began keeping records. This abundance of birds, coupled with the hopeful arrival of timely rainfall, should present Oklahoma teal hunters with a chance at an outstanding season.

"With breeding populations higher than they've ever been and with the good production and recruitment in their breeding range, we expect to have strong fall flight of blue-winged teal," O'Meilia said. "Bluewings are almost 6.5 million strong, and that's an all-time record. All things taken together, I'm optimistic about having a good season."

Although parts of Oklahoma have suffered from severe drought over the summer, O'Meilia said it wouldn't affect the fall teal flight unless wetland areas remain dry. Otherwise, teal will return in force to their traditional haunts.

Considered the most challenging of all waterfowl, teal are revered among shotgunners for their speed their dazzling acrobatic skills. Their small, compact profiles present extremely difficult targets, causing them to be compared favorably alongside doves among even the most accomplished wingshooters. They also make excellent table fare and can be prepared with a variety of delicious recipes.

Before you go afield, remember that all license holders, including lifetime license olders, must carry a Harvest Identification Program (HIP) permit.

Tennessee

Wood Duck Season Granted Extension

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced today in Washington that Tennessee's wood duck season has been granted a three-year extension, according to Ron Fox, Assistant Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). At a meeting this week, the Office of Migratory Bird Management, a division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, considered closing the season this year. This early duck season, which takes place in September, was first initiated in 1981.

Our congressional delegation, led by U.S. Representative John Tanner, helped persuade the USFWS to go along with the recommendation of the TWRA and the Mississippi Flyway Council that the season be continued.

"Wood ducks provide a challenge to duck hunters that is unique in waterfowling," Tanner said. "This season is important to waterfowlers across our state not just for the added opportunities to go into the field, but also for the wood duck conservation opportunities presented as an extension of this early season. Our hunters are the unmatched leaders when it comes to paying for the conservation initiatives that have made thousands of acres of habitat available for ducks throughout Tennessee and the Mississippi Flyway."

The TWRA extends its appreciation to Tennessee's congressional delegation and the USFWS for working together to reach a consensus on this issue.

"This means a great deal to our duck hunters, and we are delighted that the Service [USFWS] recognized the importance of this season in terms of our overall conservation efforts," said Gary Myers, Executive Director of the TWRA. "We are equally pleased with the unanimous support of our congressional delegation under the leadership of Representative Tanner in helping us make the case that closure was not warranted."

The wood duck/teal season will open this year Sept. 12 and close Sept. 16 with a daily bag of 4 (only 2 of which may be wood ducks).

SOUTH CENTRAL STATES

TEXAS

Dove Hunting May Not Suffer From Drought

AUSTIN, Texas - Water and seeds; hunters who find this basic combination will likely be into birds during dove hunting season, according to state wildlife officials, who suggest the drought may have little impact on harvest success.

"Our surveys this past spring indicated dove breeding populations remained similar to last year," explained Jay Roberson, dove program leader with Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW). "There will probably be an impact on production due to the drought and that could have a negative impact on hunting, since most of the birds harvested are from the current year's hatch. But, some hunters may not see that if they're hunting around water, which will concentrate more birds."

Fortunately, the areas of the state that traditionally hold a majority of doves - from the southern edge of the Rolling Plains and across the Edwards Plateau regions - have had some moisture during the summer to help maintain surface water levels. "The early fall food sources like croton (dove weed) and sunflower are not as plentiful, but I'm assuming hunting will be good on areas that have stands of these plants," noted Stephen Jester, TPW wildlife biologist in Brownwood. "There are some areas that aren't as bad as rest of the Plateau. We got a big dose of rain around Brownwood in July, and some areas got as much as 5-7 inches in 24 hours. We're not suffering for surface water, but everything else is dry."

Dove season runs Sept. 1-Oct. 30 in the North Zone; Sept. 1-Oct. 18, Dec. 26-Jan.6 in the Central Zone; and Sept. 25-Nov. 8, Dec. 26-Jan. 9 in the South Zone (the season ends Jan. 4 in the special white-winged dove area). The daily bag limit is 15 mourning, white-winged and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, including no more than two white-tipped doves. Possession limit is twice the daily bag and hunters are reminded that they cannot legally take more than one daily bag limit in one day.

The white-winged dove season is Sept. 5, 6, 12, and 13 in the Special White-winged Dove Area of South Texas. Bag and possession limits are 10 white-winged, mourning and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, including no more than five mourning doves and two white-tipped doves per day. Shooting hours will be noon to sunset. The white-winged dove sanctuaries that have alternated closure from year to year within the special white-winged dove hunting area have been eliminated.

Texas boasts a dove population in excess of 40 million birds, half of which are produced annually. Biologists suggest the population can handle the drought. "Even if statewide production is down somewhat due to dry conditions, there's still a very hardy population out there and we also get millions of migrant birds passing through Texas that were produced in states to our north," Vernon Bevill, migratory game bird program director at TPW said.

The drought has impacted states where these migrants originate, primarily Oklahoma and Kansas, and biologists predict Texas hunters could see an earlier arrival of out-of-state mourning doves this fall. "We could start seeing northern birds by the end of September in the northern part of state and maybe by the second or third week in October in the Hill Country," said Roberson.

Mourning doves can travel upwards of 20 miles per day during the nesting season and prefer watering and feeding in relatively dry areas, bird movement and activity could generate additional opportunity this season, according to Ron George, TPW wildlife division deputy director. "If there is seed on the ground, dry weather usually makes it easier for doves to feed. They prefer feeding on open ground where they can get to the seeds and they like to land on dry, open ground near tanks and lakes when watering."

If the dry weather persists, George added, it may actually be of benefit to hunters, too. "With fewer sources of water, the birds are going to congregate around those remaining watering places," he explained. "I don't recommend right at the water hole because doves tend to avoid heavy hunting pressure and you could burn out a spot in a hurry."

George suggests allowing the water to serve as an attractant. "Back away from the water and take advantage of passing shots. Because grain crops may be somewhat reduced this year, doves will likely be more concentrated on the remaining fields and hunting opportunity can be better than usual."

Some of the better dove hunting may be found this year on TPW public dove leases. Dove hunting rights to over 120 leases have been purchased using funds from the Annual Public Hunting Permit. For $40, a hunter will have the hunting rights to any of these dove leases, as well as to over a million additional acres of public hunting lands in Texas. Annual Public Hunting Permits may be purchased wherever hunting licenses are sold.

Whitewing hunters are reminded that a $7 white-winged dove stamp is required to hunt whitewings anywhere in Texas and that whitewing populations are expanding throughout much of the Central and South Zones, particularly near urban areas. Many dove hunters who traditionally haven't had a need to purchase the whitewing stamp but might need one now can avoid taking any chances by purchasing the Super Combo. For $49, hunters can purchase a Super Combo which includes resident hunting and fishing licenses, plus all seven special stamps - purchased separately, the package would cost $82.

Hunters are also reminded to renew their hunting licenses, which expire Aug. 31, before heading out on opening day.

New this year to the license buying process are Harvest Information Program (HIP) questions that must be answered by anyone who plans to hunt migratory game birds. HIP certification will print on the license at the time of purchase after the brief series of questions have been answered. Lifetime license holders must also be HIP-certified in order to hunt migratory birds.

Texas Eyes Large Fall Flight, Liberal Waterfowl Regulations

For yet another year, duck and goose populations remain healthy and hunters can look forward to another large fall flight and liberal hunting seasons. Among the proposed regulation changes for the upcoming waterfowl seasons in Texas is a recommendation targeting snow geese populations which would allow an increased daily bag limit up to 20 and eliminate the possession limit.

"We feel this change is another appropriate step, especially eliminating the possession limit, to increase the light goose harvest and hopefully arrest population growth," said Vernon Bevill, migratory game bird program director with Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW). Bevill indicated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is currently considering additional changes for snow goose, via the Environmental Assessment (EA) process leading to a proposed management action that targets the mid-continent population. "We don't know the specifics, but we understand the Service soon will be publishing an assessment on this issue for public comment. We do know that any additional regulatory changes for light geese will not happen until later, probably after the regular waterfowl seasons have closed."

Goose populations continue to do well; too well, in some cases. The snow goose population reached another record level, with an estimated 3 million birds from winter surveys and biologists remain concerned about the impact the birds are having on their Arctic breeding habitat. Average goose production is expected, which will result in another large fall flight of geese.

Although wetland habitat conditions in Canada and the northern United States became somewhat drier this spring, duck populations held their own this year. The overall duck breeding population in the surveyed area was 39.1 million birds, down eight percent from the record year in 1997 but still 20 percent above the long-term average. Duck production is down slightly and the estimated fall flight from the surveyed area is 84 million ducks, compared to 92 million last year. In 1993 the estimated fall flight was in the 60 million duck range.

Populations of most duck species remained similar to last year, but green-winged teal, shovelers, pintail, and scaup declined somewhat. However, eight out of the 10 principal duck species remain at or above their long-term averages. Redhead ducks are at a record high level and blue-winged teal and gadwall are at their second-highest recorded level.

SOUTHEASTERN STATES

GEORGIA

DUCKS UNLIMITED CONTRIBUTES $113,000

The Georgia Chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) recently presented a $113,000 check to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) for waterfowl management projects throughout the state. DU makes an annual donation to WRD as part of Matching Aid to Restore State's Habitat (MARSH). MARSH is a one-for-one matching funds partnership between WRD and DU for waterfowl management projects in Georgia.

SOUTH CAROLINA

42 PUBLIC DOVE FIELDS AVAILABLE FOR HUNTING

Forty-two public fields for hunting mourning doves will be open during the 1998-99 season through the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Management Area program. The 1998-99 mourning dove season will run as follows: Sept. 5 - Oct. 10, Nov. 21-28 and Dec. 19 - Jan. 13. The daily bag limit is 12 birds per hunter. A county by county list of public dove fields and special youth hunts can be obtained by writing: DNR, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202, ATTN: Public Dove Fields, or by calling (803) 734-3886 in Columbia. The Public Dove Field List is also available at County Extension Service, Soil and Water Conservation District and local DNR offices and on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.sc.us

STATEWIDE EARLY TEAL SEASON APPROVED BY STATE DNR BOARD

A statewide early teal season was approved July 24 by the S.C. Natural Resources Board for Sept. 18-26. The bag limit for the statewide Sept.18-26 season will be four teal, either Blue-winged or green-winged, and hunters may harvest or attempt to hunt no other duck species. Shooting hours will be sunrise to noon. Hunters should note that the one-half hour before sunrise provision that normally occurs during South Carolina waterfowl seasons is not in place for the early teal season.

VIRGINIA

QUAIL HUNTING FORECAST

To be a quail hunter in Virginia requires dedication and fortitude and the 1997-98 season was one that challenged the resolve of even the most tenacious quail hunters. In fact, last year's quail season ranked as one of the worst in recent history. Statewide, the average number of quail bagged per hunter hour was 0.27, down 10 percent from the previous season and equal to the lowest hunter success rate since survey efforts were initiated in 1977. Last year, the average hunting party consisted of 1.9 hunters who spent 3.8 hours afield, flushed 1.7 coveys and bagged 2.0 quail. Regionally, hunter success declined most significantly in the Northern (-39%), East Piedmont (-21%), and West Piedmont (-15%) regions. Hunter success was slightly improved in the Tidewater region (+9%). A cold, wet spring followed by a summer drought resulted in below-average reproductive success in 1997.

Fortunately, the outlook for the 1998-99 season looks more promising. A mild winter with little snow should have resulted in good carryover in all regions. Abundant rainfall during the spring and early summer has produced lush nesting conditions, setting the stage for a good early hatch. The plentiful rains have also produced a bumper crop of insects for young quail chicks to feed on. If favorable moisture conditions persist throughout the remainder of the summer, reproductive success should be higher than normal.

Although weather conditions have been favorable for nesting, Department surveys show a slight decline in the number of quail heard calling during the month of June. Statewide, the average number of quail hear calling was down 5 percent. This trend was not consistent between regions. The average number of quail heard increased in the East Piedmont (+42%) and West Piedmont (+3%) but decreased in the Southwest Mountain (-55%), Tidewater (-21%), Central Mountain (-10%), and Northern (-2%) regions. Although this survey is a good index of spring breeding populations, it is a poor predictor of fall hunter success. The number of coveys that hunters flush in the fall is much more dependent on summer productivity than on spring breeding density. Roadside counts conducted in August will give us a better idea of how good the 1998-99 hunting season is likely to be.

Regardless of whether hunter success is up or down, it's likely that the best quail hunting in the state will be found in the Tidewater region where populations have traditionally been highest. However, quail populations in the East Piedmont are expected to rebound this year and hunter success in this area may equal or exceed that found in the Tidewater region. Hunters in the West Piedmont and Northern regions should find more coveys than last year, but will not be as successful as those hunting farther east. Poor hunter success is expected in the western mountain counties, where habitat is limited and coveys are scarce

Overall, prospects for the 1998-99 season look encouraging. Favorable weather conditions should result in above-average nesting success. If all goes right, quail hunters throughout most of Virginia should have the opportunity to shoot into more covey rises than they have for the past several years. Let's hope that the 1998-99 quail season is a memorable one, but for a different reason than last year's was.

USFW

SERVICE PROPOSES FEW CHANGES TO FALL WATERFOWL HUNTING SEASONS

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to retain most of the waterfowl season lengths and bag limits of last year for the upcoming 1998-99 season. The Service also proposed to continue the popular Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day for a third year to encourage parents and other adults to take young people hunting.

The hunting season proposals were developed after consultation with the four-flyway councils and following extensive review of information collected throughout North America. Breeding population and habitat surveys conducted in May 1998 indicated that the condition of many important North American breeding habitats had deteriorated from the excellent conditions that existed during the mid-1990s. The estimated number of ponds in surveyed areas declined 38 percent from 1997 levels but were still only 6 percent below the long-term average. The duck breeding population declined about 8 percent from 1997 but remained 20 percent above the 1955-97 average. The mallard breeding population in 1998 declined slightly (-3 percent) from the 1997 level but remained 19 percent above the North American Waterfowl Management Plan goal.

The Service estimated a fall flight of 11.7 million mallards for 1998, which is 18 percent below last year's estimate. The total fall flight index of ducks is predicted to be 84 million, about 7 percent lower than in 1997.

"The total harvest in the United States was 15.8 million ducks, only 50,000 below the record high harvest of the 1970 season. In addition, the number of Canada geese harvested in the United States reached a record high last year," Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark observed. "Even though we counted record numbers of breeding ducks last year, many factors influence hunting success, including weather and the amount of available habitat. We can't control the weather but we can continue to protect, restore and even rebuild waterfowl habitat.

"During the mid-1990s, we enjoyed favorable weather and habitat conditions in the continent's northern duck factory that, combined with the millions of acres of wetlands restored in the past decade, have boosted duck populations. This year's habitat surveys remind us that dry cycles can return and reinforces the need for continued habitat conservation."

"Not all species have flourished equally over the past few years of good weather and breeding conditions," Clark added. "Pintails are still well below their target populations. As a consequence, the Service has proposed a bag limit of one pintail in all flyways. The Service is particularly concerned about the continued lack of improvement in scaup numbers, which are 36 percent below the long-term average. As part of this year's regulatory process, the flyway councils have agreed to assist in the development of a scaup harvest strategy that can be implemented beginning with next year's hunting season."

The population level of mid-continent snow geese remains dangerously high and continues to threaten the arctic ecosystems on which snow geese and so many other species rely. Hunters in areas frequented by these snow geese and other growing goose populations will enjoy additional hunting opportunity this fall.

Highlights of the proposed late-season frameworks follow:

Atlantic Flyway--(Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia)

Ducks--A hunting season of not more than 60 days between October 1, 1998, and January 20, 1999. The proposed daily bag limit is six and may include no more than four scaup, four mallards (tIllinois' snow goose season has been tentatively set. In the north zone it is Oct. 8-Dec. 27 and Feb. 13-March 9; in the central zone it is Oct. 22-Jan. 3 and Feb. 6-March 9; in the south zone it is Nov. 26-March 10. The bag limit is 20 geese. The season is subject to approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

---

Advertising Rates	Art	Airedales	American Water Spaniels	Birds
Books	Dog Boxes & Trailers	Boykins	Braques	Brittanys
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers	Collars	Clothes	Clumber Spaniels	Cocker Spaniels
Curly Coat Retrievers	Drahthaars	English Setters	English Springer Spaniels	French Brittanys
Field Spaniels	Flat Coat Retrievers	German Long Hair Pointers	German Shorthaired Pointers	German Wirehaired Pointers
Golden Retrievers	Gordon Setters	Guns & Gunsmithing	Hunts & Training Areas	Irish/Red Setters
Irish Water Spaniels	Labrador Retrievers	Llewellin Setters	Large Munsterlanders	Miscellaneous
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers	Pointers	Pointing Labs	Publications	Pudelpointers
Small Munsterlanders	Spaniels	Spinone	Supplies	Training
Video	Vizslas	Weimaraners	Welsh Springer Spaniels	Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Subscribe to BD&RN	See all of our advertisers	GO TO OUR HOME PAGE		Send us a message

Advertise with us for only $5 per month, you will get your own 20 word ad on your own page we will set up on our site (example), a link to your own page (if you have one) and the same ad will run in the print version of Bird Dog & Retriever News. Larger ads are also available. For $200 a year we offer a full web page (example). Just email us your ad and a billing address, we'll do the rest. Come visit our mall below

Copyrights Bird Dog & Retriever News March 1998
Do not reproduce or retransmit in any form
Maintained by Dennis Guldan publisher@Bird-Dog-News.Com
Bird Dog & Retriever News, 563 17th Ave NW, New Brighton, MN 55112,
Ph/Fx 612-636-8045