Dan Jackson
07-03-2001, 05:07 PM
Another update for Ky Waterfowl hunters:
Kentucky Early Wood Duck Season Saved
Frankfort, KY, June 26, 2001 -- The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
has recommended that the "experimental" September 5-day hunting season for
wood ducks become operational.
The recommendation resolves the uncertain status of the popular season and
makes it operational for Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida. In Kentucky,
research indicates that nest box construction and habitat improvements in
the three states has increased the wood duck populations more than 10%
during the period. Since 1981 Kentucky waterfowl hunters, landowners,
and wildlife enthusiasts have installed thousands of wood duck nesting
boxes and improved almost 30,000 acres of waterfowl habitat statewide.
Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida hunters have enjoyed this long-standing
experiment for two decades. As many as 10,000 Kentucky waterfowl hunters
will participate. The dates for the five-day season will be September
19-23, 2001. State biologists in the three states will continue to trap
and band wood ducks to continually monitor the species. Traditionally
almost all the September harvest of wood ducks consists of birds fledged
in Kentucky.
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized the tremendous
research efforts of state waterfowl biologists and conservation efforts of
landowners and conservation groups", said Tom Bennett, Commissioner,
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.
"This support by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recognizes the
partnerships that must exist between the states and the Fish and Wildlife
Service. The USFWS Southeast Region Director Sam Hamilton and the
Migratory Bird Office should be commended for their ability to work
together with the states on this very important issue. Acting USFWS
Director Marshall Jones displayed the common sense and partnership we
often hear about but don't always experience. He does what he says and he
obviously cares about his partners in state fish and wildlife agencies"
Bennett said.
Roy Grimes, Director of the KDFWR Division of Wildlife said, "The
wood duck is one of wildlife management's best success stories. Like the
white tail deer, wild turkey, elk and giant Canada geese, wood duck
populations were in trouble in the early twentieth century. Today, thanks
to the sportsmen and long-term, stable conservation funding these game
species are in great shape - the best in 100 years. Hunters, wildlife
watchers and other people who cherish wildlife will benefit from these new
abundant wood duck populations."
(MORE)
Kentucky's two US Senators supported the USFWS actions. In a letter to
Acting Director of the USFWS Marshall Jones, Senator Mitch McConnell
wrote, "The idea for Kentucky's September wood duck season originated from
the research of Dr. Frank Bowers, a biologist with the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service. In 1981, Kentucky, along with Florida and Tennessee
(and with guidance from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) requested and
received an experimental September season to examine the potential for an
expanded wood duck hunting season.
"The wealth of biological information collected since 1981, including
waterfowl banding data and harvest surveys, indicates that the September
seasons are consistent with their objective of increasing recreational
hunting opportunities without impacting the survival of the southern
population of wood ducks."
Senator Jim Bunning, who co-sponsored the Conservation and Reinvestment
Act (CARA) in the last Congress commented, "For the past 20 years, the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed the September wood
duck season under an experiment in the three states. Research and
monitoring during this twenty-year period by each of the three states has
shown that the native wood ducks have not been harmed by the season. The
September wood duck hunting season is very important to Kentucky's
waterfowl hunters."
The 31 states of the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils,
strongly supported this decision to make these seasons operational. The
Councils recognized monitoring efforts were in place to provide effective
stewardship of wood duck populations. Thanks to sound management by state
and federal wildlife professionals, support by hunters and habitat
protection by landowners, Kentucky's waterfowl hunters will hear the
whistle of "woodie" wings for many Septembers to come.
Kentucky Early Wood Duck Season Saved
Frankfort, KY, June 26, 2001 -- The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
has recommended that the "experimental" September 5-day hunting season for
wood ducks become operational.
The recommendation resolves the uncertain status of the popular season and
makes it operational for Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida. In Kentucky,
research indicates that nest box construction and habitat improvements in
the three states has increased the wood duck populations more than 10%
during the period. Since 1981 Kentucky waterfowl hunters, landowners,
and wildlife enthusiasts have installed thousands of wood duck nesting
boxes and improved almost 30,000 acres of waterfowl habitat statewide.
Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida hunters have enjoyed this long-standing
experiment for two decades. As many as 10,000 Kentucky waterfowl hunters
will participate. The dates for the five-day season will be September
19-23, 2001. State biologists in the three states will continue to trap
and band wood ducks to continually monitor the species. Traditionally
almost all the September harvest of wood ducks consists of birds fledged
in Kentucky.
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized the tremendous
research efforts of state waterfowl biologists and conservation efforts of
landowners and conservation groups", said Tom Bennett, Commissioner,
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.
"This support by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recognizes the
partnerships that must exist between the states and the Fish and Wildlife
Service. The USFWS Southeast Region Director Sam Hamilton and the
Migratory Bird Office should be commended for their ability to work
together with the states on this very important issue. Acting USFWS
Director Marshall Jones displayed the common sense and partnership we
often hear about but don't always experience. He does what he says and he
obviously cares about his partners in state fish and wildlife agencies"
Bennett said.
Roy Grimes, Director of the KDFWR Division of Wildlife said, "The
wood duck is one of wildlife management's best success stories. Like the
white tail deer, wild turkey, elk and giant Canada geese, wood duck
populations were in trouble in the early twentieth century. Today, thanks
to the sportsmen and long-term, stable conservation funding these game
species are in great shape - the best in 100 years. Hunters, wildlife
watchers and other people who cherish wildlife will benefit from these new
abundant wood duck populations."
(MORE)
Kentucky's two US Senators supported the USFWS actions. In a letter to
Acting Director of the USFWS Marshall Jones, Senator Mitch McConnell
wrote, "The idea for Kentucky's September wood duck season originated from
the research of Dr. Frank Bowers, a biologist with the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service. In 1981, Kentucky, along with Florida and Tennessee
(and with guidance from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) requested and
received an experimental September season to examine the potential for an
expanded wood duck hunting season.
"The wealth of biological information collected since 1981, including
waterfowl banding data and harvest surveys, indicates that the September
seasons are consistent with their objective of increasing recreational
hunting opportunities without impacting the survival of the southern
population of wood ducks."
Senator Jim Bunning, who co-sponsored the Conservation and Reinvestment
Act (CARA) in the last Congress commented, "For the past 20 years, the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed the September wood
duck season under an experiment in the three states. Research and
monitoring during this twenty-year period by each of the three states has
shown that the native wood ducks have not been harmed by the season. The
September wood duck hunting season is very important to Kentucky's
waterfowl hunters."
The 31 states of the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyway Councils,
strongly supported this decision to make these seasons operational. The
Councils recognized monitoring efforts were in place to provide effective
stewardship of wood duck populations. Thanks to sound management by state
and federal wildlife professionals, support by hunters and habitat
protection by landowners, Kentucky's waterfowl hunters will hear the
whistle of "woodie" wings for many Septembers to come.