Hello Everyone,
Very long meeting last night and I hope I do not forget anything.
Start from the top.
Resolution regarding 2 hen mallard per day.
Both the author and Kent gave presentations.
I motioned for resolution to advance and it did 12 to 8.
Kent had some numbers that showed Wisconsin harvest of mallards in 69% locals. Wisconsin raises 2% of total mallard population.
Arguments both for and against. I basically stated that it sounded like the author wrote this not as a reason to go out and target an extra hen but as more of an "oops" bird, esp with our season starting so early and most mallards being brown. North Dakota raises 12% of total mallards and of their total mallard harvest, 62% are locals. (they are 5 total/2 hens)
Only Michigan, Ohio and WI do not allow 2 hens. All other states in the flyway offer 2.
Kent spoke as well about adults vs juvie hens and nesting success.
Author also went on to say mallards are the only bird with a hen restriction and are also the most populous bird. Heard a bit of argument about woodies and teal as well. Wisconsin teal killed are typically 30-50% locals. We can kill 6 hens, talk of extra teal season and killing even more. Many Wisconsin woodies are local (no numbers given) but we can shoot 3 woodies hens a day.
No one really flat out said they do not support this at all. a few said that if it did indeed pass, they would simply restrain from shooting hens anyways.
Resolution regarding north zone split.
Author was not present. Basically stated that if the north was to have a split, it would be during the 9 day deer gun season. Goose season would resume the Monday after deer season and duck the Thursday after. If this was to occur this year, the north zone would have closed after the south.
Kent did show some survey results that showed the north was not in favor of a split at all but if they were to have one, they did prefer to have it at some point of October.
I made a motion to reject and it passed unanimously.
Resolution regarding parasitic brown headed cowbirds.
Author was not present. Wanted the DNR and Feds to work to provide training for the trapping of cowbirds.
Individuals can already do this. No need to get involved.
Motion to reject carried with 1 nay.
Season Feedback 2013
Lots of woodies. Framework about right as far as season dates. River saw few teal early but lots during 2nd opener. Overall good success all over.
Early goose harvest was approx 19,000. (5th best ever). Exterior goose was approx 31,000 as of Nov 15th.
Questions about how municipal goose control affects harvest. Goose round ups and egg oiling take less than 5% of total hunting harvest.
Not much feedback from new open water lakes other than Puckaway. Some positive reports from the lake. Many other lakes seemed to be virtually unused.
New Stuff Coming
Horicon zone will change for next year as well as go to the call in system and use the punch cards.
DNR looking into dove management lands a bit more. Dove population up about .5% after 10 years of WI dove hunting. WI harvests approx 100,000 a year.
Teal Season
It is not a given yet.
Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa all need to agree on the same stuff and Minnesota is not liking it. They are worried that too many other species will be killed.
Feds allow a 9 day season if teal pop is 3.3mil or higher and 16 days at 4.7mil and up. It is at 9mil+ now.
How would we fit it in?
The option of allowing woodies to be killed is not sitting well with the feds at all. Currently KY and TN have an early 5 day teal and wood duck season and they are seeing pressure to get rid of this.
Teal season could open 1/2 hour before sunrise or at sunrise. I asked why can we have that if we cant open the regular season then. What is the difference between Sept 1 and 21? Kent stated he believed approx half of the hunters in WI, 40,000, would take part in this season. 1 also questioned why he felt we should stay at 1 hen mallard but a 16 day teal season, at least a week before any regular duck season opened would be a good idea. How many hen mallards would get killed during a teal season?
How would everything be enforced. Potentially teal season could overlap both youth, early goose and dove. Enforcement would be a nightmare.
A hand count of no merrit was taken.
4 did not support an early teal season, 8 undecided and I believe 12 in favor.
Members Matters
Issues I briefly brought up.
River opened the same day as MN and IA as well as a bass tourney. Why can't we shoot until 9?
Many hunters felt mislead about why the lakes were removed from the open water list. Resolutions need to be written to get these lakes back.
Again, stressed a 1/2 hour before sunrise opener, this was echoed many times.
I asked everyone to consider the need for a plugged gun. (I knew but was reminded by many that it is a federal law), but stated why don't we just really look at it. Maybe we could be the state that starts the call to have this rule tossed. (doubtful as we like to take the backseat approach and watch stuff pass us by)
Necessary to have a goose punch card as well as call them in? If data comes from band reports, is there a need to call in? Also need to look at rules about punching cards before touching geese. (Kent gave me attitude about all the time that goes into hunting, 15 seconds should not be a big deal to punch a card) I then stated I know several people who have nearly all dates punched and know other people who have been ticketed for having a knife slip and slit a little too far. Something should be done to change card or enforcement. I suggested online registering and got no real response.
I also suggested we revisit the zone boundaries. Might as well get going on this as we still have a few years left of what we have. Suggested a north, central and south zone.
I asked why we never see crane or swan info at these meetings even though swans, as well as other migratory birds are specifically pointed out in the mission statement of the committee. Kent then told me that if I want the info I need to ask.
Asked about limit of dove season and possible split in dove season. We may see a 90 day dove season next year and zones or splits are an option. I will look into this a bit more.
Thank you to everyone that submitted comments and ideas.
