Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, WI --(Ammoland.com)- Much of Wisconsin received snowfall last weekend and this week, but snow depths continue to be marginal for outdoor winter recreation through much of southern, central and northwestern parts of the state.

Anywhere from 4 to 6 inches of snow fell last weekend, but the snow was light and fluffy and strong winds caused drifting and bear spots in many locations.

Snowmobile trails remain open only in about a dozen northern counties, and are only rated as good in a few of those according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Cross-country ski conditions faired better, but many trails in the southern half of the state have had minimal grooming and many are reporting there are some bare or thin spots. The good news is that snow is forecast for later this week into the weekend, with higher amounts expected in the southern part of the state.

Cold temperatures that moved into Wisconsin this week have finally frozen over most of the larger lakes that still had open water last week, including Winnebago and Mendota. However, some areas are reporting that certain spots are still being kept open by large numbers of waterfowl that were staying in the area. And conservation wardens are continuing to caution that much of the ice that formed is still very thin, and now covered by a protective layer of snow. There were numerous reports of snowmobiles and ATVs going through the ice on Lake Winnebago in the last week. Wardens are still advising foot traffic only on southern waters and for people to check ice depths regularly and be prepared should they fall through thin ice.

Ice conditions in the north through the central part of the state are generally good with a foot or more being reported in many locations. Many areas reporting fishing action slowed this week, likely due to the new snow cover. The best action continued to be for panfish, with some reports of very nice crappie and bluegill being caught, but with anglers having to move around a lot to find them. Action for walleye was slower, but there were still some reports of nice northern pike being taken on tip-ups.

While ice has also begun to form on some Lake Michigan harbors, there were still anglers open water fishing this past week. None of the harbor ice is considered safe at this time. Similarly, ice is again forming on the Bay of Green Bay and Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay, but it is not safe. Anglers on Sawyer harbor and Little Sturgeon Bay were reportedly fishing along the shore ice, but with open water not too far out in the bay.

Mid-January generally is the onset of coyote and red fox breeding cycles that last into March. Cold, crisp winter nights afford opportunities to listen for the raspy barks of red fox or the high pitched yipping of coyotes. Pup litters of both species are born in March or April.

Among the waterfowl keeping areas of some lakes open were more than 300 tundra swans that have been on Lake Mendota for a couple of weeks. And more than 100 trumpeter swans have been reported on open water at Willow River State Park in St. Croix County. Visitors to bird feeder have included nuthatches, pine siskins, black-capped chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, blue jays, tufted titmice, northern cardinals and American goldfinches

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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Goose hunters enjoyed better decoying action near Dumas, Spearman and Amarillo with the snow and colder conditions.

Christmas Day brought four inches of snow on the High Plains which encouraged geese to decoy better.

Larger Canada geese are showing with frozen ponds in the northern states. Snow geese and Canadas are solid on roost ponds near Etter. Duck numbers continue to build in the Panhandle, with more mallards showing on playas. Many divers are hanging out on reservoirs and other deep water ponds. Feed lot ponds are good for gadwalls and wigeons. Recent snow runoff has put water in many dry playas. Outfitters have said hunter participation has been down. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: Duck hunters have taken good numbers of mallards in sloughs, creeks and river bottoms, especially with improved habitat conditions as of a result of recent rains, reported biologist Jared Laing. Colder weather and frozen waterways to the north have encouraged more mallards to cross the state line. Scouting has been crucial, said Laing, with birds moving about with more water on the ground. Canvasbacks and other divers have been steady on Lake O’Pines, Toledo Bend and Lake Fork. Backwaters around Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend and the Sulfur River have produced good mallard shoots as well. Gadwalls and wigeons have been taken in shallow coves of lakes and reservoirs. Wood ducks have been steady at first light in wet timber. Hunting remained steady around the zone boundaries of IH-10 where some areas received 2-4 inches during the holiday weekend. Freshwater impoundments have held pintails, wigeons, shovelers and green-winged teal. Prospects are good.

South Zone Duck: The coast continues to produce steady duck shoots on the prairies, marshes and bays. Gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers and pintails have been steady near Eagle Lake, Garwood and Wharton. Most of the upper coast received 2-4 inches of rain over the holiday weekend. Sheet water has covered many dry rice fields which has encouraged ducks to work goose spreads. Bay hunters enjoyed steady shoots near Port O’Connor and Rockport. Solid shoots have come from the Lower Laguna Madre around Port Isabel and Port Mansfield. Pintails, redheads, bluebills, gadwalls and wigeons have made up the bags. Hunters in Trinity Bay have struggled the past few weeks as ducks are here today and gone tomorrow. Marsh hunters in Orange County have seen good numbers of gadwalls and teal throughout the season. Snow goose hunting has been good with wind and a low ceiling. Absent have been large concentration of small Canadas that take up the slack for call-shy specklebellies. Sandhill crane numbers are steady. Most cranes have been harvested by goose hunters in white spreads. Prospects are good.

Season/Bag Limits: The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan. 29, 2012. The North and South zones run Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, WI --(Ammoland.com)- After last week’s colder temperatures and snowfall built up the anticipation of ice anglers, snowmobilers and skiers, warmer temperatures and rain this week dampened that excitement considerably.

Conservation wardens across the state are reporting that ice conditions have deteriorated considerably. Lakes that had 2 to 3 inches of ice now have areas of open water and ice just an inch or two thick along shorelines. Lakes in the far north are in the best condition, with some near shore areas having a solid 5 to 6 inches of ice, but areas out over deeper water and just a short distance away may only have 2 to 3 inches of ice.

Only far north central Wisconsin has any remaining snow cover, with the most being reported in northern Iron County at about 5 inches. Most areas are reporting only 1 to 3 inches of snow remain.

Prior to the warm-up anglers were reporting fair to good action on early ice for bluegills and some northern pike. Initial walleye success on northern lakes has been generally slow for the tip-up anglers, but a few nicer fish have shown up, including a couple of 25-inch walleye have been reported.

Ice had begun to form on both Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay and on Lake Michigan’s Green Bay, but with warmer temperatures and wind, most of that ice has broken up. Some anglers have returned to open water fishing, with reports of walleye being caught from boats on the Fox River and some good sauger action on the Mississippi River.

Reports were mixed from the statewide antlerless deer hunt, with some areas mostly in the southern part of the state reporting participation and deer registrations were up, while activity was limited in much of northern Wisconsin. Bow hunters are now taking advantage of this recent mild weather to spend more time on tree stands.

Large flocks of Canada geese are still being reported across much of the state. The exterior goose season is now closed, but the Mississippi River subzone remains open through Dec. 29. Turkeys are reporting to be forming into their larger winter flocks with as many as 40 to 50 being seen feeding on many agricultural fields in the mild weather.

With the mild weather, some late season hunters are reporting still seeing black bear out and about, and wildlife biologists confirmed a black bear denning up in Sauk County this week, the first time this has been confirmed in quite a few years.

There has been an abundance of divers ducks, especially golden-eyes and mallards, stil being seen because of the open water. Large numbers of migrating waterfowl has been seen along the shores of Green Bay, including one report of an estimated 12,000 mergansers.

And for people looking for last minute holiday gifts for the outdoors lovers on their lists, 2012 Wisconsin State Park admission stickers and State Trail passes are on sale now at all state park and forest offices and DNR Service Centers.

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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Goose hunters have enjoyed steady shoots for Canadas.

Outfitters have said goose numbers are solid, but hunter participation has been down. Best hunts have come over wheat and corn near Etter, Dumas and Spearman.

A few snow geese have been mixed with the darks. Peanut and bean fields around Abilene and Lubbock have held nice concentrations of dark geese.

Duck hunting has been fair to poor around Amarillo. Drought conditions have left little to no wet playas across the High Plains. Pheasant shoots have been fair. Numbers are down compared to a year ago. Sandhill cranes remain solid over plowed ground. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: The second-split opener was fair for most Northeast and Central Texas hunters. Any pond holding water held ducks, but those watering holes are few and far between. Reservoirs and lakes continue to hold the brunt of the duck population, but boat access has been limited due to record low levels on many waterways making boat ramps inoperable. Many hunters reported fair shoots on mallards and wood ducks in sloughs and rivers that are holding water. Caddo Lake and Lake O’Pines were fair for divers, gadwalls and a few mallards. The Sulphur River was fair for mallards, gadwalls and redheads. Hunting around the zone boundaries of IH-10 was good for shovelers, green-winged teal, pintails and gadwalls. Still, many more divers are holding on inland ponds than in years past, probably due to the lack of freshwater near coastal bay flats. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: The second-split opener was solid along the coastal prairies and bay flats. Prairie hunters saw large groups of decoying pintails, shovelers, green-winged teal and gadwalls. The coast continues to suffer the effects of the drought, and only those with access to water wells have been able to re-pump freshwater impoundments. Bay hunters enjoyed limits near Port O’Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas and Port Mansfield. Jefferson County marsh hunters have shot steady limits of ducks despite a hypersaline marsh. Goose hunters have seen solid decoying action from a large juvenile snow goose flock. Dry conditions have many goose concentrations heading to water by mid-morning due to their inability to water in feeding fields. More flocks of Canada geese have moved to the coastal prairies with the recent cold fronts. Largest concentrations have been found around Wharton, El Campo, Eagle Lake and Markham. Sandhill crane hunters get their first crack at the large gray birds Dec. 24 and numbers are good, especially around roosting water. Reminder: hunters must possess the free sandhill crane permit to hunt. Prospects are good.

Season/Bag Limits:The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan.29, 2012. The North and South zones run Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

LITTLE ROCK, AR --(Ammoland.com)- More heavy rain fell across the state this week, swelling rivers and streams and filling agricultural fields and other low-lying areas with water.

The rain has been followed by the coldest air of the season. The favorable hunting conditions arrived just in time for Thursday’s opening day of the second segment of Arkansas’s duck season.

Hunters will find an increase in waterfowl habitat this week, with many bottomlands and agricultural fields being flooded. Also, most of the state’s wildlife management areas that are managed for waterfowl will have ample water.

Hunters also should experience the coldest temperatures of the season, with overnight lows in the mid to upper 20s and daytime highs in the 40s and lower 50s.

Biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission flew the state’s first aerial waterfowl survey Nov. 11-18 and counted an estimated 627,841 ducks, including roughly 132,000 mallards, throughout the Delta. But conditions have changed rapidly since the first survey, and AGFC waterfowl program coordinator Luke Naylor said he expects to see much different results from the season’s second survey, which will be conducted Dec. 12-16, weather permitting.

“Things have changed drastically since the first survey,” Naylor said. “I would expect to see the ducks respond to these favorable habitat conditions, and it’s probable that some migration events are taking place as a result of the colder weather.”

Results from the first survey may be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/AGFCaerialsurveys.

Hunters who use wildlife management areas in eastern Arkansas are likely to find rapidly changing conditions following this week’s heavy rainfall. In fact, AGFC staff have been forced to manipulate water and close access roads at several WMAs.

The measures are necessary to prevent damage or failure of infrastructure such as levees and water-control structures. AGFC staff are manipulating water levels at Dave Donaldson Black River WMA, Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA, St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA, Big Lake WMA and Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA in northeastern Arkansas.

As much as five inches of rain fell on various parts of the state Sunday and Monday, causing a rapid rise in streams and rivers that feed the management areas. The surge of water potentially could cause blowouts in levees and water-control structures, causing additional water loss. Infrastructure on many of the affected WMAs was recently repaired following past flooding.

At Bayou Meto WMA in eastern Arkansas, AGFC staff have opened all Lower Vallier and Cannon Brake water-control structures. Levels are still rising in the lower impoundment and the Salt Ditch and Fish Lake Ditch have not crested.

The heavy rains have forced the AGFC to close several roads on other popular duck hunting areas. On Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA, the main road has been closed at the one-lane bridge just north of Interstate 40. The main road could be closed at the headquarters this week with fast-rising water coming down the Cache River, Robe Bayou and Bayou DeView. The road leading to Teal Pond also will be closed.

On Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA, the Railroad Dump Road to Gregory Access has been closed because of high water from the Cache River. The Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA main access road at Mitchell Corner is closed and will remain closed throughout the remaining waterfowl season. This is part of the AGFC’s water management plan for the WMA. Access to Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek WMA will be limited to Jones Island Road from Georgetown. All other accesses from county roads are under water.

While this waterfowl report seeks to provide information that is as timely as possible, hunters should keep in mind there’s often a lag of two or three days between the time field reports are received and this report is published. Thus, actual water levels and percentage of flooded habitat may differ from what’s reported here. The AGFC encourages hunters to check stream gauges (links are provided at the end of this report) and physically scout potential hunting areas to determine actual field conditions.

To assist waterfowl hunters with the latest information, the AGFC provides links to sources on waterfowl location and abundance in Arkansas and other states. The links are available at http://www.agfc.com/hunting/Pages/HuntingWaterfowlReport.aspx#1.

This waterfowl report provides capsule information from agency staff in all corners of Arkansas and is updated each Wednesday throughout waterfowl season. To receive the report each week on your computer, send an e-mail to arkansasoutdoors@agfc.com and type “Waterfowl Report” in the subject line.

• Information on river levels can be found at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/ or http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html.
• Sunrise/sunset tables are available at: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-us and in the Arkansas Waterfowl Regulations Guide.

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, WI --(Ammoland.com)- The 2011 gun deer season opener is just days away! Please consider helping the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources by reporting your deer hunting activity, even if no deer or other wildlife were seen during your hunting trip(s).

This survey provides wildlife managers with information on deer sighting rates and the relative abundance of deer and other wildlife in the state.

To enter your observations, click here. Have an enjoyable and successful hunt!

Preliminary Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey Results: September 17-November 14

A total of 575 Wisconsin deer hunters have reported 2,365 hunting trips via the online survey.

192 individuals have also supplied an email address to have a summary of their observations e-mailed to them at the end of the survey period.

Trips were reported from 71 of 72 counties in the state, and in 113 of 139 deer management units. DMU 64 has the greatest number of observations (109), followed by DMU 53 with 100 observations. Hunters reported spending 8,889 observation hours in the field, and averaged 3.8 hours per trip. Most trips and observation hours occurred in the Southern Farmland followed by the Northern Forest, the Eastern Farmland, the Western Farmland and lastly the Central Forest region.

Deer hunters have reported 1,154 bucks, 1,721 does, 1,193 fawns, and 458 unknowns. Statewide, hunters averaged 0.51 deer seen per hour. Deer seen per hour varied between regions with the high being the Eastern Farmland averaging 0.61 deer per hour and the low being the Central Forest averaging 0.30 deer per hour. The Western Farmland and the Southern Farmland both reported 0.57 deer per hour. Hunters in the Northern Forest saw 0.42 deer per hour.

The most frequently observed species other than deer were turkeys. Hunter sightings varied greatly by regions, with most sightings occurring in Wisconsin’s primary turkey range, the farmland and central forest regions. The next most frequently seen animal was ruffed grouse.

Please continue to enter your observations by clicking here.

Questions about the Wisconsin Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey, accessing the tally sheet, reporting your observation, or the results of the survey, can be referred to Brian Dhuey or Jes Rees.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Opening weekend in the Panhandle saw lackluster results due to an absence of water. Very few playas, if any, are wet, so habitat is stressed. Most ducks were taken over feed lot ponds. Melting snow from last week’s cold front left a little moisture, but the region is in dire need of rain to sustain the winter waterfowl population. Sandhill crane numbers look good; however, lack of roosting water might be a problem as the season progresses. Duck season reopens and runs Nov.4-Jan.29, 2012. Goose season runs Nov.5 in the West Zone. That season also opens Nov. 5. Prospects are fair.

North Zone Duck: Duck season opens Nov. 5 and best prospects have been found on lakes and reservoirs still holding water. Lack of ponds and sloughs have ducks concentrated on big waters. The problem lies with access to these large water bodies, as many boat ramps are inoperable due to extreme low water conditions. Mobile hunters with shallow-running flatbottoms able to traverse muddy timber should see good shoots. The front that blew through last week brought new birds to the area and deposited wigeons, gadwalls and teal on lakes and reservoirs. The coastal region continues to suffer from the drought, however, many hunters have the ability to pump water from wells. Another front this week should encourage more birds to move to Texas, though most coastal prairie ponds holding water are already covered with ducks. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: Opening day is Nov. 5 and prospects look excellent if you have access to water. Coastal prairie ponds are black with ducks and specklebellies, and a few snow geese showed with last week’s front. Concentrations of dark geese on the ground indicate a good hatch of young specklebellies, which should encourage steady decoying action. The front forecasted for this week should shove more light geese to the coast. Reports along the bay flats indicate good numbers of pintails, wigeons, gadwalls and redheads. More divers are showing daily with fronts. Bay hunters should enjoy steadier hunting this year with the lack of water on the coastal prairies. Prospects are good.
Season/Bag Limits:

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan. 29, 2012.

Duck:
North and South zones: Nov. 5-27, Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

Goose:
West Zone:

• Nov. 5-Feb. 5, 2012 (20 light geese, 5 darks, to include no more than one white-fronted)

East Zone:

• Light geese and Canadas: Nov. 5-Jan. 29, 2012 (20 light geese, 3 Canadas, 2 white-fronted)
• White-fronted (specklebellies): Nov. 5-Jan. 15, 2012

Bag Limits: The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, WI --(Ammoland.com)- Reports from across Wisconsin indicate that white-tail deer movement has picked up considerably in the last week, with bucks beginning to pursue does even during the day.

The most activity continues to be near dusk and at night, and conservation wardens across the state are reporting increased numbers of car-vehicle collisions in the last week. Drivers should slow down and watch for deer along roads. If a deer crosses the road, be prepared for another deer following closely behind.

With leaf drop done across most of the north and progressing rapidly in central and southern Wisconsin, archery deer hunters reported a big increase in success this week, with many nice bucks reported. Crop harvest is also progressing rapidly, which is also making it easier for hunters to spot deer.

The strong winds of a week ago brought in the first flights of northern ducks and increased the number of Canada geese moving into the state. Diving duck numbers are building to peaks on the Upper Mississippi River and large inland water bodies. The aerial counts for pools 7, 8, and 9 on the Upper Miss exceeded 80,000 canvasbacks early last week.

Pheasant hunters are reporting very good success on the stocked state hunting grounds. Woodcock numbers also increased in many locations this week, as their migration seems to be peaking.

Trapping has begun and trappers are reporting increased numbers of raccoon and muskrat, with some potholes and marshes that were empty several years ago due to the drought showing muskrat houses again.

With all the hunting and trapping activity, fishing has been slower, but some very good reports are coming in from anglers who are still fishing. Water temperatures have now dropped into the low 50s and upper 40s on northern lakes, and many lakes either have or are turning over. Musky anglers have continued to provide most of the fishing pressure, with nearly all having switched to live suckers now. Some very good crappie and bluegill action is also being reported on the backwaters of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers.

Water flows on Lake Michigan tributaries have been kept pretty constant with some timely rains, but levels have now been dropping. This has helped to extend the fish run through October. Salmon were still being reported in most tributaries this week, but numbers have been declining. Egg collection at spawning facilities is coming to a close, after a very successful year.
DNR fish crews netting sturgeon on the Wisconsin River below the Prairie du Sac Dam this week pulled in a 46-and-a-half pound bighead carp, an invasive fish. This is the second bighead carp documented on the Lower Wisconsin River. Bighead carp are a concern because they eat plankton and can potentially decrease populations of native fish and mussels.

Common Loon migration has begun with birds moving into the bigger lakes in Southern Wisconsin and onto Lake Michigan to stage before they leave for the Gulf Coast for the winter. People can follow the loon migration online at the USGS Loon website (exit DNR).

Tamaracks, the only conifer in Wisconsin to turn color and drop leaves, are now bright gold across northern and central Wisconsin, and a second burst of fall color has arrived in southern Wisconsin this week, with trees that were green last week turning red/rust color, and many yellow leaves still holding on.

DNR Outdoor Report in Portable Document Format (Requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®)

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- If there’s one game animal that could use some additional attention in Pennsylvania, it’s squirrels. Pennsylvania Game Commission field officers report squirrel populations are strong in most areas of the state.

Gray squirrels continue to be found across Pennsylvania in sizable numbers, and the black-phase gray squirrel isn’t hard to find north of Interstate-80 and east of the Ohio line all the way into the state’s north/central counties.

Fox squirrels also are becoming increasingly available as they continue to push east of the Allegheny Front and north through Pennsylvania’s ridges and valleys. Fox squirrels can be found as far east as the Susquehanna River.

Squirrel populations have been enjoying the benefits of declining hunting pressure and the maturation of habitat in the state for some time. These factors have spurred fox squirrel range expansion and recovery.

Squirrels Abound In Pennsylvania’s Forests And Woodlots

“Gray squirrels are our most abundant game species and are found throughout Pennsylvania,” said Tom Hardisky, Pennsylvania Game Commission biologist. “Look for mast-producing trees such as walnut, butternut, oak and hickory when searching for the best hunting areas. In agricultural areas, woodlots in the vicinity of standing cornfields often support large numbers of squirrels. They can be found throughout deep woods areas. The black squirrel is actually a color phase of the gray squirrel. In general, black squirrels can be found in the northern half of Pennsylvania. Squirrels with this black color variation often occur in local concentrations scattered about their northern Pennsylvania range.

“Fox squirrels are up to 50 percent larger than gray squirrels and weigh about two pounds,” Hardisky explained.

“Fox squirrels have been expanding their range eastward in recent years and now inhabit much of the western half of Pennsylvania. They prefer more open areas than gray squirrels and are not found in the deep woods. Fox squirrels favor open fields and pastures with large trees nearby. Small woodlots and forest edges are typical fox squirrel haunts. Although some gray squirrels may possess orange coloration along their sides and tails, fox and gray squirrels do not interbreed, nor do gray and red squirrels. Each squirrel species has some color variation, even within local populations. However, this color variation largely results from genetic differences. Local diet, habitat, and climate differences also may contribute to color variation.”

When hunting squirrels, look for large-trunked trees near a food source. Larger trees offer better protection from predators and are favorite den sites. Gray squirrels are most active during the early morning and evening, while fox squirrels often travel during mid-day.

Squirrel season opens on Oct. 15, and runs through Nov. 26. The season reopens on Dec. 12-23, and Dec. 26-Feb. 25. The daily limit is six.

Pennsylvania’s youth squirrel hunt opened on Oct. 8, and closes today, Oct. 14. The season open to youths 12 to 16 years of age who have successfully completed a Hunter-Trapper Education course and are properly accompanied by an adult. A hunting license is not required to participate.

Hunters also are reminded that squirrels are listed as a game animal that can be pursued by youngsters participating in the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, which permits those under the age of 12 to hunt under the guidance of a mentor.

Squirrel hunters are required to wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing, visible 360 degrees, at all times.

Average Grouse Hunting Expected Over Most Of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- This year’s erratic weather patterns may have created a mixed bag for nesting and brood-rearing grouse, and Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists expect ruffed grouse hunting to be average to slightly below average for the nearly 100,000 hunters who annually pursue these challenging game birds.

“Cool wet springtime conditions tend to decrease early brood survival for grouse, while hot dry summer conditions are generally beneficial,” said Lisa Williams, Game Commission grouse and woodcock biologist.

“With Pennsylvania experiencing both of those extremes in 2011, it’s hard to predict how this year’s weather might impact grouse populations in your favorite coverts. While Game Commission field staff report fewer summer grouse sightings than last year at a statewide level, they saw fantastic grouse numbers in areas of good habitat.”

The opening day of the state’s three-part grouse season is Saturday, Oct. 15, and runs through Nov. 26. The season reopens Dec. 12 to 23, and then again from Dec. 26 to Jan. 28. Participating hunters must have a valid Pennsylvania hunting license and follow the regulations that govern this rugged sport of brush-busting and mountain-scampering. Wherever you hunt grouse, there is ample reason to carve out some time afield this season. Just be sure to take time to locate high-quality coverts that provide a good mix of food and cover.

“Losses of young forest habitat over the last several decades have been bad news for grouse, woodcock, and other species that rely on these habitats. Our forests are getting older, and that’s a negative for grouse,” said Ian Gregg, Game Commission Game Bird Section supervisor. “The good news is that the Game Commission is taking an active approach to improving the situation for grouse and other species that rely on young forests. We now have in place both Grouse and Woodcock Management Plans that call for aggressive management of young forest habitats. This work will benefit multiple species and the Plans have received an overwhelmingly positive response from the public and our conservation partners. They will serve as the roadmaps as we set out to improve the situation for these popular game birds.”

Pennsylvania’s state bird is holding its own in areas of suitable habitat, and in some areas, thriving. Statewide, cooperating hunters flushed an average rate of 1.32 flushes per hour during the 2010-11 season. This was a decrease from the 2009-10 rate of 1.4 flushes per hour and the long term (45-year) average of 1.41 flushes per hour. Embedded in those statewide averages, however, are some truly-impressive hunting experiences. One hunter looking back on 2010-11 stated, “This is the season we’ll be talking about twenty years from now – 20 flushes in 61 minutes on one day!”

Williams noted that Pennsylvania consistently maintains the highest flush rates among nearby states such as Kentucky, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia.

“Grouse flush trends in 2010-11 in most of our neighboring states mirrored those in Pennsylvania; stable to slightly lower,” Williams said. “And, for the sixth year in a row, Pennsylvania flush rates have exceeded those of all neighboring states. This marks the 13th time in the last 16 years that Pennsylvania has had the highest flush rates among all central Appalachian states.”

Grouse hunting remains a popular fall pursuit in Pennsylvania. According to the agency’s Game Take Survey, an estimated 91,000 hunters took 66,000 grouse during the 2010-11 seasons, during 414,500 hunting days. Though fewer than in the past, grouse hunters remain passionate about their quarry, and the grouse remains the second-most popular game bird in the Commonwealth – behind the wild turkey – in terms of numbers of hunters. Yet grouse hunter numbers remain well below those of the mid-1980s when Pennsylvania had more than 400,000 hunters pursuing the thunderbird.

“Several hunters have told me that they can hunt all day and not see another grouse hunter,” says Williams. “For sportsmen and women seeking a season with a little more ‘elbow room’ yet plenty of challenge, you might want to consider grouse hunting.”

The Game Commission conducts a Summer Sighting Survey in which Game Commission foresters and surveyors record numbers of broods and individual grouse seen while working in the woods during June, July and August. Trends in hunters’ fall flush rates follow those of the summer survey about 80 percent of the time, so this information is used to develop the season forecast.

“Sightings during the summer of 2011 were down about seven percent from last year and brood sightings were particularly ‘off’ this year compared to last year, so I’m forecasting an average to slightly below average grouse season in 2010-11,” Williams said. “This makes it particularly important to understand the characteristics of good grouse habitat, locate high-quality coverts, and focus your efforts there.”

Fall flushing rate information is reported by participants of the Game Commission’s Grouse Cooperator Survey, and provides a way to monitor grouse population trends in good habitat. Hunters interested in participating in the Grouse Cooperator Survey are asked to write to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management, Attn: Grouse Cooperator Survey, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797. New Cooperators will receive a copy of the annual newsletter provided to all survey participants and all forms needed for the upcoming season.

“Though Cooperator information is presented as state or region averages, it is important to remember that statewide trends do not apply equally throughout Pennsylvania,” Williams emphasized.

She groups Pennsylvania regions into three categories, as far as grouse hunting prospects:

• 1) Northwest and Northcentral: good to excellent. These regions are consistently the top two in the state and have maintained grouse flush rates at or above their long-term averages in recent years. The rate of timber harvest over the next few decades in this part of Pennsylvania may put enough land into good grouse cover that the “good old days” are just ahead. The six contiguous counties of Warren, Forest, McKean, Potter, Elk, and Cameron typically have the highest flush rates in the state and offer plenty of acreage in public and open-access private lands for hunters looking for new coverts.
• 2) Southwest, Southcentral and Northeast: fair. These regions maintain intermediate flush rates and habitat conditions with somewhat less extensive overall forest cover and lower rates of active forest management. From 2009-2010 to 2010-2011, flush rates decreased in each of these regions. Still, some hunters experience good success and PGC field crews reported abundant flushes in Northeast hotpots.
• 3) Southeast: fair in areas north of the Blue Mountain and poor south of it. Large parcels of forest habitat in southeastern Pennsylvania were already scarce and this region has lost early successional habitat at a rate even more rapid than the rest of the state. Consequently, grouse hunting opportunities in the agricultural and urban-dominated landscapes south of the Blue Mountain are extremely limited. Again, locating high-quality habitat is key, and may pay dividends; although flush rates in this region remain well below the statewide average, they were up last year by 70 percent over the 2009-10 season.

Grouse hunters are reminded to wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing on the head, chest and back combined at all times; limit hunting parties to no more than six individuals; and plug shotguns to three-shell capacity (magazine and chamber combined).

Pheasant Counts Decline From Historic Highs But Still Good

South Dakota Fish, Game & Parks

PIERRE, S.D. --(Ammoland.com)- Pheasant brood counts indicate that pheasant numbers in South Dakota have returned to levels below the remarkable high counts of the past few years.

However, the pheasant population in the main part of the state’s pheasant range will still provide quality hunting opportunities.

From 2003 through 2010, the statewide pheasant-per-mile index was at levels not seen in the previous 40 years.

The index this year is 46 percent lower than the 2010 index and 41 percent lower than the average of the past 10 years.

“We observed abnormally high mortality of hen pheasants during the brutal winter of 2010-11,” explained Jeff Vonk, Secretary of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, “The loss of that reproductive potential inhibited the ability of our pheasant population to rebound to the record levels that we have enjoyed in recent years.”

Declines in the counts were consistent across the state and most pronounced in eastern South Dakota, where winter’s grip was tightest and grassland nesting habitat is diminished.

“We knew this day was coming when important pheasant habitats provided by the cover in Conservation Reserve Program fields were lost,” Vonk said.

CRP enrollments in the state are currently at 1.17 million acres, down from 1.56 million acres in 2007. The reduction equates to over 600 square miles of grassland habitat.

“On the other hand, we were pleasantly surprised how well pheasants responded in central South Dakota, where abundant moisture from winter snow and spring rain allowed grasslands to flourish and provide the essential habitat for excellent pheasant production,” Vonk said.

The counts in the main pheasant range are similar to or higher than the counts in 2002 when hunters bagged 1.2 million pheasants. Pheasant hunters harvested 1.8 million pheasants in 2010.

“All things considered, pheasant numbers in much of the traditional pheasant range of the state are still good despite the declines in the counts,” Vonk said.

“Much of South Dakota will continue to provide a premier opportunity to hunt pheasants.”

The complete 2011 Pheasant Brood Survey Report, including local survey results for different areas of the state, can be found online at http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/small-game/pheasant-outlook.aspx

Elk Hunt Forecast 2011

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Winterkill, habitat problems and wolves have driven elk numbers down in some areas.

But many of America’s roughly 800,000 elk hunters have reason to be optimistic about upcoming seasons, based on hunt forecasts compiled by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

(Note: The following data, compiled from state and provincial wildlife agencies, reflect biologists’ best estimates of elk populations. Each year, animal rights activists blatantly misrepresent these data to prop up their argument for keeping wolves perpetually on the Endangered Species List. It’s a fact that where wolves are concentrated, elk herds are being impacted. Calf survival rates in certain areas are too low to sustain herds for the future. Wolves must be managed, same as elk. In spite of the misuse, RMEF believes these data are valuable to hunters and will continue to provide them.)

Following are condensed forecasts for 29 states and provinces. See full-length versions at www.rmef.org/hunting/features. For even more detailed coverage, see the Sept./Oct. 2011 edition of the RMEF member magazine, Bugle. To join, call 800-CALL ELK.

RMEF members have now helped to conserve or enhance 5.9 million acres of habitat for elk and other wildlife.

In the forecast intro, Bugle Hunting Editor P.J. DelHomme notes, “When RMEF launched in 1984, there were 550,000 elk in North America. Fifteen states and four provinces had elk hunts. Today almost 1.2 million wild elk roam the continent and 23 states and six provinces are holding elk hunts. There’s also been a huge surge of bulls entering the record books, with world records for Roosevelt’s, tules and non-typical Rocky Mountain elk all falling in the past decade.”

This may indeed be the Golden Era of elk hunting. Good luck this autumn!

Alaska
Elk Population: Etolin (GMU 3) 300-400, Kodiak Archipelago (GMU N/A
Bull/Cow Ratio: GMU 3 19/100
Nonresidents: $85 license, $300 elk permit
Hunter Success: GMU 3 13 percent, GMU 8 N/A
Highlights: Most elk in GMU 3 reside within the formidable South Etolin Island Wilderness on Etolin Island, where 48 hunters braved the bush to kill six bulls last season. Calf recruitment is good at 51 calves to every 100 cows. Numbers for GMU 8 on the Kodiak Archipelago were not available at press time, but the area has yielded some impressive Roosevelt’s bulls in the past few years. Visit www.wildlife.alaska.gov.

Alberta
Elk Population: 33,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: N/A
Nonresidents: $255, must hire a guide
Hunter Success: N/A
Highlights: Elk populations in the foothills of the Rockies, especially west of Rocky Mountain House, this year felt the combined impact of months of deep snow and predation by wolves, mountain lions and grizzlies. However, range is expanding as elk pioneer new territory to the south and east, with some respectable bulls among them. Meat hunters should look at agricultural zones where liberal permits for cows are available. Outfitters receive roughly 10 percent of the draw tags. Visit www.srd.alberta.ca.

Arizona
Elk Population: 25,000-35,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 35/100
Nonresidents: $151 license (nonrefundable) plus $595 elk permit
Hunter Success: 31 percent general, 39 percent muzzleloader, 24 percent archery
Highlights: The Wallow fire burned over 520,000 acres in Units 1 and 27 and many elk have been displaced to other areas. A silver lining? These units could see even more monster bulls in coming years if forage responds as it did following the massive Rodeo-Chediski fire in 2002. A mild winter meant low stress on elk but also led to a dry spring–hence the massive wildfires. Arizona Game and Fish Department’s “Hunt Arizona” offers a great resource on harvest data, drawing odds and hunting pressure. Visit www.azgfd.gov.

Arkansas
Elk Population: 440
Bull/Cow Ratio: 40/100
Nonresidents: Auction and landowner tags
Hunter Success: 63 percent
Highlights: Elk permits are available to landowners in a five-county area, with 23 permits issued under a quota system. Anyone who owns property in those counties, whether or not they are a resident, qualifies for the drawing. Nonresidents who buy a lifetime license also are eligible for the drawing. Public land hunters will find elk using an increasing number and quality of managed forage openings on the Ozark National Forest and Gene Rush WMA. Visit www.agfc.com.

British Columbia
Elk Population: 63,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 25-30/100
Nonresidents: $180 license plus $250 elk permit, must hire a guide
Hunter Success: N/A
Highlights: Rocky Mountain elk herds are thriving, with the agricultural zones in the Peace River region a great bet. For a backcountry experience, look to the Omineca region in north-central BC. If you’ve always dreamed of hunting a trophy Roosevelt’s bull, the stars are aligned for a great season. No limits or quotas have changed since last season, and limited-entry tags are still a tough draw at roughly 35/1. Outfitters are allotted a percentage of those tags and you can bypass the long odds by booking a hunt. The $430 cost for a license and permit is a relative bargain. Visit www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw.

California
Elk Population: 11,400 (1,500 Rocky Mountain, 6,000 Roosevelt’s, 3,900 tule)
Bull/Cow Ratios: 20/100 to 90/100
Nonresidents: $151 license (nonrefundable to enter drawing) plus $1,200 elk permit
Hunter Success: 75 percent
Highlights: The West’s best hunter success rates and world-class bulls of all three sub-species await those who beat tag lottery odds ranging from 100/1 to 1,000/1. This could be the year a tule world record is broken. The largest brutes are in the East Park Reservoir and Grizzly Island units. Good spring rains should have racks in prime shape. For a backcountry experience, try Marble Mountain Wilderness, which offers 35 bull tags, 10 antlerless and 5 late-season muzzleloader/archery either-sex tags. Everyone has a shot here, as 10 of those tags (nine bull and one cow) are randomly drawn while the other 30 are weighted for preference points. Visit www.dfg.ca.gov.

Colorado
Elk Population: 283,400
Bull/Cow Ratio: 32/100
Nonresidents: $354 cow, $554 any elk
Hunter Success: 22 percent
Highlights: Colorado is an ideal destination with more than 23 million acres of public land, almost twice as many elk as any other state, over-the-counter bull tags (OTC), and an informative call-center. Rifle tags for bulls in the 2nd and 3rd season are unlimited and sold at outlets all over the state. Leftover draw tags went on sale August 9 and some may still be available. OTC rifle tags for cows are limited, but OTC antlerless archery tags are wide open in the northwest and southeast corners. The past few years have been moist with heavy snows and wet springs, which have kept forage lush and antler growth robust. Visit www.wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting.

Idaho
Elk Population: 103,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 23/100
Nonresidents: $155 license, $417 elk tag
Hunter Success: 19 percent
Highlights: The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is being hammered by wolf predation exacerbated by a long slide in forage quality. Elk populations are far below management objectives in the Lolo and Selway zones and slightly below objectives in the Sawtooth zone. Elk and hunting aren’t what they used to be in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, either. Statewide, elk tag sales fell from 92,565 in 2008 to 84,765 in 2010–a decline of about 8 percent. But not all the news from Idaho is bad. Populations at or above objectives in 20 of 29 elk hunt zones, and the statewide population actually broke a long plummet and grew by 2,000 animals from last year. Hunters should look to the southern and western portions of the state, as well as areas like the Owyhee-South Hills Zone, where hunters can now chase antlerless elk August through December. Visit www.fishandgame.idaho.gov.

Kansas
Elk Population: 250-275
Bull/Cow Ratio: 40/100
Nonresidents: Tenant permits and one Commissioner’s Permit, usually sold at auction
Hunter Success: 36 percent
Highlights: This past season was a tough one for Kansas elk hunters. On Fort Riley, where most of the state’s elk roam, hunters had their second-lowest success rate since the hunt began there in 1987. This year, 10 either-sex and 15 antlerless tags are available. Mammoth bulls exist but don’t come easily. The state’s other main elk herd roams the opposite corner far to the southwest in the Cimarron National Grasslands. The Grasslands themselves are closed to hunting, but over-the-counter unlimited permits are available for surrounding private lands. Visit www.kdwp.state.ks.us.

Kentucky
Elk Population: 10,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 35-40/100
Nonresidents: $10 to apply, $130 license, $365 elk permit
Hunter Success: 65 percent
Highlights: The toughest part here is beating the odds in the drawing. This year, 61,500 applicants vied for 800 elk hunting permits, with 80 permits reserved for the nearly 19,000 nonresidents who applied. But elk look to be plentiful. A calf recruitment ratio of roughly 85/100 means nearly 2,000 more elk hit the ground each year. Also, hunting success was down last year as the acorn crop was big and the elk stayed in the hardwoods and out of the open, plus ice and snowstorms coincided with key weekends. This year, managers have dropped the 4-point or better antler restriction. Visit www.fw.ky.gov.

Manitoba
Elk Population: 6,100
Bull/Cow Ratio: 45/100
Residents only
Hunter Success: 20-60 percent rifle, 5-10 percent archery
Highlights: You have to live in the province to draw an elk permit, and they’re avidly sought. Some very large bulls roam this country. The Duck Mountain, Interlake and Porcupine regions are all consistent trophy producers. The province has numerous elk seasons running from late August through December. Visit www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife/hunting/.

Michigan
Elk Population: 780
Bull/Cow Ratio: 60/100
Residents only
Hunter Success: 70-90 percent
Highlights: Managers have the elk population where they want it and are in maintenance mode, which explains why available elk permits dropped by roughly 30 percent. Applications this year were down slightly, with 35,000 people vying for 55 any-elk and 100 antlerless tags. Improving timber management and habitat on public land should mean more elk hunting opportunity in the future. Visit www.michigan.gov/dnrhunting.

Minnesota
Elk Population: 175
Bull/Cow Ratio: 50/100
Residents only
Hunter Success: 72 percent
Highlights: Less than 1,000 hunters applied in 2010 for the dozen once-in-a-lifetime elk tags available (at $250 each). But a widely publicized monster bull scoring 458-4/8 was found in Minnesota last year, and word got out that this state can grow massive trophies. No word yet on whether applications rose. The state has two herds. Managers counted 35-40 elk in the Grygla herd, which is a couple more than what the management plan calls for, and 141 elk in the “border herd.” Visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/elk.

Montana
Elk Population: 150,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 5-25/100
Nonresidents: $812
Hunter Success: 16 percent
Highlights: The biggest news for nonresidents is the 37 percent jump in the price of an elk permit. A ballot initiative last November abolished 5,500 outfitter-sponsored licenses and forced all nonresident hunters into the drawing. For those who drew a bull tag in the Bear Paws or Big Snowies, the higher fees could be money well spent, as the bulls there are growing old and big. Winter was tough in parts of central and eastern Montana, but elk in the legendary Missouri River Breaks came through fine. Hunters would be smart to look at Region 3, which yields almost 50 percent of the annual elk harvest, including some big bulls. Wolves have taken a brutal toll on some herds. In the Danaher Basin of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, cow/calf ratios are just 9/100, down from a long-term average of 24/100. Herds in the West Fork of the Bitterroot and the lower Clark Fork watershed are in steep decline, and the famed northern Yellowstone herd continues to plummet. Visit www.fwp.mt.gov.

Nebraska
Elk Population: 2,300
Bull/Cow Ratio: 50/50
Residents only
Hunter Success: 61 percent
Highlights: Landowners are allotted one-third of all elk tags, and this year, both landowners and the general public will have the best opportunity in a decade with 294 tags, up 22 from last year. For public-land hunters, the rugged Pine Ridge in the northern panhandle offers good odds as three units there hold more than half the state’s elk herd, two-thirds of the total permit allocation and more than 100,000 acres of public land.
Visit www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting.

Nevada
Elk Population: 13,500
Bull/Cow Ratio: 32/100
Nonresidents: $142 license plus $1,200 tag
Hunter Success: 47 percent
Highlights: Through the drawing, an elk tag costs well over a grand, and that’s a steal compared to the 89 private landowner tags that sold for more than $7,800 on average last year. But 66 percent of the bulls killed last year were six-points or better, many of them jaw-droppers. Nevada’s herd has grown dramatically, swelling by 10 percent this year alone. That’s great news for residents who get 4,600 tags–a good thousand more than last year. Nonresidents are allotted 133 and odds of drawing one were 1/44 in 2009. Visit www.ndow.org/hunt.

New Mexico
Elk Population: 75,000-95,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 40-45/100
Nonresidents: $555 standard bull, $780 quality bull
Hunter Success: 33 percent
Highlights: A mild winter and expected monsoons should have elk in top shape this fall. The state is split roughly into 30 percent “quality” units (big bulls, small odds) and 70 percent “opportunity” units. Hunters looking for plenty of opportunity should focus on the north-central units including Unit 36 where elk herds continue to grow and managers have issued more permits. For last-minute nonresident hunters with cash to spend, landowner tags are your ticket. Hunters will have a little more time to get their bull this year, with shooting hours expanded to 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset. Visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

North Dakota
Elk Population: 1,200
Bull/Cow Ratio: N/A
Nonresidents: One raffle tag available
Hunter Success: 49 percent
Highlights: For the past few years, North Dakota has had far more elk than managers wanted. That changed last fall and winter as hunters in Theodore Roosevelt National Park culled 406 elk out of an estimated 950. Managers still hope to get numbers under 400 and another shoot is likely this year. Outside of the park, elk can be found in the northeast corner and along the west-central border, with estimated numbers at around 450. Other small herds are scattered in pockets throughout the state. This year, managers will issue 500 tags–355 any-sex and 145 antlerless tags. Visit www.gf.nd.gov/hunting.

Oklahoma
Elk Population: 2,200
Bull/Cow Ratio: N/A
Nonresidents: $306
Hunter Success: N/A
Highlights: Only 85 public-land permits were available this year, down from 330 last year. The largest herd and best opportunity is on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. A few small herds are scattered in the northeast and southeast corners of the state with one permit available for those areas. Residents looking to pull one of these once-in-a-lifetime tags have less than a 1 percent chance. But there is no quota on private-land elk and hunting access can be had for a fee. Visit www.wildlifedepartment.com.

Ontario
Elk Population: 700
Bull/Cow Ratio: 30/100
Residents only
Hunter Success: N/A
Highlights: Thirteen years after RMEF helped reintroduce elk to Ontario, the province will hold its first modern elk hunt this year. Between 300-775 elk reside in the Bancroft-North Hastings area in the southern end of the province where the hunt will take place. Lucky hunters now hold 24 bull tags and 46 cow tags for the late-September hunt. Visit www.ontario.ca/hunting.

Oregon
Elk Population: 125,000 (65,000 Rocky Mountain, 60,000 Roosevelt’s)
Bull/Cow Ratio: 19/100 Rocky Mountain, 13/100 Roosevelt’s
Nonresidents: $141 license, $501 tag
Hunter Success: 16 percent Rocky Mountain, 12 percent Roosevelt’s
Highlights: Much of eastern Oregon saw record snowfall in the mountains, and biologists are hopeful that elk populations came out unscathed. Bowhunters can prowl most of the east side with only a general tag. For rifle hunters, nearly everything east of the Cascades is permit-only, save for a second-season rifle hunt in a few units of the northeast. Roosevelt’s elk tags are still over-the-counter (except for the far northwest and southwest corners), herds are strong and there are some beasts on the hoof. This season, hunters 17 and under are required to wear a hunter orange hat or vest when hunting any big game with any firearm. Visit www.dfw.state.or.us.

Pennsylvania
Elk Population: 750
Bull/Cow ratio: 28/100
Nonresidents: $101 license, $250 elk tag
Hunter success: 80 percent
Highlights: It’s been reported before and here it is again: Pennsylvania could produce a bull this year that breaks not only state but also world records. Along with antler size, elk populations and hunter opportunity are growing. With the herd up 7 percent over last year, the state is offering 10 more antlerless tags for a total of 18 bull permits and 38 antlerless. Odds for drawing remain slim (around 1/1000), but if you do pull the coveted tag, the state boasts the highest success rate in North America. And more than half of the elk live on over a million acres of public land. Visit www.pgc.state.pa.us.

Saskatchewan
Elk Population: 16,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 20/100
Residents only
Hunter Success: 23 percent
Highlights: It was a tough winter across much of the province, and the central and northeast areas saw high deer mortality and some elk mortality. Near the town of Hudson Bay, though, where the prairie meets the forest, managers have implemented a bulls-only season, followed by an either-sex season–all of which can be had with over-the-counter tags. In the south, elk populations are on the rise and each year seems to bring new hunting opportunities. New in 2011 are antlerless seasons in zones 21, north of Regina, and 52, south of Prince Albert. Visit www.environment.gov.sk.ca/hunting.

South Dakota
Elk Population: 3,200
Bull/Cow Ratio: 34/100
Residents only
Hunter Success: 53 percent
Highlights: There are several small prairie herds scattered across the state, but managers want to see the Black Hills herd grow to roughly 4,000. They aim to increase hunter opportunity in the long term, which means decreased hunter opportunity in the short term. Managers cut any-elk rifle tags by 25 to 470. Antlerless tags took an even bigger hit, dropping from 570 to 395. Visit www.sdgfp.info/wildlife/hunting.

Tennessee
Elk Population: 300-400
Bull/Cow Ratio: N/A
Nonresidents: 1 permit to nonresidents and 1 auction tag
Hunter Success: 60 percent
Highlights: Tennessee’s elk population is holding steady but the ultimate goal is a herd of 2,000 animals. Managers are working to expand and improve elk range while keeping hunt permits conservative. Only four permits are available for residents. Last year, two of those hunters failed to fill their tags. Visit www.state.tn.us/twra/elkmain.html.

Utah
Elk Population: 72,500
Bull/Cow Ratio: N/A
Nonresidents: $80 license plus $280 to $1,500 permit
Hunter Success: 17 percent
Highlights: Utah has produced a staggering number of record-book bulls over the past decade. The state’s largest herds are found in the Wasatch, Plateau and Fish Lake units, which should produce some serious antler growth this year on the heels of a particularly wet spring. The fact that the overall population continues to grow as well is testament to good management. The state issued 1,200 more cow tags and 1,250 more spike permits this fall. Odds are still tough for limited-entry tags. Nonresidents get 10 percent of available rifle tags. Visit www.wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/biggame.

Washington
Elk Population: 55,000-60,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 12-20/100
Nonresidents: $434 (will increase to $497 before season starts)
Hunter Success: 8 percent general, 39 percent for special limited-entry permits
Highlights: The state’s elk population is divided about evenly between Roosevelt’s in the west and Rocky Mountain elk to the east. In the famous Blue Mountains of southeast Washington, resident and nonresident hunters alike will find over-the-counter spike tags readily available. Highly-prized permits for branch-antlered bulls will be far tougher to come by. The Yakima herd has improved and this year the area has increased antlerless permits. In the Mount St. Helens area, managers are still trying to decrease herd numbers with more special permits for antlerless elk. Both nonresident and resident hunters should take note that elk tag fees will jump nearly 15 percent effective September 1 to help cover budget shortfalls. Visit www.wdfw.wa.gov/hunting.

Wyoming
Elk Population: 120,000
Bull/Cow Ratio: 23/100
Nonresidents: $591 permit, $302 cow-calf permit, $1,071 special permit
Hunter Success: 44 percent
Highlights: Last year, hunters harvested 25,600 elk, up from the five-year average of 21,000. Biologists say mature bulls continue to thrive in most hunting units and the statewide population remains above management objectives. The dark exception is the state’s northwest corner. Elk numbers in the Clark’s Fork and Cody herds are still down due to predation and poor habitat. The Jackson herd that summers in Yellowstone is well off the mark, too, and managers are being conservative on tags. Roughly half the hunting units just outside the park have set quotas, one is closed and rest are limited to antlered elk only. Visit www.gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/hunting.

Yukon Territory
Elk Population: 250-300
Bull/Cow Ratio: 24/100
Residents only
Hunter Success: 52 percent
Highlights: With two distinct herds, Takhini and Braeburn, the territory held its first elk hunt in a quarter-century in 2009, and followed it with a second hunt last year. Those hunts were overwhelmingly successful–too successful. Hunters had a 73 percent success rate on bulls and a 31 percent success rate on cows. So this year managers are offering cow-only permits to lighten the pressure on bulls while reducing overall herd numbers down to management objectives. The target bull/cow ratio for the area is 50/100. Visit www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.9 million acres–a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

Delta Waterfowl

Bismarck, ND --(Ammoland.com)- Duck hunters will find plenty to cheer about in the annual breeding population and habitat survey, which was released earlier today.

Conducted each May by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, this year’s survey reveals the second-highest pond count and a record 45.6 million ducks, the most since the survey was started in 1955. Blue-winged teal, shovelers and redheads soared to record levels, and if that’s not enough, mallard, pintail, canvasback and gadwall numbers rose substantially from 2010.

But not all is well across the U.S. and Canadian prairies.

While water is great for ducks, excessive snowpack and heavy spring rains produced extreme flooding across much of the prairie breeding grounds. From the Canadian prairies to the Dakotas and eastern Montana, tens of thousands of homeowners have been displaced by swollen rivers, millions of acres of cropland remain unplanted and hundreds of miles of roads are under water.

2011 Duck Numbers“Our hearts go out to all those affected by flooding this spring,” says Delta President Rob Olson.“This has been an indescribable hardship for the people living in the Prairie Pothole Region.”

The closely watched May ponds total, the second-highest ever, doesn’t do justice to the unprecedented flooding still terrorizing residents of the breeding grounds. Across the U.S. side of the region, the last three years have been the wettest since pond counts began. The 3.2 million ponds inventoried in the U.S. this spring were the most on record.

The 4.9 million ponds in prairie Canada were 43 percent more than the long-term average, which dates back to 1955, and brings the total pond count across the traditional survey area to 8.1 million, second only to the 8.3 million recorded in 1974.

Not surprisingly, all that water attracted a record number of ducks. The 12.5 million breeding ducks that settled in the eastern half of the Dakotas was the most ever, and was 172 percent above average.

The Canadian prairies got drenched this year and, accordingly, attracted significantly more ducks than last year: Alberta saw a 60 percent jump in pond numbers and 66 percent more ducks, Manitoba was 72 percent wetter with 41 percent more ducks and Saskatchewan’s pond count rose 18 percent and attracted 56 percent more ducks.

Olson was quick to point out that wet conditions don’t create more ducks, they just attract birds that on dry years would settle elsewhere. “The bush country is empty because all the birds are having a party on the prairies,” he says.

Species reaching all-time highs include blue-winged teal at a whopping 8.9 million, northern shovelers at 4.6 million and redheads with 1.4 million. Mallards improved to 9.2 million; pintails jumped to 4.4 million, the highest level since 1980; gadwalls rose to 3.3 million; canvasbacks climbed to 692,000, and scaup improved slightly to 4.3 million.

Dr. Frank Rohwer, Delta Waterfowl’s scientific director, says the uninterrupted wet cycle that began in the U.S. in 1994 is only part of the reason ducks numbers have skyrocketed in recent years, citing millions of acres of dense nesting cover provided by the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and an outbreak of mange that has kept fox numbers in check as other important factors.

“The eastern Dakotas have become the Mecca for prairie ducks,” says Rohwer, a Louisiana State University professor who admits he’s excited about the coming hunting season. “Pintails have reversed their long-term decline, driven largely by very high counts in the eastern Dakotas. Blue-winged teal are off the charts–yikes. Shovelers are at an all-time high and gadwalls and mallards are up.”

To demonstrate his point about productivity in the U.S., Dr. Rohwer did some back-of-the-envelope calculations based on the survey results. “I added up the number of mallards, gadwalls and blue-winged teal for each region and divided them by the pond counts to get a pairs-per-pond figure,” he says. [Continued...]

“The eastern Dakotas had 3.7 pairs per pond, while southern Saskatchewan had just 1.78. Southern Manitoba and Alberta were slightly lower than Saskatchewan.”

Rohwer’s calculations explain why flooding isn’t the only reason for long faces on the breeding grounds: Waterfowl managers are increasingly concerned about the long-term ability of the U.S. prairies to produce ducks in light of budget cuts being considered by Congress. If approved, those cuts could put CRP and numerous other conservation programs responsible for this year’s eye-popping numbers at risk.

“Mother Nature has dealt the pothole region a winning hand with all this water,” says Delta Senior Vice President John Devney. “When the prairies get this wet, it sets off a chain reaction of positive outcomes–an abundance of small wetlands attracts more ducks to prime breeding areas, and those ducks are more inclined to re-nest and brood survival increases. Re-nesting is important because it offsets predation.

“But the U.S. prairies won’t stay wet forever, and if we continue to lose CRP, native grasslands and wetlands, duck numbers could go down even faster and more dramatically than they’ve come up in recent years. Worse, without adequate nesting cover, populations will be slower to recover.”

The importance of CRP on the U.S. side of the “duck factory” becomes more apparent with each passing breeding season.

For the third year in a row, more pintails settled in the eastern Dakotas (1.5 million) than in prairie Saskatchewan (1.1 million). Pintail numbers in the eastern Dakotas were a whopping 209 percent higher than average.

Blue-winged teal numbers were knock-your-socks-off good. The 8.9 million blue-wings were the most ever, and 61 percent of those ducks set up housekeeping on the U.S. side of the region–179 percent more than the norm.

Redheads have also taken advantage of nesting conditions in the U.S. The 1.4 million breeders recorded this year set yet another record, and 654,000 of them–241 percent more than average–settled in the U.S.

Northern shovelers also set a record at 4.6 million, 98 percent higher than the long-term average. Shoveler numbers actually dropped across the eastern Dakotas, but rose dramatically in the prairie provinces and the western Dakotas.

The mallard breeding population rose less than some observers expected to a very respectable 9.2 million, with 3.4 million of those in the U.S. Surveyors counted 18 percent more canvasbacks than a year ago, gadwalls were the third highest ever and scaup climbed to the highest level since 1999, which is still 15 percent below average.

Species of concern are the American wigeon, which fell 14 percent from last year to 2.1 million and is now 20 percent below average, and green-winged teal, off 17 percent to 2.9 million but still 47 percent higher than average. “High duck numbers bode well for good production and a strong fall flight,” Devney says.

About:
Delta Waterfowl provides knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting. Visit: www.deltawaterfowl.org

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists are seeking assistance from residents in a regional monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data this summer.

This monitoring is especially important due to the moralities in bat populations throughout the northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania, being caused by White-Nose Syndrome (WNS).

“WNS primarily kills during the winter, but the true impact of WNS on bat populations cannot be determined using estimates from winter hibernacula alone,” said Calvin Butchkoski, Game Commission wildlife biologist.

“Pennsylvanians can help us more fully gauge the impact of WNS on the landscape by hosting a bat count this summer. We are especially urging people who have ever conducted a bat count for the Game Commission in the past to redo a count this year.”

To obtain applications and information on how to participate, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on “Wildlife” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, scroll down and choose “Pennsylvania Bats” in the Mammal section, and then click on “Appalachian Bat Count” in the Reference listing. Forms on the website guide interested participants through the steps of timing, conducting a survey and submitting their findings to the Game Commission. Scout groups, 4-H clubs, local environmental organizations, and individual homeowners can all participate in this important effort.

“Pennsylvania’s two most common bat species, the little brown bat and the big brown bat, use buildings as their summer roosts,” Butchkoski said. “Abandoned houses, barns, church steeples – and even currently-occupied structures – can provide a summer home to female bats and their young.

“Monitoring these ‘maternity colonies’ can give biologists a good idea of how bat populations in an area are doing from year to year. With the occurrence of WNS in Pennsylvania this year, monitoring these colonies is more important than ever.”

Butchkoski noted that the fieldwork isn’t difficult to do, and Pennsylvanians can play a huge role in helping the Game Commission get a better understanding of what is happening to bats this summer.

“We’re looking for some help, and we hope you’ll consider becoming part of the Appalachian Bat Count monitoring team,” Butchkoski said. “It’s a chance to make a difference for bats and to get involved in the fight against WNS. Please consider lending a hand. Bats need you more than ever.”

A multi-state State Wildlife Grant was awarded and is being administered by the Game Commission to investigate and respond to WNS. As part of this project, the Appalachian Bat Count contributes to the nationwide effort to collect data during summer months through maternity colony monitoring, wing assessments and acoustic sampling.

For more information on WNS, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on “Wildlife” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, scroll down and choose “White-Nose Syndrome” in the Wildlife Disease section. To report observations of sick or multiple dead bats, go to the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on “Report a Sick Bat” in the “Quick Clicks” box in the right-hand column of the homepage.

Michigan’s Frog and Toad Survey Begins 16th Year

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- This year marks the sixteenth year for the annual Michigan frog and toad survey compiled by the Department of Natural Resources with help from volunteers around the state.

Declining populations of frog, toads and other amphibians have been documented worldwide since the 1980s. Studies suggest amphibians are disappearing due to habitat loss, pollution, disease, and collection.

Michigan’s annual survey efforts help biologists keep tabs on frog and toad abundance and distribution in the state.

“We have collected a large, valuable data set to help us evaluate the condition of Michigan’s frog and toad populations,” said Lori Sargent, the DNR’s survey coordinator.

The surveys are conducted by volunteer observers along a statewide system of permanent survey routes, each consisting of 10 wetland sites. These sites are visited three times during the spring when frogs and toads are actively breeding. Observers listen for calling frogs and toads at each site, identify the species present, and make an estimate of abundance.

“We need new volunteers in all parts of the state. Please consider joining us every spring for a fun, educational opportunity and run a route. The continued success of the program is dependent on strong volunteer support,” said Sargent.

Interested persons should contact Sargent by e-mail at SargentL@michigan.gov or phone at 517-373-9418.

More information on the Frog and Toad Survey and other projects supported by the Nongame Fish and Wildlife Fund is available on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/nongamewildlife.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Wolf Pup another example of healthy Wolf Populations in need of science based management.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- The Department of Natural Resources and Environment today announced it will conduct a survey in the northern Lower Peninsula Feb. 15 through March 14 to detect the presence of gray wolves in that region of the state.

“The purpose of the survey is to verify the presence of wolves both where we have previously confirmed animals and to detect new occurrences in other areas,” said DNRE wildlife biologist Jennifer Kleitch.

“Given the low probability of observing a wolf or tracks in the Lower Peninsula it’s helpful to have as many eyes looking as possible. That’s why public reports are so important.”

Wolves are a federally protected species that began naturally returning to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula via Canada and Wisconsin in the early 1990s. Since that time populations have increased and continue to expand their range. Evidence of range expansion into the Lower Peninsula came when a gray wolf was accidentally killed in Presque Isle County in 2004. More recently, wolf breeding was verified in Cheboygan County in 2010.

The DNRE is asking the public to report any recent sightings of wolves or tracks they believe were made by wolves to the Gaylord Operations Service Center at 989-732-3541, ext. 5901 during the survey period. Reports of observations can also be submitted online at www.dnr.state.mi.us/wildlife/pubs/wolf_obsreport.asp.

Survey teams will be searching areas where there have been one or more observations. Priority will be placed on recent reports and those submitted during the survey period.

“It’s important that observations are reported in a timely manner so we can work with fresh evidence. If the public finds what they believe are wolf tracks, they should preserve the physical evidence and disturb it as little as possible or take a photo of the tracks alongside a ruler,” Kleitch said. “If someone has a photo of a wolf in the Lower Peninsula, we’d certainly be interested in that as well.”

Information on wolves in Michigan and links to other wolf-related web pages can be found at www.michigan.gov/wolves.

The DNRE is partnering in this survey effort with US Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, the Little Traverse and Grand Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and The University of Michigan.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment of the state’s environment, natural resources and related economic interests for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnre.

West Virginia DNR

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – -(Ammoland.com)- The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has contracted Responsive Management to conduct a major hunter survey, according to Curtis I. Taylor, Chief of the DNR Wildlife Resources Section.

Responsive Management will use a random telephone survey in February and March to conduct the study.

“It is essential to have an accurate estimate of hunters by season type and county to make effective management recommendations,” said Taylor.

“Responsive Management is a national leader in wildlife and conservation surveys and we have contracted their expertise to play an integral role in determining hunting participation across West Virginia. In addition to hunting participation, we will be gathering additional sociological information pertaining to West Virginia residents’ opinions on the deer population in their counties.”

West Virginia residents that are randomly selected are encouraged to participate in the survey even if they do not hunt.

“We are charged with managing wildlife for all West Virginians and we value their opinions. Therefore, even if you do not hunt, we would like your opinion in our survey.”

Results from the Responsive Management survey should be completed by late July.

Waterfowlers Urged To Keep Safety In Mind

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

LITTLE ROCK, AR --(Ammoland.com)- Changing weather conditions have been the rule this duck season, and the final days of the 2010-11 season will be no exception.

After a season of very little rainfall, up-and-down temperatures and other weather changes, Arkansas waterfowl hunters will get a shot of almost spring-like weather over the final days of the season.

Temperatures will continue to rise throughout the weekend with highs expected to reach the lows 60s by the weekend.

Nighttime temperatures for central Arkansas are forecast to drop into the low 40s on Friday and Saturday night.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists took to the skies last week for the 2010-11 season’s final aerial waterfowl surveys. Observers counted a total of 1,786,677 ducks in the Delta with 1,311,245 mallards included in that total. In the Arkansas River valley, observers counted 60,635 ducks including 41,850 mallards. Duck numbers have fluctuated this season due to limited rainfall.

Biologists said it appeared that most ducks were scattered last week in the Delta. Thursday’s freeze-up had ducks concentrated on Friday flight. Habitat conditions and water levels in the fields looked about average as a whole. Most rivers (e.g., Bayou DeView, Cache, White, Black, St. Francis) looked well below average depths. The Cache and Bayou DeView were especially low. The low water conditions forced ducks to keep open holes in fields on Friday or continue south looking for open water.

All shallow water habitats were frozen last week. Good numbers of ducks were spotted on large bodies of water throughout the Arkansas River Valley. Habitat conditions are still poor due to lack of rainfall. Hunters with water might expect good success this last week of the season, but the warm weather may prove a challenge.

Arkansas’s duck season ends Sunday, Jan. 30.

To assist waterfowl hunters with the latest information, the AGFC provides links to sources on waterfowl location and abundance in Arkansas and other states. The links are available at www.agfc.com/hunting/Pages/HuntingWaterfowlReport.aspx#1.

This waterfowl report provides capsule information from agency staff in all corners of Arkansas and is updated each Wednesday throughout waterfowl season. To receive the report each week on your computer, send an e-mail to arkansasoutdoors@agfc.com and type “Waterfowl Report” in the subject line.

Information on river levels can be found at: www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/ or http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html.

Sunrise/sunset tables are available at: www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-us and in the Arkansas Waterfowl Regulations Guide.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Duck season ended Jan. 23 in the High Plains and the consensus was a successful season.

Lots of water in the Panhandle gave ducks ample habitat and hunters many playa lakes to hunt. However, the abundant water scattered ducks, somewhat. Mallards, pintails, wigeons, gadwalls and teal were harvested the final weekend. Goose season runs through Feb.6, and prospects are good for decoying action. Outfitters said good goose numbers are roosting on Lake Etter and around Dalhart. More geese moved in to the Amarillo area. The Light Goose Conservation Order in the West Zone begins Feb. 7. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: Duck season ended Jan. 23 and hunters said the latest cold front and timely rains 10 days prior aided success. The region received as much as four inches of rain, which finally floated a good mast crop of acorns. Wood ducks remained solid throughout the season, and mallards improved in January, especially the last week of the season. Lots of divers were reported on Lake O’Pines, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Lake Fork and Cooper Lake. The Sulphur River and Lake Wright-Patman was hit-or-miss. The good news is the latest rains have provided an abundance of water to sustain ducks through the winter, or at least until they begin to trickle back north.

South Zone Duck: As is traditionally the case, the coast was the hotspot for ducks in Texas, namely the coastal marshes and bays. Some hunters around Port O’Connor said they have never seen this many ducks throughout the season. Rockport hunters saw consistent action as well. Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield and areas around the Arroyo Colorado reported excellent shoots of pintails, redheads and wigeons from start to finish, with little or no boat traffic from other hunters. Pintails, shovelers and teal were the most prevalent species taken on the prairie, though greenwings did not show up en masse until the final week of the season. Absent, too, were wigeons and gadwalls did not show up in number compared to past years. Hunters were pleased with the extra pintail this year and took advantage on many prairie ponds and bay flats. Goose season ended Jan. 23 and most hunters said they enjoyed average decoying action throughout the season. Most pegged the juvenile population of snow geese at around 10 percent. Specklebellies and Canada geese filled the void when snows were not cooperative. The Light Goose Conservation Order began Jan. 24., however, participation was minimal.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Texas --(Ammoland.com)- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Goose hunting continued steady for Canadas and a few snow geese, though light winds have hurt decoying action at times. Plowed ground close to roosting water has paid off best for light geese.

Wheat and corn have held most of the dark geese. Good hunts for mallards, teal, wigeons and gadwalls were reported on playa lakes and feed lots.

Knox City has been good for wigeons, mallards and teal. Specklebellies and Canadas have been good in plowed ground and peanuts. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck:
Duck hunters have taken good numbers of mallards in wet sloughs and creeks in the northeast portion of the state. Wood ducks have been steady, but many woodies have been working larger waters since timber water has been limited. Caddo Lake has been good for ringed-necks, gadwalls, scaup and a few mallards.

The Sulphur River and Wright-Patman Lake has held good numbers of wood ducks and mallards. Canvasbacks and other divers have been steady on Lake O’Pines, Toledo Bend, Lake Fork and Cooper Lake. Hunting has been fair around the zone boundaries of IH-10, but expect the area to respond positively to timely rains that fell last week. Prospects are good.

South Zone Duck:
The coast continues to produce the best duck hunting in the state. Pintails, teal and shovelers have been fair to good near El Campo, Eagle Lake, Garwood, Collegeport, East Bernard and Wharton. Green-winged teal numbers improved this week around Blessing, Pierce, El Campo and Wharton. Many coastal bags have been devoid of gadwalls and wigeons, two species of ducks that were a mainstay on hunters’ straps a year ago. Bay hunters have enjoyed limits to half-limits near Port O’Connor and Rockport. Redheads, bluebills, gadwalls and wigeons have made up the bay bags.

Those hunters willing to go mobile and hunt natural cover have been more successful compared to large, gaudy blinds. Hard north winds pushed lots of water out of the bay, relocating birds to deeper shorelines. Good numbers of pintails, redheads and gadwalls have been taken in Baffin Bay and Port Mansfield. Snow goose hunting has been fair to good.

Young birds continue to decoy well. Specklebellies have shied from calls and water; the white-fronted goose season closes at sunset Jan. 9. Sandhill crane numbers are excellent, and many hunters have taken at least a bird a man in goose spreads. Those setting up along canal banks and fence rows to pass-shoot have had little trouble taking their two-bird limit. Prospects are good.

Frog Listener Volunteers Answer Call To Help Survey Frogs Across Georgia

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

FORSYTH, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Sarah Barlow had a small problem. She had a deep knowledge and interest in frogs and toads, including two wildlife degrees focused on herps and a thesis exploring frogs’ use of restored wetlands.

But the former city of Savannah environmental planner had no place to apply that experience.

“I had all these strong (frog) identification skills that I wasn’t able to use,” Barlow said.

The answer: NAAMP. Developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program is an international study investigating the distribution and relative abundance of amphibians across the continent. NAAMP depends on frog-savvy volunteers who monitor local listening routes three times a year.

Barlow signed up last year. She contacted Georgia NAAMP coordinator John Jensen of the state Department of Natural Resources, practiced her frog-ID skills and passed the required online quiz. She even drove her rural, 10-mile route near Glennville beforehand, checking out the habitat at the set listening sites.

Barlow then squeezed the two hours-plus it took per survey into her already hectic schedule. The result is what she described as “a very relaxing way to spend the evening.”

Considering the fieldwork she did in Louisiana for her thesis, “This was a lot tamer than being in the middle of a bayou on a four-wheeler,” Barlow said laughing. “This was country club frogging!”

Enjoyable and vital. Frogs can serve as sentinels of environmental change. Many frogs and other amphibians are high-priority species in Georgia’s Wildlife Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy that guides DNR efforts to conserve biological diversity. NAAMP monitoring data is analyzed for patterns of amphibian decline, stability or increase on local and wider levels.

Jensen, a senior wildlife biologist with the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section, said more surveys are needed to pinpoint trends in Georgia. 2011 marks only the fourth year of the state’s involvement. But the immediate payback has included volunteers identifying lesser-known frogs in areas the species had not been documented before, Jensen said.

He’s hoping for more volunteers for 2011. Forty-five of the state’s 73 routes were covered this year. Most of the unassigned routes are in south Georgia.

Jensen suggested would-be volunteers assess their frog identification abilities, then contact him by e-mail, john.jensen@dnr.state.ga.us, or phone at the Nongame Conservation Section office in Forsyth, (478) 994-1438. The first listening window next year opens Jan. 15.

Barlow is now a naturalist at Sandy Creek Nature Center in Athens. She plans to look for a 2011 route closer to home. But she will be putting her frog skills back into play, calling the citizen-powered NAAMP surveys “important work to be done.”

Georgians can help conserve amphibians and other nongame wildlife, native plants and natural habitats through buying a wildlife license plate featuring a bald eagle or a ruby-throated hummingbird. They can also donate to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund through the state income tax checkoff, online at www.georgiawildlife.com (click “Donate the Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund”) and in other ways.

Contributions are vital to the Wildlife Resources Division’s Nongame Conservation Section. The section receives no state general funds for its mission to help conserve wildlife not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as rare plants and natural habitats in Georgia.

For more information, go to www.georgiawildlife.com/node/338, or call Nongame Conservation Section offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218). State income tax forms are available online at https://etax.dor.ga.gov/.

LEND AN EAR
Hone your skills at one of the following websites, or buy a copy of the CD “Calls of the Wild – Vocalizations of Georgia’s Frogs” from DNR, (478) 994-1438. (The $15.36 cost per CD goes to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund.) ** jcmaerz.myweb.uga.edu/lab/GANAAMP/index.htm ** wwknapp.home.mindspring.com/GAFrog.Toad.html ** www.ugapress.org/index.php (search for “Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia”)

NAAMP NEWCOMERS
Gauge your frog identification skills before volunteering. (Deciphering species when multiple frogs are calling is where it gets a little tricky, Jensen said.) If unsure, first try the public quiz at NAAMP. ** Don’t be daunted. While Georgia has more than 30 frog and toad species, all are not heard on one route. Barlow said she heard, on average, about eight kinds. She advises practicing, plus previewing your route. ** Expect a reward. One, the work helps monitor impacts of habitat change, such as the loss of temporary wetlands. Two, as Barlow said, learning to identify wildlife by sound builds “a greater appreciation of being in the woods.”

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

LITTLE ROCK, AR –-(Ammoland.com)- Dry conditions remained in place for the opening weekend of Arkansas’s duck season, and while substantial rainfall is needed to provide abundant waterfowl habitat in the state, weather forecasts call for at least a little relief in the coming days.

Meanwhile, results from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s November aerial waterfowl surveys, which were conducted a week prior to the season opener, revealed duck abundance was about 40 percent lower than this time last year.

“That’s probably not much of a surprise to anyone,” said AGFC waterfowl program coordinator Luke Naylor. “Conditions have been extremely dry compared to last year, when there was abundant habitat as a result of record rainfall just before the season. The landscape looks very different this season.”

Aerial waterfowl surveys in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, commonly known as the Delta, estimated total duck abundance at about 1.1 million, with roughly 181,000 mallards.

“It’s interesting to note that our observers saw about 40 percent of the ducks in the Delta on rice fields, which isn’t surprising,” Naylor said. “But what is notable is that about 20 percent were in cypress/tupelo brakes and 20 percent were in fish ponds. That includes mallards, and it’s just one more indication of the dry conditions.”

This is the second year that AGFC has used a newer and more reliable transect method to count ducks in the Delta. Pilots and biologists fly randomly selected east-west lines and count ducks through a grid drawn on the aircraft’s window. Previously, AGFC used a “cruise” method, flying over selected habitats and counting all visible waterfowl. Because of the different survey methods used prior to last year, it’s invalid to compare numbers from this year’s and last year’s surveys to results from previous years’ surveys.

In western Arkansas, where biologists continue to use cruise surveys to sample selected habitats, aerial counts revealed an estimate of roughly 30,000 ducks, including 14,000 mallards, in southwest Arkansas, and about 6,000 ducks, including less than 100 mallards, in the Arkansas River Valley. Observers reported drastically different habitat conditions in the western Arkansas survey regions. Flights over the Arkansas River Valley revealed very little flooded agricultural habitat, while southwest Arkansas flights showed some private landowners actively pumping hunting lands.

Weather conditions likely will provide at least some improvement in habitat conditions and waterfowl abundance in the coming days. The National Weather Service in North Little Rock is calling for 1 to 2 inches of rainfall across much of the state Wednesday night through Thanksgiving Day. According to the weather service, as much as 2 inches of rain fell across portions of east-central Arkansas on Monday night, including totals of 2.05 inches at the Stuttgart Municipal Airport in Prairie County and 1.70 inches at Brinkley in Monroe County.

Colder temperatures also could bring waterfowl migrations into the state. Behind the rainfall predicted for Wednesday and Thursday, cooler air will move into the state, bringing nighttime lows in the upper 20s and daytime highs in the 40s and lower 50s. Waterfowl biologists in Missouri reported seeing large movements of ducks and geese during that state’s aerial waterfowl survey flights earlier this week.

The first segment of Arkansas’s duck season closes at sunset Sunday, Nov. 28. The second segment opens Dec. 7 and continues through Jan. 17, and the third and final segment opens Jan. 22 and closes Jan. 30.

To assist waterfowl hunters with the latest information, he AGFC provides links to sources on waterfowl location and abundance in Arkansas and other states. The links are available at http://www.agfc.com/hunting/Pages/HuntingWaterfowlReport.aspx#1.

This waterfowl report provides capsule information from agency staff in all corners of Arkansas and is updated each Wednesday throughout waterfowl season. To receive the report each week on your computer, send an e-mail to arkansasoutdoors@agfc.com and type “Waterfowl Report” in the subject line.

• Information on river levels can be found at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/ or http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html.
• Sunrise/sunset tables are available at: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-us and in the Arkansas Waterfowl Regulations Guide.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- YUMA, Ariz. — The recently completed survey of the desert bighorn sheep population on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Arizona resulted in a population estimate of 402 sheep.

The survey estimate is down from the 2009 survey estimate of 410 sheep, but it is still slightly above the lowest recorded estimated level of the 2006 survey of 390.

Due to standardized survey methodology and scientific margin of accuracy, biologists’ analysis of the past five surveys indicates no significant decline or improvement to the herd’s population. Wildlife management agencies remain concerned about the low population levels on the refuge compared to the estimated 812 animals of the 2000 survey.

Once a very robust population, the size of the herd on the refuge has dropped significantly since 2000. Wildlife experts attribute the decline to a variety of potential factors including drought, predation, water availability, disease and human disturbance. Due to the significance of this sheep population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW) and Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) are conducting an ongoing, joint study to collect data on these and other suspected causes of the population’s decline.

Seasonal rains in 2010 were good, consequently habitat conditions are also favorable throughout the refuge. All of the sheep appeared healthy during the aerial surveys. Biologists observed lamb-to-ewe ratios of 24 lambs per 100 ewes, which is above the long-term average of approximately 20 lambs per 100 ewes for the refuge. However, a slightly higher lamb-to-ewe ratio has not yet translated into an increase in the population – it has only stabilized it.

2010 Survey Results Released For Desert Bighorn Sheep On The Kofa NWR

The New Mexico State University Cooperative Studies Unit is studying the relative health of bighorn sheep on the refuge. In November 2007, 30 ewes were fitted with tracking devices to monitor nutrition, movements, and mortality to assist in making active management decisions to assist in restoring the herd’s population. The project study is scheduled to run through the fall of 2010. The ewes were evaluated in November 2010 using ultrasound technology. Body fat composition indicated good nutrition and nearly all of the ewes were pregnant. Other biological samples were collected for disease analysis and have been sent to various laboratories.

AGFD and USFWS biologists captured a male mountain lion in November 2010 on Kofa NWR. A satellite (GPS) collar was fitted on the lion pursuant to the ongoing effort to monitor mountain lions and remove lions that regularly prey on desert bighorn sheep as described in the final environmental assessment “Limiting Mountain Lion Predation on Desert Bighorn Sheep on the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge” and the AGFD Kofa Mountains Complex Adaptive Predation Management Plan.

To view the management documents and learn more about the restoration efforts of the Kofa desert bighorn sheep herd, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website at www.azgfd.gov/kofa. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Kofa National Wildlife Refuge website is at www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/arizona/kofa/index.html.

About Arizona Game and Fish Department:
The mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department is to conserve, enhance, and restore Arizona’s diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive protection and management programs, and to provide wildlife resources and safe watercraft and off-highway vehicle recreation for the enjoyment, appreciation, and use by present and future generations.

About U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.

West Virginia DNR

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – -(Ammoland.com)- The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources predicts a higher harvest of wild turkeys during the 2010 fall hunting season,” said Paul Johansen, assistant chief in charge of game management for the West Virginia DNR Wildlife Resources Section,

This prediction is based on good second nesting of turkeys reported on brood sighting forms and the fact that 15 new counties will be open to fall hunting this year.

According to Johansen, “Good mast conditions will usually scatter wild turkey flocks and make them less vulnerable to harvest. However, we expect that hunters taking advantage of the expanded fall turkey hunting opportunities across the state will help to increase the harvest above 2009 levels.”

Hunters should be aware of changes in counties that will be open for the 2010 fall turkey hunting season.

• Fourteen traditional fall hunting counties will be open to a four-week season (October 23 – November 20, 2010).
• Twelve counties will be open to a two-week season (October 23 – November 6, 2010).
• Thirteen counties will have a one-week season (October 23 – October 30, 2010).
• Thirty-nine of the 55 counties in West Virginia will be open for a fall turkey season.

Consult the 2010 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations for additional information pertaining to fall turkey hunting opportunities.

West Virginia 2010 Hunting & Trapping Regulations

Wisconsin's Operation Deer Watch’ Kicks Off August 1

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, WI – -(Ammoland.com)- Beginning August 1, Wisconsin citizens will have a new opportunity to be part of managing white-tailed deer in Wisconsin.

Dubbed Operation Deer Watch, people are being asked to record and report all deer they see between Aug 1 and Sept 30. Go to the Department of Natural Resources website [dnr.wi.gov] and click on the Operation Deer Watch button to get started.

“All deer seen including bucks, does and fawns should be reported during this two month period,” said Jason Fleener, assistant DNR deer specialist.

“The observations will be entered into a database and will be used to determine doe to fawn ratios, which are a part of the population estimation equation.”

Summer deer observations have always been part of the population estimation process, according to DNR biologists. The number of deer seen and the number of fawns seen with each doe are indicators of annual production in deer herds. In addition to deer seen, observers are asked to note date and location. Only deer seen between sunrise and sunset are to be counted.

In previous years, the observation period lasted three months and only state and federal biologists, foresters, law enforcement and other government staff participated.

“One of the recommendations of a panel of experts that that reviewed our deer population estimation model a few years back was to increase the number of observers and to shorten the summer deer observation period to two months from three,” said Fleener

“We hope to capitalize on the intense public interest in Wisconsin’s whitetail deer population. It’s a great chance for the public to help keep an eye-on-the-herd and add a lot more observations to our database.”

Operation Deer Watch is yet one more way in which the deer enthusiasts can help monitor the herd. In 2009, the department launched a hunter observation website that asked hunters to record observations from their trips in the woods. Valuable information on species distribution, as well as, data the number of hunting days, hunting hours and environmental conditions they experienced was gathered. Nearly 20,000 hunting trips were logged into the online database. In addition, similar new data questions were added to the deer registration form that successful hunters complete and this provided over 320,000 observations.

“We expect the value of these citizen-based monitoring efforts will grow with each additional year. We will be able to look at year-after-year changes that provide insights to our deer populations across Wisconsin” added Fleener.

Visit: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/harvest/summerdeer.htm

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Manwell – (608) 264-9248, Jason Fleener – (608) 261-7589 or Jessica Rees – (608) 221-6360

The increase in wildlife populations in the Anchorage, AK area is an important wildlife issue to residents, particularly the moose and bear populations.

Responsive Management

Harrisonburg, VA – -(AmmoLand.com)- A study conducted recently by Responsive Management for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) found that most adults living in Anchorage appreciate, or at least tolerate, wildlife in the state’s largest city.

“Anchorage residents understand the challenges of coexisting with large, potentially dangerous wild animals, but they also appreciate the uniqueness,” says Rick Sinnott, a state wildlife biologist. “Anchorage is a blueprint for living with wildlife, including bears and wolves, for the rest of the world.”

A city of about 290,000 people, Anchorage is surrounded by natural areas. An estimated 250-300 black bears, more than 60 brown bears, 4 wolf packs, and 1,700 moose live in or near the city, according to the ADFG. The survey was conducted a little over a year after three Anchorage residents were mauled by brown bears within the city limits. According to the ADFG, the summer of 2009 was relatively quiet by comparison, with few problems with bears and no maulings in the Anchorage area.

The study was conducted to determine Anchorage residents’ opinions on bear and moose populations, problems caused by bear and moose, and the management of these populations in the Anchorage area. The study included a series of preliminary focus groups and a telephone survey of Anchorage area residents of at least 18 years old.

Methodology
Focus groups with Anchorage residents and trail users were conducted in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2009. The primary purpose of the focus group research was to help refine survey topics and questions for the telephone survey.

The focus groups were moderated by Mark Damian Duda, Executive Director of Responsive Management. The moderator used discussion guides developed by the ADFG and Responsive Management, which allowed for consistency in the data collection. By using the discussion guide, the moderator kept the discussions within design parameters without exerting a strong influence on the discussion content.

For the survey, telephones were selected as the preferred sampling medium because of the almost universal ownership of telephones among Anchorage residents. Additionally, telephone surveys, relative to mail or Internet surveys, allow for more scientific sampling and data collection, provide higher quality data, obtain higher response rates, are more timely, and are more cost effective. Telephone surveys also have fewer negative effects on the environment than mail surveys because of reduced use of paper and reduced energy consumption for delivering and returning the questionnaires. A central polling site at the Responsive Management office allowed for rigorous quality control over the interviews and data collection.

Interviews were conducted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday from noon to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., local time. A five-callback design was used to maintain the representativeness of the sample, to avoid bias toward people easy to reach by telephone, and to provide an equal opportunity for all to participate. When a respondent could not be reached on the first call, subsequent calls were placed on different days of the week and at different times of the day. The telephone survey was conducted in December 2009 and January 2010.

Respondents were classified by where they lived, based on the likelihood of encountering bears in their neighborhood: downtown, midtown, and west Anchorage were in one zone; east Anchorage, the Hillside, and the military bases were in an intermediate zone; and outlying communities such as Eagle River, Chugiak, Bird, and Girdwood were in the third zone.

Wildlife Values and Knowledge of Wildlife
The increase in wildlife populations in the Anchorage area is an important wildlife issue to residents, particularly the moose and bear populations. Despite some concern about wildlife populations, Anchorage residents hold generally positive attitudes toward wildlife-a majority (92%) of residents say that wildlife is an important part of their community, and a majority (86%) say that wildlife encounters, despite the possible danger, make life in Anchorage more interesting and special.

Other questions in the survey tested residents’ tolerance levels with bears, and a majority (61% for black bears) and nearly half (48% for brown bears) indicate being tolerant to having bears in the Anchorage area. Conversely, about a third (35%) regarding black bears and nearly half (48%) regarding brown bears do not want bears in the Anchorage area. Note that tolerance levels are higher for black bears than they are for brown bears.

The survey also tested tolerance levels regarding moose. While acknowledging that moose cause some problems, the large majority of Anchorage residents (87%) say that encounters with moose make life in Anchorage seem more interesting and special. A further indication of tolerance toward moose is that an overwhelming majority (94%) of Anchorage residents indicate that they have enjoyed watching moose in the Anchorage area in the past 2 years.

Residents’ self-rated knowledge levels indicate fairly high knowledge about black and brown bears, with a majority (71%) saying that they know a great deal or moderate amount about black bears and a majority (66%) saying the same about brown bears. The leading sources of information about bear and moose among Anchorage residents are (in order of decreasing importance) newspapers (30%), television (25%), the Internet (20%), personal experience (20%), books (15%), and word of mouth (15%).

Opinions on the Amount of Wildlife in the Anchorage
Area Although residents are generally tolerant of wildlife in the Anchorage area, they do not want the wildlife populations to increase-a large majority want the populations of black bears (58%), brown bears (56%), and moose (63%) to remain the same. However, a substantial number of residents want a decrease in the population of black bears (28%), brown bears (31%), and moose (24%).

The survey explored how often residents actually see black and brown bears in their neighborhoods and how often they would like to see them in their neighborhoods. The most common response among residents regarding black bears is that they see them about as much as they would like to; note, however, that the large majority (61%) never see black bears, and a large majority (60%) never want to see them. However, those who see black bears the most often have the highest tendency to want to see them less often, although not to the degree of saying that they never want to see them. Those who never see black bears are the most likely to say that they never want to see them.

Regarding brown bears, the most common response among residents is that they see them about as much as they would like to see them; note, however, that the large majority (85%) never see brown bears, and a large majority (79%) never want to see them. Among those who see brown bears a few times a year, two-fifths (40%) would like to never see them. Indeed, very few people indicated that they want to see brown bears more often.

In a comparison of the two types of bear, black bears are seen more often in residents’ neighborhoods than are brown bears, and residents would like to see black bears more often than brown bears.

Opinions on Wildlife in Anchorage Parks
A large majority of Anchorage residents think it is acceptable to have bears (both black and brown) in Far North Bicentennial Park (73% for black bears and 63% for brown bears) and in Chugach State Park (87% for black bears and 82% for brown bears). In comparing the two parks, there is more acceptance about having bears in Chugach State Park than in Far North Bicentennial Park (the latter is closer to downtown Anchorage).

Although residents for the most part think it is acceptable to have bears in Far North Bicentennial Park, majorities nonetheless support legal, regulated hunting of bears to control their populations in the park: 65% (for black bears ) and 66% (for brown bears) support legal, regulated hunting of them. Likewise, although having moose in the Anchorage area is acceptable to most residents, a majority (70%) support legal, regulated hunting of moose to control their population in the Anchorage area, including the large parks.

Another indication of the fairly high level of tolerance toward bears and moose is that the possibility of encountering a black bear, brown bear, or moose has not prevented the overwhelming majority of Anchorage residents from using trails and parks in the Anchorage area-71% (black bear), 64% (brown bear), and 90% (moose) say this. Here, too, brown bears are perceived the most negatively regarding trail and park use.

Regarding trail use, the overwhelming majority of Anchorage residents (89%) support temporarily closing trails at times when the risk of encountering a brown bear is high. Regarding a proposed new or improved trail along a salmon stream where authorities believe the risk of brown bear attacks will be increased with increased trail use, the majority (57%) of residents still favor building the trail, with conditions.

Negative Interactions and Damage Caused by Wildlife
Residents were asked about problems with black and brown bears in the past 2 years at their primary home, and black bear problems were more common, although very few residents reported problems with either black or brown bears-only about 1 in 20 reported having problems. The specific problems vary by the type of bear. Getting into garbage, entering a home, and damage to ornamental or fruit trees are the leading problems with black bears; building damage (but no entry), getting into garbage, being in the yard, and damage to a parked vehicle are the leading problems with brown bears.

Despite this, the overwhelming majority of residents (88%) agree that most problems with bears in the Anchorage area can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions, such as using bear-proof garbage containers. The large majority of residents (84%) support fines for not storing garbage to prevent problems with bears, and the overwhelming majority (85%) support a regulation or ordinance to require Anchorage area residents to use bear-proof garbage containers in neighborhoods frequented by bears. The large majority of residents (71%) also support paying more for their trash service if the city of Anchorage were to provide bear-proof garbage containers.

Opinions on Wildlife Management
Options Opinions on management options for bears and moose indicate that Anchorage residents are tolerant of wildlife. A majority of Anchorage residents oppose having wildlife authorities destroy some black or brown bears in Anchorage every year to reduce the population (54% oppose regarding black bears, and 53% oppose regarding brown bears), and a majority (63%) oppose having wildlife authorities destroy some moose in Anchorage every year to reduce the population.

This should not be taken to mean that there are not situations in which Anchorage residents would support killing bears, however. A large majority (83%) support having wildlife authorities destroy specific bears at their discretion when the bears pose a threat to human safety, and a slight majority (53%) support having wildlife authorities kill bears at their discretion that cause property damage. Residents are split over killing bears that get into garbage (46% support, and 48% oppose), and support for (35%) is exceeded by opposition to (56%) killing bears that are seen frequently in neighborhoods. Indeed, in most residents’ view, just being seen is not cause to kill bears, because a majority of Anchorage residents (60%) oppose designating specific areas in Anchorage where any bears coming into the area would be killed. Regarding the interaction between bears and moose, there is much more opposition to (68%) than support for (23%) reducing the moose population (a food source for bears) in Anchorage to reduce the number of brown bears.

The full telephone survey report, including results comparing different regions of the city, trail use, park use, and trends based on an earlier study, is available here (885KB PDF). A report of the focus group results is available here (402KB PDF). A printable version of this article is available here (730KB PDF).

About:
Responsive Management is a public opinion survey research firm specializing in natural resource, wildlife, environmental, and outdoor recreation issues. Visit: www.responsivemanagement.com

West Virginia’s Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey

West Virginia DNR

West Virginia --(AmmoLand.com)- Wildlife biologists counted 2,868 ducks and 7,789 Canada geese during the annual mid-winter waterfowl survey in early January, according to Steve Wilson, Waterfowl Biologist for the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

“The numbers of both ducks and geese were higher than 2009, with ducks up 41 percent and geese up 138 percent,” Wilson said. “The real value of this survey is analysis of long-term data across broad geographic areas, rather than annual fluctuations within individual states.”

Weather conditions during and immediately prior to the survey strongly influences waterfowl movement. When snow cover and frozen waterways force birds to move south and congregate on larger rivers and lakes that are not frozen-over, waterfowl counts in West Virginia usually increase.

Canada geese, mallards and black ducks, as usual, were the most commonly observed species in the 2010 survey. Other observed waterfowl include: canvasback, scaup, ring-necked duck, gadwall, bufflehead, goldeneye, mergansers and tundra swan. Eleven bald eagles and one golden eagle were also observed.

The survey was conducted on January, 5, 8 and 11, 2010 and included portions of the Kanawha, Ohio, Shenandoah and New rivers as well as Tygart and Bluestone Lakes.

Pintail Ducks

Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Mallards: 2,778
• Scaup: 232
• Goldeneyes: 7,549
• Buffleheads: 6,561
• Mergansers: 2,613
• Ruddy ducks: 107
• Harlequin ducks: 24
• Canada geese: 3,286

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

Arkansas Duck Concentration Maps

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

LITTLE ROCK AR --(AmmoLand.com)- Biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently completed the first aerial waterfowl survey of the 2009-2010 duck season, marking a new era in Arkansas duck counts. AGFC has changed its aerial survey method for the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (the Delta) to more reliably estimate duck numbers in the region.

Instead of the “cruise” surveys of the past, in which biologists fly over traditional waterfowl hot spots to count ducks, AGFC will now use a “transect” method. The cruise method is inherently biased because observers can’t account for unsampled areas during each survey. While no method allows biologists to generate a number for absolute abundance, the transect method allows for more standardized sampling and more reliable counts.

The transect method entails flying a randomly selected portion of transects – west-east lines drawn across the Delta at 500-meter intervals – and counting all ducks seen along those lines and using those counts to calculate an estimate of duck numbers across the entire Delta. AGFC’s effort is part of a partnership with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture to generate reliable estimates across a large portion of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley over time.

AGFC completed the November 2009 estimates earlier this week, and they seem to match much of the anecdotal observations over the past several weeks. There aren’t many mallards in the Delta right now, but observers did see good numbers of other dabbling ducks, including pintails, northern shovelers and gadwalls. Duck distribution appeared to be spotty, with large concentrations here and there across the Delta but without good numbers of ducks scattered throughout the region.

Observers were somewhat surprised by the absence of water in many areas in light of the severe flooding that occurred in late October. While many areas, especially along river corridors, remained flooded, it appeared that many farmers had allowed much of the water to drain in an attempt to salvage harvestable crops.

November population estimates for the Arkansas Delta were 124,065 mallards, 522,662 other dabbling ducks and 147,678 diving ducks for a total of 794,405 ducks. Because of the change in survey methods, these numbers should not be compared with past counts. This count should be considered the first point in a developing collection of Delta duck counts.

Population estimates for western Arkansas, which are still being conducted by the cruise method because of limited waterfowl habitat in that portion of the state, were 20,105 total ducks (5,480 mallards) in southwest Arkansas and 31,000 total ducks (11,000 mallards) in northwest Arkansas.

In addition to the recent aerial waterfowl survey data, AGFC encourages hunters to take advantage of several other new tools to track waterfowl numbers and migration.

AGFC has recently developed duck density maps. The maps, one for relative density of all ducks and the other for relative mallard density, use results from aerial surveys and spatial data models to reflect relative densities of ducks in the Delta region. While the maps are helpful, hunters should understand the maps represent relative density for a given survey period and not absolute duck numbers. For example, it’s reasonable to assume that what appears as a high-density mallard area in November will likely correspond to a lower absolute number than in early January because mallard numbers typically peak in early January. The maps are available at http://www.agfc.com/pdfs/waterfowl/Nov09DuckDensity.pdf and http://www.agfc.com/pdfs/waterfowl/Nov09MallardDensity.pdf.

Since AGFC and Mississippi waterfowl managers conduct counts using the same methods and at approximately the same times, hunters may seek additional information on Mississippi’s Web site at http://home.mdwfp.com/ContentManagement/Html/htmldownload.aspx?id=327. Combined with Arkansas’s counts, that information may provide a more complete picture of waterfowl distribution across a larger portion of the Delta.

Other tools that may be helpful for hunters include a new weather severity index developed by Mississippi State University researchers. The index is an attempt to forecast potential waterfowl migration movements based on weather data throughout the Mississippi Flyway. The index is available at http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/kennedychair/weather.asp.

The Missouri Department of Conservation, in cooperation with Arkansas and several other state and federal agencies, has developed a mallard migration map that can be viewed at http://www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/wtrfowl/migration.php.

Information on river levels can be found at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/ or http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html. Sunrise/sunset tables are available at: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html and in the Arkansas Waterfowl Regulations Guide.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA –-(AmmoLand.com)- Interested in learning more about what’s going on with black bears in your county? Please consider visiting the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s “Field Officer Game Forecasts” found on the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).

Developed to share field officer perspectives and observations on game and furbearer trends in their respective districts and to help hunters and trappers get closer to the action afield, the field reports have been warmly received by many hunters and trappers since they were added to the website.

“Our field officers spend a tremendous amount of time afield, often in areas hunters and trappers are eager to learn more about,” said Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe. “Their observations have value to hunters and trappers so we decided to make them accessible to anyone who enjoys hunting and trapping in Pennsylvania – resident or nonresident.”

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wisconsin - People interested in volunteering to help locate and count gray wolves and other forest carnivores in the coming year can learn how at a series of upcoming training sessions.

In Wisconsin wolves are a protected wild animal under state law, and due to court action on July 1, 2009, are again an endangered species under federal law.

Volunteer trackers are assigned survey blocks in forest portions of northern and central Wisconsin, and are asked to conduct three or more surveys in their assigned block each winter. Information they gather can be compiled with that of other volunteers to aid Department of Natural Resources biologists in evaluating wolf populations.

Wolf and Carnivore Tracker Training sessions are scheduled:

• Nov. 7, Ashland, Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Highway 2 & G, west of Ashland.
• Dec. 5, Babcock, Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center, 1 mile north of Highway 173 along County Road X.
• Dec. 5-6, Grantsburg, Crex Meadow Visitor Center, along County Highway D, 1 mile north of Grantsburg.
• Dec. 12, Tomahawk, Treehaven UW-Stevens Point Field Station on Pickerel Creek Road off County A.

Training sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Applicants should register as soon as possible because space is limited. Please try to register at least two weeks before each session. There is a small fee for the classes. The training at Crex Meadows near Grantsburg on Dec. 5-6 will be by world renowned tracker, Dr. James Halfpenny. Cost of the workshop has yet to be determined.

Details about the volunteer tracking program and the wolf ecology and tracking training sessions are available on the Department of Natural Resources Web site.

In late winter 2009 DNR biologists counted between 626 and 662 wolves in the state, including 599 or more outside Indian reservations. As of early fall, 62 wolves were being radio tracked by Wisconsin DNR pilots. Normally about one-third of the state packs are monitored by radio-telemetry, the remaining packs are monitored by DNR and volunteer trackers.

In 2009, 174 volunteer trackers surveyed 88, 200-square-mile survey blocks covering 8,062 miles of snow-covered roads and trails. Volunteers averaged 4.2 surveys per block, covering 91.6 miles, conducting 15 hours of tracking per block, and detected more than 367 different wolves.

“With the continued spread of the state wolf population and reduced funding for surveys, the volunteer carnivore tracking program is critical for us to obtain accurate counts of the state wolf population,” said Adrian Wydeven, DNR mammal ecologist who coordinates the state wolf program. “These surveys will continue to be important for long-term conservation of wolves and other forest carnivores in Wisconsin.”

Volunteers are also helpful in other ways, Wydeven said. Last fall, several volunteers conducted hunter outreach in the field and made contacts with deer hunters across several northern counties. During the spring volunteers helped with wolf trapping, radio collaring, donations of radio collars, and howl surveys as well as staffing educational booths at sport shows and other events.

Volunteers are also strongly encouraged to take a wolf ecology course if they have not done so already, and biologists recommend taking the ecology course before signing up for track training workshops. Wolf ecology courses will be offered next year on the following dates at the locations listed.

• Jan. 23-24, Babcock – Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center, Babcock, $75 (includes 2 meals & dorm lodging). Contact Dick Thiel at Richard.Thiel@wisconsin.gov
• Jan. 30-31, Fall Creek – Beaver Creek Reserve, cost $70 contact the Beaver Creek Reserve at bcr@beavercreekreserve.org
• Jan. 30-31, Tomahawk – Treehaven, cost $105-$140 (includes meals; opt. lodging), contact Treehaven at treehaven@uwsp.edu
• Feb. 20-21, Babcock – Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center, cost $75 (includes 2 meals & dorm lodging), contact Dick Thiel at Richard.Thiel@wisconsin.gov
• Feb. 27-28, Tomahawk – Treehaven, cost $105-$140 (includes meals; opt. lodging), contact Treehaven at treehaven@uwsp.edu

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrian Wydeven – (715) 762-1363

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(AmmoLand.com)- Nebraska pheasant hunters should look forward to a good season of wing shooting in 2009 when the opener arrives Oct. 31.

Wildlife surveys in the spring and summer have indicated a statewide increase in pheasant abundance compared to 2008, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. A generally mild winter, then a warm spring, provided favorable conditions for the over-winter survival and subsequent pheasant production.

Hunters should note that lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)-Management Access Program (MAP) have changed, especially in northeast Nebraska. Because of that, hunters are advised to scout areas to ensure they still will be available to hunt. They also should review the 2009 Nebraska Public Access Atlas, which includes CRP-MAP lands, as well as the new Open Fields and Waters program, and other public hunting lands.

According to the April and July Rural Mail Carrier Surveys, regional pheasant numbers were highest in the Southwest, Northeast and Panhandle pheasant regions. The population in the Southwest was particularly good, and Commission staff believes hunting should be good in most areas of the Southwest.

In the Northeast region, frequent observations of broods have been made in areas with permanent grasslands, such as CRP land.

Increased rainfall in the Panhandle had improved habitat conditions throughout the region, but there is more access for hunting in the northern Panhandle.

Pheasant season is an excellent opportunity for experienced hunters to introduce the activity to a person who never has hunted or reintroduce it to someone who has not hunted in many years.

The pheasant season ends Jan. 31, 2010. Only rooster pheasants may be taken. The daily bag limit is three birds and the possession limit is 12.

All pheasant hunters, except for residents under age 16, are required to have a Nebraska hunting license and a habitat stamp. An annual permit costs $14 for residents and $81 for nonresidents. The annual habitat stamp is $16.

The youth pheasant season is Oct. 24-25, with a bag limit of two and possession limit of four. Hunters in this season must be less than 16 years of age. Birds taken during the youth season do not count against the youth’s possession limit during the regular season.

A mentoring opportunity exists in the youth season for adults who want to teach youths how to hunt safely and responsibly. Adults accompanying youth hunters may not shoot pheasants during a youth season hunt.

All hunters must obtain permission to hunt on private land.

Permits and stamps may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – If you are an elk hunter and get an antelope hunter questionnaire from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, don’t despair.

Conversely, if you are an antelope hunter, don’t be surprised if you get a questionnaire intended for an elk hunter.

“The company doing our mail-out printed the addresses for elk hunters on the questionnaires intended for antelope hunters and vice versa.

So don’t be surprised or get concerned if you get the wrong species’ questionnaire – there are simple remedies,” said Brian Wakeling, the Game Branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Here’s the solution.
The approximately 6,000 hunters who receive the wrong questionnaires may go online (the Web site address is listed on the questionnaire) and complete the questionnaire for their correct hunt.

Or those who receive the wrong questionnaire can simply throw it and wait for a new questionnaire that is being mailed to them.

“If you complete the survey online, then please simply disregard the second survey you receive in the mail,” Wakeling said.

“We apologize for the mix up and appreciate everyone taking the time to provide us this valuable information so we can better manage these two game species.”

Hunter questionnaires are sent annually to a random selection of hunters in order to monitor game harvest levels and hunt success rates.

Note: To learn about the Arizona Hunter Questionnaire and the department’s survey program, read the article from the September-October 2009 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine , by clicking here. [pdf, 116kb]

About:
The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA –-(AmmoLand.com)- Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officers (WCOs), Land Management Group Supervisors (LMGSs) and foresters spend a considerable amount of time gathering information about wildlife population trends in their districts. With the small game hunting seasons just around the corner, the Game Commission now is sharing that information – through its website – with those who enjoy Penn’s Woods.

To view these field forecasts offered by Game Commission officers, go to the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), and click on the “Field Officer Forecasts,” select the region of interest in the map, and then choose the WCO district of interest from the map. For LMGS or forester reports, select the link to the LMGS Group or forester link of interest within that region.

“Our field officers and foresters provide wildlife forecasts for small game, furbearers, wild turkey, bear and deer within their respective districts,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “These forecasts are based on sightings field officers have had in the months leading up to the 2009-10 seasons, and some offer comparisons to previous wildlife forecasts. Some WCOs and LMGSs include anecdotal information, as well as hunting and trapping leads in their districts.

“The Game Commission offers this information to hunters and trappers to help them in making plans for the upcoming seasons. Many WCO, LMGS and forester reports offer information on where to hunt or trap within their districts, as well as guidance on where to get more information, particularly for trapping certain furbearers, such as beaver and coyotes.”

Roe noted the Game Commission divides the state’s 67 counties into six regions, and then each region is divided into WCO districts comprised of about 300 square miles each. There are 136 WCO districts statewide. Each of the 29 LMGS groups is comprised of a number of counties or portions of counties within each region, and seeks to equally distribute the amount of State Game Lands and public access lands within the region. The number of foresters ranges per region, from four to nine.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA –-(AmmoLand.com)- Due to late spring/early summer weather conditions across much of the state, Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists expect ruffed grouse hunting to be somewhat below average for the more than 100,000 hunters who annually pursue these challenging game birds.

The opening day of the state’s three-part grouse season is Saturday, Oct. 17, and runs through Nov. 28. The season reopens Dec. 14 to 23, and then again from Dec. 26 to Jan. 23. Participating hunters must have a valid Pennsylvania hunting license and follow the regulations that govern this rugged sport of brush-busting and mountain-scampering.

“Pennsylvania’s 2008-09 grouse season was a pretty good one, at least by recent standards,” said Ian Gregg, Game Commission grouse biologist. “However, observations of both broods and total grouse were down from last year, and below the long-term average. Much of this is the result of the weather conditions that impacted nesting and brooding success, which will consequently impact what hunters will encounter in Penn’s Woods this fall.

“Grouse populations and flushing rates may vary, as is always the norm, and there certainly will be pockets of higher than average grouse numbers, and other sections where grouse may seem sparse.”

Last year, grouse flushing rates increased in five of the state’s six geographic regions when compared to 2007-08 flushing rates, with the only decline recorded in the Southcentral Region. Those regional rates essentially equaled the statewide long-term average of 1.42 grouse flushed per hour.

Flushing rate information and other grouse data is reported by participants of the Game Commission’s “Grouse Cooperator Survey,” which uses information recorded in hunting logs by volunteers. Hunters interested in participating in the Game Commission’s annual Grouse Cooperator Survey can obtain reporting forms, as well as gather other grouse information, through the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), by selecting on “Hunting,” then clicking on the photo of the ruffed grouse.

According to the agency’s Game Take Survey, an estimated 102,100 hunters took 108,700 grouse during the 2008-2009 seasons, during 581,700 hunting days. Numbers of hunters pursuing grouse in Pennsylvania increased six percent compared to 2007, but still remain well below peak numbers of the mid-1980’s when Pennsylvania had more than 400,000 grouse hunters.

The Northeast Game Bird Technical Committee, comprised of state game bird biologists throughout the Northeastern United States, reported that overall ruffed grouse populations have declined along with the amount of early-successional forests. Populations relative to hunted habitats fluctuate over the years, providing years of good hunting (reflected by high hunter grouse flushing rates) despite the negative trend in total grouse numbers. The 2008 statewide flushing rate of 1.42 was similar to the long-term average of 1.41 flushes per hour. Over the past 44 years, rates have ranged from a low of 0.95 flushes per hour in 2004 to 1.74 in 1995. Pennsylvania’s huntable grouse populations hit high levels during each decade from the 1960s through the 1990s, with the successive highs generally increasing for the northern tier of the state and, by and large, decreasing for the southern tier.

Over the past 40 years, Pennsylvania has lost half of its early successional forest habitat, which is important to grouse and many other species of birds dependent on this declining habitat type. The Game Commission, along with other agencies and conservation partners, is attempting to reverse this decline through aggressive habitat management. The agency is drafting a Ruffed Grouse Management Plan, which is anticipated to be available for public comment next year. The plan will provide strategies and habitat goals for increasing grouse habitat in the state.

Grouse hunters are reminded to wear at least 250 square inches of fluorescent orange clothing on the head, chest and back combined at all times; limit hunting parties to no more than six individuals; and plug shotguns to three-shell capacity (magazine and chamber combined).

West Virginia DNR

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – -(AmmoLand.com)-The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources predicts a slightly higher harvest of wild turkeys during the 2009 fall hunting season compared to the fall 2008 harvest of 1,206, according to Paul Johansen, Assistant Chief in Charge of Game Management for DNR. This prediction is based upon the increased number of turkey broods reported in July and field notes reported by cooperators in the 2009 West Virginia Mast Survey and Hunting Outlook.

“The poor and spotty mast conditions reported this fall will tend to concentrate birds, and wildlife biologists expect many flocks to be out feeding in open fields or along field borders,” Johansen predicted. “These factors will serve to make birds more accessible to hunters and vulnerable to harvest.”

The spotty hard mast production found in the Eastern Panhandle and mountain counties should concentrate turkeys in areas where the beech and oak mast “hit.” This concentration of turkeys around available food sources in the traditional fall-hunted counties will provide turkey hunters with greater opportunities for success.

Wildlife biologists expect the fall turkey harvest in the mountain counties to be up slightly, while the fall harvest in the Eastern Panhandle is expected to be similar to last year’s numbers. The non-traditional fall-hunted counties found in the Northern Panhandle and along the Ohio River Valley are also expected to see fall turkey harvests similar to last year.

Hunters should be aware of changes in the counties that will be open for fall turkey hunting during the 2009 hunting season. Fourteen traditional fall-hunted counties will be open to a four-week season Oct. 24 through Nov. 21, 2009.

Preston County will have a two-week season from Oct. 24 to Nov. 7. Nine counties (Brooke, Hancock, Harrison, Marshall, Mason, Ohio, Upshur, Wirt, and Wood), will be open Oct. 24 through Oct. 31. Consult the 2009 Hunting and Trapping Regulations for details or log onto the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Web site at www.wvdnr.gov for additional information.

Ohio Division of Wildlife

COLUMBUS, OH --(AmmoLand.com)- Ohio waterfowl hunters should have good opportunities to take some of the most popular species of waterfowl, based on the findings of biologists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The spring pond index for the prairie pothole region of North America (Kansas to central Saskatchewan) and breeding duck surveys indicate an above average reproduction year for most duck species. Ponds are housing above average numbers and good production has been noted from most of the primary breeding range.

Closer to home, the Upper Great Lakes states showed above average conditions and good production of mallards this year. The Upper Great Lakes are the primary breeding range for mallards harvested in Ohio. Mallards are Ohio’s number one harvested duck and can be found throughout the state.

Wood ducks, the second most important duck to Ohio hunters and the state’s number one breeding duck, appear to have had a fair production year. Late summer dry conditions may concentrate birds, but a variety of hunting locations should be available for Ohio hunters.

Canada geese are the most harvested waterfowl in Ohio and can be found in good numbers everywhere. Locally raised giant Canada geese had the fourth highest population estimate this spring and all indications are there was fair to good production across Ohio. Migrant interior populations (Southern James Bay and Mississippi Valley) of Canada geese have also had good production. With proper weather, the hunting outlook is good to very good.

With good habitat conditions, Ohio hunters will enjoy a liberal 60-day hunting season once again this year. Pintail showed a large increase in population which will permit a full season. Scaup showed a slight increase in population which will allow a two-bird bag for the whole season. The canvasback population showed a large increase which will allow an open season in 2009.

The success of Ohio waterfowl hunters has more to do with weather conditions and choice of hunting location than available ducks. Hunters should be scouting their territories now and securing landowner permission where needed. State wildlife areas are in good condition with excellent fall food potential. Heavy rains early in the summer followed by an extended drought permitted considerable growth in moist-soil plants in many traditional wetlands. A flooding of those areas by early fall rains should provide additional waterfowl habitat. Hunters should not only check out their traditional spots, but also more marginal haunts for food production and water quantity.

Details of the waterfowl and all other hunting seasons can be found in the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and in Ohio Waterfowl Hunting Seasons. Hunters can also review seasons and regulations online at wildohio.com

Hunters are reminded that the 2009-2010 licenses will not be printed on weatherproof paper. Sportsmen and women should protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.

About:
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

West Virginia DNR

West Virginia –(AmmoLand.com)-The 2009 “Mast Survey and Hunting Outlook” is available on the Division of Natural Resources’ Web site and at DNR district offices, according to Randy Tucker, Wildlife Biologist for the DNR Wildlife Resources Section. Since 1970, the Wildlife Resources Section, in cooperation with volunteers from numerous other agencies, has conducted a fall mast survey to determine the abundance of mast produced by 18 species of trees and shrubs.

“The availability of fall foods has a significant impact on wildlife populations and harvests,” said Tucker. “Our biologists have used the mast survey data to demonstrate the strong correlation between mast conditions and deer, bear and turkey harvests. In addition to the impact on harvests, the amount of food available each year can affect the reproductive success of numerous species which will affect population sizes in the following years.”

Mast Survey and Hunting Outlook

Production of acorns, walnuts, beechnuts and hickory nuts are well below the 39-year average and will have noticeable effects on the 2009-2010 hunting seasons.

“It is very important for hunters to scout and consider the type and amount of food available in the areas that they hunt,” Tucker added. “Hunters can find a wealth of knowledge in the ‘Mast Survey and Hunting Outlook’ and it should provide them valuable information before heading into the field.”

Certain species of wildlife will move larger distances in search of food due to the reduced amount of mast in 2009. West Virginia residents are reminded to make sure that bird seed, pet food and trash are properly stored so that roaming wildlife, particularly black bears, do not become a nuisance.

Copies of the 2009 Mast Survey and Hunting Outlook may be found on the DNR Web site at www.wvdnr.gov under “Hunting.” Information analyzing mast conditions and wildlife harvests is also available on the Web site.

Get Your copy: Mast Survey and Hunting Outlook

Pintail Ducks

Deltawaterfowl.org

BISMARCK, N.D.—-(AmmoLand.com)- Lost in the euphoria over the 2009 breeding-population survey was the sobering confirmation that prairie Canada is no longer the continent’s leading producer of ducks.

This spring, for the first time ever, more total ducks, more puddle ducks, twice as many pintails and even more redheads settled on the U.S. side of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) than the Canadian side.

“Prairie Canada is no longer King of Continental Duck Production,” wrote President Rob Olson in the fall issue of Delta Waterfowl magazine, adding, “From a Canadian duck guy’s perspective, that stings me more than a little.”

While most of the continent’s duck hunters probably don’t care where their ducks come from—so long as they come—Canada’s sagging productivity bodes ill for the long-term future of ducks and duck hunting because it contains two-thirds of the PPR’s nesting habitat.

Wrote Olson: “In spite of the stunning losses of wetlands and shockingly low hatch rates due to unnaturally high levels of predation, Canada still possesses most of the breeding grounds for ducks and most of the remaining wetlands.”

This year’s dramatic shift in breeding-duck numbers seems to confirm what some scientists have long suspected: The U.S. is exporting surplus ducks to Canada, propping up Canada’s breeding population.

“Recent studies suggest there is a large-scale movement of birds from areas of high production, like northeastern North Dakota, to areas where duck production is reduced, like prairie Canada,” said Dr. Frank Rohwer of Louisiana State University in a related magazine article.

Mallards tend to return to areas where they were raised, and when Rohwer, Delta’s scientific director, noticed few juvenile ducks showing up in the U.S. population, he launched a research project to find out why. Young mallards were fitted with radio transmitters in late summer and tracked the following spring. “Most of the marked females returned to the U.S., where they had been raised,” Rohwer says, “but they quickly dispersed great distances.”

Wetland availability determines how many ducks settle in a given area, and this year, says Rohwer, an abundance of wetlands allowed birds that were hatched in the U.S. to nest there rather than being forced to disperse.

“There’s no question we (the U.S.) are a net exporter of ducks,” says Ron Reynolds, who heads up the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) in Bismarck. “We’re producing surplus ducks that are redistributing to nest in other areas.”

Researchers have long known that productivity was higher on the U.S. side of the PPR than in Canada. Reynolds says the eastern Dakotas make up just 7 percent of the total survey area but produce more than 20 percent of the total ducks. “In the 1990s and early 2000s, the eastern Dakotas were as high as 27 percent,” Reynolds says.

An even more telling number is the percentage of puddle ducks that settle in the eastern Dakotas. This year 40 percent of the mallards, pintails, gadwalls, blue-winged teal and shovelers from the entire survey area, which includes everything from Alaska to the prairies, set up housekeeping in the eastern Dakotas. If the rest of the U.S. PPR is included, 46 percent of puddle ducks settled in the U.S.

Reynolds says the unprecedented buildup of ducks on the U.S. side of the breeding grounds was the result of a late-breaking winter and near-record wetland numbers in the Dakotas. “Ducks had a strong, pent-up demand to settle—the clock was ticking—and they settled in the Dakotas,” he says.

But the U.S. share of nesting puddle ducks has been climbing for two decades. Since 1986, through wet years and dry, the U.S. side of the region has attracted 4.06 ducks for every pond counted in the survey, 46 percent more than Canada’s 2.74 ducks-per-pond.

The year 1986 is significant because that’s the first year the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) began converting cropland to grass cover in the U.S.

CRP, Swampbuster and the federal duck stamp, which secured more than 90 percent of the permanently protected breeding habitat in the U.S., are three important reasons productivity in the U.S. has surpassed Canada.

Canada doesn’t have a CRP-like program, and scientists there confirm a 6.7 percent drop in productivity since the 1970s, most of it attributable to wetland losses ranging from 4.9 to 7.6 percent since 1971.

Reynolds says wetland losses in the U.S., which were once extremely high, slowed after CRP and Swampbuster, which denies crop subsidies to farmers who drain wetlands, were approved.

In addition to the 5 million acres of high-quality nesting cover provided by CRP, the program also protected almost 800,000 acres of wetlands. A Farm Service Agency (FSA) evaluation confirmed some 200,000 acres of “cropped wetlands” are embedded in CRP lands and another 592,000 acres of non-cropped wetlands exist in or adjacent to CRP fields.

Reynolds says the improved function of these CRP wetlands allow them to carry 20 percent more breeding ducks than other wetlands, and the productivity of surrounding landscapes increases as well.

CRP makes up 6 percent of the land area but attracts 30 percent of the nesting ducks.

“That’s pretty amazing,” says Reynolds, who conducted research showing that CRP was responsible for an average of average of around 2 million incremental ducks between 1992 and 2004. “On the wet years, it was probably twice as many,” he says. “And that’s to say nothing of the future generations of ducks that accrue like interest earned on a savings account.”

“The shift in breeding numbers points to a need to protect CRP and the other programs responsible for ducks produced in the U.S., and find innovative ways to restore Canada’s declining duck production,” says Delta Senior Vice President John Devney.

Foremost among those programs, he says, are CRP, Swampbuster, the federal duck stamp and the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA) and legislation discouraging the breaking of native prairie.

Just as important, he says, is making Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) a national program in Canada.

“If we lose some of the critical programs in the U.S. without shoring up production in Canada, duck numbers are going to decrease. That’s why it’s imperative that duck hunters get behind these programs.”

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Delta Waterfowl provides knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting.

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

LITTLE ROCK, AR – -(AmmoLand.com)- There is some fresh news for Arkansas duck hunters, and it is good.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its preliminary report on mid-continent breeding ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May and early June. Total duck populations were estimated at 42 million breeding ducks. This estimate is a 13 percent increase over last year’s estimate of 37.3 million birds and is 25 percent above the 1955-2008 long-term average.

A key component for waterfowl managers is that pond count.

The number of ponds in the Canadian prairie provinces and in the upper Midwest of the Untied States is 45 percent more this year than last year and 31 percent more than the 1955-2008 long-term average, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission waterfowl biologist Luke Naylor says. “Of particular interest for Arkansas duck hunters is the dramatic increase in pond counts in the Dakotas, an area that makes a substantial contribution to this state’s mallard harvest,” he said. “Unfortunately, this good news must be considered in light of continued loss of the grassland habitat that has made this region so valuable for nesting ducks and in turn Arkansas duck hunters,” Naylor stated.

According to the FWS, wet and dry cycles, where water levels fluctuate over time, are vital components of maintaining wetland productivity. This is especially important for the prairie potholes of the northern plains. While hunters and ducks rejoice with the return of water, droughts are important in rejuvenating wetlands. As evident by this year, dedication to conservation, even through dry cycles, can pay off when water returns to the prairies and wetlands again teem with breeding waterfowl and other wildlife.

Habitat is the vital element for ducks as it is for all wildlife. The number of ponds is up, the number of ducks is up, but some parts of the Midwest and the South, Arkansas especially, were hard hit by heavy rains and flooding in the spring. In Arkansas, rice and soybean crops are far behind schedule, and these are used extensively by migrating ducks.

The FWS issued a caution note. “Improvement in water conditions is only part of the story. Water without nesting cover does little to improve the duck outlook. As good as the news is this week, waterfowl and prairie habitats continue to face greater long-term threats. Grassland habitat is under siege on many fronts and is being lost at alarming rates. The U.S. prairie pothole region has lost more than 1.2 million Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres since 2007 (another 3.1 million acres will expire by 2012), and more than 3.3 million acres of native prairie are projected to be lost during the next five years.”

The FWS surveys 10 species of ducks in its population counts. Eight of the 10 showed increases this year, and the two that didn’t showed very slight drops.

• Mallards, THE duck to most Arkansas waterfowl hunters, increased 10 percent over last year and 13 percent over the long-term average.
• Gadwalls increased 12 percent over last year and 73 percent over the long-term average.
  Wigeons decreased 1 percent over last year and 5 percent over the long-term average.
• Green-winged teal increased 16 percent over last year and 79 percent over the long-term average.
• Blue-winged teal increased 11 percent over last year and 60 percent over the long-term average.
• Shovelers increased 25 percent over last year and 92 percent over the long-term average.
• Pintails increased 23 percent over last year but decreased 20 percent over the long-term average.
• Redheads decreased 1 percent over last year but are up 62 percent over the long-term average.
• Canvasbacks increased 35 percent over last year and 16 percent over the long-term average.
• Scaup increased 12 percent over last year but are down 18 percent over the long-term average.

Population estimates for black ducks, ring-necked ducks, bufflehead, goldeneyes, and mergansers are similar to last year as well as their 1990-2008 averages.

Hunting season dates and bag limits for Arkansas will be proposed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Wildlife Management staff at the AGFC’s July 16 meeting in Little Rock. The commissioners will set the seasons and bag limits at their Aug. 20 meeting in Little Rock.

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The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will be present with several educational programs. For the hunting enthusiasts, drawings for elk permits will be held each hour starting at noon on Saturday.