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MD DNR Announces 2009-2010 Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

ANNAPOLIS, MD --(AmmoLand.com)- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the 2009-2010 early migratory game bird hunting seasons.

The dove season marks the traditional start of hunting activity each year in Maryland and will open Tuesday, September 1 and continue through October 10. The second and third split seasons will be November 14 to 27 and December 18 to January 2. The daily bag limit for doves has been increased to 15 this year.

Maryland’s woodcock season is split into two segments, November 7 to 27 and January 15 to 23.

The early resident Canada goose season will open September 1 and run through September 15 in the Eastern zone. In the Western zone, the season will continue through September 25. The daily bag limit is eight geese per day. During the early resident Canada goose season hunters are allowed to use shotguns capable of holding more than three shotshells and shooting hours are extended to one-half hour past sunset.

“Both blue-winged and green-winged teal populations are well above their long term averages and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has approved additional days for the September teal season,” said DNR Game Bird Section Leader Bill Harvey. “We are pleased to offer hunters more opportunity for these early migrants this year.”

The dates for the September teal season are September 16 to 30. A description of the September teal season zone can be found at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/ewfchart.asp. Shooting hours for the September teal season are sunrise to sunset.

Official shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for all migratory game bird hunting EXCEPT for:

• mourning doves during the first season segment, when shooting hours are from noon to sunset,
• teal during the September teal season when shooting hours are sunrise to sunset, and
• early (September) resident Canada goose season when shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

All migratory bird hunters, including landowners who are license exempt, are required to obtain the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp/HIP Permit. Hunters must possess the printed receipt showing proof of purchase of the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp while hunting migratory game birds.

All waterfowl hunters age 16 and over must possess the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (federal duck stamp). Hunters are still required to sign the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp and have it in their possession while hunting waterfowl. Hunters may obtain federal duck stamps at U.S. Post Offices, National Wildlife Refuges, DNR sport license agents, or online at www.duckstamp.com.

Hunters can purchase hunting licenses and Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamps/HIP Permits online through DNR’s website, https://www3.wildlifelicense.com/md/ or over the phone at 1-800-918-2870. These new services compliment the existing 320 retail vendors that currently sell licenses, permits and stamps.

Nontoxic shot is required for hunting rails, snipe, waterfowl, and coots. Hunters may not possess or use nontoxic shot larger than size T or use or possess any lead shot while hunting these species. Approved types of nontoxic shot and other information on migratory bird hunting is listed in the 2009-2010 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping issued with each hunting license or on the DNR website: http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/index.asp.

For a table that lists the dates and bag limits for Maryland’s 2009-2010 early migratory game bird hunting seasons, visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/weblesschart.asp. For a quick reference to the early resident Canada goose and September teal seasons and bag limits, visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/ewfchart.asp. Hunters are encouraged to report banded migratory game birds by calling 1-800-327-BAND (2263) or through the Internet at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/.

About:
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland’s forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland’s effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state’s number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.DNR.Maryland.gov.

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Woodcock Hunting Survey Provides Skinny On Hunter Satisfaction And Trends

Ruffed Grouse Society

Coraopolis, PA – -(AmmoLand.com)- The results of a woodcock hunting survey suggest that a typical woodcock hunter is a 40 plus year old male, who hunts woodcock primarily while hunting for other game animals, (grouse, bobwhite quail and rabbits); hunts woodcock 10 days or less each year and harvests 10 or fewer woodcock each season.

Conducted by the Ruffed Grouse Society, the mailed questionnaire which randomly queried 2,025 hunters nationwide also revealed that 19-percent of the respondents hunt woodcock in more than one state or Province.

When it came to harvest numbers over the last five years, 56-percent said they shot five or less, 24-percent between 6 and 10, 14-percent 11-20 and 6-percent killed between 21-50. None of those surveyed indicated they harvested 50 or more.

The survey showed most woodcock hunters appear satisfied with the current season and bag limit structure. Seventy percent feel that the 3-bird daily bag limit is adequate; 7-percent said it was to low, 6-percent thought it was too high and 17-percent had no opinion.

As for the length of the season, 61-percent said the season was sufficient, 16-percent said it was too short; 2-percent thought it too high and 21-percent had no opinion.

Although the highest percentage of respondents (38-percent) stated the overall quality of woodcock hunting has remained about the same over the past 5 years, hunters who feel that it has gotten worse (33-percent) far outnumber those who feel it has become better (17-percent). Likewise, although the majority of woodcock hunters (52-percent) are hunting about the same number of days as they were 5 years ago, 26-percent said they are hunting less, while 13-percent said they are hunting more. Nine-percent haven’t hunted woodcock at all.

“This decline in hunter effort could be due to a perceived decline in hunt quality, or because hunters are getting older, or both,” said Dan Dessecker, RGS Director of Conservation Policy.

Of those woodcock hunters that expressed an opinion, 38-percent support the idea of establishing a $15 permit to hunt woodcock if the generated funds were used for woodcock habitat conservation, while 48-percent opposed, and 14-percent were unsure.

Not surprisingly, hunters who could be considered more dedicated (those who hunt more days each year or hunt in more than one state or province) are more likely to support a permit than are casual woodcock hunters.

Forty-seven percent of survey respondents suggest that they would, or probably would continue to hunt woodcock if required to purchase a permit in order to do so, while 40-percent said they would not, or probably would not continue to hunt woodcock if they had to pay an additional $15.

This collaborative survey was conducted to gain insight into what woodcock hunters think about their sport is the first such random, nationwide survey ever conducted.

The survey had a 27-percent response rate.

To view the RGS National Woodcock Migration Map

About:
Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is the one international wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting conditions suitable for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and related wildlife to sustain our sport hunting tradition and outdoor heritage.

Information on the RGS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.

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