Newsgroups: bit.listserv.biosph-l
Date:         Fri, 28 Aug 1992 08:21:32 EDT
Reply-To:     "Norman C. Saunders" <NYS@NIHCU.BITNET>
From:         "Norman C. Saunders" <NYS@NIHCU.BITNET>
Subject:      Proposed Waterfowl "Harvest" Regulations
X-To:         biosph-l@ubvm.BITNET, NZPEM001@SIVM.BITNET,
              chuckw%evax2@arizona.edu, David.A.Merker@mac.dartmouth.edu,
              LLARSON@PUCC.BITNET, econet@igc.org

Fish and Wildlife Service
For Release: August 24, 1992


Dorothy Deas  202-208-5634


       U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Final Frameworks
              For Early Season Migratory Bird Hunting And
        Proposed Frameworks For Regular Season Waterfowl Hunting


   The Interior  Department's U.S.  Fish and Wildlife Service has issued
final hunting  frameworks for  the  early  (opening  before  October  1)
migratory bird  seasons and has issued proposed frameworks to govern the
regular fall waterfowl season.

   The final  early-season frameworks  apply to  the hunting  of  doves,
woodcock, band-tailed  pigeons, rails, snipe, common moorhens and purple
gallinules, sandhill cranes, and sea ducks, as well as special September
teal, wood  duck, and  Canada goose  seasons.  They also cover migratory
bird hunting  seasons in  Alaska, Hawaii,  Puerto Rico,  and the  Virgin
Islands.

   The frameworks  prescribe season lengths, bag limits, shooting hours,
and outside dates for the hunting of migratory waterfowl.  States select
their seasons  from within  the frameworks  set by  the Service.   State
regulations may  be more  restrictive, but  not more  liberal, than  the
Federal frameworks.

   The  final  early-season  frameworks  include  the  reinstatement  of
September teal  season after a 4-year suspension, continued Canada goose
experimental seasons in Minnesota and Michigan, and initiation of 3-year
experimental Canada  goose seasons  in Pennsylvania  and New  York.   In
addition, a  season for the Rocky Mountain population of sandhill cranes
will be initiated in Montana.

   The Service's  original proposal  was to close the season for Pacific
Coast population  of band-tailed  pigeons; however,  based on the public
comments received and other information, band-tailed pigeon hunting will
continue, but with a shortened, 9-day fall season rather than the 16-day
season of  last year.   The  affected states  -- California, Washington,
Oregon, and  Nevada --  will be  required to  report harvest and hunter-
participation information  to the  Service.   All other  frameworks were
finalized without change.

   Proposed frameworks for the regular hunting season include a duck and
coot season of not more than 30 days between October 1, 1992 and January
20, 1993,  for all flyways.  Generally, proposed shooting hours are from
one-half hour  before sunrise to sunset daily, and possession limits are
twice the  daily bag  limits.   Proposed bag  limits  are  specified  by
species and  flyway.  Hunters should check state hunting regulations for
specific local  information on  permits, bag  limits,  and  open  areas.
Highlights of  the proposed  regular season  frameworks by flyway are as
follows:


                            Atlantic Flyway

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


   DUCKS AND COOTS -- A daily bag limit of three, including no more than
one hen  mallard, two  wood ducks,  two redheads,  one black  duck,  one
mottled duck,  one pintail,  and one fulvous whistling duck.  Seasons on
canvasbacks and  harlequin ducks  are closed.   The  daily bag  limit of
mergansers is  five, only  one of  which may be a hooded merganser.  The
daily bag limit of coots is 15.

   GEESE -- For light geese (lesser snow geese, blue geese, greater snow
geese, and  Ross' geese),  states may  select a  107-day season  between
October 1,  1992, and  February 10,  1993, with five geese per day.  For
Canada geese,  various restrictions have been proposed to reduce harvest
of the  Atlantic population.   For example, the season in North Carolina
has been suspended, while other seasons have been shortened.

   ATLANTIC BRANT  -- States  may select a 50-day season between October
1, 1992, and January 20, 1993, with a limit of two brant per day.


                           Mississippi Flyway

              (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
              Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Michigan,  Minnesota,
              Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee)

   DUCKS AND  COOTS --  The daily  bag limit is three and may include no
more than  two mallards  (no more  than one  of which may be a hen), one
black duck, one pintail, two wood ducks and one redhead.  A point system
is offered as an alternative.  The canvasback season is closed.  A daily
bag limit  of five  mergansers may  be taken, only one of which may be a
hooded merganser.  The daily bag limit if coots is 15.

   GEESE --  The following  are the  major changes from last year's reg-
ulations.   The daily  bag limit  has been  reduced from  three to  two.
Various restrictions  have been  placed on  season lengths,  bag limits,
and/or harvest  quotas for  Mississippi Valley  population Canada  goose
areas.  The season in nine northeastern counties of Illinois is extended
for nine  additional days.   The  season in the Twin Cities Metropolitan
Zone and  Olmstead County,  Minnesota, is  extended for an additional 10
days and a new zone has been created in northwestern Arkansas with a 14-
day experimental season.


                             Central Flyway

              (Kansas, Nebraska,  North Dakota,  Oklahoma,
              South  Dakota,   Texas,  and   portions   of
              Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming)

   DUCKS AND  COOTS --  The daily  bag limit is three, including no more
than two  mallards (no more than one of which may be a hen), one mottled
duck, one  pintail, one  redhead, and two wood ducks.  A point system is
offered as  an alternative.   The  canvasback season is closed.  A daily
bag limit  of five  mergansers may  be taken, only one of which may be a
hooded merganser.  The daily bag limit if coots is 15.

   GEESE -- Seasons may be split into two segments.  Framework dates are
the Saturday  nearest October  1 (October  3, 1992)  through January 31,
1993, for  dark geese  (Canada and  white-fronted geese and black brant)
and the  Saturday nearest October 1 through the Sunday nearest (February
15 (February  14, 1993)  for light  geese (lesser snow and blue, greater
snow and  Ross' geese).   This rule applies to all states in the Central
flyway except  New Mexico,  where the  closing date  is February  28 for
light geese.  Bag limits vary by state.


                             Pacific Flyway

              (Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon,
              Utah, Washington,  and portions of Colorado,
              Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming)

   DUCKS AND  COOTS --  The daily  bag limit for ducks and mergansers is
four, including  no more  than three mallards (no more than one of which
may be a hen), one pintail, and either two canvasbacks, two redheads, or
one of  each.   The daily bag limit for coots and common moorhens is 25,
either singly or in the aggregate.  Some states may split their seasons.

   GEESE --  In most cases, a 93-day season may be selected with outside
dates between  the Saturday  nearest October 1 (October 3, 1992) through
the Sunday nearest January 20, 1993 (January 17, 1993).  The basic daily
bag and  possession limits  are six  geese, including no more than three
light geese  and  three  dark  geese.    Special  regulations  apply  in
California, Washington.  and Oregon.   There  will be  no open season on
Aleutian Canada geese in the flyway and no open season on cackling geese
in California, Washington, and Oregon.


   These proposed  regulations for late season waterfowl hunting will be
printed in  the Federal Register and will be open for public comment for
a 10-day  period beginning  on or  about August  21.   Written  comments
should be  sent to:  Director (FWS/MBMO), USFWS/DOI, Room 634, Arlington
Square, Washington, D.C.  20240.

      ===========================================================

The foregoing information is provided as a service of The Osprey's Nest,
a computer  bulletin board run for birders by birders.  It is located in
Colesville, MD,  a suburb  of Washington,  D.C.   The system answers the
phone at  300, 1200, or 2400 baud, with communications parameters set at
8N1.   The Osprey's Nest phone number is (301) 989-9036 and it is avail-
able 24  hours per  day, 7  days per  week.   The bulletin board is also
accessible via PC Pursuit.

The Osprey's  Nest is not in any way associated with the U.S. Department
of Interior or the Fish and Wildlife Service.  The opinions expressed in
this press release are generally not those of the system operator of The
Osprey's Nest.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU