proposed 2010/2011 WA Seaduck season regs

[saltdux]

2010/ 2011 Sea Ducks regs

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~ WDFW and our voice within the waterfowl committee-- the WAG-- is proposing a 2 bird daily limit on scoters for the 2010/2011 season. Down from a 4 bird daily limit. This proposal is due to a recent report from a cumulative study by the WDFW over the past few years on scoters in particular. In a nutshell their study is showing that scoter harvest in WA has increased beyond an acceptable threshhold ( acceptable = 3-5% harvest rate ) -- currently it was at 5.7% for the 2009 season. That combined with low aerial wintering bird counts for the past couple seasons has spurned this "restrictive" recommendation for upcoming season so the state can manage the harvest and get it back into acceptable margins.

~ As hunters we are all for what is good for the birds and certainly don't want their populations to fall below a threshold where sea duck hunting would be eliminated but a couple items to note in this arena-- The WDFW is ALSO proposing a reduction of Oldsquaw to 2 birds and both Goldeneyes to a combined daily limit of 2 birds. GE's aren't even a seaduck and their continental numbers are well over a Million birds and by no means threatened ! These other birds are getting pulled into this legislation as part of the proposal and with no scientific merit as waterfowl managers are worried other birds will be impacted by the reduced limit on scoters. per the WDFW report : "options directed at scoters could shift harvest to species with more limited abundance, so scoter regulations cannot be set completely independent from other sea duck species. IE- to reduce imapcts on scoters they're gonna severely limit all collateral species. This is clearly micromanagement of species and hunting and has no place in the wildlife management of our state.

~ A few hunters are behind these rules as proposed, but most that I have spoken with are not convinced of the value of changes this drastic. If you care about sea duck hunting in WA, Or have ever had the desire to this is the time to contact WDFW, WDFW Wildlife Commission and the WAG -- your voice on matters waterfowl-- and voice your opinions on these proposed regulation changes. These restrictions are harsh and were drawn with little or no input from the sea duck hunting community as a whole. There should be a balance and compromise allowed in this case that would allow a decrease in harvest until local populations rebound while still allowing for the traditions of offshore waterfowling that many of us enjoy.

The WDFW Wildlife Commision meeting when seasons are set will be in Olympia, August 6 and 7th.

WDFW Commission members- e-mail--- commission@dfw.wa.gov
commission@dfw.wa.gov

Don Kraege-- WDFW waterfowl head KRAEGDKK@DFW.WA.GOV
KRAEGDKK@DFW.WA.GOV

and / or members of our WAG including our own Dr. Dux, Chessie Man, Brad Bortner USFW @ wildthing@dfw.wa.gov

[~GooseDown~]

That's nuts man. This last season was a banner year for me! Much better than my puddle duck harvest numbers... But I'm all for keeping close tabs on our harvest numbers. So if a reduction in bag limit is needed, I'm all for it.. I'll shoot WDFW a quick email. 

[boots]

When it comes to harvest quotas, I can support changes based on science. Unfortunately sometimes decisions are based on emotion instead and which user group they will cater too

[h2ofowlr]

Hopefully they are getting accurate counts to accomodate their ratio they plug into the computer.

[1morebuck]

This sucks.  I saw more surf, white wing and even black scoters last year then I ever have! WDFW pull your heads out.

[Dustin07]

So does this mean the combined sea duck total is only 2 ducks in a day, or you have 2 Scoters, 2 Old Squaws, 2 Goldeneyes, etc?

[Dakota Dogman]

Does this have any effect on Harli's?

God Bless,

[Meats]

So does this mean the combined sea duck total is only 2 ducks in a day, or you have 2 Scoters, 2 Old Squaws, 2 Goldeneyes, etc?

2 of each you listed.

[Meats]

Does this have any effect on Harli's?

God Bless,

Nope.

[lokidog]

Just some anecdotal evidence....

I have spent four years here in the San Juans and spend a lot of time on the water, not necessarily hunting, and have noticed a decrease in the numbers of both scoters and oldsquaw the last two winters. 

Just my    How many scoters does one need a day? They aren't in the top 5 for eating ducks, at least in my book. 

[Dustin07]

Just some anecdotal evidence....

I have spent four years here in the San Juans and spend a lot of time on the water, not necessarily hunting, and have noticed a decrease in the numbers of both scoters and oldsquaw the last two winters. 

Just my    How many scoters does one need a day? They aren't in the top 5 for eating ducks, at least in my book. 

If someone could get me into one nice mature Old Squaw that would be my lifetime limit most likely, that and a harli. for mounts obviously. I just think they are beautiful birds.

Scoters however are a lot of fun as they decoy well and also really cool looking birds, but still I don't have a need to harvest many. It's the old squaw and harli that interest me the most. I was really hoping to get my harli last year but it didnt pan out. Only saw one.

[addicted]

thats really going to screw with the guide servicies. 

[haus]

They're migratory species, I hope they're not just basing this decision off of surveys done solely within WA waters.

[Meats]

They're migratory species, I hope they're not just basing this decision off of surveys done solely within WA waters.

With so many newbee seaduckers pounding the same spots over and over and over the birds have simply moved to other areas.
One of the men trying to railroad this new law is a former seaduck guide and doing this for his own agenda not the welfare of the birds.He does not see the number of birds in his old spots(why should he.He has taken thousand of people there who now hunt it) so he assumes the bird numbers are down.He is just not willing to scout or look around to find where the birds are.
I saw so many new seaduckers out last season the birds in my usual spots were fewer but I moved a short distance and guess what..................there they were.

Read some of this to see what I am talking about.
http://www.refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=803430





.

[Dakota Dogman]

If I told you to "prove it!", would you take me hunting?? 

I may even by dinner!    JK

I do hope to get into a harli this year though...

God Bless,

[1morebuck]

Meats is correct. Some of the guides moved into my spot in the south sound two years ago and magically the birds left the area. Guess what? I moved less than a mile and again, just as they dissappeared, poof they reappeared in another area! Please read the thread in "general" about the meeting on Friday everyone.

[haus]

Meats is correct. Some of the guides moved into my spot in the south sound two years ago and magically the birds left the area. Guess what? I moved less than a mile and again, just as they dissappeared, poof they reappeared in another area! Please read the thread in "general" about the meeting on Friday everyone.

after I made my post on here I asked my diehard seaduck huntin buddy about the subject, he said the same thing as both of you, and mentioned the conversation on the refuge forum. He called it cannibalism, hunters versus hunters.

[Whitenuckles]

 This is Bull $h!t!!   Ive been hunting Seaducks for 10 years now. When I first started out there, their were only a few guys out hunting the salts. We all knew who each other was, and we respected each others spots! Ive watch Saltduxs work out there for years, and if there is anyone I would trust to do what is right for the birds, it would be him!
 I also agree we have a crap ton of new hunters out on the salt. But they always shoot the same spots. And in those spots there is a substantial decrease in bird numbers. But there are still lots of birds in those spots! Ive only moved a mile or two from my old spots, and the birds are as abundant as they always have been!
 2 birds, thats makes me sick.... at least give us three so all of our young people can have the experience of getting a scoter slam!

 As for cutting the GE limit, what a joke, their freakin every where........ next there going to say the bufflehead population is low

[haus]

This is why I joined Washington For Wildlife. I'm sick of seeing us get kicked around like this, its a long time comin' that we have a WA specific organization that serves to promote our tradition to hunt and fights to protect it.

[Mr56Jeep]

If your keeping up on the story.     


http://olympia.komonews.com/content/thurston-county-eyes-hunting-restrictions-inlets

[Skyhigh]

This is why I joined Washington For Wildlife. I'm sick of seeing us get kicked around like this, its a long time comin' that we have a WA specific organization that serves to promote our tradition to hunt and fights to protect it.

thats cool....Tried to find a stance the Washington for wildlife had on this and cant find anything in writting.. Can you post something for us to read that states their official opinion? How may folks did they have giving testimony at the meeting?

[pjb3]

no more of this

[h2ofowlr]

no more of this

Not this year unless you bring twice as many guys with you.

[seaduckhunter]

I have already looked at hunting B.C..   You dont need a guide, 8 bird limit with no stipulations except 2 Harli's a day.  You  can shoot 8 scoters there.     Its just going to be a pain getting through customs everytime with a shotgun.  Im going to have to do overnighters to make it worth it.   I havent decided for sure if its worth it or not.

[Dustin07]

I have already looked at hunting B.C..   You dont need a guide, 8 bird limit with no stipulations except 2 Harli's a day.  You  can shoot 8 scoters there.     Its just going to be a pain getting through customs everytime with a shotgun.  Im going to have to do overnighters to make it worth it.   I havent decided for sure if its worth it or not.

If you really consider this let me know. I would be interested and would of course be willing to split expenses where applicable.

[terrellwa]

I have already looked at hunting B.C..   You dont need a guide, 8 bird limit with no stipulations except 2 Harli's a day.  You  can shoot 8 scoters there.     Its just going to be a pain getting through customs everytime with a shotgun.  Im going to have to do overnighters to make it worth it.   I havent decided for sure if its worth it or not.

If you really consider this let me know. I would be interested and would of course be willing to split expenses where applicable.

Dustin,

we were going to go north this season to do some seaducking and harli's but this is NORTH.  Sounds like good times though 8 is a heck of a lot better than 2.  Maybe have a western Washington get together in BC...

[Dustin07]

I agree 100%. 2 harlis, 8 seaducks. I think we should try to plan a wa hunt invasion, like a 3 day trip. make it worthwhile. can probably get a group of guys with layouts, tenders, etc.

[terrellwa]

I agree 100%. 2 harlis, 8 seaducks. I think we should try to plan a wa hunt invasion, like a 3 day trip. make it worthwhile. can probably get a group of guys with layouts, tenders, etc.

Sounds like a plan I have my two layouts.  Seaduckhunter what is needed to hunt BC sounds like you already did all the figuring would it be worth a 3 day trip? 

[Dustin07]

also, what time of year? i'm guessing since it's even further up north, we can catch them earlier in the migration, and maybe even less decoy-wise.

[seaduckhunter]

Decoy wise?     I dont seem to have any problems getting seaducks into decoys.   Old squaws seem to be the only finicky ones.   Harlis got to be the easiest they seem to swim in and fly in constantly.    Well trying to contact there wildlife program up in BC for any special rules.  190.00  for non-resident season liscense.   I am going to have take some time to explore boat launches and areas.  Probably start looking soon.

[haus]

This is why I joined Washington For Wildlife. I'm sick of seeing us get kicked around like this, its a long time comin' that we have a WA specific organization that serves to promote our tradition to hunt and fights to protect it.

thats cool....Tried to find a stance the Washington for wildlife had on this and cant find anything in writting.. Can you post something for us to read that states their official opinion? How may folks did they have giving testimony at the meeting?

WFW was just recently started(couple months ago), no official positions will be made on a specific subject until the board of directors is established unless Bearpaw says otherwise in the interim.

I attended the Saturday meeting, don't know of any members that attended the Friday meeting. I do know several sent in emails to the WDFW Commissioners.