Newspaper article - Nisqually Wildlife Refuge

[bobcat]

Bird-watchers, beware of hunt

Nisqually Refuge: New boardwalk will be closed off and on during prime nature-appreciation time

JOHN DODGE; Staff writer | • Published September 15, 2010

 
When portions of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge open to duck and goose hunters for the first time ever this fall, many of them will already be familiar with the territory.

The 191 acres of refuge tidelands within the new hunting boundaries have been hunted illegally for years, state and federal officials acknowledged.


The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service tidelands sanctioned for hunting adjoin 600 acres of state Department of Fish and Wildlife tidelands where hunting has been allowed.


“It’s been a difficult situation enforcing hunting on the tidelands with the patchwork ownership,” said Don Kraege, waterfowl program manager for the state agency. “This is an attempt to square up the boundaries.”


The new boundaries will be easier to post and enforce, agreed refuge manager Jean Takekawa.


The refuge area open to boat-access hunting is on the northern perimeter of the 3,000-acre refuge between the mouth of McAllister Creek and the Nisqually River.


The 2010 hunting season, which opens with a youth hunt for ducks and geese Sept. 25-26 and continues off and on for all licensed hunters through Jan. 30, will force temporary closures of the new refuge boardwalk. The boardwalk, which is under construction near McAllister Creek, is scheduled for completion in the late fall or early winter.


The mile-long boardwalk extends out into the tidelands reclaimed last year when a dike built in the early 1900s was removed as part of the largest estuary restoration project in Puget Sound. The $2.7 million boardwalk is eagerly anticipated by bird-watchers and other nature lovers who lost access to the Brown Dike Trail when the dike was breached last year.


“The boardwalk closures are disappointing,” noted Black Hills Audubon chapter president Sam Merrill. “A lot of the best time to watch waterfowl is in the winter.”


The Brown Dike Trail also was closed during hunting season to avoid conflicts between hunters and others.


During the hunting season, the boardwalk will remain open out to the McAllister Creek viewing platform, which is about one-quarter mile of boardwalk access, Takekawa said. The Twin Barns Loop Trail and 0.5-mile Nisqually Estuary Trail will remain open during hunting season.


Merrill questioned whether it makes sense to keep promoting duck hunting in such a popular bird-watching area.


“It seems like a topic for negotiations with the state,” he said.


Not likely, said Kraege.


“We’re very committed to hunting out there,” he said. It’s one of the few places in South Sound where boat-access waterfowl hunting can take place in a lightly populated area, he said.


Historically, the Nisqually Delta was hunted more heavily than present day, Kraege said. But it’s not unusual for 20 or more hunting parties to use the area on a weekend.


“It’s a specialized hunt, because you need a good boat and you have to watch the weather,” he said.


Waterfowl frequenting the area include wigeons, mallards, green-winged teals, pintails and geese.


Hunting is one of six priority public uses identified by Congress in the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997. A new comprehensive plan adopted for the Nisqually refuge in 2004 called on the refuge to provide a waterfowl hunting program.


John Dodge: 360-754-5444 jdodge@theolympian.com



Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/09/15/1370001/bird-watchers-beware-of-hunt.html#ixzz0zbqnGu84

[Curly]

That Merril guy from Audubon is one of those 

Merrill questioned whether it makes sense to keep promoting duck hunting in such a popular bird-watching area.

 

[WSU]

That article is pretty lame, thats for sure.  I wonder why they are closing the trail?  Seems like they should provide access to everyone.

[bobcat]

That article is pretty lame, thats for sure.  I wonder why they are closing the trail?  Seems like they should provide access to everyone.

Closing the trail to keep the birdwatchers away from the hunting area. You need a boat to hunt there anyway. I'm not sure it would be possible to walk in on the trail and hunt without a boat.

[WSU]

It seems like the bird watchers should be allowed wherever they normally are.  If they don't like watching people hunt or birds get shot, that is their issue.  We shouldn't exclude other user groups.  It weakens our position when arguing that we should not be excluded.

[Tealer]

It is usually a good call to separate these two user groups. I have had bird watchers too close to my spreads while hunting. Plus there is always that possibility for bad press from pictures of guys ground pounding cripples, best to keep them separate. At least the refuge manager said they where committed to keep it open to hunting. It also helps that there has been several projects out there funded by hunters. BTW do they charge bird watchers out there?

[Dustin07]

The auduban societ is great, I used to have a subscription to the mag. Now whenever I am trying to figure out where a bird is most common, I go to their website look up the species and research it (always ducks and geese) and it gives me a good idea of what part of the state I need to be scouting and what months I'll be able to find that duck in that area. I'm not sure they meant that tool as a function for hunters to kill ducks more successfully... but hey it works for me.

It seems like the bird watchers should be allowed wherever they normally are.  If they don't like watching people hunt or birds get shot, that is their issue.  We shouldn't exclude other user groups.  It weakens our position when arguing that we should not be excluded.

I understand where you are coming from, but I don't think it's a good idea to permit non-hunters in these areas during season. maybe require a wdfw pass or something at the least.

[Mr56Jeep]

I'm a bird watcher.... I just do it from my boat, in camo, with a dog and a Beretta.  I get a closer view that way 

[Special T]

maybe they should keep all the lookie lous off fir island at the Skagit then... I always liked walking past the bird hugger with the telephoto lens with my dog and shot gun on the dike... Actually half of them were pretty cool... The meat sticks on the road aren't tho

[nwlynx22]

I'm almost 100% sure that most of that refuge was redone and paid for by/in conjunction with DU. I read about it maybe a year or two ago in one of the member issues. Funny I don't recall and birdwatchers with DU gear or stickers supporting this kind or restoration project. Maybe they should have to kick down some of those mile long lens funds and support something for a change and quite riding the coat tails of hunters.

[h2ofowlr]

Some of the best bird watching for ducks and geese seems to fall mid January- March as they have all arived in the area.  This guy needs to be provided some correct info.  Open it after the season starting Feb. 1st  They will get great viewing.

[Dustin07]

maybe they should keep all the lookie lous off fir island at the Skagit then... I always liked walking past the bird hugger with the telephoto lens with my dog and shot gun on the dike... Actually half of them were pretty cool... The meat sticks on the road aren't tho

yeah that is kinda my point. it can already be a pain in some areas, no reason to have to mix it up. Think about people deer hunting always have to wear orange for safety, shouldn't hikers in thick deer areas during deer season just avoid the area or wear orange as well?

h20 has a good point on the feb-march thing.

[Special T]

ya play in the mud yer gona get dirty... I fear no bunny hugger... if they want to watch my superior  and take pics of it, that's up to them... I do prefer if they don't wear white and honk.

[terrellwa]

ya play in the mud yer gona get dirty... I fear no bunny hugger... if they want to watch my superior  and take pics of it, that's up to them... I do prefer if they don't wear white and honk.

Special T

Can't help but notice your Smiley is floating his 4th shell.   

[Special T]

yes it is the 4th shell on a break open shot gun!