Chesapeake Bay News

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites Maryland waterfowl artists to enter the 35th Annual Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest.

“Proceeds from the sale of these stamps help fund waterfowl and migratory game bird projects as well as much needed research,” said Jonathan McKnight, acting director of DNR’s Wildlife & Heritage Service.

All entered designs must be the artist’s original work, neither copied nor duplicated from any previously published paintings, drawings, prints, or photographs of the contestant, or any other artist. Each contestant may submit up to three entries. The entry fee, signed “Agreement to Enter the Contest” form, and entries with completed “Entry Identification Forms” attached to the back must be received via mail by 4:00 p.m. on March 20, 2009 at The Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest, Friends of Patuxent, Patuxent Research Refuge/National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop Laurel, MD 20708-4027.

Entries will be judged at noon on Saturday, March 28, 2009 in conjunction with the 20th Annual Patuxent Wildlife Art Show at the National Wildlife Visitors Center in Laurel. Contestants and the public are invited to attend the contest judging process. Admission is free.

The stamp can be purchased by any citizen for $9 and is required for all migratory game bird hunters in Maryland. For a list of species eligible for depiction and full contest rules visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/duckstamp or contact Doug Wigfield, Contest Coordinator, at 410-713-3852 or dwigfield2@dnr.state.md.us.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources press release

The first portion of Maryland’s Atlantic Population (AP) Canada goose hunting season opens Saturday, November 15. The AP Canada goose season is split into two parts, running from November 15 to November 28 and then from December 18 to January 24. The daily bag limit is two Canada geese.

The AP Canada goose population comprises the northernmost nesting population of Canada geese. These birds nest north of the 48° latitude in northern Québec along Ungava Bay, the northeastern shore of Hudson Bay and in the interior of the Ungava Peninsula. Densities of breeding pairs are highest along the western and eastern coasts of the Ungava Peninsula. The 2008 spring breeding pair survey of AP Canada geese found 170,000 pairs, down about 15% from 195,700 pairs in 2007. However, an early spring snow melt on the Ungava Peninsula led to a strong nesting effort. Both clutch size and nest success were above average.

“Banding crews on the Ungava Peninsula encountered large numbers of goslings in banding drives, indicating that gosling production was good. The high proportion of juveniles in the fall population should make for great goose hunting, as birds should decoy well during the first couple weeks of the hunting season,” said Larry Hindman, DNR’s Waterfowl Project Leader.

The AP Canada goose hunting season is open in the following areas of the state: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties; the portion of Carroll County east of Route 31 to the intersection of Route 97, and east of Route 97 to the Pennsylvania line; the portion of Prince George’s County east of Routes 3 and 301; and the portion of Charles County east of Route 301 to the Virginia line.

DNR offers a detailed map of the AP Canada Goose Hunt Zone in Maryland online at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/Goose_Hunt_Zones.html.

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

All waterfowl hunters aged 16 years and older must also purchase the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (federal duck stamp). Hunters must sign and possess the federal duck stamp while hunting waterfowl and coots. Hunters may obtain federal duck stamps at U.S. Post Offices, National Wildlife Refuges, some DNR sport license agents and online at www.duckstamp.com.

Nontoxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl and coots. Hunters may not possess or use nontoxic shotshells containing shot larger than size No. T or use or possess any lead shotshells while waterfowl hunting.

Hunters are encouraged to report banded migratory game birds by calling toll-free 1-800-327-BAND (2263). For added convenience, banded migratory birds may also be reported online at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/homepage/call800.htm.

Complete bag limits, season dates, approved nontoxic shot information and other hunting information can be found on the DNR website at www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide. The 2008-2009 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping issued with each hunting license contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons. The 2008-2009 Maryland Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons Guide also contains information specific to waterfowl hunting.

source: DNR press release

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Welcomes Public Comments through Aug. 20 on Proposal

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites public comments on the recently proposed 2008-2009 late waterfowl hunting seasons.

“We are pleased to offer a variety of waterfowl hunting opportunities and continue the great tradition of wildfowling in the Chesapeake area,” said Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul A. Peditto. “Hunters will note several changes to the proposed waterfowl seasons this year. We look forward to public input on the proposals that ensure sustained waterfowl populations while allowing for use of this treasured natural resource.”

The proposed 2008-2009 duck season will be a 60-day season with a 6-duck daily bag limit. Species bag limits are based upon population status and spring breeding habitat and summer brood rearing conditions. This year, waterfowl managers proposed increasing the daily bag limit of wood ducks to three per day. A recent review of the biological data for this species indicates that the wood duck population can sustain some additional harvest pressure.

Conversely, the daily bag limit of scaup has been reduced to ensure harvest is compatible with population status. Although, scaup remain abundant, the population of lesser scaup has undergone a gradual decline as a result of several environmental factors that have contributed to lower survival and recruitment. The recently adopted scaup harvest strategy calls for a restrictive season in 2008, with a 1 scaup bag limit for 40 days of the 60-day regular duck season, and a 2 scaup limit during the remaining 20 days of the season.

There will be no open season on canvasback this year. The 2008 canvasback breeding population estimate decreased 44% from 2007, primarily the result of a 39% decline in pond numbers in Prairie Canada. Dry conditions exist throughout much of Prairie Canada and the north central U.S., thus the outlook for canvasback production is poor.

The 2008 spring breeding pair survey of Atlantic Population (migrant) Canada geese totaled 169,700 compared to 195,700 in 2007. Although the number of breeding pairs decreased, spring snow melt was normal over most of the major Atlantic Population (AP) breeding range. Favorable nesting conditions led to a strong nesting effort, and as a result, gosling production is expected to be good. The Atlantic Population Canada goose season will remain at 45 days with a daily bag limit of two geese.

The 2008-2009 proposed waterfowl hunting regulations also include changes to the regular Atlantic Flyway Resident Canada (AFRP) goose season. The season length for the AFRP Canada geese has been increased from 70 to 80 days and the closing federal framework date has been extended to March 10 to exert greater harvest pressure on this overabundant goose population. The proposed AFRP Canada goose season dates are Nov. 15 to Nov. 28 and Dec. 16 to Mar. 4. The daily bag limit is 5 geese per day. The AFRP Canada Goose Hunt Zone has also been modified to afford additional protection to migrant AP geese. Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Howard Counties, and a portion of Carroll County will now be a part of the AP Hunt Zone.

Following a high mid-winter survey count of 161,000 Atlantic brant along the east coast, the proposed 2008 hunting regulations for Atlantic brant also have been liberalized to allow a 60-day season and a 3-bird daily bag limit.

For a table that lists all the proposed Maryland 2008-2009 late waterfowl hunting season dates and bag limits visit http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/lwfchart.asp.

Public comments about the proposed waterfowl hunting season dates and bag limits may be submitted online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/lwfforum.asp, via fax at 410-260-8596, or over the phone by calling 410-260-8540.

On Monday, August 18, at 7 p.m., DNR will hold a public meeting to collect comments on the proposed regulations at Chesapeake College’s Amphitheater (Room H117) in the Kent Humanities Building in Wye Mills. Directions to the meeting are below.

FROM ANNAPOLIS AND POINTS WEST

Take Route 50 East to the traffic light at the intersection of Routes 50 and 213, and turn right on Route 213. The Chesapeake College entrance is on the right. Park in Lot E.

FROM SALISBURY AND POINTS EAST

Take Route 50 West to the traffic light at the intersection of Routes 50 and 213, and turn left on Route 213. The Chesapeake College entrance is on the right. Park in Lot E.

source: DNR press release

Each winter, pilots and biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) count ducks, geese and swans along Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast as part of the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey.

During January of 2008, biologists observed a total of 821,500 waterfowl, which represents a substantial increase from counts during the mild winters of 2006 and 2007.

“When pooled with results from other states, the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey provides a long-term measure of the distribution and population size of waterfowl species wintering in the Atlantic Flyway,” said Paul Peditto, Director of DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service. “More typical winter weather lead to higher numbers recorded for several species this year.”

The most notable increase was large numbers of mallards and blackducks. Other increased populations included redheads, scaup and canvasbacks.

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey is conducted at the same time each winter in every state in the Atlantic Flyway, from Maine to Florida. Most of the Maryland’s tidewater waterfowl habitats were surveyed between January 4 and 10, but Bloodsworth and South Marsh Islands were not completed until January 23.

source: MD-DNR press release