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2008-2009 Maryland Late Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Proposed
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Welcomes Public Comments through Aug. 20 on Proposal

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ANNAPOLIS — 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.

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2008-2009 Maryland Late Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Proposed

 

Altantic Flyway Waterfowl Harvest & Population Survey

Part 1

Atlantic Flyway Waterfowl Harvest & Population Survey Part 1 pages 1 to 51

Part 2

Part 2 pages 52 to 101

Chesapeake Farms Case Study for MD Wood Duck Initiative

 

10% drop in ducklings reflects regional trend of lower hen "demand" this year. Use of horizontal boxes and 5 of 6 new ones in Horn woods kept overall utilization % relatively low. Other boxes are almost fully utilized although St Paul proper had 3 unused boxes. Less hen pressure helped nest failure to drop to only 4 versus 19 a few years ago.  Starlings got 3 of these but strife has also been a factor which was essentially gone this year.

 

Successful nests occurred 92% of the time. In those, the egg hatch rate was 81% - OK but not superior.

Gross egg hatch rate ( eggs hatched / total eggs laid in all nests) was 76%....super. Was 34% in 2005.

 

There is no question that more hens would have made more ducklings but likely at a decreasing level of production efficiency. The new boxes are yielding excellent results and taking pressure off the old locations.

All 4 of the Rt 445 boxes had 100% hatch rate and the 4 Hill woods boxes had 4 hatches at 79% egg success. Starlings & WD seem to share the Hill vertical water boxes when we open them in May (2 of 4 WD or starlings but no predation). Only 1 of 6 horizontal nests was used but it hatched. No starlings use them.

 

I'll contact you to go over 2009 plans. In general, there are 2 old boxes to replace and I'm thinking more woods margin boxes along Hill pathways will be more productive and time efficient than using the horizontals and pursuing the close up / re-open routine for the remaining vertical boxes. A couple of the Horn boxes could also be re-located to advantage.

 

For more information checkout

Mwi.net

 

2008 Inspection Results

Wetlands save states billions, new study says

by Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune

Tuesday July 22, 2008, 8:38 PM

by John Nielsen

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Some 450,000 farmers participate in this program, but if the country's food producers have their way that number will start falling soon. In recent years, these companies have been hard hit by the sharply rising price of corn. They want the government to help them out by making it possible for farmers to plant corn in the conservation reserves.

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Conservation Program At Risk

2007-08 Atlantic Flyway Mid-Winter Survey Results

2007-08 Atlantic Flyway Mid-Winter Survey Results