LEXINGTON, Ky. – June 1, 2010 – Steve Bonney of Morehead, Ky., was recently awarded the Jim Monyahan Award at the Kentucky Ducks Unlimited state convention. Bonney, regional coordinator in northeast Kentucky, was chosen for his long-term contributions to waterfowl and wetlands conservation and management.

Bonney (with plaque) receives his award at the Kentucky DU State Convention.

"Steve Bonney has done an outstanding job of promoting and enhancing the DU mission of wetlands and waterfowl conservation, particularly in an area of the state often overlooked for its waterfowling resources," said Barry Welty of the Kentucky Ducks Unlimited conservation committee.

Bonney has worked in Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources northeast region – first as a regional wildlife biologist and then as the regional coordinator – since the late 1980s. He has seen the gradual and steady growth of important waterfowl resources during his tenure.

In the mid-1980s, Kentucky's resident Canada goose program was in its infancy. The U.S. Forest Service and KDFWR recognized the value of this resource and worked to provide a viable population within the Cave Run Lake region. Bonney was deeply involved with this effort, looking all the while toward the day when a hunting season could be established for this resource.

In 1993, Bonney saw his efforts bear fruit when the region had its first Canada goose season in over 10 years. Today, the region around Cave Run Lake supports a viable breeding population of Canada geese and provides quality hunting opportunities.

Early in Bonney's career, he recognized the tremendous benefits of shallow-water wetlands to wildlife and their ecological importance to surrounding communities. Bonney has participated in more than a dozen wetland projects on KDFWR-managed lands. In addition, he has provided input on numerous projects on other public and private lands within the region. Through Bonney's involvement, KDFWR has seen increased public awareness and support for this important habitat type. Many of these shallow wetlands are used extensively by migrating/wintering waterfowl, and many are open to the public for waterfowl hunting.

Finally, Bonney was instrumental in the development and oversight of the popular mentor/mobility-impaired hunt. Held annually at Minor Clark Fish Hatchery, this hunt provides a chance for young and mobility-impaired hunters to experience the joy of waterfowl hunting.

Bonney worked extensively with fish hatchery staff to develop a viable hunt scenario that would have little impact on hatchery operations. Bonney and his staff provided insight for construction of waterfowl blinds, determined the best locations for blind placement, encouraged flooding of pools adjacent to blinds to enhance hunter success and collected mentor information from hunters drawn for the area. These hunts would not have been possible without Bonney's commitment to hunting and the region's waterfowl resource.

The Jim Monyahan award is given annually to a person in Kentucky who has done an outstanding job of promoting and enhancing the Ducks Unlimited mission. This award was named for "Big Jim," one of the first wildlife biologists hired in Kentucky. He managed several areas before going to Ballard Wildlife Management Area and was instrumental in seeing the Canada goose wintering population increase from several hundred to several hundred thousand during the late '60s and '70s. The efforts of "Big Jim" helped put Ballard County on the map for waterfowling.

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow, and forever.

Barry Welty
bwelty@kywimax.com