I've started the chain emails to the Biologist

Let's have it. Maybe make this a sticky so it stays up top?!?!?!


Maybe even non waterfowlers on this site can chime in too just to help the cause ;D

I in with that, we need to get rid of this season, and get a season that will be better off for the hunters.

Before you guys get going to far... remember a few things:
you get farther with surgar thatn vinegar. A letter that is just a rant gets "round filed".
A letter that is thought out, and well written goes much farther.
There is only so much the biologist can do. There is a political situation: The seasons are set by fly agreement. It is not just the IN bio's making the call.

ARK, and MI have been the loudest at stating Indiana and such shoots too many birds. so they get our seasons ended. What happens is the birds are "short stopped" they stay here because there is no pressure.
The Indiana waterfowl biologist is doing his best to make things better-
Other states where waterfowl is big business have several bios' Indiana has one voice, these other states have several voices.
The HWA: Hoosier Waterfowl Assoc, while not perfect has been chipping away at things for a few years. The SJBP classification is quite possibly going to be delisted next year: this is a step in the right direction.
Here's a letter I put together a few years back to use as an example.

Indiana Dept. Of Natural Resources
Fish and Wildlife Division
Migratory Waterfowl Season Office
402 W. Washington St. Room W273
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Last year several of my fellow waterfowlers contacted your office concerning solutions to the expanding resident geese situation. From what we understood, the topic was under discussion and many heard rumblings of federal deregulation for local bird populations. Since then, there has been little information on the topic. If there is any relevant information, we are eager to hear if the expanded seasons we've hoped for will be available.

To add to our frustrations, many of us have seen more and more permits for the oiling of goose eggs. People in Decatur County were issued ten permits. This is a complete waste of the hunters’ stamp funds. Why collect our state fee, if the birds we help propagate end up dead before they are born? If the birds are so successful, please let us help regulate our own successes! In the past year, Hamilton Lake, Crooked Lake, and Lake James, all in Steuben County have reported incidents on record of non-permit egg destruction. Other incidents from landowners using lawnmowers, chemicals, shaking eggs, and crushing them have all been verified by Indiana Conservation Officers in the Northeast District alone. The ability of these dedicated Officers to gather enough evidence for prosecution is obviously difficult. The average lake or golf course property owner knows this and aggressively takes the situation into his or her own hands much more often than even gets reported.

To help remedy the situation, last year many waterfowlers ask your office to propose to the USFWS to extend our goose season, or add a season similar to the snow goose season in late winter/early spring. This additional spring season would help with the population control in that the mating pairs would in many cases be split and those birds quite possibly would not mate. The added benefit of less water traffic would make hunting much safer than during the September season. To also help the situation we ask that you approach the USFWS about abolishing the SJBP zone designations. These zones consist of approximately a 20 mile strip of land, (or less) that is between two areas that are hunted. The birds that populate these zones are largely made up of birds that use it as a safe haven from the hunting to the north and south.

In short, the waterfowlers of Indiana seek to work with you and your fellow biologists for the benefit of all wildlife. We do however, ask that we get the opportunities to hunt our voluntary funding has afforded us. While we understand the complicated nature of your job, we ask that controlled hunts and extended seasons be tried before oiling. To literally suffocate young waterfowl because their species is so successful is a shame. With the new technologies of low velocity shells and reduced report shotgun barrels, even goose populations in towns could be controlled if the proper legislation were in place. Please be firm, as we are, to allow us a chance to remedy a complicated situation, and give hunters a positive outlook within our own communities.


Respectfully submitted,
__________________

Lets get these emails outbound. There are several others on other waterfowl forums who are doing the same. This is the least we can do if we are unhappy. Please if your not happy with the dates set, please instead of complaining take the 5 minutes it takes, and address Mr. Phelps with your concerns. HE has a HUGE influence on the dates for duck season.

Sent my e-mail and have spoken to Adam on two different occasions at FWA sites. He's more than willing to listen to folks if they just take the time to talk or send an e-mail.

[.[/quote]

umm in your email you said that the migration don't get into full swing until late January. Now you are saying we don't hardly have a migration in Indiana. so what is it we have one or not. If they change it you guys will complain about its to late and the water is froze. We had a weird year this year and yes the ducks are around but usually the waters are froze this time of year and a lot less ducks. I like the October season it seemed the ducks were migrating then. We shot a lot of teal and saw canvasbacks and all kinds of different ducks we usually don't see in hancock county. So you guys can complain all you want but I liked it. Yeah its disappointing watching ducks working your goose spread but we had our chance of getting them already. They could always shorten our duck season if ark. and mi. complain to much![/quote]

1. Yes the migration doesnt get into full swing until December and January here in Indiana. Not sure I said late january 2. I cant remember the last time we froze out here. 3. Indiana is not in a major flyway, so we dont get large numbers of duck. like AK and MO. 4. Sure early season you see teal, maybe some shovs, few mallards but the Full migration is not in October. 5. This is not an odd year. 6. Our group of guys did get them. We killed over 260 birds this year, but thats beside the point. 7. I'm not watching ducks in goose spreads, i'm watching 1000's in flooded backwaters as its this way every year. (at least last year we had an extra week, which is what i'm pushing for) 7. whats shortening the season got to do with it. We have 60 days to use in Indiana. Lets use them when they most count. Thats what i'm talking about!!

Jumping back in, I think a justifiable exchange of ideas needs to take place so that a united proposal can be delivered to the biologist so he knows what the Hard core duck hunter wants. I live in the north zone, and see all kinds of ducks this time of year. There are some lakes that never freeze, while others can be ridden across with snowmobiles. I also would like to see north zone not go out until the new year. Ending up with the Ohio Zone going out at the end of Jan. I'd also like to see an emergency Canada goose season come back in in late Feb/early March.

I dont want to duck hunt year around. What i do want is for Indiana to extend the season in January. The federal goverment gives us the option to run it to the end of January. Why dont we use it.

I enjoy hunting in the cold very much in fact I hunted geist res. three years ago when it was 17 below. I don't know to many people that would do that. See hacock county don't have any big rivers so everything freezes and leaves thats why I like October so much.