Pintail/Canvasback Season Update (UW-F 2005 project)

[N. Cook]

It has not been officially announced (and will remain on the Members Only page for now) but the FWC survey of hunters on preference of the first or last 30 days of duck season came in at 71% for the last 30 days. The proposal to move the season to the last 30 days will be made to the commission. Unfortunately, approval still means the change will be made in the 2006/07 season and not next year. Nonetheless, the new rule will be better for the hunters and also the ducks as many more of those harvested will go in the bag (and the pot) and not be mistakes left in the marsh.

Thanks to Diane Eggeman for putting the UW-F request on the regulation agenda and doing the study.

[Converted]

I love it when a plan comes together :icon_salu

A big thank you to Kevin Hall for your leadership on this issue. :icon_king

[Kevin Hall]

Leadership ... what leadership?? :confused: ;)

I jusk know that I see more birds and in better plumage later in the season ... apparently about 71% of everyone else thinks so, as well. ;)


In reality, all that we (UW-F) did is present the members' opinions to FWC and with a little bit of prodding, convinced FWC to take a survey ... and set the seasons accordingly. :)

[DUCKWHACKER]

Sounds good to me :icon_salu

[Ducknut]

The one thing that concerns me is that the true duck hunters hunt all year, and the sky blasters hunt the first month. A duck is a duck at 50 yards. I will admit to making a mistake last year with a canvas back. It was the first canvas back that I had ever seen in flight. I felt very bad about it, because I regard hunting as a gentlemens sport. Jeff

[N. Cook]

The bulk of the migration usually arrives after the first 30 days. There will always be mistakes, but the opportunity to make a mistake is much higher when the season is closed the last 30 days when the populations are highest. This is more of a problem with the pins than the canvasbacks as the pins mix more with other ducks in the marsh... the canvasbacks often raft to themselves.

[RutnNStrutn]

Excellent!! That is why I am a UWF member!! They work on Florida issues for Florida hunters, and they get results. Strong work!! Thank you!!

[DUCKWHACKER]

That's right Rut, in the very near future you and I will not have to watch and weep as bull sprigs circle the dekes like that trip last season. :tard:

[Converted]

We just got the "official" word from Daine.

Hi Newton and David – I wanted to provide you an update. We finally received the results of the survey regarding canvasback and pintail seasons. I’ve attached a summary. Duck hunters do prefer a later season for these species; therefore, my division is recommending changing the rule as UW requested. This is a big step forward for your request. Please remember, however, that this is just the Division of Hunting and Game Management’s recommendation to the agency’s Rule Review Committee. There’s a long way to go in the process yet, and there’s no guarantee the recommendation will be supported.

Summary of Survey to Assess Preferences for Canvasback/Pintail Season Timing


The cansvasback and pintail seasons in Florida currently are held during the first 30 days of the regular waterfowl season. Federal frameworks allow states to determine which 30 days of the season that canvasbacks and pintails may be taken

The FWC contracted with the Florida Government Performance Survey Research Center in the College of Communication at Florida State University to conduct a telephone survey of individuals licensed to hunt waterfowl in Florida. In May 2005, 427 interviews of randomly selected license holders were conducted. A sample of this size has an approximate error rate of plus or minus 5% at the 95% level of confidence. This means that if all license holders were interviewed, there would be a 95% probability that those results would be captured by this survey.

Survey participants were asked whether they preferred the canvasback and pintail season to be held either (a) the first 30 days of the season, (b) the last 30 days of the season, or (c) either it does not matter or would prefer some other time period. Of the respondents expressing an opinion for either the first 30 days or the last 30 days, 72% favored the last 30 days. Therefore, the Division of Hunting and Game Management recommends that the timing of the partial season for canvasbacks and pintails be changed to the last 30 days of the regular waterfowl season, as indicated on the rule change proposal (180) form.

Please remember that each year, there is a reasonable possibility that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will either close the season for one or both species or allow them to be taken for the entire season, depending on population status and results of the annual federal regulation-setting process.

[N. Cook]

David.....can this entire string be switched to the Public Forum?

[RutnNStrutn]

We just got the "official" word from Daine.
........Duck hunters do prefer a later season for these species; therefore, my division is recommending changing the rule as UW requested. This is a big step forward for your request.
I certainly hope that it passes. Either way though, this passage is proof that unlike DU or any other national orgs, UWF takes on FLA issues, for FLA hunters, and gets results!!!
Thank you to the UWF go getters who made this happen!! :icon_salu

[RutnNStrutn]

That's right Rut, in the very near future you and I will not have to watch and weep as bull sprigs circle the dekes like that trip last season. :tard:
Amen to that Mike!! Let those pinners come back and circle our dekes when this goes into effect!!! :icon_twis

[fpspecialk]

:wav: ...PINTAILS!!!

[DUCKWHACKER]

Ohhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhh :laughing4 :laughing4 :laughing4 bring em on

[Wilbur]

I hope she does as good with the shotgun as she is doing with the camera! She has gotten quite a collection of wildlife photos. :smileinbo