Post by Ъøhïcâ on Apr 4, 2008 13:01:01 GMT -5
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON WILDLIFE & FRESHWATER FISH
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008
Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium
89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware, 19901
Phone 302-739-9912, FAX 302-739-6157
ADVISORY COUNCIL DIVISION OF FISH & WILDLIFE PUBLIC
Edward A. Montague, Chair (Absent) Pat Emory 12 Visitors
J. Richard Berry, Vice Chair Ken Reynolds
David J. Healey Rob Hossler
Garrett H. Arai Joe Rogerson
Terry Higgins Wayne Lehman
Ted Palmer Matt DiBona
Al Townsend (Absent) Tom Whittendale
Raymond F. Burris Karen Kennedy
Wayne G. Steele
Taped micro-cassettes of this meeting are available for listening at the Richardson & Robbins Building in Dover. For further information contact the Wildlife Section at (302) 739-9912.
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Rick Berry at 7:30 PM.
Agenda Item 1. Approval of Minutes (Vice Chair Rick Berry).
A motion was made and voted unanimously to approve the February 26, 2008 minutes as written.
Agenda Item 2. Sunday Hunting on Shooting Preserves (Mr. Drew Smith).
Mr. Drew Smith, who operates the DelMar Waterfowl Club’s Marshtown Shooting Preserve in Dover, requested the Council consider allowing Sunday hunting on public shooting preserves in Delaware. These days would only be the Sundays that were already included in the existing season dates. Mr. Smith has researched this issue with the Legislature but they were uncertain as to whether this was a Division regulation or a statute. Mr. Smith felt that Delaware public shooting preserve operators are at a disadvantage since other neighboring states allow Sunday hunting on their public shooting preserves. Mr. Smith stated that allowing Sunday hunting on public preserves would recruit young hunters and give the Division an opportunity to require a license which could result in more revenue as other states do.
Mr. Ken Reynolds responded that this is a statute and advised Mr. Smith that if he wanted to pursue this issue to contact his Legislator in order to get the process started.
Director Emory stated that the Division will remain neutral on Sunday hunting on public shooting preserves and also advised Mr. Smith to contact his legislators.
Councilman Healey advised Mr. Smith that he may wish to start with his own district Representative and Senator first and to get as many people as he could to telephone their Legislators in support of this issue.
Agenda Item. 3. Extending Hunting Opportunities for State Lands (Mr. George Williams).
Mr. George Williams asked the Division to extend hunting hours at Little Creek to sunset instead of 2:00 PM so that waterfowl hunters would have the option to hunt all day. Mr. Williams felt that this was not fair to waterfowl hunters since other hunters such as rabbit and squirrel hunters can hunt until sunset. He also remarked that Mr. Tom Whittendale’s report from a few years ago showed no increase or decrease in the quality of hunting and that this change in hunting hours was only supposed to be experimental and that it has existed since 2000.
Mr. Ken Reynolds apologized to the Council and the audience explaining that he did not have a background on this subject and was filling in for Wildlife Administrator Greg Moore in Mr. Moore’s absence. Mr. Reynolds did, however, research a survey which had previously been sent to hunters in 2000. One of the reasons behind this change of hours was that the Division believes that the reduced use of the area will allow waterfowl to use the area with fewer disturbances. This should result in more birds using the area and more hunting success during hunting hours. The downside of this change will be reduced access to these areas to the hunters and possibly some inconvenience in scheduling hunting trips.
After some discussion, Vice Chair Berry asked the Division to gather more data and report back to the Council at the next meeting.
Mr. Reynolds agreed to work directly with Mr. Williams to resolve this issue and to gather more information and report back to the Council at the April Advisory Council meeting.
Agenda Item 4. Crossbow Season for Deer & Baiting on Public Properties (Mr. David J. Bartlett).
Mr. David J. Bartlett thanked the Council for allowing him to make a presentation on two separate topics.
Mr. Bartlett first asked the Division to consider the following regarding the expansion of crossbow hunting in Delaware.
To allow crossbows during any season to harvest deer and would include the regular bow season
To allow crossbows exclusively north of I 95 in any season to harvest deer with limited hunting opportunities
To allow crossbows during any firearms season including handguns regardless of the time of year
To allow crossbows during any firearms season regardless of the time of the year north of I 95
Mr. Bartlett stated that the second topic he wanted to bring before the Council was the issue of allowing baiting for deer on state managed wildlife areas such as Cedar Swamp, Blackiston and Midlands, etc. Mr. Bartlett said that he was not including any Delaware State Parks properties in his request. He felt that sportsmen were being punished by not allowing baiting on state wildlife areas as many hunters could not afford to lease private property. Many hunters that do hunt private lands that are adjacent to state owned lands are able to benefit by hunters that hunt state properties.
Mr. Ken Reynolds commented that the Division may now be ready to liberalize the use of crossbows after several years of being conservative because of the traditional archery hunters. He reported that Greg Moore has issued over 1,000 crossbow permits to disabled hunters. Mr. Reynolds felt that the Division could work towards getting crossbows legalized and that he has not heard of any negative comments from archery hunters.
Mr. Reynolds stated that on the baiting issue there would be a problem on our coastal waterfowl areas because of federal baiting regulations. The other issue is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) where research shows that when you concentrate animals in one area the likelihood of transmitting this disease goes up dramatically. Baiting can concentrate deer and this becomes a problem. CWD is spread through fluids such as saliva and urine. Mr. Reynolds reported that West Virginia is working on banning baiting because of chronic wasting disease.
After lengthy discussions, no motions were made on either of these issues.
Director Emory requested the appointment of two Advisory Council members to serve on the Deer Management Stakeholders Committee. This Committee will serve to provide ideas and opinions to help guide the Division in the preparation of its Deer Management Plan. Council members Mr. Higgins and Mr. Palmer were nominated and they accepted.
Agenda Item 5. Legislative Update (Director Pat Emory).
Director Pat Emory reported on one piece of legislation since the Legislature only resumed for a two week period in March. This legislation would establish a fox harvest season and still requires sponsors.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Advisory Council will be on April 29, 2008. The agenda is as follows:
AGENDA FOR THE 4/29/08 ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
1. Update on Waterfowl Hunting Days & Shooting Hours on State Wildlife Lands – Ken Reynolds.
2. Waterfowl Update on Conservation Order for Snow Geese – Greg Moore & Rob Hossler.
3. Deer Harvest Summary - Joe Rogerson.
4. New Regulations Update – Ken Reynolds.
5. Legislative Update – Director Pat Emory.
There being no further business, a motion was made, seconded and carried that the meeting be adjourned at 9:08 PM.
Sincerely,
Karen Kennedy
Recording Secretary
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2008
Richardson and Robbins Building Auditorium
89 Kings Highway, Dover, Delaware, 19901
Phone 302-739-9912, FAX 302-739-6157
ADVISORY COUNCIL DIVISION OF FISH & WILDLIFE PUBLIC
Edward A. Montague, Chair (Absent) Pat Emory 12 Visitors
J. Richard Berry, Vice Chair Ken Reynolds
David J. Healey Rob Hossler
Garrett H. Arai Joe Rogerson
Terry Higgins Wayne Lehman
Ted Palmer Matt DiBona
Al Townsend (Absent) Tom Whittendale
Raymond F. Burris Karen Kennedy
Wayne G. Steele
Taped micro-cassettes of this meeting are available for listening at the Richardson & Robbins Building in Dover. For further information contact the Wildlife Section at (302) 739-9912.
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Rick Berry at 7:30 PM.
Agenda Item 1. Approval of Minutes (Vice Chair Rick Berry).
A motion was made and voted unanimously to approve the February 26, 2008 minutes as written.
Agenda Item 2. Sunday Hunting on Shooting Preserves (Mr. Drew Smith).
Mr. Drew Smith, who operates the DelMar Waterfowl Club’s Marshtown Shooting Preserve in Dover, requested the Council consider allowing Sunday hunting on public shooting preserves in Delaware. These days would only be the Sundays that were already included in the existing season dates. Mr. Smith has researched this issue with the Legislature but they were uncertain as to whether this was a Division regulation or a statute. Mr. Smith felt that Delaware public shooting preserve operators are at a disadvantage since other neighboring states allow Sunday hunting on their public shooting preserves. Mr. Smith stated that allowing Sunday hunting on public preserves would recruit young hunters and give the Division an opportunity to require a license which could result in more revenue as other states do.
Mr. Ken Reynolds responded that this is a statute and advised Mr. Smith that if he wanted to pursue this issue to contact his Legislator in order to get the process started.
Director Emory stated that the Division will remain neutral on Sunday hunting on public shooting preserves and also advised Mr. Smith to contact his legislators.
Councilman Healey advised Mr. Smith that he may wish to start with his own district Representative and Senator first and to get as many people as he could to telephone their Legislators in support of this issue.
Agenda Item. 3. Extending Hunting Opportunities for State Lands (Mr. George Williams).
Mr. George Williams asked the Division to extend hunting hours at Little Creek to sunset instead of 2:00 PM so that waterfowl hunters would have the option to hunt all day. Mr. Williams felt that this was not fair to waterfowl hunters since other hunters such as rabbit and squirrel hunters can hunt until sunset. He also remarked that Mr. Tom Whittendale’s report from a few years ago showed no increase or decrease in the quality of hunting and that this change in hunting hours was only supposed to be experimental and that it has existed since 2000.
Mr. Ken Reynolds apologized to the Council and the audience explaining that he did not have a background on this subject and was filling in for Wildlife Administrator Greg Moore in Mr. Moore’s absence. Mr. Reynolds did, however, research a survey which had previously been sent to hunters in 2000. One of the reasons behind this change of hours was that the Division believes that the reduced use of the area will allow waterfowl to use the area with fewer disturbances. This should result in more birds using the area and more hunting success during hunting hours. The downside of this change will be reduced access to these areas to the hunters and possibly some inconvenience in scheduling hunting trips.
After some discussion, Vice Chair Berry asked the Division to gather more data and report back to the Council at the next meeting.
Mr. Reynolds agreed to work directly with Mr. Williams to resolve this issue and to gather more information and report back to the Council at the April Advisory Council meeting.
Agenda Item 4. Crossbow Season for Deer & Baiting on Public Properties (Mr. David J. Bartlett).
Mr. David J. Bartlett thanked the Council for allowing him to make a presentation on two separate topics.
Mr. Bartlett first asked the Division to consider the following regarding the expansion of crossbow hunting in Delaware.
To allow crossbows during any season to harvest deer and would include the regular bow season
To allow crossbows exclusively north of I 95 in any season to harvest deer with limited hunting opportunities
To allow crossbows during any firearms season including handguns regardless of the time of year
To allow crossbows during any firearms season regardless of the time of the year north of I 95
Mr. Bartlett stated that the second topic he wanted to bring before the Council was the issue of allowing baiting for deer on state managed wildlife areas such as Cedar Swamp, Blackiston and Midlands, etc. Mr. Bartlett said that he was not including any Delaware State Parks properties in his request. He felt that sportsmen were being punished by not allowing baiting on state wildlife areas as many hunters could not afford to lease private property. Many hunters that do hunt private lands that are adjacent to state owned lands are able to benefit by hunters that hunt state properties.
Mr. Ken Reynolds commented that the Division may now be ready to liberalize the use of crossbows after several years of being conservative because of the traditional archery hunters. He reported that Greg Moore has issued over 1,000 crossbow permits to disabled hunters. Mr. Reynolds felt that the Division could work towards getting crossbows legalized and that he has not heard of any negative comments from archery hunters.
Mr. Reynolds stated that on the baiting issue there would be a problem on our coastal waterfowl areas because of federal baiting regulations. The other issue is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) where research shows that when you concentrate animals in one area the likelihood of transmitting this disease goes up dramatically. Baiting can concentrate deer and this becomes a problem. CWD is spread through fluids such as saliva and urine. Mr. Reynolds reported that West Virginia is working on banning baiting because of chronic wasting disease.
After lengthy discussions, no motions were made on either of these issues.
Director Emory requested the appointment of two Advisory Council members to serve on the Deer Management Stakeholders Committee. This Committee will serve to provide ideas and opinions to help guide the Division in the preparation of its Deer Management Plan. Council members Mr. Higgins and Mr. Palmer were nominated and they accepted.
Agenda Item 5. Legislative Update (Director Pat Emory).
Director Pat Emory reported on one piece of legislation since the Legislature only resumed for a two week period in March. This legislation would establish a fox harvest season and still requires sponsors.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Advisory Council will be on April 29, 2008. The agenda is as follows:
AGENDA FOR THE 4/29/08 ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
1. Update on Waterfowl Hunting Days & Shooting Hours on State Wildlife Lands – Ken Reynolds.
2. Waterfowl Update on Conservation Order for Snow Geese – Greg Moore & Rob Hossler.
3. Deer Harvest Summary - Joe Rogerson.
4. New Regulations Update – Ken Reynolds.
5. Legislative Update – Director Pat Emory.
There being no further business, a motion was made, seconded and carried that the meeting be adjourned at 9:08 PM.
Sincerely,
Karen Kennedy
Recording Secretary
