ADVISORY COUNCIL ON WILDLIFE & FRESHWATER FISH MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2010 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 1. Edward A. Montague, Chair 1. Greg Moore 18 Visitors 2. J. Richard Berry, Vice Chair 2. Pat Emory 3. Ted Palmer 3. Joe Rogerson 4. Charles H. Golt 4. David Blaasch 5. Al Townsend 6. Raymond F. Burris 7. Robert C. Nichols 8. Neal Dukes 9. Garrett Grier, Jr.
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 Chairman Edward Montague at 7:30 PM.

Agenda Item 1. Approval of Minutes (Chairman Edward Montague).
A motion was made and voted unanimously to approve the January 26, 2010 minutes as written.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Wildlife Administrator Greg Moore started the meeting by explaining the Snow Goose Conservation Order (CO) and how hunters can obtain their Snow Goose CO Permit. Hunters can get these free permits from the website: www.dehip.com
Agenda Item 2. 2010-2011 Base Waterfowl Season Proposals (Greg Moore).
Mr. Moore briefly reviewed the history of the waterfowl season selection. Mr. Moore stated that the process began at the last meeting which was in January. Mr. Moore reviewed the proposed dates for the early seasons.
Mr. Moore provided a handout on the waterfowl season dates to the Council members and the audience. After discussion, the Council voted unanimously on the following early seasons for 2010 - 2011:
Dove (70 days) Sept. 1 - Sept. 25 Oct. 16 - Oct. 30 Dec. 10 - Jan. 8 (Hours - ½ hr. before sunrise until sunset) - All segments
Resident Canada Geese Sept 1 - Sept. 25
Early Teal Sept. 11 - Sept. 29
HOURS: Teal season will be open all day (1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset) in limited geographic areas. These areas are coastal areas from south of the C&D Canal to Lewes east of Routes 13, 113/113A & 1.
After discussion, the Council voted unanimously on the following other seasons for 2010 - 2011:
Youth Waterfowl Hunt Oct. 16
Rails & Gallinules & Sept. 3 - Nov. 11 Moorhens
Woodcock Nov. 22 - Dec. 11 Dec. 23 - Jan. 1
Snipe Nov. 22 - Dec. 11 Dec. 23 - Jan. 1
Sea Ducks Sept. 28 - Jan. 29 Within designated sea duck zone (not less than 800 yards seaward of Delaware Bay shore or Atlantic Ocean shore).
After discussion, the Council voted unanimously on the following late season selections:
Ducks (60 days) Oct. 22 - Nov. 2 Nov. 22 - Dec. 4 Dec. 17 - Jan. 29
Coots & Mergansers Same season dates as ducks.
Snow Goose Oct. 1 - Jan. 31 Conservation Order Feb. 1 - April 16
Migratory Canada goose (45 days)
Nov. 22 - Dec. 4 Dec. 23 - Jan. 29
Brant Dec. 3 - Jan. 29
Agenda Item 3. Expanding the Teal Zone (Greg Moore).
Mr. Moore stated that Division staff members had examined the proposal of expanding the early teal zone and while the Division is allowed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to do so, the Division is not in favor of doing it. Mr. Moore went on to report that aerial surveys in October indicate that there are not many teal outside of the currently established zone so expanding the current area would provide little additional harvest opportunities. If we were to proceed with a zone expansion, we would have to put out spy blinds to determine the level of incidental harvest. Due to the cost of conducting this surveillance, the limited number of teal beyond the current zone and the limited number of hunters that currently hunt teal each year (approximately 20%) the Division does not feel the effort and money exerted to make the change is worth it.
Mr. Moore went on to say that most of the teal seem to be held on the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. When Refuge staff were asked if they would open their duck blinds during the teal season they said no because of conflicts with non-hunters, specifically canoe/kayak users and low water levels at that time of year. However, the Division is willing to open their eight blinds on the Prime Hook Wildlife Area during the early teal season and will work to have more blinds open on its impoundments in Kent County.
Agenda Item 4. Legislative Update (Director Pat Emory).
Director Pat Emory explained that the Division only has two current bills and they are carryovers from the last legislative session. They are H.B. 216 which is the elimination of the back tag requirement and H.B. 270 which allows the Division to restrict fishing activities on reef sites. Both of these bills have passed the House and are currently scheduled for the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
Directory Emory also explained that there are several other pieces of legislation that the Division has but they have not yet been formally filed. Director Emory could not provide any comments on them at this time.

AGENDA FOR THE 3/30/2010 ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
1. Access at Penuel Tract (Wayne Lehman). 2. McGinnis Pond Wildlife Management Area - Change to Archery Only Deer Hunting (Wayne Lehman). 3. Issues at Scott’s Run (Director Pat Emory). 4. Legislative Update (Director Pat Emory).
There being no further business, a motion was made, seconded and carried that the meeting be adjourned at 8:23 PM.
Sincerely, [cid:image003.jpg@01CAC1D0.5B500690] Karen Kennedy Recording Secretary