June 2008 Advisory Council Minutes
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON WILDLIFE & FRESHWATER FISH
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 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 Greg Moore 10 Visitors
J. Richard Berry, Vice Chair Pat Emory
David J. Healey Bill Jones
Garrett H. Arai (Absent) Joe Rogerson
Terry Higgins (Absent) Rob Hossler
Ted Palmer Matt DiBona
Al Townsend Karen Kennedy
Raymond F. Burris
Wayne G. Steele (Absent)
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 Montague).
A motion was made and voted unanimously to approve the May 27, 2008 minutes as written.
Agenda Item 2. Quail Research (Dr. Chris Williams & Bill Jones).
Bill Jones, Fish & Wildlife Regional Manager with the Division’s Private Lands Program, and Dr. Chris Williams, Professor of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, explained a new cooperative research project between the Division and the University involving the Northern bobwhite quail and grassland songbirds. Mr. Jones explained the Division is using funds from the Wildlife Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP) and the State Wildlife Grant Program to contract out this research. The three basic goals of the project will be to:
1. Conduct intensive bobwhite surveys 2. Build a predictive habitat model and map to identify suitable habitat available to support bobwhite populations for conservation efforts. 3. Record detections for other grassland bird species of conservation concern and build predictive habitat models.
Dr. Williams explained that bobwhite populations have declined over much of their range over the last 40 years. In Delaware during the period 1980-2004 the population decreased an average of 9.7% each year based on Breeding Bird Survey data. The prime culprit is the loss of habitat due to urban sprawl and the change in farming practices during that timeframe. Bobwhites are an “edge” and early successional habitat stage species that in general prefer their home range to contain 40-60% annual weeds, legumes and crops, 30-40% grasses and 5-20% scrub cover and trees. Current major land use practices simply do not provide this type of breakdown and populations have consequently suffered.
Summer whistle point counts will be conducted at points randomly located along secondary roads throughout Delaware in 2008 and 2009, and locations of bobwhites and other songbirds will be recorded on aerial photos. Habitat variables will be measured around the sites, and a predictive model will be built to try and explain why quail occupy one site and not another based on those variables. This model will be tested against the survey data for accuracy, with the ultimate goal of using the model to map where the best remaining bobwhite habitat occurs. During the first sampling period of 2008 quail were detected on 17% of the 180 sampling points distributed statewide.
The Division’s ultimate goal will be to use the maps to target habitat restoration activities through State habitat (WHEP, LIP, and State Wildlife Grants) and Federal Farm Bill Programs. Landowners located in and around “core” bobwhite areas could hopefully be enticed through these voluntary programs to install bobwhite friendly cover to expand and link these valuable areas together.
Agenda Item. 3. Canada Banding Trip (Rob Hossler).
Rob Hossler (Program Manager - Game Species) gave a presentation on his recent work assisting with a Canada goose nesting study in sub-arctic Canada. This study is part of the Atlantic Flyway Canada Goose Cooperative Research Program, which has been ongoing since 1997 and involves participation from 13 eastern states, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Canadian Wildlife Service, Canadian Provinces and the Makivik Corporation (Inuit Native People). Delaware has participated in this program since its inception and contributes $14,100 annually, the maximum requested of state agencies. This program involves several components including a breeding pair survey, a productivity/nest survey, and pre-season banding to assess survival/mortality. Mr. Hossler had the privilege to participate in this year’s productivity/nest survey which involved traveling to Kuujjuaq, Quebec. The 4-person crew located 65 goose nests but had to cut the proposed 3-day nest study one day short due to inclement weather (heavy rain and snow) which could have impacted hatching success if the female was disturbed from her nest. Egg and nest parameters collected from each nest included clutch size, estimated hatching date, nest substrate and surrounding vegetation, eggs size and nest density. Average clutch size was 4.71 eggs/nest which was 21% above average and the highest during the 12-year study. Mean hatching date is anticipated to be 22 June, 19 days earlier than last year. This early hatch date combined with the large clutch size might bode well for a successful recruitment of young geese this year. What this might mean to Delaware goose hunters is: 1) a slightly larger fall flight of geese this year, 2) a fall population with a higher percentage of young birds and 3) that the Atlantic Flyway is investing time and money in Canada goose research and Delaware is an active participant.
Agenda Item 4. Display of Hunting License (George Roof).
Mr. George Roof requested the Council to consider changing the requirement that states you must display your hunting license on an outer garment while hunting or fishing in Delaware. This requirement is listed in the Delaware Code, Title 7, Subsection 513. Mr. Roof reported that most surrounding states have the same requirement as Delaware with the exception of the word “display.” Mr. Roof feels that “the display” of license serves no purpose if it has to be removed from the license holder to prove identification to an enforcement agent. This requirement is simply a formality of no consequence. Mr. Roof stated that tags attached to outer clothing are always in jeopardy of being torn off or simply fall off, constant pinning destroys fabric and back packs and gun slings could tear the tag away and the hunter would never know it until he removed that garment or was checked by an officer. Mr. Roof suggested changing the word “display” to “always have” and add the words “in their possession” to the regulation.
Director Pat Emory stated that this would have to be a statutory change.
After some discussion, a unanimous motion was passed by the Council to change this requirement.
Agenda Item 5. Antique Weapons (Greg Moore).
Greg Moore reviewed Mr. Alexander Garcia’s proposal from his presentation given at last month’s Advisory Council meeting. Mr. Garcia requested adding seven new 19th Century antique firearms. They are:
1. Harrington & Wesson 45/70 1871 Buffalo Classic Rifle 2. 1867 Remington Rolling Block 3. Winchester 1885 Single Shot High Wall 4. Single Shot Ballard 5. Model 1885 High Wall 6. Model 1885 Low Wall 7. 1865 Springfield Trapdoor
All of these weapons are single shot, breech loading rifles that fire a patched, greased bullet and with metallic black powder cartridges. Mr. Moore distributed copies of Regulation 2.1.6 on antique weapons and also handed out information with pictures.
Mr. Moore went on to state that Mr. Garcia had requested adding the words “primitive firearms” for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single shot, breech loading, black powder cartridge rifles (.45 caliber or larger) of a kind and type manufactured prior to 1900, and replicas, reproductions or reintroductions of those type rifles to modify the existing regulation.
Mr. Moore stated that Mr. Garcia had asked him to add to his proposal that this change would have no affect on the current Sharps regulation used for the deer shotgun season and to eliminate any modern guns used during this time, the statement “time period guns, manufactured prior to 1900 or a replica of such guns only” should be added to this regulation.
Mr. Moore stated that he has discussed this proposal with members of his staff and also has had some discussions with previous Division employees. Mr. Moore stated that when the Sharps regulation was originally adopted the intent was to allow paper cartridge ammunition. Mr. Moore stated that he and the Wildlife Section staff had serious safety concerns about the proposed regulation. He also felt that there should be a limit to acceptable weapons since this regulation modification if implemented would represent a substantial change in legal deer hunting weapons. Mr. Moore said he is very sympathetic to the people who would like to use these weapons but they should have additional restrictions. He suggested that the Sharps regulation be rewritten.
After some discussion, Chairman Montague requested that he would like to have time to review this information before making any recommendations. He requested that this topic be placed on the agenda for the September Advisory Council meeting and asked Mr. Garcia to bring this gun and ammunition to the meeting in September. He also requested that a ballistic expert be at the next meeting.
Agenda Item 6. Legislative Update (Director Pat Emory).
Director Pat Emory reported that all legislation has passed. He reported that there is an amendment to the hunter orange legislation to change the word “game” to “deer.”
ANNOUNCEMENT
Bald Eagle Regulation
Greg Moore stated the he and his staff will be working on a bald eagle protection regulation. Bald eagles were delisted in 2007 and the Division is concerned that current protection levels aren’t sufficient to maintain Delaware’s bald eagle population. Mr. Moore requested if members of the Advisory Council would like to serve on a committee to draft a regulation.
Council Members Berry and Burris volunteered.
4H Youth Shooting Sports Waterfowl Hunt Request
Jim Kimble, David Price and Bud Shilling made a request to use five blinds for their 4H Youth Shooting Sports Education event. They requested Blinds 12, 13, 14, 15 at Little Creek on November 8.
After discussions, Chairman Montague asked that this topic be placed on the August Agenda.
THERE WILL BE NO MEETING IN JULY.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Advisory Council will be on August 12, 2008. The agenda is as follows:
AGENDA FOR THE 8/12/08 ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
1. Setting of Waterfowl Seasons (Greg Moore, Rob Hossler & Matt DiBona).
2. 4H Youth Shooting Sports Waterfowl Hunt (Director Pat Emory).
There being no further business, a motion was made, seconded and carried that the meeting be adjourned at 9:22 PM.
Sincerely,
Karen Kennedy
Recording Secretary
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