CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. JOHN D. DINGELL, DEAR MR. DINGELL: The 1966 duck hunting season is fast approaching. Mr. J. D. Hair, Jr., Director of the Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission, advises us that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will probably finalize this year's duck hunting regulations during the week of August 8. We feel that it is imperative that those of us representing the states included in the Mississippi Flyway speak up for a more liberalized bag limit for 1966 than that which was granted in 1965 by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. We have been advised by the Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission that the waterfowl census conducted in January, 1966 revealed the presence of 9,100,000 ducks for the Mississippi Flyway as a whole. This inventory was made after the hunting seasons in the 14 Mississippi Flyway states closed and is a fair indicator of the number of ducks that returned from this flyway to the breeding grounds. There was an increase in numbers of ducks found during this census of 16.8 per cent over that found during January of 1965, and a 47.3 per cent increase over the number of ducks found for the past 18 year average. All of the figures available at this time confirm the view that the 1965-66 hunting regulations were unnecessarily restrictive and deprived sportsmen of much opportunity that they could have enjoyed without damaging waterfowl populations. Last fall, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife personnel stated that under the regulations that we were given, not more than a 10 per cent increase in the 1966 breeding population would occur and that mallards would be down. However, a 37 per cent increase in breeding population did occur as evidenced by a recent news release issued by the Bureau. We hope to obtain a more liberal duck season for the coming winter than we were given last year. Your assistance in this regard will be greatly appreciated. Mr. Hair advises that our Ducks Unlimited friends in Canada indicate that the increased breeding population has enjoyed excellent-reproduction and we are anticipating a large flight of ducks into the area during the coming winter. We continue to disagree completely with the theory being employed by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife that ducks can be stockpiled and we firmly believe that harvest of waterfowl should be managed on an annual basis. Finally, it should be noted that residents of the 14 states of the Mississippi Flyway, which comprises more than one-half of the acreage considered to be of significant value to waterfowl, purchase 40 per cent of the duck stamps sold each year. If we can succeed in obtaining a reasonable duck season with a minimum bag limit of four, perhaps the sport as a whole can be elevated to the status once enjoyed by duck hunters in Louisiana and in your state. We urge you to prevail upon the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service to liberalize the bag limit of mallards in the Mississippi Flyway for the 1966 hunting season. Sincerely yours, Allen J. Ellender, U.S. Senator; Russell B. Long, U.S. Senator; F. Edw. Hébert, Member of Congress; Jimmy Morrison, Member of Congress; Hale Boggs, Member of Congress; Otto E. Passman, Member of Congress; E. E. Willis, Member of Congress; Joe D. Waggonner, Jr., Member of Congress; Speedy O. Long, Member of Congress; Edwin W. Edwards, Member of Congress. Hon. JOHN DINGELL, CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D.C., August 16, 1966. Chairman, Subcommittee on Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR JOHN: I want to add my support to the representations which your subcommittee already has received from Wisconsin Congressmen, State officials, and private citizens, in protest against the 1966 Goose Hunting Regulations for the State. Anything that you can do to assist pertaining to the amendment of those regulations will be greatly appreciated. With best wishes, I am Sincerely yours, Hon. JOHN D. DINGELL, COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, August 11, 1966. Chairman, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN DINGELL: I strongly endorse the views of the Wisconsin Conservation Commission on proposed management of Canada geese which will be presented to you at today's subcommittee hearing. In particular, I urge serious consideration of the proposal that bag quotas be divisible within the state and not assigned to the state as a whole. A statewide quota would seriously penalize hunters and farmers who are unable to use the Horicon Refuge and would sharply reduce their hunting season. I respectfully ask that this letter be made a part of the hearing record. Sincerely, WILLIAM PROXMIRE, U.S. Senator. STATEMENT OF FRED W. STANBERRY, DIRECTOR, TENNESSEE GAME AND FISH COMMISSION Since we have had close contact with the Technical Section of the Mississippi Flyway Waterfowl Council, with the Council itself, and with the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, we believe that the recommendations as submitted by this Council for the 1966 duck season are in keeping with a long range plan and in the best interest of the duck hunters in the State of Tennessee. To further liberalize a season at this time would not return a sufficient number of nesting ducks to the prairie pothole country to get us out of the slump which we have experienced for the last four (4) years. It is our opinion that this proposal as submitted should increase the nesting pairs by about twenty (20%) percent and that this will be satisfactory under present water conditions to put us in a much better position next year. We, therefore, recommend that this Subcommittee support the recommendations of the Mississippi Flyway Council in their entirety. STATEMENT OF FRANK W. GROVES, DIRECTOR, NEVADA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION My name is Frank W. Groves of Reno, Nevada. I am Director of the Nevada Fish and Game Commission and represent the Pacific Flyway Council which consists of the eight most western states, excluding Hawaii. First may I compliment the Committee on its interest in the proper management of the nation's waterfowl resources and their review of the seasons and regulations promulgated by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. We fully realize that in setting these regulations there are many factors which must be considered above those purely biological, and that this responsibility is delegated to the Secretary of the Interior through the Fish and Wildlife Service. Even though this is an international problem, each individual state is vitally interested in this resource and its proper management. This Pacific Flyway Council recently passed a motion complimenting the Service on the method in which the information was disseminated this year. It was considered far better than in previous years. We also feel that the open advisory council meeting was superior to trying to keep everything on a hush-hush basis until the seasons have been approved by the Secretary. Neither do we find any fault with the biological information presented, but do take exception to the interpretation placed on it by some of the staff. We are hoping that when the final decision is made it will be more liberal in favor of the sportsmen who are paying a large portion of the waterfowl management bill. I would like to leave with you three points for consideration: 1. We believe in stockpiling or returning some additional brood stock to the breeding grounds but not nearly the percentage recommended by the Service. 2. Until the wintering grounds are increased in the Pacific Flyway, we are unable to take care of the birds we had ten years ago; to return the number recommended by the Service would cause undue hardship for the farmers of the wintering grounds in California. 3. That regulations be simplified to help renew the interest in the sport of waterfowling-in California the number of waterfowl hunters has dropped during the past ten years from 180 thousand to 135 thousand in 1964. Nevada, although doubling their population in the last ten years, sold slightly under 1,000 less than they did in 1955. When the private individual loses interest in providing waterfowl habitat the sport as we have known it is doomed. For your information and to be included in the record, we are attaching a copy of the Pacific Flyway's recommendations to the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Thank you for allowing us this opportunity to present our views. PACIFIC FLYWAY COUNCIL-August 3-4, 1966, Las Vegas, Nev. Bag limits: Duck limits (motion by Gravelle, seconded Schneider) 6 and 12 or 7 and 7 for the long season with the usual options. This is increase of 2 from 1964 and 1965. Recommended removal of restrictions on mallard, pintail, redhead and canvasback in the bag limit. Passed unanimous. Goose limits (motion by Kirch, seconded Salter) Goose limits be the same as last year and including same season restrictions as last year on Great Basin Canada Goose. Passed unanimous. Seasons-ducks (motion by Glading, seconded Gravelle) regular waterfowl season be 93 days with the option of 79 with 1 more bird. Motion carried. Framework-Geese (motion by Glading, seconded by Gravelle) that the season framework on geese except all Canada be extended to October 1 to February 1. Passed unanimous. Framework-ducks (motion by Crouse, seconded by Gravelle) to set general duck season framework for the period of October 1 to January 15. Hunting hours (motion by Gravelle, seconded by Bekins) hunting hours be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, urging member States to consider noon openings. Carried. Other species: Brant (motion by Crouse, seconded Glading) brant season of 80 days with same limits and framework as last year. Carried. Snipe (motion by Glading, seconded Crouse) snipe season 45 days with limits 8-16. Columbia Basin (motion Bekins, seconded by Salter) basin limits of 7 and 14 on ducks with same season length and closing as last year. Ruby Valley (motion by Kirch, seconded Glading) Ruby Valley, Nev., closed to white geese to protect trumpeter swan. Carried. Other actions, H.R. 13495 1. Passed resolution to support report of Harry Woodward of Colorado on Central Flyway Plan to establish two separate mallard management units. 2. Rejected proposal to increase duck stamp fee and establishment of dove and pigeon stamp. Rejected proposal to divert P.R. funds for dove research. 3. Supported resolution (presented by Martin Winton) in respect to San Joaquin Drain. 4. Passed resolution in favor of Congress providing 5 million dollars additional for waterfowl land acquisition during current year and that the extension of the time limit for acquisition of waterfowl lands be extended. Also in favor of accelerated program of land acquisition for waterfowl. 5. Passed motion commending Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife for information presented at this meeting. 6. Requested Chairman of Flyway or his delegate to appear before Congressional Subcommittee on Fish and Wildlife August 11, 1966. 69-049-66-11 7. Asked Secretary to write Tropicana thanking the manager for excellent accommodations. 8. Swans-approved Utah's request for 1,000 permits and Nevada's request for 700 permits. 9. No restrictions on mallards, redheads, canvasbacks or pintails. [Telegram] WARREN, MICH., August 12, 1966. Hon. JOHN DINGELL, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.: Wild fowl regulations for the Mississippi flyway are about to be announced including a 40-day season. All limitations and provisions can be lived with except the 40-day season. This is unfair and unreasonable. Please contact Secretary Udall and offer vigorous objections and suggest 50 days. Atlantic Flyway Council expresses full confidence in the Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife in matters pertaining to migratory waterfowls including its selection of seasons and bag limits for 1966–67. NORMAN G. WILDER, Chairman, Atlantic Flyway Council. [Telegram] NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 10, 1966. Re migratory season and bag limit hearing August 11, optimistic fall flight forecast warrants substantial liberalization of duck hunting regulations this year in the Mississippi Flyway. Congressman JOHN D. DINGELL, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife, Conservation Room, 1334 Longworth Building, Washington, D.C.: We anticipate six or seven million ducks in Louisiana this winter and desire reasonable opportunity for sportsmen to hunt same. Future of waterfowl management depends upon high level of unified support from duck hunters. Experimental September teal season producing excellent results here. Its continuation strongly recommended. We extend invitation to House Fish and Game Subcommittee members to visit Louisiana in December for field trip to coastal marshes and waterfowl concentration areas. Counsel, Fish and Wildlife Subcommittee, 1334 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: 1966 is the year of opportunity for rebuilding waterfowl breeding stock regulations should allow and increase next year in breeding birds sufficient to preclude the necessity of any ictions on mallards in 1967. Any liberaliza tion in the recommendations of the Mississippi Flyway waterfowl counsel would jeopardize the attainment of this goal. JAMES T. SHIELDS, Director, Minnesota Division of Game and Fish. NED P. EVERETT, [Telegram] LANSING, MICH., August 9, 1966. Counsel, Fish and Wildlife Subcommittee, 1334 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: Michigan is convinced that 1965 restrictions on bag limits of several duck species helped breeding stock in 1966 and urges the Secretary of the Interior to design 1966 regulations to eliminate need for restrictions on mallards and possible other species in 1967. Michigan supports the recommendations of the Mississippi Flyway Council for regulations a little more liberal than last year but restrictive enough to build breeding stock. R. A. MCMULLEN, Director, Michigan Department of Conservation. NED P. EVERETT, [Telegram] BOSTON, MASS., August 5, 1966. Counsel, Fish and Wildlife Subcommittee, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: Massachusetts requests a three bird bag limit and 50-day season for forthcoming waterfowl season. In addition requests a special season on black ducks starting December 15 through the end of the framework. Special black duck season based on research indicates under harvest of late coastal black ducks in northeast. JAMES M. SHEPARD, Director, Massachusetts Division Fisheries and Game. Hon. JACK EDWARDS, [Telegram] MONTGOMERY, ALA., August 8, 1966. Congressman, House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: Would appreciate your passing the following recommendation concerning Alabama waterfowl season and bag limits to Fish and Wildlife Subcommittee, QPAM August 11 framework October 8 through January 15. Season length minimum of 45 days. Limit four ducks, eight in possession. To consist of a minimum of two mallards. We feel that in keeping with these recommendations that an increased population of ducks will return to breeding grounds in 1967. This would permit removal of all species limitations in future years. CHARLES D. KELLEY, Chief Game and Fish Division, Alabama Department of Conservation. WAGNER & WAGNER, Waupun, Wis., July 25, 1966. CHAIRMAN, MERCHANT MARINE COMMITTEE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DEAR SIR: On behalf of over 200 farmers in this area, we enclose a petition relative to the migratory water fowl season as it pertains to Canada geese. This petition merits very serious consideration and is based upon the activities of this species of geese in this area for a period of at least 15 years. The United States Fish and Wild Life Service has protected the flock by. establishing a quota that can be killed, and thus we believe the flock that uses the Horicon Wild Life Refuge exceeds 200,000 birds. The Legislators of the State of Wisconsin appropriated $10,000.00 to pay for. damages to crops by the geese. The claims that were filed and which should |