Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest
10-20-2006 11:30
– – –
Ray, you do a good job.
I’ll be out for the opener tomorrow.
Seeing lots of ducks and a good vareity in the south zone.
Scouting we have seen Gadwalls, Pintails, Greenwings, a few Bluewings, Mallards and Blacks.
Let you know how we do.
Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor
2006-2007 Waterfowl Regs 08-23-2006 21:57
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Greeting from the flat lands down Jersey,
The final regs are now posted on the DEP website http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artmigratory06.htm
September season is just around the corner … don’t forget to get both stamps and that HIP number before you go!
[Edited By Ray-Sands on 2006-08-23 21:58]
Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor
New Jersey 08-20-2006 18:12
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Greetings from the flat lands down Jersey,
The following information is a press release from the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife. Please be sure to visit their website(http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/index.htm) for any changes that may occur governing migratory waterfowl hunting before going a field.
The 2006 NJ Duck Stamp Program information is also availible on line http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/prod_stamps.htm
The NJDGW HIP information release:
Following is information regarding changes in the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP). The information can also be found at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/hipprog.htm .
All licensed migratory bird hunters (those hunting ducks, geese, brant, coot, woodcock, rails, snipe or gallinules) must purchase a Harvest Information Program (HIP certificate. The web site and toll-free number previously used for HIP certification in New Jersey are no longer available. With the implementation of the new Integrated Electronic Licensing System (IELS), all HIP registrations are now handled through the online system administered by the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s contractor, Automated Licensing Systems (ALS).
Migratory bird hunters can get their HIP certification three different ways, all of which allow hunting immediately:
* Online by visiting our license sales web site, www.wildlifelicense.com/nj/
* By calling the toll-free NJ telephone sales line at 888-277-2015, or
* At any agent using the new IELS system. A list of license agents that are currently equipped with the IELS system can be found at www.njfishandwildlife.com/agentlst.htm. (See NOTE below.)
Hunters must have proof of HIP certification while hunting migratory birds, be it a HIP certification printed on the new durable green license stock (DO NOT LAMINATE), a HIP certification printed on a home-computer, or a transaction number obtained over the phone. This proof of certification should be carried in the hunter’s license holder.
Waterfowl Research Project staff use HIP Certifications to draw a sample of hunters for harvest surveys. The Parts Collection Survey uses wings to derive the species, age and sex of the birds in the waterfowl harvest.
There is a $2.00 fee for HIP certification. This fee is merely to cover the cost of administering this federally mandated program, which is only partially paid for by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Those obtaining their HIP certification at an agent will receive a HIP certificate on the durable green license stock (DO NOT LAMINATE) now being used and can go hunting immediately. Hunters can print their certification on a home printer and go hunting immediately. Hunters will be able to return at a later date and get a free reprint if the original gets damaged or lost.
HIP certification obtained by calling the toll-free NJ telephone sales line will cost $5.13 ($2.00 + $3.13 ALS shipping/handling fee). The HIP certification will be printed by ALS on the new durable green license stock and mailed. Hunters will be issued a temporary certification number that allows hunting immediately and can expect to receive their permanent certification document in 7-10 days.
The HIP certification being issued now is valid from Sept. 1, 2006 to March 10, 2007. For migratory bird hunting regulations see the information linked from the Regulations page.
All information collected through the program is kept confidential and is used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct migratory bird harvest surveys. As it has done previously, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will also mail harvest surveys to a small, random group of HIP registrants.
NOTE: A small number of IELS agents may not be able to issue HIP certificates so it is advisable to call ahead.
Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor
National Duck Hunter Survey Results 02-10-2006 21:47
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
The following is the National Duck Hunter Survey news release from the Wildlife Management Institute and National Flyway Council. New Jersey waterfowl biologists will participate in a full review and discussion of this survey and its implications at the Joint Flyway meeting beginning Feb 19.
Las Vegas, NV-The National Flyway Council(NFC) and the Wildlife Management Institute released the results of the National Duck Hunter Survey 2005 today at a news conference held in conjunction with the SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas.
“This survey is the first to ask a representative sample of duck hunters in every state their opinions on ducks, duck hunting and waterfowl management,” said Don Childress, NFC chair. Over 10,000 duck hunters responded to the survey.
Some of the national findings include:
* Seventy-two percent of respondents said duck hunting was one of their most important(58 percent) or most important (14 percent) recreational activities.
* Fifty-nine percent said that the duck season length (number of days in the season) in the state they hunted most over the last 5 years was “about right,” although one-third (35 percent) said the season was “too short,” and 3 percent, “too long.”
* Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of duck hunters said that the total daily bag limit in the state they hunted most over the last 5 years was “about right.” Thirteen percent said it was “too low,” and 8 percent, “too high.”
* Almost two-thirds (65 percent) of duck hunters said they spend over $250 each year on duck hunting and one-fifth (20 percent)said they spend over $1,000 each year.
* Six percent of duck hunters now age 45-64 indicated that they began duck hunting in the relatively recent past (1997-2004).
* Twenty percent of duck hunters said they “frequently” access the internet for duck hunting information; 49 percent said “once in a while,” and 31 percent, “not at all.”
Survey results are reported nationally, by the four flyways, and by upper, middle, and lower groupings of states in each flyway. This allows for comparisons among regions of the country. For example, 30 percent of duck hunters in the upper portion of the Central Flyway (North Dakota, South Dakota, and eastern Montana) said that the overall quality of duck hunting over the last five years had “gotten much better” (10 percent)or “gotten a little better” (20 percent), while 29 percent said it had “gotten alittle worse” (23 percent) or “much worse” (6 percent). By contrast, 5 percent of the duck hunters in the lower portion of the Mississippi Flyway (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee) said that the overall quality of duck hunting over the last five years had “gotten much better” (1 percent) or “gotten a little better” (4 percent), while 82 percent said it had “gotten a little worse” (31 percent or “much worse” (51 percent).
Fifteen states chose to increase the number of hunters surveyed in their states to allow for statistically meaningful state-level results (South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa, Maryland, Tennessee, and Wisconsin). These state results will be released on February 16.
The mailing addresses for the survey were randomly drawn from the Harvest Information Program (HIP) database and included hunters who reported having harvested at least one duck during the 2003-04 duck hunting season. Only resident hunters were surveyed.
“This survey just wouldn’t have been possible without the HIP program,” said Childress. “This collaborative HIP effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state fish and wildlife agencies is critical to waterfowl management.”
The survey report includes over one hundred pages of responses to 32 questions from hunters in 49 states. “These results are just the beginning,” said Steve Williams, President of the Wildlife Management Institute. “The purpose of the survey was to provide objective information about hunter attitudes and now it is time to put the results to use.”
The next step is for duck hunters, Flyway Councils, state fish and wildlife agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, conservation organizations, duck clubs, and the outdoor media to begin reviewing and discussing what the results mean and how the results might be used to inform future decisions regarding waterfowl hunting and management.
“These results will be invaluable in our deliberations and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will do everything we can to communicate these results to those who can use them to improve our hunting regulations and hunter satisfaction in the future,” said Paul Schmidt, Assistant Director for Migratory Birds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Funding for the National Duck Hunter Survey 2005 was provided by state fish and wildlife agencies through the four Flyway Councils,the NFC and the Wildlife Management Institute. A committee composed of Flyway technical representatives and human dimensions specialists was formed by the NFC and guided conduct of the survey. The NFC hired D.J. Case & Associates to coordinate development, implementation and analysis of the survey.
The National Duck Hunter Survey 2005 is the first of several communications strategies under the banner of “A Systematic and Sustained Conversation with Waterfowl Hunters.” A “Strategy Team” formed by the NFC and Wildlife Management Institute in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is guiding the effort.
Additional information on the National Duck Hunter Survey 2005 and a downloadable copy of this news release is available at www.ducksurvey.com.
Contact: Don Childress, National Flyway Council, 406-444-2612, don.childress@ducksurvey.com
Contact: Steve Williams, Wildlife Management Institute, 202-371-1808, steve.williams@ducksurvey.com
Contact: Dave Case, D.J. Case & Associates, 574-258-0100, dave.case@ducksurvey.com
Website: www.ducksurvey.com
Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest
coastal 01-21-2006 17:40
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Went out friday. To warm. Nothing flying and nothing saw. Tough way to end my season but it just has been to warm. Minor cold front coming in Sunday so Monday could be a good day.
Posted By:
duker31
Supporting Member
Mannington Meadows 12-27-2005 13:06
Cloudy, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
wind out of the NW and had some birds working almost all day up until around 10:30 .. shot 6 mallards 2drakes 4hens .. came in picture perfect just like there supposed to .. didn’t see many geese .. going back thursday hope for some weather
wacken ducks – Rob Big Earl and Bob
Posted By:
Richard-Foxx
Guest
Sea Isle 12-23-2005 13:43
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
On Wednesday we gunned New Jersey near Sea Isle. Saw hundreds of Brant, A very good number of Bluebills, Buffleheads and Blacks. Did not see as many Mallards as we had expected.
Most of the fresh water ponds were frozen which probably explained the absence of puddle ducks.
The flight started early and continued very well until about 10:30 then it was sporadic till about noon when the tide went slack and the flight pretty much stopped.
We ended the day with 8 Brant, 6 Bluebills and 3 Buffleheads.
Good flights of Brant and Bluebills all day. When we killed birds and were out retrievein the ducks with the dogs it seemed that’s when the Bluebills would buzz us.
Posted By:
stick61
Guest
Wallkill River Wildlife Refuge, Wantage Twp. 12-18-2005 10:46
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
Went out at daybreak on 12/17/05. The area we hunt is the only area of open water on an otherwise ice covered Wallkill River. Got one American Merganser, missed on three others. The ones we saw were the only ducks in the air. They were looking for any open water to land in. Didn’t even see any Canadian Geese flying. Real bad morning, but still better than work!!! Gonna give it another try next week.
Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest
Navisink 12-17-2005 07:58
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
After some rain in the morning the sun came out and the winds picked up from the west.Had one black early in the decoys and now he will be dinner. Hit a greenhead full but he kept going to sea bright even though wounded. Usually brant,buffies,megies. No bluebills that I saw. Very windy and tough going in the canoe. Lost 5 or 6 carry light red heads and blubills due to the wind and full moon high tide. Was trying to set out my gang line, having set up the singles when I got the canoe turned into the wind my singles decieded to head head out. Some to Red Bank some to Sea Bright. Did not have the guts to chase them in the open water with that wind so if any comes across them I would not mind a PM. Thank you.The highest full moon tides I have ever seen in the river yeasturday. With the wind and tide agains each other in the morning it was rough out their yesturday.
Posted By:
Ray-Sands
Field Editor
12-13-2005 06:34
– – –
Christmas greeting from the flat lands down Jersey. Had hoped he weather would have moved more ducks down our way but it is not the case. A typical season … nothing to buy extra shells for. The ponds have been freezing up but most of the creeks are moving and there is no pressure on the birds to cooperate. Red leggers have shown up in the meadows off North Wildwood but only traveling in singles and pairs. Have only spied three broad bills in Great Bay and they didn’t give us a look. Griscom Swamp is holding the usual Sprig and black numbers. Seems to be quite a few more greenheads in the meadows this year. Unlike the blacks that have been traveling in singles or maybe a trio they are traveling in flocks of seven or more. One decides to bail out last minute and every one else follows. Had on flock of nine come by wide five times. This one hen would just turn a 90 at 65 yards. Get back o the call and she would call right back and turn around. Mixed it up each time from chuckles to single quacks but just couldn’t get her to commit the flock. Then a flock of +20 GWTeal buzzed in and that ended that. Surprised to see a flock of that size so late in the season, and to have not nicked a feather.
Last night quite a few snows and some canadas were making the jump across the bay. They were taking advantae of the calm, moon light and clear skies. They started around 6pm and at 9pm I could make out not less than 5 flocks of snow and a flock of canadas going over head.
Here’s to frozen creeks and the best in the New Year.
