The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this past week that it would be taking public comment on several proposed changes and modifications effecting the setting of waterfowl seasons for this coming fall. Among them are the ever popular season framework extensions, and the possibility of adding days to seasons for mid latitude states to compensate for the projected harvest distribution inequities brought about by earlier opening dates in the north and later closing dates in the south.
In the interest of furthering knowledge of wetlands and waterfowl conservation education, Ducks Unlimited launched two new web sites this past week.
Word from the breeding ground is that the next phase of the breading season is underway. With the drakes beginning to shirk some of their responsibilities and their bright mating plumage fading, our hopes for a plentiful hatch now lie with the mothers to be. Soon the boys will gather up and depart for their molting grounds, and the next generation of waterfowl will emerge and grow under the wings and watchful eyes of their mothers. Step by step the yearly promise of renewal continues to unfold. May we never tire of it or cease to be struck by its wonder.
