Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    
    Bear,
    
    I haven't seen Vermont's regulations yet, I'm sure they will be
    as you stated in an earlier note, shorter season, 3 duck bag limit,
    no 1/2 hr. before sunrise.
    
    As you stated, and I generally agree, the 1/2 hour before sunrise
    is a very productive time, and I hate to loose it.  It can be a
    very enjoyable time of the day to shoot at waterfowl, it makes it
    that much harder to hit them.  I guess the days of "silhoutte shooting"
    are over.  Like the day last year 2 Bluebills screamed over the
    decoys at 30 yards right after legal shooting time (still pitch
    black) and came around for a second swing (the first swing all we
    heard was swooosh) only to be felled by 2 blasts from my Savage
    auto.  That is silhoutte shooting at its best.
    
    Honestly though there have been many mornings where normal 
    October/November weather conditions make it nearly impossible to 
    positiviley identify between certain types of waterfowl at this time
    of the day, at least for me.  Add this to the poor breeding population
    in the Canadien prairies (Central/Pacific Flyways) and it seems
    to make sense for the SHORT term.  What I don't like about the regulation:
    
    	o  That it's imposed nationwide, why?  The birds migrating down
    	   our flyway are expected to be at or above last years' level..
           Becasue they are the Federal government, and govern the whole
    	   country doesn't mean they can't regulate by region does it?
    
    	o  Once the regulation is imposed it will never be removed.
           Even when duck populations rise (hoping they do) I doubt
    	   we will ever see the regulation go away.  I doubt we will
    	   ever see the limits increase as well, I'm not banking on
       	   it.
    
    	o  The states bend over for the Fed's all the time, when will
    	   we ever get a Govenor and a head of the F&G dept. to just
    	   say NO.  
    
    In my opinion they are pushing too much on us all at once, it is
    ruining the sport.  I can't see waterfowl hunting in my children's
    (future children) future.  It may die in my lifetime.
    
    Kevin...still getting excited to shoot waterfowl

    re:.1
    
    >> Like the day last year 2 bluebills screamed over the decoys
    >> at 30 yards right after legal shooting time....only to be
    >> felled by 2 blasts from my Savage....
    
    Kevin, would you like to re-phrase this statement or shall I 
    call up your favorite warden up in Swanton?!
    
    ;-) Heh, heh.
    
    Back to the topic...I agree with Kevin about the nationwide 
    changes in the regulations.  It's wrong.  About the 1/2 of
    shooting time lost...3 ducks a day is 3 ducks a day, no matter
    when you shoot them.  There must be another reason for this new
    regulation.  Maybe it will make it easier for the wardens to
    apprehend poachers who are taking more then their share.  If 
    thats the case, and it works, the rule is ok by me.  It may be
    because of the identification problem.  Kevin and I will be
    asking some questions at the F&G meeting on Sept. 1 and will
    post some answers (if we get any!).
    
    Dave
    

    
    re .2
    
    Dave...I think I shall rephrase it...
    
    What I meant was..right after legal shooting time had officially
    began (in the a.m.) not after it had ended in the p.m..  As most
    duck hunters know when legal shooting time ends in the p.m. (at
    sunset), there is much more light at this time then when legal shooting
    time begins 1/2 hr. before sunrise.  But Dave wouldn't know that
    because he doesn't get out that much, doesn't want that O/U to get
    any rain drops on it or anything like that.  :^)
    
    Hopefully we can get out more this year than we did last year.
    
    Kevin (alias C-B)
                 
    

    Dave (D-B)

          If U.S. Wildlife thinks that the duck situation is that bad
    off maybe they should close it all together. I know quite a few
    people who has said the heck with the season for this year and will
    spend more time in the woods. Why pay more this year and get less.
    
                                              Mike

    We don't want the season closed because:
    
    1. No income from licences/stamps.
    2. Equipment sales would be down, and the Robertson-Pittman Act
    money would be way down (that money is allocated to states in
    proportion to licence sales).
    3. You don't want to give the anti-hunting folks a persidence (i.e.,
    If a one year halt is good, why not a two or three or four year
    moratoriun?).
    4. Isn't a little fun better than none at all?  Nobody ever said
    that hunting was a economocal passtime?
    
    larry

    I went out and bought my Federal stamp and will shortly be getting
    my state stamp, but I'm still undecided "IF" I'm going to hunt water-
    fowl at all this year. Yes, we all understand that money goes to
    the P-R act but what happens if everyone hammers the s**t out the
    birds this year how long will it take for them to recover? These
    are the things that I think about, sure i'll miss that cold morning
    happiness but in my opion its for a tremendous cause the "Future
    of Game and Hunting".
    
                                                       Guy

    then, take your camera and bust some poachers!
    
    

    
    O.k. the Law says, shooting-time will be later. No problem, Were
    law abiding hunters RIGHT!!, Right, so we change our hunting tactics.
    
    The first morning will make no difference, but once Mr. Duck gets
    an education the mornings after will be tough as the birds will
    head out to the back-waters and rivers in the wee hours of the morning.
    
    I suggest Float-Trips down these rivers or hunting remote beaver
    ponds. Float-Trips offer much excitement and some real tricky wing
    shooting as well. One hunter in the bow,one hunter paddle. When
    your partner gets a shot not a duck mind you a shot, then you switch.
    
    Its a lot of fun with little hunter pressure and you can start the
    float at sunrise with no rush,rush.
    
    So get youself a partner, find a few rivers and learn where you
    can put the boat in and take out. One of you park your car or truck
    down river then the two of you put in together with the other car
    and float to your ride down river and enjoy those fast moving Woodies
    on the way....
    
                   Now, Hows that for making the law work for YOU...
    
    
                 See ya,
    
                            Rick.............. 

    re:9
    
    	This is really nothing new because I usually do this in the
    afternoon anyway and I agree that it is fun.
    
    re:0 and others
    
    	I'm inclined to agree with Bear and others that this seems to
    be to much change to fast. Not only that there has been little or 
    no explanation as to why.
    
    	I am really at a loss as to what to do and will probably just
    wait and see if an explanation surfaces. If one does not I will
    most likely pursue one before buying my stamps. This seems like a 
    no win situation though. If you buy your stamps and go anyway you 
    are almost agreeing to the change in the eyes of the fed's but you
    still get to hunt. If you boycott and don't buy them then you are 
    taking management money away from F+G/fed. mngmt. and you don't
    get to hunt. If you buy your stamps and don't hunt, you seem to
    lose all the way around. 

    	I'm reasonably sure that the reason is going to be for conservation
    purposes but they may be cutting there own throats. I have spoken
    to a few that have the "I just won't go this year" attitude. This
    will cut down on the incoming funds collected from stamps and the
    result could be a vicious circle of decline. I hope not as this
    is my favorite (even over deer) hunting season.
    
    	RAYJ