Get ready to open up the wallet! Its about time as far as im concerned. $12.50 was too cheap!


ADVISORY COUNCIL ON WILDLIFE & FRESHWATER FISH
MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2005
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
David J. Healey, Chair Greg Moore
57 Visitors
Edward A. Montague, Vice Chair Pat Emory
J. Richard Berry Ken Reynolds
John W. Stewart Jr. Tom Whittendale
Garrett H. Arai Karen
Bennett
Ross Harris (Absent) Bobby Hutchins
Ted Palmer (Absent) Paul Cunningham
Al Townsend Sgt. Tim
Pritchett
Terry Higgins Jack
Detwiler

Karen Kennedy

Taped micro-cassettes of this meeting are available for listening at the
Richardson & Robbins Building in Dover. For further information contact
the Wildlife Section.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman David J. Healey at 7:30 PM.

Agenda Item 1. Mallard Release Program (Sgt. Tim Pritchett).

As a result of a recent arrest the topic of live decoys was
raised. Officer Tim Pritchett gave a presentation explaining federal and
state laws regarding release of captive mallards. The federal law in
summary states that in areas where live captive reared waterfowl have been released that they have to be removed from the hunting area or their calls and visibility eliminated 10 days prior to hunting. Regarding the case in question, 400 mallards had been released and were still on the hunting area and pond that was being hunted at the time of the arrest. The mallards were clearly visible and could be heard from all hunting locations. The pen raised mallards were not shot and wild ducks were responding to their calls and visibility and were being killed. The released mallards were approached within 23 yards before flying. Most questions from the audience concerned what should have been done? Sgt. Pritchett explained that the released birds were in a location where they had no other place to go to escape the hunters, (i.e.. a rest area away from the hunting location where their calls and visibility would be eliminated) and when they did fly in the hunting area that they should have been shot at and taken as if wild birds, (members of the audience agreed that is what they do with their released mallards) not allowed to sit on the hunting pond and attract wild birds. Mr. Edward Montague of the Council asked why a warning was not given to the hunter. Sgt. Pritchett explained the seriousness of the violation and the effect on wild waterfowl. Sgt. Pritchett explained in this case 4 of the hunters were given warnings and just the property owner was held
responsible for the violation.

Agenda Item 2. Report on Avian Influenza (Tom Whittendale).

Tom Whittendale updated the Council on the status of Avian Influenza (AI) in wild waterfowl and water birds, and the threat status of the H5N1 strain of AI which has killed humans in Asia. Avian Influenza virus is common in wild birds which carry it but are not usually harmed by it. To the best of our knowledge this has always been the case, and the virus in wild birds remains relatively stable over time. There are 144 strains of AI, all found in waterfowl, and most of which are found in other water birds. Of these, 3 are linked to human flu. Two of the 16 H strains of AI can cause die-offs in domestic poultry if the wild strains mutate in the domestic flock. This happens very rarely. Wild birds are a very low risk for transferring any of the virus strains to humans. Human infection with H5N1 virus is from infected domestic fowl and the virus does not pass from human to human. However, H5N1 has passed in a few cases from domestic birds back to wild waterfowl in Asia and the concern is that this virus could come to North America through the migration flyways. The U.S Dept. of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the states are initiating screening procedures to detect the H5N1 strain should it cross to North America.

Agenda Item 3. Status Report on Sussex County Range (Director Pat Emory)

Director Pat Emory gave an update on the status of
purchasing a shooting range for Sussex County. He reported that Mr. William Wolters, owner of Owens Station Shooting Preserve was interested in selling. Director Emory stated that the Division has been working cooperatively with the Police Chiefs Association to establish a range at this site. He also reported that since Owens Station Shooting Preserve was already grandfathered in it would be much easier for the Division to purchase it rather than having to go through the permit process to acquire and establish a new site.


Agenda Item 4. New Fees/License Proposal (Director Pat Emory).

Director Pat Emory distributed a handout explaining new
license fee increases. Director Emory explained that we have not had a
license increase since 1985 and that Delaware has the lowest hunting license fee in the country. The following is the current and proposed license structure:

Resident Hunting License $12.50 current, $25.00 proposed.
Non Resident Hunting License $86.00 current, $130.00 proposed.
Non Resident 3 Day License $15.00 current, $50.00 proposed.
Non Resident Antlered, Non Resident Quality Buck, Resident Hunters Choice, & Delaware Duck Stamp no change in fee structure.

Proposed New Fees:
Delaware Guide License, $100.00.
Non Resident Guide License, $300.00.
Public Lands Access Fee, $10.00.

Director Emory explained possible scenarios of potential
revenues for the Division. Since 1975, the Division’s land area under
management has more than tripled and possibly quadrupled to over 58,727 acres. During the same 30 year period the number of management personnel has not changed. Recreational services and facilities have also increased since 1975. Currently, the Wildlife Section receives very little General Fund money for operating costs or match. License sales have declined by almost 10,000 hunters since 1975 which is equivalent to a yearly loss of 85,000 in matching dollars. The Wildlife Section is currently operating at or near the break even point. Continued decline in revenue combined with increasing project cost will necessitate a cut back in services or personnel.


Agenda Item 5. Deer Management – Reproductive Tract Survey (Greg Moore).

Greg Moore, Wildlife Section Administrator, gave a
presentation on the Division’s proposed white tailed deer reproductive
tract survey. Mr. Moore indicated that considerable erroneous information regarding this subject had generated confusion and ill will on the part of the general public. Mr. Moore emphasized the need for the collection of good data in order to better manage Delaware’s white tail deer population. Three basic pieces of information were needed; they include population density, mortality and reproduction. Currently, the Division only has a reliable indication of mortality based on hunter harvest. To really understand the dynamics of the population, density and reproduction measurements are essential. The Division intends to fill these gaps in their data by conducting two surveys to measure density and a reproductive tract survey to provide an indication of recruitment. This infrared survey was contracted to Vision Air of Idaho and will yield an estimate of population numbers and indicate geographic areas of high densities. The reproductive tract survey will be completed by the Division and will provide age specific fecundity, sex ratios, and lengths of rut and doe age structure information. Together this information will provide a reliable method to determine population trends and develop management harvest
strategies.

The Division had originally planned to use a wildlife
services shooting team to collect the 600 deer needed for the reproductive survey. This team was selected for data quality assurance, safety and liability reasons. The Division has, as a result of hunter input, reconsidered their position and will attempt to use hunter harvested deer during the January shotgun and muzzleloader seasons to complete their sample. The wildlife services shooting team may still be used to complete the samples if there are deficiencies in specific age classes.

Mr. Moore concluded his presentation by announcing that the
Division will hold workshops in each county to discuss deer management data collection efforts. Workshops will be held on December 8 – New Castle Ommelanden Range, December 13 – Kent County R&R Auditorium, and December 15 – Sussex County Del Tech. All meetings will begin at 7:00 PM.

Mr. Moore’s presentation was followed by a considerable
amount of questions from the audience. Mr. Moore encouraged those in attendance to come to the workshops for detailed information. Chairman Healey requested the data for infrared survey be presented at a future Advisory Council Meeting.


AGENDA FOR THE 1/31/06 ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

1. Waterfowl Hunter Survey/Waterfowl Counts
2. Waterfowl Base Season.


There being no further business, a motion was made, seconded and carried that the meeting be adjourned at 10:01PM.

Sincerely,
Karen Kennedy
Recording Secretary