Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting

2016 Waterfowl Symposium Agenda Draft
01/26/2016, 10:15am CST
By MWA
Minnesota Waterfowl Symposium

“Dedicated to Harvey Nelson”

Ramada Mall of America

Bloomington, MN

Saturday, February 6, 2016



DRAFT Agenda- Subject to Change

8:30 a.m. Conference Room and Information Desk Open


Morning Session – 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 P.M.


Moderator: Brad Nylin, MWA


9:00 – 9:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks

Tom Cooper, Chief, Midwest Region Migratory Bird Program, USFWS Paul Telander, Chief, Wildlife Section, MN DNR



9:30 – 10:00 Migratory Bird Treaty Centennial: A Century of Conservation! – Tom Will, USFWS

Q & A


10:00 – 10:30 Introduction to Open Water Hunting in Minnesota – Joel Huener, MNDNR

Q & A


10:30-10:45 Break


10:45 – 11:15 Surveillance for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Minnesota Wild Birds in 2015 – Chris Jennelle, MN DNR

Q & A


11:15 – 11:30 Introduction to the Minnesota Decoy Collectors Association Show


11:30 – 1:00 Lunch on your own & opportunity to visit MN Decoy Collectors Association Show (food available in upstairs lobby and at local restaurants)




Afternoon Session – 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.


Moderator: Sean Kelly, USFWS


1:00 – 1:30 Trumpeter Swans in MN: A Conservation Success Story – Christine Herwig, MN DNR

Q & A


1:30 – 2:00 Harvest of Canada Geese in Minnesota: Examination of Band and Recovery Data – Bruce Davis, MN DNR

Q & A


2:00 – 2:30 Status of Wetland Quality in MN – Michael Bourdaghs - MNPCA


Q & A


2:30 – 2:45 Break


Moderator: Ricky Lien, MN DNR



2:45 – 3:15 Results of MN Waterfowl Hunter Survey – Steve Cordts, MN DNR



Q & A



3:15 – 3:45 Views from Minnesota DNR Law Enforcement, Col. Rodmen Smith, MN DNR



Q & A



3:45 – 4:15 Question and Answer Session with DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr



4:15 – 5:00 Visit Demonstration and Information Booths

Be there if you want to stand up to the status quo and make a difference.

It is usually a very informative program and worth the time to sit through a presentation or two. I bet the results of the Waterfowl Survey will be of interest.

The decoy collections alone are worth the trip there.

cstemig wrote:It is usually a very informative program and worth the time to sit through a presentation or two. I bet the results of the Waterfowl Survey will be of interest.

The decoy collections alone are worth the trip there.

Any of you guys ever get the survey? Or is that not taking about the one they send out in the mail?

Fish Felon wrote:Be there if you want to stand up to the status quo and make a difference.

FF~

I can't be there, I have people things to do. But a couple points I'd be interested in learning:

1) Is MN biology better than the USFWS biology? The stats, counting methods, etc.? Is there like a hierarchy, where USFWS biology is like the Ford Explorer and MN biology is like the Lincoln Navigator?

2) If the biology "rule" (see DAs article about more scientists making decisions) stands for water fowling, in the public's eye it should also stand for big game, fish, etc. So, why can't we have a teal season when biology says we can, but DA can go walleye fishing on Mille Lacs when biology says we can't?

3) In many cases, recovery of populations is increased when controlled hunting is allowed after a population gets to a critical mass. Now that native americans get a season, do they anticipate a lottery for Trumpeter Swans? How about Sandhill cranes in the whole state?

4) Personal Restraint has been a part of the Land Ethic since Leopold sat on his porch counting bird chirps at sunrise. Is it the position of the MWA and/or DNR/USFWS/etc. that restraint be regulated to lower time afield/pressure on birds/total harvest/incidental harvest/etc, if the biology indicates the population can support increased hunting opportunities based on hunter numbers/hours/etc.

Have fun, wish I could be there.

Goldfish wrote:

cstemig wrote:It is usually a very informative program and worth the time to sit through a presentation or two. I bet the results of the Waterfowl Survey will be of interest.

The decoy collections alone are worth the trip there.

Any of you guys ever get the survey? Or is that not taking about the one they send out in the mail?

As I recall 1 or 2 guys mentioned last summer that they got it. 3600 were mailed out a bit over a year ago. Only 1/2 were mailed back, there were 3 follow up prompting you to return it letters if you received the survey.

I got one of the surveys. I mailed mine back.