Synopsis of 2014 MN Waterfowl Symposium

[h2ofwlr]

Synopsis of 2014 MN Waterfowl Symposium
http://www.mnwaterfowl.com A link should be up this week to view the Symposium.
Added 2-5-14 Here is the link: http://www.mnwaterfowl.com/news_article ... _id=339127



BWTeal - Ron Gatti, WI DNR Studies in WI, and info below based on these studies in WI.
The great lakes breeding numbers are down, but west of the MS river (PPR) they are up. Why? This is what Wi biologists are asking.
Owls are 4 times more likely to take a BWTeal than a hen Mallard in the decoy traps.
BWTeal are 4 times more likely to die in the spring prenesting period.
Idle grasslands are the #1 choice for BWTeal.
½ of the BWT hens die during the nesting period (April-July) And for Mallards it is 24%
Avian (Hawk, Eagle, Owl) predation is = to Mammalian (raccoon, mink, fox) predation on BWT, each account for 1/3 of their deaths in April to July.
Hawks and owls were not federally protected prior to the mid 1970s. Is this why there are more avian predators today? And thus more predation on ducks?

BWTeal in MN and possible upcoming early season on them. Steve Cordts, MN DNR
- Traditionally 61% of the total Mn harvest of BWT is on opening weekend.
- In 1965 we had an experimental early BWT season Sept 11-13
- In 1966 the MN early Teal season was denied by USFWS because of such a high harvest rate in MN. 33% of the total flyway harvest of BWT was that early season.
- There were “spy blinds” to observe hunters all across the early teal season in ’65. MN had a 50% attempt rate of other (nonlegal) species. The USFWS said the rate had to be less than 25%. But only 1 state was under 25%. Overall in the MS and Central flyways all states combined had a 45% attempt of other species rate-thus a fail for the experimental season. The attempt rate means in MN that 50% of the flocks/birds not teal were shot at. This is a still a huge concern today with the early Teal seasons.
- Politics got involved in 1969. The new Asst Director of the Interior Dept was put in place and was from LA. He circumvented the USFWS Councils recommendations of no early Teal season at all, and did a dictator decision—he sent a telegrams to all the non production states in the MS and Central flyways that they could have a 4 a day 9 day Teal season. (so MN, WI, IA, SD, ND, and MT could not have a teal season too). It was a purely political VS biological decision. A huge uproar ensued. But was not reversed.
- In a new report studying the BWTeal population looking at the 1970-2012 season, if using the additive formula, 2 times as many Teal could be harvested than now, and if using the compensatory method, 7 times as many could be harvested.
- For 2014, proposal that MN is putting forth to the USFWS: A 5 day season with 6 per day with 1 ‘mistake” duck per day allowed for production states.
- possible conflicts: Youth Waterfowl Day, ricers in Northern MN., disturbance of other ducks while hunting (similar to the conflict by the early over water goose season). BTW, if YWD is moved to MEA weekend—then the regular season hunting must be not in effect. Meaning YWD can not be held during the regular season. They have to close the waterfowl season statewide for that day, all per current USFWS rules.
- There is a slim chance that the USFWS will go for it being the mistake duck allowance. We’ll now mid June.

Not covered in this synopsis were the topics of “Collecting Decoys for Pleasure & Profit” and “Waterfowl Photography”. please see the link to view.

Duck Migrations using radar. Josh Stafford, SD Cooperative F&W Research Unit
- Ducks leave an area on clear evenings.
- Upper winds are a primary indicator of if a migration will be on.
- Common altitude was much lower than previously thought, almost all flocks were under 1500’
- Ducks do not use rivers for navigation—EG they do not fly down the MN river and follow it.
- In IL, the ducks all migrate at 153 degrees with a 1% variance of that direction; this is regardless of the wind direction.
- There is refined sense now that ducks use the magnetic field for navigation.
- Habitat quality (available food and water) played a big part in how long they stayed in a given area.
- Likely this new data and new emerging technology will in the future aid scientists to better understand waterfowl migrations and the need of the waterfowl.

Ecology and Restoration of Wild Rice – Peter David, GLIFWC
- Stable water heights is crucial.
- Even a 1’ jump in water height over historical levels can wipe out a previous good producing wild rice lake. And example was that a culvert was replaced 15” to high for the outlet of a wild rice lake and no wild rice resulted for years. They put in a new one at the historical height and within 2 years it again had a very good rice production.
- Beaver dams or their plugging of culverts is a big problem, and have to be constantly addressed.
- MN is the epicenter for Northern stain of the Wild Rice. The crown jewel so to speak.
- 1 on 5 years is a bust, 1 in 5 a bumper crop and 3 of 5 a midland crop.
Wild rice is annual plant Vs a perennial plant. Cattails for example is a perennial plant and its roots sprout new shoots year after year. The wild rice plants shoots emerge from the seeds of previous seasons, and the WR seed can lie dormant for years before it sprouts.
- Also please see below Tom’s remarks on Phosphate and WR.

MN DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr remarks
- In 2013 26,000 people went through firearms safety in MN, a record.
- We used to have 1.8M acres of Native grasslands, it is down to 200,000 acres (312 SQ miles)
- For the best habitat for wildlife, in a township 20% wetland sn and 40% grasslands is desired for optimal production.
- Phosphate in the water is crucial for wild rice production. Currently the maximum allowed rate of phosphate is at 10 PPM for discharge in WR waters. For drinking water it is 250PPM. This relates to the Polymet copper/nickel mine issue. Per the MN legislature from 4 years ago: The PCA is reviewing the 10PPM and it started 3 years ago, and preliminary indicators of current data collected seems that the max level that Wild Rice can handle is about 10 PPM. The report should be finalized by end of the year.

Private talk after the meeting with Steve Cordts regarding the 2013 Early goose season.
- 25K early season license were sold.
- Of the 25,000, about 12,000 hunters bought a lic to participate in the Aug goose season.


Others who attended can feel free to chime in on things that I missed.
And as always, if you have a question, please feel free to ask.

[h2ofwlr]

An early teal season could be coming for Minnesota hunters
Posted by: Doug Smith, Startribune
Updated: February 1, 2014 - 2:31 PM

An early September teal season could be coming next fall for Minnesota duck hunters.

"There's a very high probability of having a teal season,'' said Steve Cordts, Department of Natural Resources waterfowl specialist.

Teal and a potential teal season were among the topics Saturday at the Minnesota Waterfowl Association's 17th annual Waterfowl Symposium in Bloomington, attended by about 100 people.

The bag limit likely would be six teal, and the DNR might ask to also allow one "mistake'' duck.

The DNR is expected to ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to authorize a September season, which has long been offered in other states. Federal officials probably won't decide until June.

Minnesota hasn't had a special teal season because it's a teal-production state.

But the continental blue-winged teal population has been at record highs recently at around 8 million to 9 million, and wildlife officials have said the population could sustain a higher harvest.

Though federal officials allow 16-day teal seasons elsewhere, Cordts said a Minnesota season likely would be nine days or less, and probably would begin the first weekend in September.

But if it comes, it will raise other issues, such as concern that a teal hunt would disturb other waterfowl before the regular season. Also an early teal season could kill Youth Waterfowl Day, which in Minnesota has been held two weekends before the regular opener.

"There's a possibility we'd drop it,'' Cordts said.

An early season also could conflict with wild rice harvesters, Cordts said.

Other topics at the Waterfowl Symposium included wild rice management, duck migration research using radar, waterfowl photography and duck decoy collecting.

[Bill Gilbertson]

½ of the BWT hens die during the nesting period (April-July) And for Mallards it is 76%

I think the 76% was the survival number.

[h2ofwlr]

You are correct Bill, I'll make the change.

Bill, so what did you think of the photography portion, as if I remember correctly, you do some photography. Did you get anything uselul from it?
For me, it was go big or go home as far as lenses went.

[bow-fishhunter]

Soooo open season on hawks owls and eagles??? In Outdoor magazine they were talking about wood ducks being part of the early season was there any talk about that?

[ducksmuggler]

yes there was but it was talked as an option for teal season so guys have a free bee, miss ID'd duck ....

the hawk, owl, and eagle thing was cool, seeing owls in OPEN water duck traps baited with live ducks was an eye opener for me. IT makes one think about years back when duck #'s were up and people shot hawks, owls and eagles at free will, but they now are protected. As fowler stated at the conference he had to travel just to see an eagle but now can just drive down the road and see 5.

[bow-fishhunter]

They didn't really say due to miss ID he was saying that Wood Ducks are probably more abundant that teal in MN and would give people more of a chance to shoot them...

[ducksmuggler]

true, it is a two way street. I took what was said for a missed ID'd bird. we shoot nice wood ducks around MEA in my parts. northern west central MN is diff.

[Bill Gilbertson]

Micheal Furtman was challenged by having only 30 minutes to explain how to do waterfowl photography.
His major points were that:
- You need a digital SLR because of its lack of shutter lag (the image is taken instantly when you press the button),
advanced focusing, and superior high ISO performance.
- He maintained that a 400mm lens is the minimum, so that cropping of the image is not necessary.
I believe this is the lens he was using in one of the pictures of him:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1 ... S_USM.html
- You should shoot some of your images in portrait (vertical) mode if you want your image to be useful for a
magazine cover.
- He advised manually selecting the center focus point rather than let the camera default of all focus points.
This avoids accidental focusing on a busy background rather than the birds in the foreground.
- He emphasized shooting from a low position (at the birds level) when possible rather than looking down on them.
Use the same principle for kids and dogs.
- He uses a camouflaged canoe or a float tube. The tube is camouflaged with a commercial grass
similar to what you would use on a duck boat. He can then float around and look like a muskrat hill.
- He often uses a BushHawk gunmount to hold his camera. http://www.michaelfurtman.com/bushhawk_review.htm


My thoughts:
I think his advice is correct for one who wants to more consistently get great photos. It's not uncommon for serious bird photographers to spend $20K for just a camera and a lens. This is an area where you really do get what you pay for. I think great photos can be taken for much less expense, just not with as much consistency. Here is a good entry point for a SLR: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/9 ... mm_is.html
Spend more on the camera and lens and you will get will be able to take advantage of more opportunities. If you are going to shoot images of ducks on the water at your local pond, go ahead and try to use your point & shoot camera. Not all birds are wary.
I shot the uncropped image above with a 400mm lens. I use a monopod when on land instead of the gimbal mount on a tripod that he mentioned. Go find any open water right now and you can get photos of birds on the water with most any camera and lens.
Also don't believe the high megapixel hype especially on a cell phone. I don't care if your phone has 43 megapixels. If you are trying to shoot birds in flight or anything under low light conditions, you are going to fail. Recent cell phone ads are doing a terrible disservice to people with misleading claims.

[WALKER]

Nice job on the summaries guys. You did a good job of hitting the major points on the sessions
I attended & I enjoyed reading about those that I missed

Thanks