Teal Season UPDATE ! ! !

[bow-fishhunter]

only teal that would give no wiggle room for mistakes. I have no problem with people getting dinged for shooting the wrong bird.

[Nershi]

It is too bad the experienced and knowlegdable hunters that have the ability to ID birds on the wing and the restraint to hold back without a positive ID are being punished by those who cannot.

I do get it though. There is no doubt the yahoos would be out in full force blasting away at everything without a worry.

[Stute Slap]

So in fall hunting season they magically improve and shoot the correct birds?

comical excuse

Bottom line is he, personally doesn't want it. There probably aren't any teal at his hunting spots. And he is king and we are his subjects and we will do what he says. Ego,power, government,B.S.

He is purposely torpedoing the season by adding on the "1 mistake duck" to the season. Feds will never go with that, it's a terrible idea, he knows it. It's a way out so he doesn't disturb the sheeple. He can say "I tried to get the season but the Feds shut me down) But he doesn't mention he added the "mistake duck" to the proposal.

Think about, if he was truly worried about people shooting ducks other than teal - why in the hell would he allow people to lawfully shoot one duck other than teal? It's completely ridiculous, but also completely typical of our deceitful and dysfunctional leaders.

[gimpfinger]

So if I can't be trusted to shoot the right birds can I prepay my fines this summer so I can shoot some six bird limits on cans this fall?

sent from your under your bed

[h2ofwlr]

The article in full:

Feds likely to approve early teal season
By Tim Spielman Associate Editor, MN Outdoor News
March 20, 2014

Bemidji, Minn. — The stars just might be aligned for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow for an early teal season in the Mississippi Flyway’s “production” states, including Minnesota, this fall. But, according to the state’s waterfowl specialist, it’s possible the DNR may pass on the opportunity.

That wouldn’t hurt the feelings of duck hunters opposed to an early September hunt, or the Minnesota Waterfowl Association, which has expressed reservations about it, too.

Steve Cordts, DNR waterfowl specialist and a representative to the Mississippi Flyway Council, said the USFWS, which sets hunting season frameworks for migratory birds, won’t sign off on an early teal season for Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa likely until June, giving state officials little time to seek hunter input regarding such a season, or to set the parameters for the season, including its length and effect on things like the youth-only waterfowl hunt.

But don’t yet rule it out.

“The (Mississippi) flyway council has recommended (the early teal season) for all states in the flyway for a couple years,” Cordts said. “It actually has a chance this year.”

If approved for the so-called production states (Minnesota, Cordts says, produces about 50 percent of the blue-winged teal that are shot each season), it likely would be a three-year experimental season, and would need to be evaluated following that period.

“We sort of expect the Fish and Wildlife Service will approve that … reading between the lines from its past response,” he said.

But the possibility of such a season – which likely would begin the first Saturday in September, Sept. 6 this year, when the early Canada goose season tentatively could begin – hasn’t exactly fired up state hunters, Cordts said. In fact, “I haven’t had any calls from hunters wanting (an early) teal season,” he said.
Is there support for the season?

“I’d say it’s pretty mixed right now,” he said, adding that a hunter survey would need to be conducted before the DNR ushered in a new duck season.

Cordts and others have been soured on the season for another reason. The USFWS’s Service Regulations Committee, he said, won’t allow for a “mistake” duck in an early teal season bag.

“I was trying to get support for one non-teal in the bag,” he said. “They basically took that off the table.”

He said “spy blinds” would be required to monitor how many non-teal were being taken during a teal-only season.

“A teal-only season is not as attractive,” Cordts said.

The reason, he said, is that a teal-only season would require duck-identification skills few hunters possess, thus violation rates might be high. To avoid a citation, he foresees the other option: “They’ll have to stomp them (illegal birds) in the mud,” he said.

The maximum threshold for non-target ducks would be 25 percent, Cordts said; higher than that would mean the end of such an experimental season. He believes that threshold would be exceeded, adding that in early September, teal probably aren’t even the most-numerous birds in the state.

“It’ll be a messy season, and we aren’t going to pass (meet the criteria),” he said.

“We won’t (stay under) the 25 percent, I know that,” he added. “So we do it for three years and then what?”

Such rules, Cordts said, cater to hardcore waterfowlers. In fact, “I wouldn’t recommend a novice go hunting for teal only,” he said.

The last time an early teal season was allowed in Minnesota was in 1965, when in two and a half days, about 50,000 duck hunters killed nearly 200,000 birds, Cordts said.

There are legitimate concerns about such a season, Cordts said. Some waterfowlers worry about duck disturbance that early in the season. Others wonder how many non-target ducks, likely wood ducks and mallards, will be shot. And it’s possible the timing of the early season could conflict with the youth waterfowl hunt.

The Minnesota Waterfowl Association, according to Brad Nylin, its executive director, isn’t ready to sacrifice the youth hunt. MWA’s board has come out against the early teal season in general, he said.

“It’s definitely something we would not support,” Nylin said.

For one thing, he said, state hunters already shoot a high number of teal during the regular season.

“I think you have to be responsible from a production side,” he said. “And we just don’t think it works here. We’ve been pretty liberal (with other regulations), and at some point there needs to be a line drawn in the sand. This is our line in the sand.”

The MWA, Nylin added, doesn’t believe a “mistake duck” option makes the season more palatable. While it might make violators of fewer hunters, it might also encourage others to take a non-teal, just because they can.

The DNR’s waterfowl committee will consider the many elements of a possible early teal hunt when it meets in coming weeks. Other questions include how long such a season might be, if in fact it comes to fruition. Possibilities include 16, nine, or even five days, Cordts said.

The matter also continues to be discussed in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa, with at least the former two leaning toward a season this year, Cordts said.

As for Minnesota, “I think deferring for a year is the way we’re leaning,” he said.

[h2ofwlr]

I'm really disappointed the Board of MWA has taken an anti-teal season stance. If you are a member, write them. If you are not a member, send em $35 and tell em to start representing your interests in shooting ducks! They've done a pretty good job of supporting MN's "catching up" to Federal Frameworks... I was hoping they'd be smart about the teal season.

I just got off the phone with the ED of the MWA on what reasoning was the BoD using on their decision.

From their understanding there were 2 options:

1st was the 6 a day Teal and 1 mistake duck allowed. They are not in favor because of the concern over the precedent setting this could impliment.

2nd option presented to them was the 6 a day Teal season. They are not in favor becuase they think this will be the new "opener" for Mn. And basically that there was high concern of blowing the other ducks out of MN before the main regular season opener. I can see their point--meaning how many guys have been complaining about 5-8k kids blowing the birds out of MN on YWD? Now put 10 times many hunters out there hunting during teal season for a week.


So at least we can see why they decided why they did.

Personally I wonder that if a 2 day season and 4 a day teal was an option if the BoD may whistle a different tune? Just a thought is all.

I called him and he called me back. We had a really good talk for about a half hour. He said that the 5 day season is off the table and the allowable non teal duck is off the table because of the Feds. The investigation period requires look out blinds for the game wardens to count how many non teal flocks are shot at, 25% is the threshold and he said that every other state in the union that has an early teal season is above 50% non teal flocks are shot at. I am still in favor of a teal season but now understand why they aren’t just jumping in with both feet. He said that they don’t want to set up a season that is destine to fail.

Which is happened in 1965 when our teal season was pulled because we shot over 300K of teal in 2.5 days. Remmeber that back then there ere less than 1/2 of the teal as we have now.

[lanyard]

A teal season would be fun.

DNR, MWA, etc. have to put some line in the sand. The've all been better about a more liberal perspective.

Yes, it's B.S. politics, but that's not new, won't die.

For a long time we heard that pre-dawn opener would be a dangerous cluster... don't think that really materialized, and I don't think a teal season would get any more idiots out than normal. However, it would extend the idiot season as it would give them an extra week before pheasant season came along and they quit.

Teal season would pretty much be YWD for adults. Giving everyone a shot at earlier birds and faster shooting.

I wouldn't doubt if this one takes a "3 No's" strategy.... if approved by USFWs and it stays on the books, likely easier to liberalize it later after "thought, observation and consideration", than getting into it, having all the reports develop around how much hunters suck, and then pulling it back.

2 wood ducks, 2 hen mallards, etc., etc.

[Nershi]

So if I can't be trusted to shoot the right birds can I prepay my fines this summer so I can shoot some six bird limits on cans this fall?

sent from your under your bed

You can shoot 50 cans if you want. Why stop at 6?

[Quack]

he said that every other state in the union that has an early teal season is above 50% non teal flocks are shot at

I wonder if this info is current, or from the 1965 study. I would think with all of the YWD, Mentored Hunts, Woodie Camps, Hunting DVD's, and internet forums, that hunters might even be more conscientious than 50 years ago. Of course, maybe the black hoodies and war paint might cancel that out, but it's a thought. There's certainly still poaching going on, but it ain't like the old days.

So, if every other state is over 50%, why don't they stand up to this BS and say "enough". Why does MN have to meet a standard that other states clearly do not to keep the season?

BINGO. And, if the Feds offer it and all the other states do it, we are idiots to sit on the sidelines.


Who cares if it becomes "the new opener" ?! MN kills more flippin honkers than mallards now days. I'd say Early Goose is the NEW OPENER and has been for 20 years. Might as well shoot some teal too.

[h2ofwlr]

Your phone calls mean nothing.

As with ALL government decisions it is based upon ego and what those in the inner circle (=money) want.

How many believe that he has not received ONE phone calling in favor of it? Ridiculous.

Your opinion is shit. Save your breath for cooling your porridge.

So in fall hunting season they magically improve and shoot the correct birds?

comical excuse

Bottom line is he, personally doesn't want it. There probably aren't any teal at his hunting spots. And he is king and we are his subjects and we will do what he says. Ego,power, government,B.S.

He is purposely torpedoing the season by adding on the "1 mistake duck" to the season. Feds will never go with that, it's a terrible idea, he knows it. It's a way out so he doesn't disturb the sheeple. He can say "I tried to get the season but the Feds shut me down) But he doesn't mention he added the "mistake duck" to the proposal.

Think about, if he was truly worried about people shooting ducks other than teal - why in the hell would he allow people to lawfully shoot one duck other than teal? It's completely ridiculous, but also completely typical of our deceitful and dysfunctional leaders.

I think with those 2 posts that you are now a bonefide member of the tin foil hat club.