OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE 3406 CHERRY AVENUE, NE, SALEM, OR 97303 WILDLIFE DIVISION TELEPHONE: (503) 947-6300 GAME BIRD PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2009-2010 GAME BIRD SEASONS – UPLAND GAME BIRDS AND WATERFOWL SUPPLEMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE OREGON FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION AUGUST 7, 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS Topic Page Introduction 3 Migratory Game Birds 4 Pacific Flyway Populations 4 Harvest Surveys 5 Migratory Game Bird Season Proposals 6 Duck and Merganser 6 General Fall Goose 8 NW Oregon Permit Goose 12 Black Brant 18 Wilson’s Snipe 18 American Coot 19 Falconry 20 Public Hunting Opportunities 21 Columbia Basin Regulated Hunt Areas 21 Appendix A – Adaptive Harvest Management Report, 2009 Appendix B – USFWS Waterfowl Population Status, 2009 Appendix C – Public Correspondence The recommendations in this packet are based on public correspondence (including telephone and e-mail communications), Pacific Flyway Study Committee and Council discussions, discussions with ODFW field personnel, federal regulatory requirements and past Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission direction concerning hunting seasons. 2 INTRODUCTION This is a supplemental package provided to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission (Commission), which outlines recommendations for most waterfowl seasons. The lateness of the federal regulatory process in 2009 precluded developing many season recommendations until this time. Season recommendations for upland game birds and some migratory game birds were included in an earlier Commission packet and are not repeated here. New or updated information on population status and harvest surveys is included. Detailed information on the status of waterfowl and Adaptive Harvest Management, including the western mallard model, is provided in two reports provided in the appendices. These proposals have been communicated to various hunting interests, including members of the Oregon Hunters Association, Ducks Unlimited, and Oregon Duck Hunters Association. Final federal regulatory decisions as well as public comment between now and the August 7 Commission meeting may modify recommendations but most proposals are anticipated to have majority support from hunters, based on past public comment and seasons adopted by the Commission in recent years. 3 MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS POPULATION STATUS Pacific Flyway Populations Ducks: In general, total ducks from major breeding areas in Alaska, Canada, Montana and the Dakotas increased 13% compared to numbers from the previous year and 25% compared to the 1955-2008 average. Mallard numbers increased 10% from the previous year while pintails showed a 23% increase, although they remain 20% below the long- term average. All species reported in the survey increased from the previous year except for redheads and American wigeon which were nearly unchanged. Redheads continue to be near record high population levels. Total pond numbers in these areas increased 45% from the previous year. Although continental populations experienced increases, in general, surveyed areas which contribute significant portions of their breeding population to Pacific Flyway states either experienced declines in breeding numbers or remained similar to last year. However, these areas still maintain robust breeding populations. Oregon breeding waterfowl surveys were conducted from late April through mid-May. Statewide, the breeding mallard population was down 6% compared to last year and down 25% compared to the 1994-2008 long-term average. Total duck numbers were down 17% from last year and down 32% from the long term average. Breeding waterfowl habitat was generally reduced in southeastern Oregon, where the majority of the state’s waterfowl are produced. However, above normal late-spring precipitation is expected to bolster production for the breeding birds present. Geese and Swans: Most goose and swan populations in North America remain healthy and the size of many fall flights should be similar to or increased compared to those of last year. However, the dusky Canada goose population index continues to decline and this year the 3-year population average reached a record low, triggering more restrictive harvest management actions throughout the flyway, including Oregon. In Oregon, the breeding Canada goose population was similar to last year and the long-term average, down 1% and no difference, respectively. Habitat conditions for nesting geese were fair in Alaska with good production noted for Taverner’s, cackling, and white-fronted geese. Production was excellent this spring for Wrangel Island snow geese and a large fall flight is expected, while snow goose production in the western-Canadian arctic was fair to good. 4 MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS HARVEST SURVEYS The Harvest Information Program (HIP), a cooperative harvest survey between the USFWS and states, was implemented in Oregon during 1995. Harvest is calculated by the USFWS from databases provided by the Oregon licensing system. This cooperative survey will continue to be refined annually by department and USFWS personnel. Stamp Sales: State of Oregon waterfowl validation (stamp) sales to resident hunters in 2008 totaled 49,921, a 2% increase from 2007. Total 2008 nonresident game bird stamp (valid for both waterfowl and upland game bird hunting) sales were 6,401, down slightly from 6,415 in 2007. Ducks: Preliminary results from the HIP suggest during the 2008/09 hunting season, 23,600 Oregon hunters spent 237,700 days hunting ducks and harvested 644,400 ducks. Mallards composed 41% of the harvest while other heavily harvested species were; wigeon (19%), green-winged teal (16%), and pintail (9%). Geese: Preliminary results from HIP suggest during the 2008/09 hunting season, 13,800 Oregon hunters spent 90,500 days hunting geese and harvested 105,400 geese. Canada geese composed 89% of the harvest while greater white-fronted and white geese composed 8% and 3%, respectively. American Coots: Preliminary results from the HIP suggest during the 2008/09 hunting season, 900 Oregon hunters spent 1,300 days hunting coots and they harvested 3,300 coots Mourning Doves: Preliminary results from the HIP suggest during the 2008 hunting season, 5,800 Oregon hunters spent 14,600 days hunting mourning doves and they harvested 45,500 doves. Band-tailed Pigeons: Preliminary results from the HIP suggest during the 2008 hunting season, 200 Oregon hunters spent 500 days hunting band-tailed pigeons and they harvested 500 pigeons. Wilson’s Snipe: Preliminary results from the HIP suggest during the 2008/09 hunting season, 700 Oregon hunters spent 3,700 days hunting snipe and they harvested 1,400 snipe. 5 MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS 2009-10 SEASON PROPOSALS Please note: All seasons for migratory game birds are established under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) frameworks. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife works through the Pacific Flyway Council process and the USFWS regulatory process to make recommendations on these federal frameworks. All recommendations must meet established framework guidelines and all season selections by the Fish and Wildlife Commission are subject to approval by the USFWS. ¾ DUCK AND MERGANSER Tentative Framework A maximum season length of 107 days is allowed between the Saturday closest to September 24 and the last Sunday in January; a daily bag limit of 7 birds to include no more than 2 hen mallards, 2 pintail, 3 Scaup, 1 Canvasback, and 2 redheads. The scaup season may only be a maximum of 86 days. For all species possession limit is twice the daily bag limit. Shooting hours are from one half hour before sunrise to sunset. Zoning options approved by the USFWS may be retained. One split in season dates may occur in each zone. The extra 7 days in the Columbia Basin are not offered because of the liberal season package. Two federal youth waterfowl days are allowed for ducks, mergansers, coots and geese. The two youth days must be consecutive. Youths 15 years of age and under may participate. Recommendation Adoption of maximum days and bag limits as allowed by framework. Maintain traditional shooting hours. Adoption of a federal youth waterfowl weekend. The adoption of a youth waterfowl hunt weekend requires a reduction in regular waterfowl seasons by two days. 6 PROPOSED DUCK AND MERGANSER SEASON Zone 1: October 17, 2009 – October 25, 2009 and October 28, 2009 – January 31, 2010* Scaup: November 7, 2009 – January 31, 2010 Zone 1 is western Oregon and Columbia Basin counties. Zone 2: October 10, 2009 – November 29, 2009 and December 2, 2009 – January 24, 2010* Scaup: October 10, 2009 – November 29, 2009 and December 2, 2009 – January 5, 2010 Zone 2 is the remainder of eastern Oregon. * A federal waterfowl youth hunt weekend is proposed for September 26 and 27. Allowed frameworks were developed cooperatively with the USFWS, states and all Flyway Councils under the Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) program. AHM is a process that increases objectivity and efficiency in the annual process of setting duck hunting regulations. AHM improves upon past approaches by using clearly defined harvest-management objectives, a limited set of regulatory options, and data assessment procedures. It is important to note the AHM process is dynamic, and as new information is obtained decision criteria will be modified. This represents the second year of implementation of the Western Mallard Model under AHM. The proposed season framework is similar to last year and flyway biologists believe continued liberal harvest