Number: 1982-25
WHEREAS, the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan entered a cooperative plan of management for the Mississippi Valley Population of Canada Geese in 1979; and
WHEREAS, this plan was also agreed to by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and approved by the Mississippi Flyway Council; and
WHEREAS, a spirit of cooperation existed in the initial phases of this plan which could have assured the accomplishment of the goals and objectives; and
WHEREAS, the people of most of the involved states have lived up to all commitments they made when entering the plan, including a complete closure of Canada goose hunting for three years in some states; and
WHEREAS, the State of Illinois has seen fit to violate the cooperative spirit of the MVP plan by re-initiating a feeding program on areas under their control; and
WHEREAS, this violation is contrary to the agreed upon plan endorsed by all agencies involved and in so doing is depriving the general public in Southern latitudes of this continental resource;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in Annual Meeting assembled, March 18-21, 1982, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, hereby urges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Flyway Council, and the cooperating states to implement actions which will achieve the objectives of the MVP plan within the time frame agreed upon; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that failing other practical means of attaining these objectives, consideration be given to closing the season for the hunting of Canada Geese in Illinois until such time as population objectives specified within the plan are attained.