Number: 2005-12
Duck Hunting Regulations WHEREAS, ducks in North America have important cultural, recreational, economic, historic and other values; and
WHEREAS, duck harvest levels can be adjusted annually to help maintain healthy duck populations as they fluctuate in response to wetlands loss, water conditions, weather, previous harvest, disease and other factors; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has employed the Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) model based on spring water conditions and other factors to help determine annual waterfowl harvest regulations; and
WHEREAS, in recent years harvest levels determined by AHM have consistently been “liberal” despite breeding habitat conditions ranging from drought to wet; and
WHEREAS, duck hunting in the Mississippi Flyway has been poor in many areas in recent years;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its annual meeting assembled April 1-2, 2005, in Washington, D.C., supports that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reassess the Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) model to ensure that duck harvest levels are appropriately adjusted to account for different duck populations and breeding habitat conditions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assess implementation of a more conservative duck season length and permitted harvest in the Mississippi Flyway to improve the long-term health of the duck populations.