Liberal Regulations and Two Pintail Limit Recommended by Flyway Council California Waterfowl is excited to announce that “liberal” waterfowl regulations have been recommended by the Pacific Flyway Council, including a TWO Pintail limit, for the 2009-2010 hunting season. Over a year ago, California Waterfowl directors, staff and waterfowl scientists met with Paul Schmidt, USFWS Assistant Director, to voice their concerns regarding restrictive regulations for pintail. Thanks to a lot of hard work, great partnerships, and a little cold weather, California's waterfowl hunters will be reaping the benefits with more pintail in the bag. “California Waterfowl is keenly aware of the importance of pintails to hunters in our state, and last year initiated its “Partnering for Pintails” program to insure the Pacific Flyway continues to provide the leadership needed to keep pintails a top priority,” explained Greg Yarris, Director of Conservation Policy for California Waterfowl. Yarris attended of the Flyway meeting in Portland, providing a strong voice for California hunters during the regulatory process. “Despite the proposed increase in the pintail bag limit this year, California Waterfowl, the Department of Fish and Game, and their partners continue to advocate for an improved pintail harvest model”, stated Bob McLandress, President of California Waterfowl. The current approach has numerous shortcomings, which are recognized by both state and Federal agencies. McLandress emphasized the cooperative approach that California Waterfowl is pursuing through the Partnering for Pintail Program. “We agree with the USFWS that harvest regulations should be based on the best available science - that means we need better data from banding more birds and we need an improved harvest model”. With improved data and models, McLandress believes that harvest regulations for pintail under current conditions should provide for a daily bag of three. For more information on the proposed limits, including improved opportunities for scaup and canvasback, visit www.calwaterfowl.org California Waterfowl is an award winning nonprofit, hunter-supported conservation organization with a mission to conserve the state’s waterfowl, wetlands, and hunting heritage. In the last 20 years they’ve restored, protected or enhanced more than 360,000 acres, providing habitat for millions of birds and animals, and introduced more than 250,000 children to the wonders of the great outdoors. Visit them online at www.calwaterfowl.org. Photo Credit: (c) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Posted: 2009-07-25 0:00