North American Waterfowl Management Plan - NAWMP
In the last couple hundred years, North America lost over 50% of its wetlands due to European expansions and exploitation of natural resources. The decline of waterfowl populations was an issue to target immediately because approximately 3.2 million people spend nearly $1 billion every year in hunting licenses, gear and related activities.
Recognizing the economic importance of waterfowl and wetlands, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan was signed for the first time in 1986 initially only by Canada and the U.S. and eventually by Mexico in 1994.
In 1998, Canada, U.S. and Mexico expanded the original plan to implement the evaluation of landscapes conditions needed to for the reproduction and survival waterfowl. The success of the NAWMP depends upon the participation of the nations along with states, regions and the cooperation of the farmers, hunters, and private entities. In order to accomplish theirs short-term and long-term goals, the NAWMP selected a group of people to be part the committee representing their countries and interests. This committee opens up forums of current issues related to waterfowl that could involve the action and wildlife agencies. This committee is also responsible of the development of plans and international policy for the benefit of waterfowl populations. In the U.S., the committee consists of two USFWS representatives and one state representative from each of the four migratory flyways. In Canada, their committee members are composed of federal representatives and non-profit conservation organizations. whereas n Mexico, their delegates are government representatives, universities and non-profit organizations.
Recognizing the economic importance of waterfowl and wetlands, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan was signed for the first time in 1986 initially only by Canada and the U.S. and eventually by Mexico in 1994.
In 1998, Canada, U.S. and Mexico expanded the original plan to implement the evaluation of landscapes conditions needed to for the reproduction and survival waterfowl. The success of the NAWMP depends upon the participation of the nations along with states, regions and the cooperation of the farmers, hunters, and private entities. In order to accomplish theirs short-term and long-term goals, the NAWMP selected a group of people to be part the committee representing their countries and interests. This committee opens up forums of current issues related to waterfowl that could involve the action and wildlife agencies. This committee is also responsible of the development of plans and international policy for the benefit of waterfowl populations. In the U.S., the committee consists of two USFWS representatives and one state representative from each of the four migratory flyways. In Canada, their committee members are composed of federal representatives and non-profit conservation organizations. whereas n Mexico, their delegates are government representatives, universities and non-profit organizations.
In 2000, the NAWMP Science Support Team was created to provide scientific advice to the Plan Committee. Each country selects a national representative and one technical representative for their purposes. Additionally, there is a conservation group that dedicates efforts exclusively to the Northern Pintail (Anas acuta). This group is composed of members from public and private interest and their goal is the conservation of this species.
The plan joint ventures (United States, Canada and Mexico) have spent approximately $4.5 billion in the conservation of 15.7 million acres of waterfowl habitat in North America.
The plan joint ventures (United States, Canada and Mexico) have spent approximately $4.5 billion in the conservation of 15.7 million acres of waterfowl habitat in North America.
Farm Bill
The Farm Bill is a an agricultural policy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is passed by congress every 5 years and last bill was passed in 2008.
This law is focused on the provisions, authorization and provision of acts.
News and updates can be found at the Farm Policy Facts website.
This law is focused on the provisions, authorization and provision of acts.
News and updates can be found at the Farm Policy Facts website.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act
The migratory bird act was created on July 3, 1918 with the international agreement of several nations for the protection and conservation of migratory birds. Last time it was amended was in 1989. This law was first implemented in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan and the former Soviet Union. This agreement established the prohibiting of hunting, killing, harassing or possessing of migratory birds, unless it was permitted by regulations.
This law had a positive impact on waterfowl species because it became illegal to transport migratory birds and try to sell them in other territories. If those regulations happen to be violated, the person would have had to pay a monetary fine plus some determined time in jail. Click here for a quick overview of the law, implementations and regulations.
This law had a positive impact on waterfowl species because it became illegal to transport migratory birds and try to sell them in other territories. If those regulations happen to be violated, the person would have had to pay a monetary fine plus some determined time in jail. Click here for a quick overview of the law, implementations and regulations.
Duck Stamps
The Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, better known as Duck Stamps, was created in 1934. Ducks stamps were originally created for hunting licenses purposes. Nowadays, Duck Stamps provide funding to the USFWS for the purchase of wetlands and other wildlife refugees that provide habitat to waterfowl and other species. For every dollar generated by the sale of Federal Duck Stamps, 98% goes directly to purchase, conservation or lease of wetlands in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The purchase or lease of these wetlands, not only benefit to waterfowl game species but it also provides habitat to mammals, other birds, amphibians, arthropods, etc. Nearly, one-third of all threatened or endangered species live or feed on habitats established by Federal Duck Stamp funds. People from all ages can support and participate in the maintenance of these habitats by acquiring hunting licenses, gear, etc. Every year, the USFWS organize a stamp design contest and invites people from all ages.The winner, get its stamp print out for the upcoming year. This stamp is only for hunting purposes and can not be used for mailing services.
The purchase or lease of these wetlands, not only benefit to waterfowl game species but it also provides habitat to mammals, other birds, amphibians, arthropods, etc. Nearly, one-third of all threatened or endangered species live or feed on habitats established by Federal Duck Stamp funds. People from all ages can support and participate in the maintenance of these habitats by acquiring hunting licenses, gear, etc. Every year, the USFWS organize a stamp design contest and invites people from all ages.The winner, get its stamp print out for the upcoming year. This stamp is only for hunting purposes and can not be used for mailing services.
The Prairie Pothole Region
The prairie potholes are found in the Midwest of the United States, especially in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. These potholes were created by the melting of glaciers at the end of the Pleistocene approximately 12,000 years ago. The ice melting during the spring makes this place a really good habitat for waterfowl making this place what is also known as "the duck factory".
This region host over 50% of all North American migratory waterfowl including common game species such as the northern pintail (Anas acuta), blue-winged teal (Anas discors), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), canvasback (Aythya valisineria), redhead (Aythya americana), and many others. The rising issue in this area is the same as in any other part i n North American, habitat loss, but most directly attributed to the harvest of corn for ethanol subsidies for the government. The prairie pothole has lost approximately 50% of its wetlands due to the canal and other water extraction techniques used for irrigation and agricultural-related purposes.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a program operated by the Department of Agriculture and gives a monetary incentive to landowner to conserve their lands. However, the CRP is unable to compete with subsidies because the CRP offers approximately $60 per acre to farmers whereas subsidies pays over $300 per acre (Emily Trejo Sypolt personal communication).
This region host over 50% of all North American migratory waterfowl including common game species such as the northern pintail (Anas acuta), blue-winged teal (Anas discors), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), canvasback (Aythya valisineria), redhead (Aythya americana), and many others. The rising issue in this area is the same as in any other part i n North American, habitat loss, but most directly attributed to the harvest of corn for ethanol subsidies for the government. The prairie pothole has lost approximately 50% of its wetlands due to the canal and other water extraction techniques used for irrigation and agricultural-related purposes.
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a program operated by the Department of Agriculture and gives a monetary incentive to landowner to conserve their lands. However, the CRP is unable to compete with subsidies because the CRP offers approximately $60 per acre to farmers whereas subsidies pays over $300 per acre (Emily Trejo Sypolt personal communication).
Waterfowl Hunting Regulations in California
The state of California has a series of strict regulations that hunters should follow in order to be part of the hunting season. California is a very big state and some game species are distributed unequally throughout the the state. Every species has a different bag limit that must be respected so that a healthy-shootable population can be harvested the following years.
Some of these regulations include:
* Always transport game birds with fully feathered head and wings
* The use of calling electronic devices are prohibited
* Always carry your hunting licenses with you at all times when hunting
** Click here to download the entire California Regulation booklet.
Some public hunting areas in California
• Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges in Siskiyou and Modoc counties
• Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
• Modoc National Wildlife Refuge; located two miles southeast of Alturas
• San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
• Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
• Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
• Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
• San Luis Project Reservoirs in Merced County
• Picacho State Recreation Area located along the Colorado River in Imperial County
Some of these regulations include:
* Always transport game birds with fully feathered head and wings
* The use of calling electronic devices are prohibited
* Always carry your hunting licenses with you at all times when hunting
** Click here to download the entire California Regulation booklet.
Some public hunting areas in California
• Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges in Siskiyou and Modoc counties
• Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
• Modoc National Wildlife Refuge; located two miles southeast of Alturas
• San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
• Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
• Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
• Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
• San Luis Project Reservoirs in Merced County
• Picacho State Recreation Area located along the Colorado River in Imperial County
Adaptive Harvest Management
In 1995, the US Fish and Wildlife Service started the application of regulation of duck hunting his legislation
The Adaptive Harvest Management recognizes the impact of hunting on waterfowl species therefore, they monitor the decision-making on conservation plans for future implications.
In regulating waterfowl harvests, managers face four fundamental sources of uncertainty:
(1) environmental variation - the temporal and spatial variation in weather conditions and other key features of waterfowl habitat; an example is the annual change in the number of ponds in the Prairie Pothole Region, where water conditions influence duck reproductive success;
(2) partial controllability - the ability of managers to control harvest only within limits; the harvest resulting from a particular set of hunting regulations cannot be predicted with certainty because of variation in weather conditions, timing of migration, hunter effort, and other factors;
(3) partial observability - the ability to estimate key population attributes (e.g., population size, reproductive rate, harvest) only within the precision afforded by existing monitoring programs; and
(4) structural uncertainty - an incomplete understanding of biological processes; a familiar example is the long-standing debate about whether harvest is additive to other sources of mortality or whether populations compensate for hunting losses through reduced natural mortality. Structural uncertainty increases contentiousness in the decision-making process and decreases the extent to which managers can meet long-term conservation goals.
Click here for the 2012 hunting season annual report.
The Adaptive Harvest Management recognizes the impact of hunting on waterfowl species therefore, they monitor the decision-making on conservation plans for future implications.
In regulating waterfowl harvests, managers face four fundamental sources of uncertainty:
(1) environmental variation - the temporal and spatial variation in weather conditions and other key features of waterfowl habitat; an example is the annual change in the number of ponds in the Prairie Pothole Region, where water conditions influence duck reproductive success;
(2) partial controllability - the ability of managers to control harvest only within limits; the harvest resulting from a particular set of hunting regulations cannot be predicted with certainty because of variation in weather conditions, timing of migration, hunter effort, and other factors;
(3) partial observability - the ability to estimate key population attributes (e.g., population size, reproductive rate, harvest) only within the precision afforded by existing monitoring programs; and
(4) structural uncertainty - an incomplete understanding of biological processes; a familiar example is the long-standing debate about whether harvest is additive to other sources of mortality or whether populations compensate for hunting losses through reduced natural mortality. Structural uncertainty increases contentiousness in the decision-making process and decreases the extent to which managers can meet long-term conservation goals.
Click here for the 2012 hunting season annual report.