The Virginia Waterfowlers

The Virginia Department and Game & Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is putting together the data and background information needed to prepare their regulation proposals for the 2009-2010 waterfowl seasons (duck, goose, and swan). As part of the regulation process, they will be holding their Public Input Meeting on Monday August 3, 2009, 7-9 pm at their Richmond Office -4010 West Broad St. Richmond, VA to discuss this year’s waterfo wl population information and hunting season frameworks. If you can not attend the Public Meeting, you may send your comments in via email, phone or letter. Waterfowl hunting season regulations will be set at the VDGIF Board meeting on Tuesday August 18, 2009 - 9am, at their Richmond Office.

Ducks – Conditions on the nesting grounds were very good this year. Duck breeding populations are up and production should be excellent. VDGIF will be able to re-open canvasback hunting for the full season (60 days, 1 bird per day) and return to a 2-bird limit on scaup for the full season this year. Most other federal frameworks remain the same as last year.

Canada goose E2 In contrast to ducks, migrant goose populations had poor production this year because of a severe winter and a very late spring on their northern nesting grounds. The population is still in good shape, but it is believed that there will be fewer young birds flying south this year. Regulations for the eastern portion of the state (Atlantic Population) will remain similar to last year with a framework of 45 days /2 birds per day. A positive change for this year is that the USFWS accepted VDGIF’s proposal to include Back Bay in this eastern (Atlantic Population) zone, so they can now offer the full 45-day season with a 2-bird limit in the Back Bay area.

The VDGIF has the option to split the state into three hunting zones for Canada geese this year. In the past, there have been two hunting zones, an Eastern and a Western Zone. The differentiation of these zones is based on the distribution of distinct Canada goose populations (Resident Population, Southern James Bay Population and Atlantic Population). Because of additional work, VDGIF has done delineating the different goose populations; they have the option to split the current Western Zone in two separate zones: one that is comprised predominantly of resident geese, and the other that contains a mix of migrant and resident goose populations. A "Resident Goose Population Zone" would encompass the westernmost area of the state while the other zone, the "Southern James Bay Population Zone", would be in between this Resident Zone and the Eastern (or Atlantic Population) Zone. Hunting regulations in the Resident Goose Population Zone could be more liberal than in the other two zones where migrant goose population status dictates the allowable harvest.

Snow goose – The Conservation Order for "White" geese (Greater and Lesser Snow geese, and Ross's geese) was finally approved by the US Fish & Wildlife Service late last winter. This Order extends the harvest period for snow geese beyond March 10th and allows the use of alternative management strategies (unplugged shotguns, electronic calls, shooting to ½ hour after sunset, and no daily bag limit). VDGIF is looking for your comments on interest in this season this year.

2009 Goose Banding Schedule

Each year the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) bands roughly 2,000 resident Canada geese across Virginia. Geese are captured during their annual molt cycle when they are flightless in late June and early July. This annual banding program is important in the monitoring and management of this resource. Each year, VDGIF try's to incorporate volunteers and educational activities into their banding activities. It is also an excellent opportunity for volunteers to participate in wildlife research, work with wildlife, meet VDGIF staff and other volunteers and learn a little about resident Canada goose biology and management on the way. If you would like to participate or know of any one interested in assisting on any of the dates listed below, please contact Tom Bidrowski at tom.bidrowski@dgif.virginia.gov or phone: 804-829-6698.

June 22 & 23 –Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) will hold the 2009-2010 early season migratory bird hunting regulations public input meeting (Doves, Rail, Woodcock, Snipe, Resident Canada Geese and September Teal), on Monday June 29,2009 7-9 pm, at the VDGIF headquarters in Richmond,VA. The meeting will be held in the VDGIF Board Meeting Room. Early Season regulations will be set by VDGIF Board on Tuesday July 14, 2009 at 9am.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) will hold the 2009-2010 late season migratory bird hunting regulations public input meeting (Ducks, geese and swans), on Monday, August 3, 2009 7-9 pm, at the VDGIF headquarters in Richmond,VA. The meeting will be held in the VDGIF Board Meeting Room. Late Season regulations will be set by VDGIF Board on Tuesday August 18, 2009 at 9 am.

Recently, the VAWFA became aware of the Rappahannock River management plan study and a newspaper article in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star on the study. The city of Fredericksburg is working with the Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) conservation organization on developing a management plan. The Friends of the Rappahannock conservation organization received a grant to fund the plan. Per the Friends of the Rappahannock website: The City is starting the process of developing a Management Plan for its 30 + mile corridor of riverfront lands. The planning committee is seeking PUBLIC COMMENT on issues to be addressed in the plan.

Enclosed are hyperlinks to the Free Lance-Star newspaper article and the Friends of the Rappahannock public comment form. Hunters, anglers, campers, canoeists and others interested in recreational uses of the 4,000 plus acres of Rappahannock River frontage the city of Fredericksburg placed under permanent conservation ease in 2006 have until APRIL 15 to offer their comments as part of the first stage of a process examining river access and future uses.

The VAWFA supports hunting opportunities and the need for public access sites on the Rappahannock River . We encourage sportsmen and women to participate in the Rappahannock River Management Plan study by posting comments on the COMMENT FORM of the Friends of the Rappahannock website.