Michigan Waterfowl Seasons Set and CWD Disease Plan
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NRC approves waterfowl season dates for 2012-13
Michigan
goose hunters will enjoy a longer season and duck hunters will be able
to take up to four scaup daily this year according to regulations that
were approved by the Natural Resources Commission in Lansing yesterday.
The
early Canada goose hunting season begins statewide Saturday, Sept. 1
and runs through Monday, Sept. 10 in the North Zone and in Saginaw,
Tuscola and Huron counties; and through Saturday, Sept. 15 in the rest
of the state. The daily bag limit is five.
The
length of the regular Canada goose season has increased to 92 days. The
daily bag limit is two. Regular goose season dates are:
- North Zone: Sept. 22 - Dec. 22
- Middle Zone: Sept. 29 - Dec. 29
- South Zone (excluding goose management units below): Sept. 22-23, Oct. 6 -Nov. 30 and Dec. 29 - Jan. 1
The goose seasons in designated goose management units (GMU), where the daily bag limit is two, are:
- Tuscola/Huron and Saginaw County GMUs: Sept. 22-25 and Oct. 6 - Jan. 1
- Muskegon County Wastewater GMU: Oct. 9 - Nov. 13 and Dec. 1-23
- Allegan County GMU: Oct. 6 - Nov. 25, Dec. 8-23, and Dec. 29 - Jan. 22, 2013
The
late goose season – in the South Zone only and excluding the GMUs
listed above – is Jan. 12 - Feb. 10, 2013. The daily bag limit is five.
Hunters
may take 20 snow, blue or Ross geese daily and one white-fronted goose
and one Brant during the regular and late seasons in respective zones
and GMUs.
Duck hunting seasons are set for:
- North Zone (Upper Peninsula): Sept. 22 - Nov. 16 and Nov. 22-25
- Middle Zone: Sept. 29 - Nov. 25 and Dec. 15-16
- South Zone: Oct. 6 - Nov. 30 and Dec. 29 - Jan. 1
Duck
bag limits are the maximum allowed under federal frameworks with the
exception that only one female mallard may be taken daily. The daily bag
limit for scaup has increased from two to four. Hunters may take up to
six ducks daily with no more than four mallards (no more than one of
which may be a female), four scaup, three wood ducks, two redheads, two
pintails, one canvasback and one black duck.
The
waterfowl hunting seasons were established under the federal framework
through consultation between the Department of Natural Resources and the
Citizens Waterfowl Advisory Committee.
“Season
dates this year maximize opportunity for Michigan’s waterfowl hunters
and provide for complete overlap of duck and goose seasons,” said DNR
waterfowl and wetlands specialist Barb Avers. “Hunters have expressed
how important it is to be able to hunt ducks and geese together, and the
dates we have established fit the bill.”
Avers
explained that, despite Michigan mallard numbers being up, drought
conditions throughout the summer will likely reduce wetland conditions
going into the hunting season and concentrate ducks. Therefore, scouting
will be a key factor to duck hunters’ success this year. However,
open-water diving duck hunting has the potential to be very good this
year. Numbers of diver ducks such as scaup, canvasbacks and redheads are
up, and opportunity has expanded with the increase in scaup daily
limits. Michigan’s location within the Great Lakes provides ample
opportunity to pursue these species. Also, this fall and winter will be a
great time for waterfowl hunters to pursue Canada geese. Goose numbers
are up and the length of the regular Canada goose season has
significantly increased.
For more information on waterfowl hunting in Michigan, go to www.michigan.gov/hunting and click on Waterfowl.
The
DNR encourages hunters to participate in the new Wetland Wonders
Challenge this fall. Hunters can register and hunt at four managed
waterfowl areas, and they will be entered to win the ultimate prize
package. In addition, special collector waterfowl bands will be
available to those who hunt at each managed area. For more information
about the challenge and Michigan’s managed waterfowl areas, visit www.michigan.gov/
DNR, MDARD update Michigan’s plan for managing chronic wasting disease
The
Natural Resources Commission adopted changes to chronic wasting disease
baiting and feeding regulations, as outlined in the state’s newly
revised CWD response plan, at its regular monthly meeting Thursday in
Lansing.
Department
of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh and Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development Director Jamie Clover Adams recently
signed the first revision to the CWD plan since it was adopted a decade
ago.
The
updated plan takes into account the large amount of research and case
studies on CWD that have become available since Michigan’s original Surveillance and Response Plan for Chronic Wasting Disease of Free-ranging and Privately Owned Cervids was finalized in 2002.
“This
plan is critical in guiding our state’s response to CWD, as it did when
the disease was found here a few years ago,” said DNR Wildlife Division
Chief Russ Mason. “Much of the 2002 plan is still valid and sound, but
we now know a lot more about what causes CWD, how it is spread, what the
public thinks about how the disease should be addressed, and the
results of CWD management efforts in other states. In light of this, we
decided that some modifications to the plan were in order.”
“CWD
is a reportable disease, so if the disease is detected in free ranging
cervids or a Michigan Privately Owned Cervid facility, we will define a
surveillance zone around the positive case,” said State Veterinarian
Steven Halstead. “This plan should protect Michigan’s cervid industry as
well as Michigan’s free-ranging deer population while meeting our
ultimate goal of safeguarding animal health.”
The principal changes to the plan are:
- The plan will be implemented if a CWD-positive animal is found within 10 miles of the Michigan border, rather than 50 miles as in the original plan.
- Baiting and feeding will be banned in any county within a 10-mile radius of where CWD is detected.
- All Privately Owned Cervid facilities within that zone will be required to complete increased disease testing of their herds to monitor for signs of CWD.
- If the disease is diagnosed in a Privately Owned Cervid facility, all facilities that have had contact (through purchases, sales or immediate contact) will undergo increased disease surveillance testing, and exposed animals will be removed from contact herds.
These changes eliminate the peninsula-wide management provisions for dealing with a CWD occurrence.
Actions
that remain from the original response plan include: immediate baiting
and feeding bans; a restriction on removing anything more than the boned
meat, hide, and antlers of a deer or elk taken within the CWD
management zone; and mandatory CWD testing of animals remain in effect.
Michigan’s Regional Deer Advisory Teams and a variety of hunting groups have reviewed the modified plan.
The updated plan, and more information about CWD, is available online at www.michigan.gov/cwd.
The
Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the
conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's
natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For
more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
The
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is committed
to assuring the food safety, agricultural, environmental, and economic
interests of the people of the State of Michigan are met through
service, partnership and collaboration.
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