Trying to find out. On Thu, Dec 8, 2022, 5:44 PM <t...@ottcmail.com> wrote:
> Birders often buy a duck stamp, too. According to Ducks Unlimited, "Each > year, about 25 percent of all duck stamps are purchased by individuals who > do not hunt waterfowl that particular year. Many of these stamps are bought > by collectors and avid conservationists who support habitat programs funded > by duck stamp sales." My husband & I don't hunt but we get one at the Post > Office each year, every Post Office carries them. This year the Duck Stamp > feature a pair of Redheads and cost $25, 98% of which goes directly to help > acquire and protect wetland habitat and purchase conservation easements for > the National Wildlife Refuge System. > > Question to folks who have experience with bears: wasn't that bear pretty > small? Seems like the ones I have seen in the wild (always running away > from us so not ideal views) were larger, but maybe that's just the way the > photo was taken? > > Alicia > > On 12/8/2022 5:05 PM, Alyssa Johnson wrote: > > This is going to be long; I apologize in advance! But as a huge advocate > for hunting, a former colleague of MNWR, and a bear lover, I wanted to > share my perspective. Something I discovered while working out at Montezuma > Audubon was the general public’s misconception about what a "wildlife > refuge" is, and its purpose. The following was taken from the National > Wildlife Refuge System website > <https://www.fws.gov/program/national-wildlife-refuge-system/about-us>: > > About Us: The National Wildlife Refuge System lands and waters serve a > purpose distinct from that of other U.S. public lands: Wildlife conservation > drives everything on national wildlife refuges, from the purposes for > which each refuge was established to the recreational activities offered, > to the resource management tools used. > > The mission of the refuge system is "To administer a national network of > lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, > restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats > within the United States for the benefit of the present and future > generations of Americans." > > > I'd like to focus on the highlighted sections and in particular the word > "conservation". At its very simplest, conservation means "wise use", and in > this case, the wise use of natural resources which includes fish, wildlife, > and plants. Preservation is the word that implies "no use", but that is not > used here. Legally huntable wildlife species, in accordance with NYS and > Federal law, can be hunted in the National Wildlife Refuges, including > Montezuma. In fact, without hunting, much of the land within Montezuma > National Wildlife Refuge, would not be under their ownership and > management. When hunting for migratory bird species (which is defined as > waterfowl and gallinule at Montezuma NWR) you must have a "Duck Stamp" on > your person while hunting. Hunters 16 years of age or older are required to > purchase them, and the stamps are considered "conservation revenue stamps; > 98 percent of the purchase prices goes directly to help acquire and protect > wetland habitat and purchase conservation easements for the National > Wildlife Refuge System. Wetlands acquired with Duck Stamp dollars help > purify water, aid in flood control, reduce soil erosion and sedimentation, > and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities." (FWS Duck Stamps > <https://www.fws.gov/service/duck-stamps>) I can’t remember the exact > percentage, but something like 89%? (don’t quote me, and maybe someone from > the Refuge will jump in), but a majority of the Refuge lands has been > acquired using Duck Stamp funds. Without hunting, which is considered a > mechanism of conservation and wildlife management, we would likely would > not have the wildlife drive, Knox Marsellus Marsh, Tschache Pool, > Wil-Goose, etc. to enjoy. Hunters have no choice if they want to purchase > that stamp or not, no stamp, no hunting. But birders and other “non > consumptive” users of the land are by and large, NOT contributing > financially. I know some people are donors, but I’d guess most people who > visit the drive, are not, and get to enjoy that beautiful place for free. A > current Federal Duck Stamp is also a free pass into any national wildlife > refuge that charges an entry fee (some do). Because nearly all of the > proceeds are used to conserve habitat for birds and other wildlife, > birders, nature photographers and other outdoor enthusiasts buy Duck Stamps > to help ensure that they can always see wildlife at their favorite outdoor > spots. No hunting = less publicly accessible Federal lands. > > That being said- this situation with the bear shooting was unethical, > irresponsible, and illegal. According to Montezuma NWR’s Hunt/Fish Plan > <https://www.fws.gov/media/montezuma-final-hunt-fish-plan-2020pdf>, black > bears are NOT a huntable species on refuge lands. So even though they are > in season in that local zone according to NYSDEC, Federal law trumps state > law, and the refuge can enact stricter regulations on a refuge. A long time > ago I worked at Eufaula NWR in Alabama, and my job was to facilitate the > logistics of a very popular waterfowl hunt twice a week. Huntable species > were considered ducks, geese, coot, gallinule, and I think cormorants. To > be able to join in on this hunt, you had to join a lottery, hope to be > chosen, and then pay for your blind for that day. It was a big deal to a > lot of hunters. One particular day, a smart ass was “bored” (he said) and > when he was checking out with me after his hunt, he jokingly said he’d only > been able to get 1 black duck. Down there, “big ducks” like mallard/black > ducks were less common than divers and highly coveted. So I was excited for > him, and asked to see it to confirm. It was a crow. The guy thought he was > funny, but what ended up happening was the crow was seized and he was > ticketed. Even though crow were in season, that’s NOT why he was there that > day. The refuge LEO wanted to impress upon this man that we don’t just > shoot things for fun here. > > Coming back to NY and this bear situation. I think that when people who > have firearms or bows and they commit crimes, we do not refer to them as > “hunters”. We should refer to them as criminals, poachers, headhunters, > etc. because that’s what they are. Hunting already gets a bad rap, and I > think mostly because it is misunderstood. I was very anti-hunting until I > started college and learning about wildlife management. I learned that > hunting has deep roots in tradition, and in acquiring (mostly) free, > healthy protein that is much more sustainable and environmentally friendly > than factory farms and ranches. Some of the most knowledgeable people I’ve > met, and best conservationists, are hunters, trappers, and/or fishermen. I > think we can all agree that the person who shot that bear is an idiot, in > my opinion, and did a huge disservice to a hobby and lifestyle that they > value and enjoy. The Conservation Officers did their job, and sought > justice for that bear. The fact that they’re smiling- I’d agree with other > commenters. 1) we’re indoctrinated to smile for the camera. 2) they were > successful in bringing justice and a close to this case and are probably > proud. 3) Just a guess- but if they were straight faced, I bet someone out > there would have a comment to make about how miserable they look. 😊 The > good news is that the pelt will be used as an educational prop at the > refuge and this whole situation is a teachable moment for the public. The > bear died unnecessarily, but hopefully not in vain. > > As a huge bear lover, conservationist, and someone who called Montezuma my > “work home” for 5 years, I am saddened that the first documented bear > anywhere in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex had to be discovered this way, > but all of the illegalities aside, it’s very cool. Black bears are making > an amazing comeback in Western NY, unassisted by humans, and I am glad for > that. I only wish I got to see one, or even just sign of one, while I was > working out there! > > > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
