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: 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/ --
