Editorial Opinion
by Richard Simms
posted August 22, 2008
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Thursday the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission set the 2008-2009 waterfowl seasons. The TWRC set a 59-day duck season from November 28 thru January 25th.
Federal guidelines provide for a 60-day season, so why did Commissioners opt to give away a day of duck hunting?
Apparently there were three reasons:
#1 - Nov. 28 is the day after Thanksgiving. Apparently some Commissioners didn't think it proper to actually open duck season on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27).
Why, I ask, is it a Tennessee wildlife commissioner's responsibility to decide that I should not duck hunt on Thanksgiving Day?
They believe it is okay for me to deer hunt, or rabbit hunt, or quail hunt or even squirrel hunt. But in their infinite wisdom they decided I should not be allowed to duck hunt on Thanksgiving, one of the very few days that me (and most other sportsmen) actually get off of work.
Hmmm?
#2 - In the past Commissioners opted for a split season, opening season for two days on a prior weekend, closing and then re-opening after Thanksgiving to allow the maximum number of days. However this year, the way the calendar fell, the prior weekend will also be the opening day of the regular gun season for deer. It is apparently taboo to allow duck season and deer season to open simultaneously.
Hmmm? (again)
#3 - Commissioners apparently discussed backing the duck season split up one more weekend, to Nov. 15-16. However at least one Commissioners argued that many public and private hunting areas wouldn't be flooded or otherwise prepared in time.
So after debating those three scenarios, Commissioner opted to give away one day of hunting... at least for the majority of the state. The tiny "Reelfoot Zone" will have the full 60 days, with the split season… Nov. 15-16 and Nov.29-Jan. 25.
A big "Hmmmm?" Imagine that.
In addition, Commissioners opted to once again, only allow one hen mallard in the daily bag limit.
That change comes in spite of the fact that biologists in Tennessee and other states have clearly said that the change has virtually no affect whatsoever on overall mallard populations. The change is simply a "feel good" measure for Commissioners. It was not a unanimous vote however, although the majority supported the proposal put forth by Commissioner Thomas Edwards from Paris, Tenn.
The good news is that this year Tennessee waterfowlers can take three wood ducks rather than two. However, the change only applies to the regular season. It does NOT apply to the early September wood duck season.
I'll bet good money that somebody will get confused, and get a ticket from the game wardens in September.
Finally in other state duck hunting news, after a three year ban, the State of Arkansas will once again allow spinning wing decoys.
The Arkansas Commission, by the way, also increased their daily bag limit for hen mallards from one back up to two.
According to reports in Arkansas newspapers, Commissioner George Dunklin, chairman of the Commission's waterfowl committee, said the decision to rescind the ban was difficult.
"I know there's some dissention about removing the ban, but a UALR survey showed the majority of people wanted spinning wing decoys brought back," Dunklin said. "We asked all of the surrounding states to come aboard with us on this, but to no avail."
In support of his position to remove the ban, Dunklin read from a letter from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that stated there was "no demonstrable impacts on either overall harvest rates or population levels."
The same is true on hen mallard limits.
Apparently folks in Alabama understand that. Commissioners there opted to keep their two hen mallard limit... AND 60-day season which begins on Thanksgiving Day.
Those of us in Chattanooga, many of which duck hunt a LOT more in Alabama than we do in Tennessee... thank Commissioners there for not being so "arbitrary."
) Spinning-wing decoys will once again be allowed in Arkansas. |
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