Hello Guys,
Further to some e-mails, telephone conversations and personal discussions that I have had recently with some waterfowlers I thought that I would share with you some thoughts regarding the "lack of birds" that some LPWA members have mentioned within this waterfowl forum.
1) The word "waterfowl" includes ducks, geese and swans.
2) Any "waterfowler" (a person who hunts waterfowl) who does not support my Proposal for a Limited Tundra Swan Recreational Harvest does not support "waterfowl" hunting ... it is that simple. They may support duck hunting, goose hunting or both duck and goose hunting but they do not support "waterfowl" hunting.
3) Any waterfowl organization that does not support my Proposal for a Limited Tundra Swan Recreational Harvest does not support "waterfowl" hunting ... it is that simple. They may support duck hunting, goose hunting or both duck and goose hunting but they do not support "waterfowl" hunting.
4) On November 27 there were thousands of Tundra Swans flying about within the western portion of the Long Point Waterfowl Management Unit. Please note the word "waterfowl" within the name. There was certainly no shortage of "birds" on that day.
5) Since the Eastern Population Tundra Swan Management Plan provides for a Canadian recreational harvest of Tundra Swans (please review my previous threads on this subject for more details) it would be in our interest to see a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan recreational harvest implemented in Canada.
6) The Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) assessment of such a harvest should be completed shortly and the results will hopefully support my Proposal for a Limited Tundra Swan Recreational Harvest.
7) There is already an aboriginal harvest of both Tundra Swans and Trumpeter Swans in Canada.
8) Both the Eastern and the Western Populations of Tundra Swans are currently well above the population goals of their respective Management Plans.
I extend a sincere "thank you" to those LPWA members who have supported my Tundra Swan proposal to date.
Those LPWA members who question my Tundra Swan proposal should consider that these Tundra Swans are just going to be harvested by the Americans using both the American and Canadian allotment of tags currently available.
Enjoy the rest of the "waterfowl" season.
Sincerely,
Jerome Katchin, D.V.M.