[MASSBIRD] proposal to expand hunting at Great Meadows and several other NWR's in MA

[John Keeley]

The Trump administration is proposing to greatly expand hunting in National Wildlife Refuges, including bird hunting:

https://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2020/2020-2021-Station-Specific-Hunting-and-Fishing-Proposed-Rule-Narratives.pdf

You can comment on this proposal here:

https://act.biologicaldiversity.org/onlineactions/kcpuV0fqOkOBhfLM_7LgwQ2?sourceid=1006540&utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&contactdata=0TsLdR0YqCmoAZEHUGiCVuMzicRiIMKV%2f5ejoVGtG5cjLZMqFHjx0PsG0c6eR2ffJIU1b1zO6%2fssoG8Lnh2xkbJkdFBw%2fNKrtR1sWte3Bgo%2b7W6w3OOVgpU46Vczs14CDNjxzDuv4dAKBXlNTwefvfUk7EggYvlNeaA10hiystL%2bekZwQj9603unfwZSMff0&emci=2fe9ac32-e284-ea11-a94c-00155d03b1e8&emdi=f5f2ca85-928b-ea11-86e9-00155d03b5dd&ceid=418490

Thanks

John

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John Keeley    Wilmington, MA    kestrel2009 AT gmail.com

[Andrea Bean]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.  This is Ridiculous!  

--

Andrea

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.”

—Jane Goodall

[Andrew Lear]

just signed the petition.  What monsters!

[Josh]

Hi MassBirders,

I urge everyone to read the actual proposal before deciding whether or not to sign the petition. I’ll copy and paste the section on Massachusetts below. A few points: 

1. The expansions only apply to a few refuges, not the entire system. In our state, it impacts three of our ten refuges, plus allows sport fishing in the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery. No expansion will take place at Parker River/Plum Island, nor Monomoy, nor Silvio O. Conte NWR.

2. The expansions, as far as I can tell, do not allow hunting of any new species in Massachusetts; they only increase the acreage open to hunting of species that are already hunted.

3. I see increased acreage for hunting mentioned, but do not see anything about expanding any hunting seasons.

4. Some of the expansions could pose potential risks to rare species, but most of them target species which are very abundant or even overpopulated, for example White-tailed Deer whose population explosion has caused declines in many birds, plants, and other species. Some of the expansions proposed in other states specify invasive exotic species, for example Eurasian Collared-Dove, as well as feral hogs which are a pure ecological disaster. 

For those of us who are concerned mainly with animal welfare, all hunting is negative, so this obviously is as well. But for those of us whose top concern is biodiversity and species extinction, much of this could be more beneficial than harmful. 

Here’s the exact text applying to us in MA: 

“Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge: Open duck, geese, coot, bear, coyote and fox on new acres and acres already open to other hunting, and expand existing big game hunting to new acres.

Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge: Open coyote, fox and bear hunting on new acres and acres already open to other hunting, and expand existing migratory bird, upland game, and big game hunting to new acres and expand method of take for existing upland game and big game hunting to further align with state regulations.

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: Open wild turkey, coyote and bear hunting on new acres and acres already open to other hunting, and expand existing migratory bird and big game hunting to new acres.

Berkshire National Fish Hatchery: Open sport fishing for the first time"

Good birding,

Josh

Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
Amherst, MA

https://www.facebook.com/opihi

Vice-president, Hampshire Bird Club

https://hampshirebirdclub.org/

Northeast Chapter head, Dragonfly Society of the Americas

https://www.dragonflysocietyamericas.org/northeastdsa

Citizen science pages:

http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/opihiman

https://ebird.org/profile/MTk1MTQw/US-MA 

On Fri, May 1, 2020 at 8:59 AM 

The Trump administration is proposing to greatly expand hunting in National Wildlife Refuges, including bird hunting:

[John Sampieri]

I thank you as well.

I just signed and also donated.  

Sent from my iPad 

John 

On May 1, 2020, at 9:40 AM, Andrew Lear <andre...@gmail.com> wrote:



[Andrew Lear]

Of what migratory birds would it be a good idea to increase hunting? 

[John Sampieri]

Thanks for forwarding this.  This is beyond ridiculous.  I am not anti-hunting, but there needs to be balance, and people need to speak up and defend the creatures we share this planet with who cannot vote.  

I sent them a note and also donated to the Center for Biological Diversity. 

John Sampieri

Dartmouth, MA

On May 1, 2020, at 9:40 AM, Andrew Lear <andre...@gmail.com> wrote:



[Barbara Volkle]

So, there is a plan to expand hunting opportunities at Great Meadows,
Assabet River, Oxbow National Wildlife Refuges.

This is part of a nationwide effort to open more refuge lands to
hunting.  Simply use your search engine to find out more on this topic.


You can find a link to the plan here:

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/assabet_river/


You can find information on how to comment here (including where to send
your response):

https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=6442462321


The comment period has been extended to MAY 22, 2020.


I urge folks to comment.

Personally, I believe your comments are most effective where they are
specific to each of these places and the special circumstances at each
location.


Barbara Volkle
Northborough, MA
bar...@theworld.com

[Barbara Volkle]

As birders, we are enthusiastic and dedicated to  our birding.

Keep in mind, we are a part of a big tent.  There are birders who hunt
and fish, hunters who bird, etc.

Make sure any comments shed light, not heat on the subject of expanded
hunting and other proposals that generate disagreement.

Most importantly, this particular proposal is open to public comment. 
Take this opportunity to read the proposal and to comment directly to
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Links were provided in an earlier post.

Public comment periods are the way for each of us to participate in the
process.  These are the comments that will be reviewed prior to final
decisions.  Comments are due by May 22.  Use the process outlined in the
documents.

*

From the housekeeping viewpoint, please don't include the original
message in your reply.  This makes the digest difficult to read.  Cut
and paste any relevant passages.

Thanks for signing all your posts with your name, town and email address!

Thank you!


Barbara Volkle, moderator MASSBIRD
Northborough, MA
bar...@theworld.com

[Cherrie Corey]

Thanks, Barbara for your last comments.  

For forty plus years I was a neighbor to Concord’s Great Meadows NWR and a naturalist and interpreter there for many years, closely observing the changing patterns of wildlife and flora and natural resource policy changes in the area.  Now that the Trump administration has gotten our attention on this score, I encourage everyone to become more deeply informed about ongoing NWF plans and policies and efforts within your area and state to help support and focus your understanding and advocacy, regardless of who “reigns” in Washington.

Along with Barbara, I would encourage everyone to read the Eastern MA NWR draft hunting expansion plan, the direct link here: https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/ASR_OXB_GRM_Hunt Plan CD and EA_March2020.pdf, specifically p. 5-8 which provide charts of current and newly proposed hunting areas and species.  Waterfowl would be minimally effected in this plan, beyond current regulations.  

Game animals, particularly carnivores, appear to be the primary focus of expansion both in Mass. and across the country, no political surprise.  While overall, the Trump administration’s political motivation seems clear, the Eastern MA draft plan appears far more circumspect than many other states' proposals.  The draft plan restricts all game hunting to bow only within the Concord unit.  Bear, coyote, and turkey presence in this area has been increasing over the past 15 years as wildlife corridors and suitable habitat become increasingly fragmented.  This causes increasing tension between animals and residents, creating complicated wildlife protection and long-term management issues which no doubt are informing this particular plan.

Stay informed and advocate.

Cherrie Corey

Marlboro, VT

Resident emeritus Concord, MA

[Gary Freedman]

I’m not a hunter! But remember, hunters and fishermen are responsible for preserving huge tracts of land in the US. Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other efforts are some of the orgs that have worked tirelessly to keep open space, keep habitats, improve habitats. That always benefits us twitchers.

Not making any comments about expanding hunting, but please keep the above in mind. Also, I see some politics creeping in. Some of the same people that are recommending the expansion were part of the previous administration.

Good birding and stay well

Gary Freedman
Stow, MA

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[Bill Lafley]

Hello,

I am a fly fisherman. I would like to reinforce Gary’s point that in addition to the organizations he mentioned there is a federal tax on all hunting (since 1937) and fishing (since 1950s) supplies that the federal government distributes to the states for fish and wildlife conservation purposes. This tax has raised billions of dollars for habitat protection and other conservation activities since being enacted. In 2018 Massachusetts received $11.5 million from this fund. Wouldn’t it be great if birders proposed and lobbied for a tax on binoculars, scopes, birding guides, birding tours, etc and the money was used to protect bird habitat. That is not to say we should not scrutinize these proposals but I think it would serve birders well to respect and work together with people who hunt and fish because I believe we have more in common than we may want to admit.

Bill Lafley
New Salem
bla...@gmail.com

> On May 1, 2020, at 3:16 PM, Gary Freedman <gmf...@gmail.com> wrote:
>

[Peter Trull]

That all sounds very nice, but there’s no way that this administration from POTUS on down cares at all about recreational birding or any type of family based Nature activities.  In this administration’s eyes   “habitat protection and other conservation activities” as you put it, means opening up more public land for hunting. Get real, The “sportsmen” and gun lobby owns this president. Nice pitch though.

Peter Trull

Brewster

Pet...@comcast.net.

 

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

From: Bill Lafley
Sent: Saturday, May 2, 2020 7:15 AM
To: Gary Freedman
Cc: Massbird
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] proposal to expand hunting at Great Meadows and several other NWR's in MA

 

Hello,

[Gerry Cooperman]

I really believe this issue has run its course. There are those that simply do not understand the value of hunting and the direct relationship to the general well being of wildlife. Billions of dollars have been paid by hunters and that money has gone to improve the breeding sites and the preservation of wildlife.

For those that detest hunting you are entitled to your views and lump into that your political views. You probably know that in certain areas they have to cull deer populations because the hunters have little effect in creating a balance. It is not normal for deer to walk in your yard and eat your bushes. The elimination of wolves and coyotes has caused deer herds to spike out of control. Natural control did work especially in eliminating the sick and injured.

I suggest you visit Mass Wildlife and check out the new hunting guidelines. Birders will be happy to know that duck limits have been reduced or stayed the same. You all know the money from duck stamps goes to improve the breeding grounds. I have been birding for 49 years and have only met 2 hunters. We should be working together instead of the taking the road of personal dislikes and criticism.

Stay safe,

Gerry Cooperman

Marstons Mills

tro...@aol.com