mike braden
Well-known member
Closure of Cox Hall WMA in NJ
I attended a meeting on Tuesday 28th at Assunpink WMA for the 2013 Game Code Stakeholders meeting.
These changes are proposed for the 2014 Game Code. Many of these changes are needed and make sense.
However.....
Proposal: Close Cox Hall Creek (Ponderlodge) WMA to waterfowl hunting on upland ponds.
Justification: The WMA is small and surrounded by houses. While there is adequate space for waterfowl hunting in the salt marsh portion of Cox Hall Creek (which is currently being restored to tidal flow), waterfowl hunting in the lakes or ponds of the previous golf course may bring conflict with the surrounding community.
Specific Change Needed: 7:25-5.13(l) A person shall not take or attempt to take migratory game birds:
20. On the upland ponds of the Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area.
I did not comment on this issue since I am unfamiliar with this WMA. If you hunt there, PLEASE make your comments known to me and I will also keep you posted as to when the public comment period opens up for you to make comments heard.
ALSO
7:25-5.13 Migratory Birds
Proposal: Rescind the 8:00 am opening for waterfowl on the opening day of the pheasant season except on WMAs stocked with pheasant and quail.
Justification: Currently, migratory bird hunting is only allowed on the opening day of the pheasant season prior to 8:00 AM in tidal marshes. This presents a significant conflict for Canada goose hunters in
upland field hunting situations (especially on private land) and to a smaller degree with hunters pursuing ducks in nontidal waters (i.e.: headwater portions of lakes or on rivers/streams). During some years, this is especially troublesome since the opening of the “regular” Canada goose season and/or the second split of the duck season can coincide with the opening of the pheasant season.
Specific Change Needed: 7:25-5.13(a) Should any open season on migratory game birds, including waterfowl, set by Federal regulation include the opening day of the pheasant season (see N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.2(d)), the starting time for hunting of the migratory game bird season on such date will be 8:00 A.M. to coincide with the opening of the pheasant season on that date on Wildlife Management areas stocked with pheasants and quail as enumerated in 5:33(a)2.
(l) A person shall not take or attempt to take migratory game birds:
11. Before 8:00 A.M. on the opening day of the pheasant season (see N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.2(d)) on Wildlife Management areas stocked with pheasants and quail as enumerated in 5:33(a)2.. However, this shall not preclude the hunting of migratory game birds on tidal waters or tidal marshes of the State;
Even though the tidal and non stocking WMA are no longer affected, why should waterfowlers have to wait until 8:00 to hunt ducks. The phesants and quail are pen raised birds and surely will not be affected by some gun shots by a few waterfowlers, HOWEVER, ALL THE DUCKS WILL BE AFFTECTED at 8:00 when ALL the upland hunters start banging away. You can pretty much kiss that morning goodbye. My proposal would be, as long as you as engaging in the act of waterfowling, you are allowed to hunt 30 minutes before sunrise.
AND....
Proposal: Clarify language to require a HIP certification when pursuing light geese during a Conservation Order.
Justification: Currently, participating states individually conduct harvest surveys during the light goose Conservation Order (CO). In order to have consistent data collection, the flyway councils have leaned on the US Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct these surveys as part of HIP. This regulation should come at none to little extra burden to hunters since probably >95% of hunters who pursue light geese during a CO are already HIP certified anyway.
Specific Change Needed: 7:25-5.13(c) …Anyone engaged in hunting migratory birds including waterfowl, woodcock, mourning doves, rails [and], gallinules and light geese under a Conservation Order must comply with the rules of the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) as specified in 50 C.F.R. § 20.20 Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program; Final Rule, incorporated herein by reference, wherein licensed hunters are required to supply their names, addresses, and migratory bird harvest information to the hunting license authority of the state in which they hunt.…
I attended a meeting on Tuesday 28th at Assunpink WMA for the 2013 Game Code Stakeholders meeting.
These changes are proposed for the 2014 Game Code. Many of these changes are needed and make sense.
However.....
Proposal: Close Cox Hall Creek (Ponderlodge) WMA to waterfowl hunting on upland ponds.
Justification: The WMA is small and surrounded by houses. While there is adequate space for waterfowl hunting in the salt marsh portion of Cox Hall Creek (which is currently being restored to tidal flow), waterfowl hunting in the lakes or ponds of the previous golf course may bring conflict with the surrounding community.
Specific Change Needed: 7:25-5.13(l) A person shall not take or attempt to take migratory game birds:
20. On the upland ponds of the Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area.
I did not comment on this issue since I am unfamiliar with this WMA. If you hunt there, PLEASE make your comments known to me and I will also keep you posted as to when the public comment period opens up for you to make comments heard.
ALSO
7:25-5.13 Migratory Birds
Proposal: Rescind the 8:00 am opening for waterfowl on the opening day of the pheasant season except on WMAs stocked with pheasant and quail.
Justification: Currently, migratory bird hunting is only allowed on the opening day of the pheasant season prior to 8:00 AM in tidal marshes. This presents a significant conflict for Canada goose hunters in
upland field hunting situations (especially on private land) and to a smaller degree with hunters pursuing ducks in nontidal waters (i.e.: headwater portions of lakes or on rivers/streams). During some years, this is especially troublesome since the opening of the “regular” Canada goose season and/or the second split of the duck season can coincide with the opening of the pheasant season.
Specific Change Needed: 7:25-5.13(a) Should any open season on migratory game birds, including waterfowl, set by Federal regulation include the opening day of the pheasant season (see N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.2(d)), the starting time for hunting of the migratory game bird season on such date will be 8:00 A.M. to coincide with the opening of the pheasant season on that date on Wildlife Management areas stocked with pheasants and quail as enumerated in 5:33(a)2.
(l) A person shall not take or attempt to take migratory game birds:
11. Before 8:00 A.M. on the opening day of the pheasant season (see N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.2(d)) on Wildlife Management areas stocked with pheasants and quail as enumerated in 5:33(a)2.. However, this shall not preclude the hunting of migratory game birds on tidal waters or tidal marshes of the State;
Even though the tidal and non stocking WMA are no longer affected, why should waterfowlers have to wait until 8:00 to hunt ducks. The phesants and quail are pen raised birds and surely will not be affected by some gun shots by a few waterfowlers, HOWEVER, ALL THE DUCKS WILL BE AFFTECTED at 8:00 when ALL the upland hunters start banging away. You can pretty much kiss that morning goodbye. My proposal would be, as long as you as engaging in the act of waterfowling, you are allowed to hunt 30 minutes before sunrise.
AND....
Proposal: Clarify language to require a HIP certification when pursuing light geese during a Conservation Order.
Justification: Currently, participating states individually conduct harvest surveys during the light goose Conservation Order (CO). In order to have consistent data collection, the flyway councils have leaned on the US Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct these surveys as part of HIP. This regulation should come at none to little extra burden to hunters since probably >95% of hunters who pursue light geese during a CO are already HIP certified anyway.
Specific Change Needed: 7:25-5.13(c) …Anyone engaged in hunting migratory birds including waterfowl, woodcock, mourning doves, rails [and], gallinules and light geese under a Conservation Order must comply with the rules of the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) as specified in 50 C.F.R. § 20.20 Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program; Final Rule, incorporated herein by reference, wherein licensed hunters are required to supply their names, addresses, and migratory bird harvest information to the hunting license authority of the state in which they hunt.…
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