Hank Fish
Active member
From Bill Crenshaw and going to the F&W board. There is a map also, but I can not get it to post......
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
Waterfowl Zone Boundary Change - 2011
BACKGROUND: Guidelines for state waterfowl zone boundaries are regulated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and published annually in the Federal Register. Under current guidelines, Vermont is allowed three zones (Lake Champlain Zone, Vermont Interior Zone and Connecticut River Zone), and a 60-day season with one split (two segments) for each zone. Every five years states are allowed to propose minor changes in zone boundaries. This year (2011) is one of those years (the next opportunity will be 2016). States considering zone boundary changes must notify the USFWS of their intentions by May 1, 2011.
PROPOSED REGULATION - CHANGE (or NEW): Change the boundary between the Lake Champlain and Vermont Interior Zones to remove the Missisquoi Delta in the town of Swanton (and the Mud Creek Controlled Hunting Area in the town of Alburgh) from the Lake Champlain Zone and add this area to the Vermont Interior Zone.
The current description of the Lake Champlain Zone would change from “….U.S. 7 to the Canadian border.” , to “ … U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to Maquam Bay on Lake Champlain; along and around the shoreline of Maquam Bay and Hogg Island to VT 78 at the West Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in Alburgh; VT 2 to the Richelieu River; along the east shore of the Richelieu River to the Canadian border.”
EXPLANATION:*The Missisquoi Delta is one of the most heavily hunted waterfowl areas in the state. The shallow marshes encompassing most of the bay (including all of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge) typically freeze by late November. The Lake Champlain Zone hunting season usually has a short segment in early October, followed by a split of one to two weeks, with the second segment reopening in late October, and continuing through mid-December. The purpose of this season structure is to provide opportunity for late season hunting for diving ducks (e.g., common goldeneyes) on Lake Champlain. By contrast, the Vermont Interior Zone usually opens in early October and runs straight until the first week in December. Missisquoi Delta hunters lose ice-free hunting days during the October split which they cannot recover in December because of frozen marshes and lack of ducks. The Missisquoi Delta has more in common with the Vermont Interior Zone than it does with the Lake Champlain Zone.
The proposed regulation would result in Missisquoi Delta waterfowl hunters having more opportunity to hunt during October when the marshes are open and ducks available. The Mud Creek Controlled Hunting Area is similar to the Missisquoi Delta and can be easily included in the new boundary change.
PROPOSED TIMING AND OUTREACH: The first Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board vote will take place on February 16, 2011, with a second vote in March and final vote in April. The issue of changing the waterfowl zone boundaries has been discussed at public waterfowl meetings held annually in August for the past five years. Over this period, there has been growing support for this change expressed by both Missisquoi Delta and late season hunters alike. A public meeting to give hunters one more opportunity to discuss and share views will be scheduled at the earliest date allowed by the rule making process, probably early April. The USFWS will be notified by the Department of the proposed regulation change by May 1.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
Waterfowl Zone Boundary Change - 2011
BACKGROUND: Guidelines for state waterfowl zone boundaries are regulated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and published annually in the Federal Register. Under current guidelines, Vermont is allowed three zones (Lake Champlain Zone, Vermont Interior Zone and Connecticut River Zone), and a 60-day season with one split (two segments) for each zone. Every five years states are allowed to propose minor changes in zone boundaries. This year (2011) is one of those years (the next opportunity will be 2016). States considering zone boundary changes must notify the USFWS of their intentions by May 1, 2011.
PROPOSED REGULATION - CHANGE (or NEW): Change the boundary between the Lake Champlain and Vermont Interior Zones to remove the Missisquoi Delta in the town of Swanton (and the Mud Creek Controlled Hunting Area in the town of Alburgh) from the Lake Champlain Zone and add this area to the Vermont Interior Zone.
The current description of the Lake Champlain Zone would change from “….U.S. 7 to the Canadian border.” , to “ … U.S. 7 to VT 78 at Swanton; VT 78 to VT 36; VT 36 to Maquam Bay on Lake Champlain; along and around the shoreline of Maquam Bay and Hogg Island to VT 78 at the West Swanton Bridge; VT 78 to VT 2 in Alburgh; VT 2 to the Richelieu River; along the east shore of the Richelieu River to the Canadian border.”
EXPLANATION:*The Missisquoi Delta is one of the most heavily hunted waterfowl areas in the state. The shallow marshes encompassing most of the bay (including all of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge) typically freeze by late November. The Lake Champlain Zone hunting season usually has a short segment in early October, followed by a split of one to two weeks, with the second segment reopening in late October, and continuing through mid-December. The purpose of this season structure is to provide opportunity for late season hunting for diving ducks (e.g., common goldeneyes) on Lake Champlain. By contrast, the Vermont Interior Zone usually opens in early October and runs straight until the first week in December. Missisquoi Delta hunters lose ice-free hunting days during the October split which they cannot recover in December because of frozen marshes and lack of ducks. The Missisquoi Delta has more in common with the Vermont Interior Zone than it does with the Lake Champlain Zone.
The proposed regulation would result in Missisquoi Delta waterfowl hunters having more opportunity to hunt during October when the marshes are open and ducks available. The Mud Creek Controlled Hunting Area is similar to the Missisquoi Delta and can be easily included in the new boundary change.
PROPOSED TIMING AND OUTREACH: The first Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board vote will take place on February 16, 2011, with a second vote in March and final vote in April. The issue of changing the waterfowl zone boundaries has been discussed at public waterfowl meetings held annually in August for the past five years. Over this period, there has been growing support for this change expressed by both Missisquoi Delta and late season hunters alike. A public meeting to give hunters one more opportunity to discuss and share views will be scheduled at the earliest date allowed by the rule making process, probably early April. The USFWS will be notified by the Department of the proposed regulation change by May 1.
