Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Anniversary

B

Bill McAdam

Active member
I just got word that the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge in Decatur Alabama is celebrating their 70th anniversary this year with a celebration at the refuge on Sept. 20th. According to what I received, it will be a family type event with shows going on all day, including a Raptor Show, a Live Wildlife Exhibit; and an archery exhibition by Byron Ferguson and various exhibitors. They're also trying to set up exhibitions celebrating the waterfowling history in North Alabama (once a major wintering area for migrating SJB Canada Geese). I'm not sure if work is still going to have me here in AL then, or back up in MD, but if I'm here I'll be there. Any interest from all y'all locals?
 
Bill

Did you see that there are no longer any Southern James Bay (SJB) restrictions in our hunting regs? For quite some time they've had a reduced season in the area surrounding the Refuge to help protect the flock that once was in excess of 60,000 Canadas. A few years ago the count was under 4,000 and I suspect those may have been residential geese and not SJB. With the removal of the Wheeler area from our state regs I take it as a sign thay are conceeding our flock is gone. Quite sad.
 
Did you see that there are no longer any Southern James Bay (SJB) restrictions in our hunting regs?
Click to expand...
Michigan had a separate zone, with different season and bag limit for the SJB migration corridor as well, through last year.
 
Eric,

I'm looking into this for you & will let y'all know what I find out.
 
Just can't let it go, can you Jeff? <laughing>


I heard about the celebration through a carver who was asked to provide some decoys for a display. Perhaps they're putting the display together so the guy who got Daffy can show it off.............
 
Carl

Thanks. I'm interested to hear why they dropped the SJB zone. I imagine the resident flocks make surveys and managing the SJB very difficult. But then again the local geese have a penchant for trailer parks, 4wd trucks, and nesting on top of cinder blocks.
 
there really is some truth to the phrase " if you build it, they will come " in the past umpteen years they have not.moist soil management wont do it.like an old fart that used to hunt with dad on the refuge said, when ducks and geese start eating cotton and cockleburs, they'll be back.until then...........
 
Hey Blake - they are also looking for a taxidermist to exhibit at this event. If you are interested, I can forward you all of the contact information.
 
Have a copy of the 08 waterfowl status report. They show breeding population of 92,300 and a total spring population of 110,400. Ohio has tried to limit their take of SJBP birds with zones. They are beginning to feel that the total take of SJBP birds is more widespead than previously thought. We don't always know as much as we think, sometimes. At one time these birds were called the Tennesse Valley Population, until it was realized that this wintering population was made up of several different groups of birds, including resident geese.. It was decided to manage them by their breeding area rather than wintering area. In our area we see quite a few orange neck collars, that were placed on SJBP birds on the James Bay nesting grounds. Even this harvest data is in question, because collars have become the new sought after trophy. Kind of throws the data off when hunters are selectively taking collared birds. I do know that Wheeler refuge was a common site for NE Ohio banded birds to show up at.
 
hey jon, thanks for the heads up.one of the committee folks has already called.its a no go for me.got all i can do and im currently still in childrens hospital with the little one.we have been permanent residents since the end of last month.much to catch up on once i finally get home.
 
Here is the official word:
" SJBP zone season has been adjusted to mirror the season in the rest of the state. This change will be monitored to insure that the migrants are not being over harvested. With the increase of Giant Canada on the landscape research has indicated that the giant population will act as a buffer to over-harvesting the SJBP population."
 
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