Waterfowl & Wetlands Fall 2011

W W W. S C WA . O R G

FEATURES: - FALL FLIGHT FORECAST - PINTAIL PARADISE - SOUTHEASTERN WILDLIFE EXPO 2012

FALL ISSUE DEPARTMENTS SOUTH CAROLINA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION

FALL 2011/ ISSUE 93

22 5

THE DIRECTOR’S DESK Record Wet Cycle Masks Serious Problems For Ducks

10

CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSFUL BANQUET SEASON

16

WOOD DUCK NESTING PROGRAM Reedy River Revitalization Underway

22

CAMP WOODIE UPDATE

36

DOG TRAINING OFF SEASON TRAINING TIPS

40

2011-2012 WATERFOWL RULES & REGULATIONS

18 IN THE NEWS 28 Drought Monitors

North America & Canada

by Doug Gardner

28 SC Wintering Waterfowl Update 29 Will Brown Raising Money For Camp SPECIAL FEATURES THE SPORTING CHEF TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE

18

WATERFOWL SCIENCES Pintail Paradise

26

PRODUCT & OUTFITTER REVIEWS Gunning With Steek Shot Southeastern Wildlife Expo 2012

32

FALL FLIGHT FORECAST...MORE DUCKS THAN EVER!!!

32

by Doug Gardner

15

37 CORPORATE SPONSORS ON THE COVER: T HIS DRAKE WIDGEON STRETCHING WAS PHOTOGRAPHED D OUG G ARDNER AT SCWA’ S W ILDLIFE E DUCATION C ENTER IN R IMINI , SC.

BY

SCWA Wildlife Education Center Launches Camp Leopold

SOUTH CAROLINA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION

Board of Directors

The mission of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association (SCWA) 410 acre Wildlife Education Center (WEC) is to pass on the legacy of our wildlife heritage. This is accomplished through innovative education, demonstration and outreach programs for youth and adults. When most people think of the WEC they think of our Camp Woodie summer youth wildlife conservation camp that has been in operation since 1995. As a complement to this successful program, SCWA is excited to announce that we are launching a new school year natural resource conservation camp under the umbrella of our WEC program. Camp Leopold is named after the father of wildlife management, Aldo Leopold.

The mission of Camp Leopold is “To create an ecologically literate citizenry by heightening student awareness of the natural world, fine-tuning the skills necessary to read the landscape, and instilling a love, respect, and admiration for the land so that each individual might develop a personal land ethic.� Camp Leopold is modeled after the land ethics of wildlife ecologist, conservationist, educator and writer Aldo Leopold. Camp Leopold will give teachers and students an opportunity to discover the land and understand the complexities of nature with help from a team of naturalists skilled in outdoor discovery.

Camp Leopold will operate during the school year with up to 30 weeks of 2 - day camps running Monday through Friday of each week. Current annual Camp Leopold capacity is 5,760 youth. Jim Koenig of Kingfish Environmental has developed the Camp Leopold curriculum to meet South Carolina Department of Education academic standards for 4th through 7th graders. The foundation of the curriculum comes from three award winning outdoor education programs, the Leopold Education Project, Project Wet and Project Wild. Jim Koenig, former 13 year director of the Barrier Island Environmental Center will continue to oversee the development of Camp Leopold as the Chairman of the SCWA conservation education advisory board. Camp Woodie director, Ed Paul will also serve as the director for Camp Leopold.

Camp Leopold will host 160 teachers this fall and winter who will visit the SCWA Wildlife Education Center and participate in a teacher workshop lead by Jim Koenig. The educator workshops will introduce teachers to the WEC campus and the Camp Leopold curriculum. Teachers will also receive continuing education credit from the South Carolina Department of Education. SCWA has also secured funding to cover the cost of substitute teachers for those teachers who attend the workshops.

The first school year camp sessions will begin in August of 2012. SCWA will launch a new web site for the Wildlife Education Center, Camp Woodie and Camp Leopold in October, 2011. If you are a teacher and would like to attend one of our teacher workshops set for October 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 26 and November 1, 4, 8 , 11, 15 please give Ed Paul a call at the number below.

SCWA would like to thank its Board of Directors, Blanchard Caterpillar and the Ocean Lakes Family Campground for providing financial support to establish the Camp Leopold program. For more information please contact SCWA Director of Education Programs, Ed Paul at 803-600-8977 or email Ed at : epaul@scwa.org Teacher Workshops Set for October and November Interested Teachers Should contact SCWA

President James H. Walker Senior Vice President Philip L. Horn, Jr. Secretary/Treasurer A. Carrol Josey Gary W. Dietrich Delbert E. Eggert Marshall J. Collins, Jr Stan Luthi John N. McCarter

Charles C. Rountree III O. Johnson Small, II John Stroud Richard M. Unger John W. Williamson, III

Executive Director David J. Wielicki Chapter Development Mac Bagnal Controller Tom Ratkovsky Data Entry Thomasyne Hipp Senior Waterfowl Biologist Stuart Cochran Camp Director Ed Paul

SOUTH CAROLINA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION

FALL 2011/ ISSUE 93

Waterfowl & Wetlands Magazine is the official quarterly publication of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association. SCWA is a state-wide, non-profit, waterfowl and wetland conservation organization based in Rimini, SC. All money raised by SCWA is spent within South Carolina on waterfowl and wetland education, management and research programs, and legislative education. All donations to SCWA beyond the retail value of the merchandise acquired are fully tax deductible under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

Direct all SCWA and magazine inquiries to: 9833 Old River Road Pinewood, S.C. 29125 (803) 452-6001 Fax: (803) 452-6032 www.scwa.org Queries for story and photo submissions should be sent directly to the editor. Photos must be released by the photographer prior to publication. SCWA assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material.

WATERFOWL 4

WETLANDS

THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

BY DAVID J. WIELICKI, SCWA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Record Wet Cycle Masks Serious Problems Ahead for Duck Populations

I

can’t wait for the upcoming duck season.

Fall is in the air, football is here and early migrating teal are on the move. My son and I have been busy getting our gear ready and we are very excited about reports coming in from the breeding grounds. The survey of breeding ducks in the traditional survey area hit a record high of 45.6 million ducks. Thanks to overall abundant and record winter and spring precipitation in many areas, wetland conditions across Canada and the Northern United States were as good as ever recorded since spring and summer waterfowl pair counts and habitat surveys began in the 1950’s.

The Prairie Pothole breeding grounds of southern Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba and North Dakota were so wet that more than 12.5 million acres of farm land in the region went unplanted this past spring. As a result, these fallow fields provided badly needed upland nesting cover for ducks and other prairie nesting birds.

Abundant wetlands and improved nesting cover will add up to an abundant fall flight of ducks and a great hunting season in many areas. For a detailed review of the numbers see the Fall Flight Forecast article on page (32).

Although I am excited about the coming season I can’t help but worry about the future of duck habitat and duck populations. The extreme wet cycle of the past year is hiding a perfect storm that is building over the Prairie Pothole duck factory. This storm will bring duck nesting habitat destruction in the form of increased wetland drainage and the loss of millions of acres of nesting cover as more marginal farmland is converted into crop production as a result of high grain prices. High prices for corn and other cereal grains and oil seeds are putting tremendous pressure on farmers to convert more land to crop production. Ethanol subsidies and growing worldwide demand is fueling higher prices for these commodities with no end in sight.

Since 2005, over 1,898,000 acres of conservation reserve program (CRP) grasslands WATERFOWL 5

have been converted back into crop production in Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. These set aside lands provide valuable upland nesting cover for ducks and other prairie nesting birds. In addition, CRP grasslands prevent soil erosion and reduce sediment runoff. In 2012 over 5.6 million acres of CRP contracts will expire in the US prairie pothole region. The loss of this nesting cover would be devastating to duck populations. For farmers to renew their contracts, CRP payments will need to match potential farm income gained by returning this land to crop production. With government budget cuts it is doubtful this will happen.

In the 2008 US Farm Bill, CRP allowable acreage was reduced from 39.2 to 32 million acres. As the 2012 Farm Bill is debated in congress there will be increased pressure to reduce CRP acreage even further due to budgetary constraints.

In addition to the loss of CRP grasslands in the prairie pothole region, farmers are also converting native prairie grasslands to grain production. Over the past several years South Dakota has lost over 50,000 acres on an annual basis. This native prairie provides valuable duck nesting habitat in some of the most productive duck producing areas in Montana, South and North Dakota.

Although our Canadian neighbors are working on developing marginal land set aside programs like CRP, progress has been slow but promising. Delta Waterfowl has done an excellent job working with provincial governments and farm communities to develop the CRP like Alternative Land Use Program (ALUS).

However, when grain prices remain high these programs become more difficult to implement.

Recent flooding across much of the US and Canada should remind us of the importance of all wetlands and the importance of providing riparian buffers through programs like CRP. Wetlands provide a tremendous buffer to floods Continued on page 9...

WETLANDS

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WETLANDS

WATERFOWL 6 7

WETLANDS

WATERFOWL 8 WETLANDS

Record Wet Cycle... from page 5 by increasing water storage capacity in drainage basins. Riparian grassland buffers and wetlands provide valuable wildlife habitat while also filtering runoff water and recharging groundwater supplies.

The cost of flood damage and decreased water quality to the general public as a result of past wetland drainage and intensive farming on erodible lands adds up to billions of dollars. Investments in wetland protection, restoration and marginal farmland set aside programs like CRP are wise investments that provide valuable wildlife habitat while also reducing flood damage, improving water quality and recharging aquifers.

North American duck populations will always go up and down in wet and dry cycles, however, the future of abundant duck populations in North America will depend on ensuring the protection and restoration of our wetlands and the maintenance and expansion of programs like

CRP in the prairie pothole region. As the 2012 Farm bill comes up for debate, all conservationists need to stand up in support of wetland protection and restoration provisions in the farm bill and continued funding for the Conservation Reserve Program. Support should also be given to expand the ALUS program in Canada.

One thing is certain, continued high grain prices and the failure to pass strong conservation provisions in the 2012 farm bill will greatly reduce waterfowl populations. As we enjoy the abundant fall flight of ducks during this waterfowl season, we should all rededicate ourselves to doing our part to ensure abundant future waterfowl populations. We can’t do anything about grain prices but we can join with other waterfowl conservationists to voice our opinion and help pass a 2012 Farm Bill with strong conservation provisions. I wish each of you a safe and enjoyable hunting season.

You are a member of SCWA, but how about some of your buddies?

You know SCWA is a quality organization, your recommendation is the best advertising we have. So, pass this membership application to a buddy and help grow SCWA along with perpetuating our waterfowl heritage.

Just fill out the membership form below and mail it to: SCWA, 9833 Old River Rd. Pinewood, SC 29125

It’s easy to join!

Please sign me up as a member!

$10 Woodie Membership (up to 16 years of age) Pin & decal

________________________________________________________________ Name ________________________________________________________________ Address

$25 Regular Membership SCWA magazine & decal

________________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip

$50 Contributing Membership SCWA magazine, decal & hat pin.

________________________________________________________________ (Work) County Telephone (Home)

$100 Donor Membership SCWA magazine, donor decal, hat & hat pin $250 Sponsor Membership SCWA sponsor gift, hat, hat pin, magazine, sponsor decal, local chapter banquets couples ticket, & invitation to local sponsor events.

$10 Woodie Membership $100 Donor Membership $25 Regular Membership $250 Sponsor Membership $50 Contributing Membership Amount Enclosed: $__________________ __Visa __ MasterCard __American Express__Discover

For more information call us at (803)

(#____________________________________) Expiration Date____

452-6001 or check out our website at www.scwa.org.

WATERFOWL

9

WETLANDS

SCWA Chapter News O CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT

BY DIRECTOR MAC BAGNAL

ur Fundraisers have been successful this banquet season thanks to a variety of donated items our chapters have been soliciting from SCWA members. Cash donations can be difficult to come by in this tough economy but SCWA committee members and donors are getting creative in finding ways to continue to support their local chapter through donated items.

The evidence became a reality at our first banquet, the Midlands Diner on August 13th at the Millennium Center in Columbia. We were able to raise over $50,000.00 and net over $28,000.00 for our wildlife conservation and education programs.

Over $10,000.00 of the net came from donated items. These quality items included an oyster table, season tickets to Carolina Football, a Bud Light neon sign, vacation rentals, original art, framed prints, duck hunts, and quail hunts, just to name a few.

In these tough economic times we need to get creative in order to raise the funds needed to support SCWA conservation and education programs. If you are unable to donate cash please consider donating one of the items on the list below. If you have an idea for an item not included on the list we want to hear from you.

Together we can accomplish SCWA’s mission even in these tough economic times. Al donations are tax deductible, so dig deep and help us raise some money.

Remember we are in the heart of the banquet season and we can use more volunteer help on each chapter committee. If you would like to become a committee volunteer please give me a call at 803-938-3145 or email me at mbagnal@scwa.org.

Donated Item Idea List: Vacation rentals (houses, condos etc) Rental services (Backhoe, Tractor, etc) Trips (fishing, Hunting)

2011 – 2012 Chapter Events 10/28/11 11/03/11 11/03/11 11/05/11 11/10/11 11/18/11 12/01/11 12/02/11 12/08/11 12/09/11

Certificates (eating places, sporting good stores, oil changes) Puppies Art work Boats and ATVs Old Decoys Guns Metal work Duck and fish mounts Landscaping Certificates Tires Whole ribeye from grocery store Homemade cakes, baked goods Wine, liquor (usually have free raffle items also) Shooting Preserves Pet food Centers Vet services, Dog Food Neon signs Custom woodwork (chairs, oyster tables) Wild game dinners Car packages (detailing, discount on tires, oil changes) Smokers, grills

SCWA Industry Sponsors Agridrain Cypress Knee Chufa Proline Remington Shady Grove Kennels Sportsman’s Warehouse Hevi-Shot Columbia Sportswear Federal Premium

As of October 20th, 2011

Charleston Conservation Dinner - The Lighthouse on the Creek Sumter Conservation Dinner - Sumter County American Legion Georgetown Conservation Dinner - National Guard Armory Francis Marion Conservation Dinner - SiMT Building Anderson Conservation Dinner - Clemson Outdoor Lab “Fowl” 1st Season Kick Off Dinner & Auction SCWAWildlife Ed. Center Greenville Conservation Dinner - St. George Greek Orthodox Horry Conservation Dinner - Boathouse on the Waterway Greater Wateree Conservation Dinner - Camden Shrine Club “Fowl” 2nd Season Kick Off Dinner & Auction SCWAWildlife Ed Center Barnwell Conservation Dinner - National Guard Armory Black Creek Conservation Dinner - Prestwood Country Club Walterboro Conservation Dinner - National Guard Armory Orangeburg Conservation Dinner - The Garden Room Newberry Conservation Dinner - Newberry Shrine Club Sportsman’s Ball - Duck Shuck - Omar Shrine Ctr. Mt Pleasant CSRAConservation Dinner - N. Augusta Community Center Four Holes/Edisto Conservation Dinner - Utopia Club

12/10/11 12/15/11 01/14/12 01/21/12 02/04/12 02/17-18 02/23/12 04/14/12 TBD Greenwood Conservation Dinner Pee Dee Conservation Dinner Horry Conservation Dinner - National Guard Armory

www.agridrain.com www.cypruskneechufa.com www.prolineboots.com www.remington.com www.shadygrovekennels.com www.sportmanswarehouse.com www.hevishot.com www.columbia.com www.federalpremium.com

800-232-4742 252-539-4434 800-334-4612 336-548-8560 803-892-5797 803-731-3000 541- 367-3522

Chapter Chairperson List Chapter Anderson Barnwell Beaufort Berkeley Black Creek Charleston Clemson Clarendon CSRA Four Holes Francis Marion Francis Marion Georgetown Greater Piedmont Greater Wateree Greenville Greenwood Horry Kingstree Laurens Midlands Newberry Orangeburg Pee Dee Spartanburg Summerville Sumter Walterboro Walterboro

Chairman Name Dean Harbert Carlton Wall Mike Fowlkes Chris Cox Cal Wheeler Will Brown Contact SCWA Charlie Brunson Ned Manor Kevin Weatherford Chuck McLain Anson White Shel Johnson Contact SCWA Cheri Ellis Emory Hendrix David Campbell Richie Causey Kevin Mouzon Jim Watson David Stanley Blair Long George Wells Jimmy Jones James Owens Larry Wells Buddy Wescott Allen Bell Jim Minor

Business Phone 803-266-4254 843-252-7933 843-303-0873 843-343-4045 803-452-6001 803-473-8302 803-492-8280 843-423-0484 843-546-6238 803-452-6001 803-475-1224 864-941-7167 864-378-2283 843-397-6766 843-319-1937 864-543-3717 803-781-8765 803-321-6276 864-809-7911 843-873-0047 803-469-0717 843-893-2230 843-846-6346

Home/Cell. Phone 864-314-5205 803-541-4371 843-858-0766 843-577-6450 803-640-5007 843-661-7373 843-546-4171

843-201-5876 864-420-7170 803-924-8743 843-810-2453 843-709-3175 803-773-8134 843-908-1234 843-812-8023

F o r f u rt h e r i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e c a l l M a c B a g n a l , C h a p t e r D e v e l o p e m e n t D i re c t o r a t ( 8 0 3 ) 4 5 2 - 6 0 0 1 e x t . 1 0 8 o r B e t h a n y C o c h r a n , C o o r d i n a t o r e x t . 1 0 9 o r v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t w w w. s c w a . o r g WATERFOWL 10 1 WETLANDS

Beaufort Chapter

Greater Piedmont Chapter

Midlands Chapter

Summerville Chapter

Clarendon Chapter

WATERFOWL 11 1 WETLANDS

CHAPTER EVENTS

G UN D OG P HOTOGRAPHY PAMELA O. K ADLEC • Dogs in training and dogs being tested at field trials and hunt tests .

• Private sit tings at your place, at a hunt test , or in Edgefield, SC , (Birds provided) • Gun dog portraits .

• Pet and wildlife photography.

• Great gift idea for all gun dog owners .

• Call for your appointment today.

• Shipping free on all orders .

Just Ducky Kennel & Spaniel Training Academy – Edgefield, SC 29824 803- 637-2007 • cell 803-341-0541 www.boykinspaniel.com • www.justducky.photoreflect.com email: pam@boykinspaniel.com WATERFOWL 12 WETLANDS

WATERFOWL 13 6 WETLANDS

Sportsman’s Ball 2012 Friday, February 17, 2012 - 6:00pm Omar Shrine Center, Mt Pleasant, SC Enjoy a complimentary wild game feast, specially prepared by Charleston Bay Gourmet. Join us for U.S. and International hunts on the live auction as well as an enormous silent auction. Guns, Sporting Equipment and Money will be raffled.

(This is a semi-formal event) If you can’t make the Ball then join us anytime during the weekend.

17th Annual Duck Shuck Oyster Roast Saturday, February 18, 2012 6:00pm Omar Shrine Center, Mt Pleasant, SC Live Music ~ Live and Silent Auction ~ Raffles $50 Per Person ~ Casual Attire ~ Open Seating

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Order Form Sportsman’s Ball Ticket Information: Friday, February 17, 2012 at 6:00 pm Please send me _____ single ticket(s) at $50 each* __________ Please send me _____ couple ticket(s) at $75 each* __________ (I would like to be assured of sharing a table with my friends) Please reserve _____ table(s) for eight (four couples) at $350 each __________ Please reserve _____ table(s) for ten (five couples) at $440 each __________ Duck Shuck Ticket Information: Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm Please send me _____ ticket(s) for the 17th Annual Duck Shuck at $50 each __________ Total __________

Credit Card Orders: Name on Card_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Card #______________________________________________________________Exp Date_______________ V-Code: __________ Mail ticket(s) to: Name:___________________________________________ Company:__________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ City: ____________________ State:_________ Zip:_________ Telephone: (W):_________________________ (H):_________________________E-mail:_________________________________ Mail this Form to: SCWA ~ 9833 Old River Road, Pinewood, SC 29125 ~ : 803-452-6001 *The purchase of a single or couple’s ticket DOES NOT assure you a seat at Sportsman’s Ball.

Seating is very limited and can only be assured to those with table reservations.

You can also purchase your 2012 Sportsman’s Ball and 17th Annual Duck Shuck tickets online. www.scwa.org WATERFOWL

14

W E T L ANDS

THE SPORTING CHEF

BY SCOTT LEYSATH

Tales From The Dark Side As anyone who has eaten both diving ducks and grain-fed puddlers can attest, they both taste very different from one another. Apparently, all ducks are not created equal, at least when it comes to the dinner table.

Fortunately, the darker-fleshed ducks can still make great table fare with just a few extra steps and some additional time to tame the more "pronounced" flavored game meat.

Lean, dark-fleshed ducks and geese have a deeper, earthier flavor as compared to an otherwise fat and lighter-fleshed mallard or pintail. It should come as no surprise that ducks and geese are what they eat. Take the often maligned snow goose, for example. An early season snow goose harvested in Canada is lighter in color and much less, well, gamey than the same birds we shoot in California. It seems that a young bird feeding its way through a barley field up north will taste better than the same goose in California that digs deep into the dark, decomposed earth to feast on tuberous roots.

Divers feed on things like mollusks and crustaceans, along with aquatic plants and insects. Of course, a mallard won't pass up an insect or two, but they do prefer to get their food near the surface rather than down below. I suppose it's not really all that important, at least to me, why certain taste like they do. What is important is how to make them edible.

Here are a few things that will improve the taste of any dark-fleshed duck or goose. First, don't try and cook them whole. There's a good chance that the small amount of fat and the skin will only add to the offtaste of the bird. If you're so inclined, you can save the legs and skinned and thoroughly cleaned carcasses for soups or stock. Remove the skin from the breast fillets, rinse them in cold water and pat dry.

Next is the brine. Combine 2 cups of water with 1/2 cup kosher salt in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, while stirring, until the salt is dissolved. If you want to add additional flavors to your brine, like garlic powder, onion, powder, fresh or dry herbs, do so by placing the extra ingredients in the water with the dissolving salt so that the flavors are incorporated into the brine. Add the brine to 2 1/2 quarts of cold water, stir and allow the liquid to cool completely before adding the duck breasts. Since these duck breasts need a little more help than others, allow them to brine in the refrigerator for 12 - 24 hours. You're replacing duck blood with a mild, salty brine.

After brining and rinsing, pat the meat down with paper towels and place into the marinade below for another 12 to 24 hours. The marinade will impart flavor without overpowering the natural flavor of the ducks.

After marinating, pat the fillets down, rub with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. They're now ready to sautĂŠ, pan fry, grill or broil.

One final note. The longer you cook the meat, the gamier the flavor. Oh sure, you can slow cook it with Worcestershire, balsamic vinegar, onions, garlic, herbs and red wine until it's fall-off-the-bone tender, but I really do think that it will taste its best when cooked between rare and medium-rare. Once the meat cooks past medium-rare, or about 135 degrees at the center, it will start to taste more, not less, livery.

Prove it to yourself and try a bite of duck cooked to rare, medium-rare and medium-well. Of course, if it turns out that you just don't really like the taste of any type of duck, you can always cut the meat into little strips, soak them in teriyaki sauce for 48 hours, wrap them in jalapeno and bacon and cook the bejeezus out of them. They won't even taste like duck!

Diver Duck Marinade (makes about 3 1/2 cups marinade) 2 cups dry red wine 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup raspberry preserves (or any berry preserves) 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1/3 cup onion, finely diced 3 tablespoons fresh garlic cloves, minced 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 2 tablespoons cracked black pepper 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 bay leaves Combine ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes to blend flavors.

Allow to cool completely before adding meat to marinade.

Scott Leysath is The Sporting Chef America's Premier Wild Game Chef

Scott's TV show, HuntFishCook can be seen on Comcast Sports Southeast(CSS) every Sunday AM and nationwide on The Sportsman Channel. He also appears each week on Ducks Unlimited TV on OLN. Check out his website, SportingChef.com, for more information and great fish and game recipes.

WATERFOWL 15 1 WETLANDS

Wood Duck Nesting Program

Wood Duck Project Update...

Reedy River Revitalization Underway

DOUG GARDNER.COM

I

n 1996 Colonial Pipeline spilled almost 1 million gallons of diesel oil into the Reedy River near Fork Shoals, South Carolina. As a part of Reedy River Wetland Restoration and Enhancement Project through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) they agreed to install 500 wood duck boxes along the river from Greenville to Lake Greenwood in early 2002. These boxes were installed and maintained by the South Carolina Waterfowl Association for 5 years as part of the 6.5 million dollar settlement between Colonial Pipeline and the state of South Carolina. In 2005 when the contract time ran out these boxes no longer had the funding to be maintained. In 2007, SCWA took its crew of technicians to clean out and fix most of the boxes on the river but since then they have gone unchecked. This year we have decided to make this project a high priority for SCWA’s Wood Duck program. We feel that this area is a major wood duck production area for the upstate of South Carolina.

At out annual leadership meeting in May, SCWA biologists and staff members along with chapter chairmen throughout the state decided that the best way to fund this project would be through corporate sponsors. These sponsors would fund the maintenance and replacement of the boxes along the Reedy. Currently there are approximately 400 functional wood duck boxes along the river that need to have the vegetation cleared and the boxes cleaned. There are an additional 100 boxes that need to be either repaired or replaced from damage caused by flooding and downed trees.

This project historically produces upwards of 2,500 duck-

lings and countless songbirds and other non-target species.

We are asking for $500 sponsors to fund this project. Each sponsor will receive 4 couples’s tickets to your local banquet, have your name or your company’s name on a sign at 8 different boat landings along the Reedy, be the official sponsor of 10 wood duck boxes and receive an annual report of the box production.

If you or your company would like to be a sponsor please contact SCWA or fill out and return the South Carolina Waterfowl Association Reedy River Wood Duck Production Project Sponsorship form on the next page.

Remember that you do not have to be someone from the area to support wood duck production in our state. For further information about the project please contact senior waterfowl biologist Stuart Cochran at 803-600-0742 or the SCWA office at 803-452-6001.

Reedy River Wood Duck Production Project Sponsorship Sponsor Name:_________________________________________________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________________________ City:___________________________________State:________________Zip:_______________________ Phone Number:________-_________-__________ Credit Card #:_______________________________Exp Date:________________VCode:___________

Please mail your check or credit card information to SCWA, 9833 Old River Road, Pinewood, SC 29125 or give to your local chapter representative or Contact SCWA Biologist Stuart Cochran at 803-600-0742. Your support is greatly appreciated and will mean more ducks for the Upstate.

WATERFOWL 16 WETLANDS

PINTAIL PARADISE...

WATERFOWL SCIENCE

P

BY Stuart Cochran

SEARCHING FOR SPRIGS

intails along with mallards are probably the two most sought after ducks in North America. Pintail numbers continue to rise across the U.S. and if you are looking for a trophy sprig now may be as good a time as any to find one. The population estimate for this year is the highest since 1980 at 4.4 million birds. Here is a guide not only to finding them but also to some of the biology behind the bird.

Identification An adult drake pintail is as easy to identify as any duck in North America. The adult male has a white belly, chest and neck along with grey sides and burgundy head. Its bill is blue and black and of course its signature “pin” tail. Immature drakes are very similar in color to mature drakes but they do not possess a “sprig” or long tail like their adult counterparts. Hen pintails are like most hen ducks in that they are a drab brown color. They do however have a longer neck and a small “sprig” type tail which makes them stand out from mallards or other duck species.

Breeding Pintails are found all across North America and were historically the second most abundant duck behind the mallard. It is now the fourth most abundant duck behind mallard, blue-winged teal and now shovelers. Their main breeding grounds are in the eastern Dakotas, southern Saskatchewan, southern Alberta and Alaska. In wet years most pintails breed in the Prairie pothole region. When this region is dry many pintails will move north into the less productive breeding grounds of northern Canada and Alaska. They arrive very early to the nesting grounds and are one of the first ducks to nest along with mallards. The typical nest size is from 5 to 12 with the average being 8 eggs. Incubation time for pintails is 23 to 25 days and they commonly re-nest when the first nest is destroyed.

Population Dynamics Drake to hen ratios are much like those of other duck species in the Anas family which include mallards, teal, wigeon, black ducks and other puddlers. There are approximately 3 drakes to every 2 hens or a 60/40 split. Mortality rates for pintails are lower than most ducks with adult mortality being about 40% and juvenile mortality being about 55%. This suggests that it is not the survivability of pintails that is a problem but rather the amount of breeding habitat which causes their population to fluctuate.

Migration California is king when it comes to pintails. Over half of the pintails in North America migrate there in the winter and 75% of those stay there while the other 25% travel south to Mexico.

Eastern Texas and western Louisiana are also large wintering grounds for pintails with about 25% of the North American population migrating there. Here in the Atlantic Flyway we have very few pintails and only harvest 3% of the North American total.

Food Pintails prefer open areas with small grains such as rice, wheat and barley. This may explain why California, Texas,

Louisiana and Arkansas make up 62% of the nations pintail harvest since these states are all large rice producers. They also like to feed in fields like mallards and many times will mix in with them while feeding. They do not however like to feed in corn fields and would much rather eat marsh grasses and other aquatic vegetation where available. Here on the east coast, North and South Carolina have a large amount of historical rice fields which winter most of the Atlantic Flyways population of pintails.

Although they are no longer planted in rice many of them are used as waterfowl impoundments and are managed for small grains such as smartweed, millet, wigeon grass and bulrush.

Where to hunt them As I have stated several times in this article, California is most certainly the best place to hunt pintails. It alone makes up 35% of the nations pintail harvest. The Sacramento Valley is by far the best place to go as it winters almost 25% of the North American population. San Francisco Bay and the San Joaquin Valley are also good places to go but they together don’t winter as many as Sacramento Valley. This is not to say that there are not other good places to go but if I had to choose one place California would be it. Louisiana, Texas, Oregon and Arkansas round out the top 5 places to hunt them in the United States but you need not forget about Mexico. The west coast of Mexico winters over 500,000 birds with areas near Los Mochis and Culiacan wintering the most. The east coast of Mexico also holds large populations with the Rio Grande Delta and Laguna Madre holding several hundred thousand birds.

Let’s not forget Canada. This is where it all starts for many of the pintails in North America. Although there is definitely some unbelievable hunting here it is not the place to go to get a “trophy” sprig. Most of the adult males have left by the time they reach full plumage and therefore most of the pintails shot here are juveniles or immature adults. If you want to hunt closer to home you definitely need to hunt near the coast. Both North and South Carolina hold large numbers of pintails although they are typically found on private impoundments or refuges. Bear Island East, Murphy Island and Springfield are the three best WMA’s to harvest a pintail in South Carolina. The salt marshes of North Carolina are also good with the area around Lake Mattamuskeet being especially good. I have compiled some data below with each states estimated pintail harvest and also each flyway’s estimated pintail harvest. This will give you a better idea on where most of the pintails are shot in the continental U.S. If you want a sprig for the wall this year may be the best time to get it. I have listed some of the best places to go but sometimes it’s the places that people don’t think about going that may provide the best “hunting experience”. My personal pick would be Sacramento Valley since I have been there before and it is awesome but eastern Oklahoma or the Great Salt Lake of Utah would be a good unknown place to go. Remember that it onlytakes one to make a memory forever.

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WETLANDS

Estimated Pintail Harvest by State for 2010 Alabama 1,340 Indiana 1,020 Iowa 9,210 Nebraska 2,990 Nevada 3,510 South Dakota 12,920 Tennessee 3,750 California 242,630 Colorado 630 Maine 190 Maryland 480 New York 2,450 North Carolina 7,850 Virginia 2,540 Washington 22,780 Georgia 0 Idaho 4,830 Mississippi 8,170 Missouri 18,250 Oregon 59,660

Montana2,250 South Carolina 4,020 Arkansas 31,650 Louisiana 86,030 New Mexico 2,510 Vermont 330 Florida 2,800 Minnesota 11,090 Oklahoma 11,150 Wyoming 420

Central Flyway

117,010

Alaska 10,140 Kansas 5,440 New Hampshire 90 Texas 68,880 Connecticut 90 Massachusetts0 North Dakota 11,250 West Virginia 0 Illinois 9,480

Pacific Flyway

357,810

DOUG GARDNER.COM

Estimated Pintail Harvest by Flyway for 2010 Atlantic Flyway 23,530 Mississippi Flyway 196,170 Total Harvest 694,520

Rhode Island 130 Arizona 1,990 Kentucky 660 New Jersey 340 Utah 21,040 Delaware 1,990 Michigan 5,500 Ohio 2,270 Wisconsin 7,750

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SCWA Would Like to Thank Our Dealership Sponsors Across the State Power Equipment Sponsor M & M Enterprises 2927 Sumter Highway Manning, SC 29102 803-473-9911

Tractor Sponsor

Herrington Equipment 6327 Highway 162 Hollywood, SC 29449 843-889-2248 www.tractorfamily.com

Truck Sponsors

Burns Chevrolet Cadillac 2515 Cherry Road Rock Hill, SC 29732 803-366-9414 www.burnschevrolet.com

Dick Dyer Toyota 3215 Two Notch Road Columbia, SC 29204 803-786-4111 www.dickdyertoyota.com

Jones Chevrolet Co., Inc 1230 Broad Street Sumter, SC 29150 803-469-2515 www.joneschevy.com

Prothro Chevrolet Co., Inc. 452 North Brooks Street Manning, SC 29102 803-433-2535 www.prothrochevy.com

Toyota of Greenville 2700 Laurens Road Greenville, SC 29606 864-288-3535 www.toyotaofgreenville.com

Upstate Automotive 3510 Clemson Blvd.

Anderson, SC 29621 864-622-5546 www.upstateautomotive.com

Raceway Automotive Group 701 South Hwy 52 By-Pass Darlington, SC 29540 843-393-5000 Www.racewayautomotive.com

Please see these Dealers for all your Equipment needs.

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S UCCESS - C AMP W OODIE 2011 CAMP WOODIE

T

he summer sessions of Camp Woodie 2011 have come to a close. I will miss all of the excitement and smiles that were unforgettable from these past months! We, here at Camp Woodie, want to express our gratitude to all of the campers, parents and camp scholarship donors who supported each child’s desire to be in the outdoors by sending them to camp. Also, we are appreciative to everyone who supported and volunteered with SCWA and Camp Woodie!

Being the summer camp director of 2011 was the most fun I have ever experienced. I am truly blessed to be able to say, “I was just doing my job!” Seeing the next generation get fired up about the great outdoors and grow as an individual can truly humble those who already possess that passion. The lives of youth today are filled with distraction and technology. At Camp Woodie, we had the opportunity to see these same kids venture out into God’s creation and be overwhelmed with excitement and joy. It has shown me that there is even more that I can do as an outdoor enthusiast to make sure there will be places like Camp Woodie in the future. This camp provides a place where all types of youth can come and learn about nature and develop a sense of confidence within. The great outdoors is a nonjudgmental environment that pulls your finest qualities to the surface. Whether it is breaking your first clay, sinking your first arrow in a target, learning how to communicate with animals, catching your first fish, playing in the mud without getting in trouble, building friendships, and much more; you will find a closer inner connection to yourself and the outdoors.

Reflecting back on this summer and previous

experiences with Camp Woodie, I can clearly see why I was attached.

Watching the campers, as well as the staff, grasp a greater understanding and respect of our natural environment was priceless and irreplaceable. Each session of camp, we not only grew as a unit but also as a powerful voice by example. It was clear to everyone this summer how much nature can affect every person and how we not only depend on the land, but how much it depends on us. The campers of Camp Woodie have enriched their skills as outdoor enthusiasts as well as how to be good stewards of their natural resources!

The reason the article is titled “Success” is due to the impression these experiences have made on the lives of the 2011 campers, as well as the staff.

Anytime we as a society can enlighten and excite the next generation about the outdoors and have fun doing it that is a success! Campers, I know that you all remember the campfire when you introduced yourselves and told us your favorite memory in the out-

H OME V ISIT S PECIAL The program works like this: a person or family serves as a host to their friends and their kids that are interested in learning more about Camp Woodie. I will come to the host house to explain the activities and goals behind Camp Woodie. All questions will be answered and a slide show will be presented.

Contact Camp Woodie.

803-452-6001

For more information on Camp Woodie call the office at (803) 452-6001 or visit our website at www.scwa.org.

South Carolina Waterfowl Association please reserve space at Camp Woodie for: Camper’s name __________________________________male_____female_____ age

Birth date

Week of Choice ___________________________________ Parent’s Name Address

City

State/zip

Phone

EMail________________________________________

Payment type (circle one):

Check MC

Visa

Amex

Discover

expiration date Name on Card________________________________credit card # Mail this form to: SCWA Camp Woodie, 9833 Old River Road, Pinewood, SC 29125 Fax: (803) 452-6032 PH: (803) 452-6001 web site: www.scwa.org WATERFOWL 22 WETLANDS

doors; whether it was hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or just playing outside. We want you to continue building those memories by staying in touch with the outdoors. This was one of my favorite things we did at camp this past summer. It showed us how much the outdoors has been there for us. After all of the campers and counselors would tell their stories, we would ask them if they had learned anything. The answers were clear. We were all in the outdoors. All the experiences were shared with people we loved and loved us in return. We were staying out of trouble, and we were sharing and learning with others! That is also SUCCESS! The temperatures are finally starting to decline. Campers, remember what you have learned from camp and the hunter safety class. Use it on your next outdoor adventure. I hope that each and every one of you get a chance to go out and do some hunting and fishing this fall! Remain like a sponge each time you venture out into the outdoors so that you can add to your newly honed skills and use them to increase your chances on an outdoor SUCCESS!!!!!!!! I cannot wait to see all of you again for the summer of 2012! “From the woods and the water,� we will be seeing you soon!

Ed Paul Camp Woodie Director

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CAMP WOODIE

WATERFOWL 24 WETLANDS

CAMP DATES 2012

Week 1 - June 3 - June 7 - Level 1 - 8-11 Week 2 - June 10 -June 14 - Level 1 - 8-11 Week 3 - June 17 - June 21 - Level 2 - 12-16 Week 4 - June 24 - June 28 - Level 1 - 8-11 Week 5 - July 1 - July 5 - Level 1 - 12-16 Week 6 - July 8 - July 12 - Level 2 - 12-16 Week 7 - July 15 - July 19 - Level 1 - 8-11 Week 8 - July 22 - July 26 - Level 1 - 8-11 Week 9 - July 29 - August 2 - Level 2 - 12-16 Level 1 - $420 - Level 2 - $575 - All Weeks are Co-ed!

Sign your child(ren) up for Camp Woodie Summer 2012 by 3/1/2012 and you will receive a $50 discount.

Sign up by 12/16/2011 you will receive a Camp Woodie certificate and a special gift to put under your Christmas tree!

Word Find Game

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Located on the migratory bird flyway, one can expect steady streams of new ducks while hunting.

Package includes: •Hot breakfast before your hunt •Heated indoor pool & sauna •Dining Room & Lounge Owned & Operated by the Childs family.

Walpole Island and Lake St. Clair 10 Minutes from Oak's Inn Full Service Motel At Oak's Inn all your necessary licenses and permits are available.

Wallaceburg, Ontario N8A1R9

Phone 519-627-8651 Fax 519-627-6101 WATERFOWL 25 WETLANDS

PRODUCT & OUTFITTER REVIEW

Gunning With Steel Shot, 2011 T. Michael Stritch

Steel shot just keeps getting better.

My favorite load is still Kent Impact Matrix but tungsten has gotten so expensive it’s tough to justify, particularly when new advances have resulted in much more effective steel shot. Kent, Federal, Remington & Winchester have come out with new product lines and each of them has something valuable.

Kent took its Faststeel line and improved the shot by zinc plating it for corrosion resistance and improved penetration. The Fasteel pellets were pretty good but the zinc plating is a visible improvement. The Silver Steel line is the new premium Kent line up. I’ve patterned it in the same loads and see a slightly better patter with the Silver Steel. It also comes with a biodegradable wad for upland gunning. I had success last season with my Benelli Montefeltro in 20 gauge using #4 shot for close woodies and teal so I’ll be interested to see how the Kent does in the same environment but using my 12 gauge Berettas. Using an IC choke the pattern opened up within about 15 yards and was useable out to about 35 yards. Switching to an IM I’d predict another ten yards of useable pattern.

A year or two ago Federal came out with its Black Cloud line. Pellets essentially had a raised belt of steel around the circumference. This was to provide increased wound channels and thus knock down power. The problem with irregular pellets was solved by crafting a wad that contains the pellets further down range. Thus the pattern did not begin to open up at the muzzle, but further down range so the irregular pellets flight was not affected by the “belt” until down range somewhat. No I don’t know at what range the wad drops off, how chokes effect the distance the wad stays with the shot or at what point the pattern blows up. Friends like the shot but I have not shot enough or patterned the loads to

tell. Winchester has a load I have yet to try at all. Labeled Blind Side the pellets are not round but hexagonal and stacked so you can fit about another 15% pellets in the same space. With more pellets in the pattern your kill zone extends out further and is more effective at all ranges. With the sharp sides you have more wound channel damage as well. Winchester did the same as Federal designing a wad to stay with the shot column for a longer time. The trade off here is that the more pellets in the load the lower the velocity, and, as we all know, with steel, speed kills.

Remington went a different route.

They increased velocity to around 1700 FPS where industry standards stay around 1450. Remington began using a slower burning powder, put simplistically, to extend the burn chamber which increases the velocity. In essence Remington has a longer, slower burn versus a short explosion which results in higher velocity and a longer pressure period which maintains safety standards for pressure. This results in increased velocity which means increased impact ballistic and increased range. However there has been no corresponding pellet modification to take advantage of the increased speed.

So I guess we’ll just have to wait for someone to use Remington’s powder, Winchester or Federal’s pellets and zinc coat them. One tiny little issue remains.

Getting ammo that is effective past 40 or 45 yards is well and good; however, most of us can’t shoot well at those distances or, depending on light and experience identify or sex ducks at those distances.

(Yes, I remember you saying, “I’m from Sout Karoliner, if it’s a duck I’m gonna shoot at it and worry about what it is later”. So buy some shells from the above companies, pattern them for your gun and go practice.

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Southeastern Wildlife Exposition 2012 Overview

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition will celebrate 30 years of excellence in wildlife art and the sporting life with its upcoming event to be held February 17-19, 2012, in multiple venues in downtown Charleston, SC. The nation’s largest wildlife art and nature event, SEWE will showcase the work of 120 painters, carvers and sculptors in Charleston Place’s grand ballroom. Two exhibits will be housed at the Francis Marion Hotel, including works by outstanding artists from the Charleston area (sponsored by Art Magazine) and a collection of landscape scenes, while the work of the nature photographers will be in the atrium of Embassy Suites. New for 2012, the Mills House Hotel will have a special art exhibit entitled “Birds of the Wetlands.”

Breathtaking flight demonstrations by the Center for Birds of Prey will be conducted in Marion Square, along with conservation exhibits, children’s activities and food from area eateries. Crowds flock to Brittlebank Park to watch the high-flying, big-splashing Dock Dogs® competitions, skillful retriever demonstrations, and instruction in the art of fly fishing and cast net tossing by the experts at Charleston Angler. There along the banks of the Ashley River, SEWE’s Sporting Village will feature outdoor outfitters, boats & equipment, and fishing/hunting/safari guides, and live bluegrass music can be

heard all weekend. Across the street from Brittlebank, the Charleston Marriott will host high-end sporting arms dealers and antique & working decoys from galleries and private collections.

Renowned animal expert Jack Hanna will host two educational live-animal presentations at the Gaillard Auditorium, as will the team from the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary.

Also at the Gaillard, handmade knives, jewelry, scrimshaw, furnishings, and crafts, will be available along with prints & giclees

by SEWE artists. The Certified South Carolina tent will be set up on the lawn, with a dozen chefs in the Fresh On The Menu program conducting mouth-watering cooking demos using locally grown and produced products.

A Quick Draw/Speed Sculpt with auction following will be held on Friday at Charleston Place. Other special events include lectures at the main branch of the library and the SEWE King Street Stroll on Friday evening.

VIP packages offer extra perks and after-hours activities including: art previews, an opening reception, black-tie gala/auction, Saturday breakfast, a casual party with live music & a Lowcountry feast, and access to the hospitality suites (with snacks & adult beverages) throughout the weekend. These packages, which have sold out in years past, start at just $350 for two people.

Day tickets are $10-$20, 3-day passes are $40, and children 10 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult.

SEWE provides free shuttle service between venues during show hours with a ticket or badge, and handicapped accessible service is available.

For more information or to purchase tickets/packages, visit www.sewe.com or call 843-723-1748. *Please note that all info is to the best of SEWE’s knowledge at this point, and is subject to change.

WATERFOWL 27 WETLANDS

North America and Canada Drought Monitors

NEWS

Accumulated Precipitation (National) September 1, 2011 to October 16, 2011

< 25 mm 25 - 50 mm 50 - 75 mm 75 - 100 mm 100 - 150 mm 150 - 200 mm 200 - 300 mm 300 - 400 mm 400 - 500 mm 500 - 600 mm 600 - 700 mm 700 - 800 mm 800 - 900 mm 900 - 1000 mm 1000 - 1250 mm 1250 - 1500 mm 1500 - 2000 mm > 2000 mm Extent of Agricultural Land

Produced using near real-time data that has undergone initial quality control. The map may not be accurate for all regions due to data availability and data errors.

Copyright Š 2011 Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

South Carolina Wintering Waterfowl Habitat Update

Prepared by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Agroclimate Information Service (NAIS). Data provided through partnership with Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and many Provincial agencies.

by David Wielicki

Created: 10/17/11 www.agr.gc.ca/drought

Duck season is just around the corner and hunters are beginning to scout their favorite areas.

Since March, SCWA biologists have been busy installing and maintaining wood duck nest boxes across the state and working with landowners on both public and private lands to enhance waterfowl habitat. We have also been talking with waterfowl habitat managers across South Carolina to get a better feel for statewide wintering waterfowl habitat conditions.

When considering where ducks will be during upcoming season it is important to remember that wintering duck numbers are affected by several factors. These include the timing of migrations, food availability, human disturbance levels and cover.

One thing is certain, abundant food, low human disturbance and good cover adds up to higher duck utilization of habitat areas. The following is a short summary of habitat conditions across the state.

Upstate Habitat This year the upstate of South Carolina had adequate rainfall during the growing season. This resulted in good crop production in private and publicly management duck ponds. Wetland conditions were adequate during the wood duck nesting season which resulted in a good wood duck hatch. However,

like the rest of the state abundant rainfall is now needed to fill beaver ponds and other wetlands to provide optimum habitat conditions for wintering ducks.

Midlands Habitat The midlands were dryer this year during the growing season. Some duck ponds received adequate rainfall for crop production but overall private and public duck ponds will not have as much food for wintering ducks as last year.

Low water levels also reduced wood duck production. Public lakes continue to drop due to a hot summer and less than adequate rainfall. However, water turbidity is low in public reservoirs, which has resulted in improved submersed aquatic vegetation growth.

The abundance of submersed aquatic vegetation in Lakes Marion and Moultrie has been expanding at a steady pace over the last several years.

Thousands of acres of eel grass and native pondweeds will provide abundant food for wintering waterfowl this year. Despite lower than normal rainfall during the growing season, acorn production in willow and cherry bark oaks looks promising. Fall rainfall will be needed to flood beaver ponds and bottomland hardwoods in order to improve wintering habitat conditions in the midlands. Lake Marion also needs to rise

WATERFOWL 28 6 WETLANDS

OPERATION GAME THIEF

Report Vio la to rs...

DO YOUR PART TO PROTECT SOUTH CAROLINAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NATURAL RESOURCES.

1-800-922-5431

*

OR DIAL OR # OGT

to allow the Santee National Wildlife Refuge to run its pumps to flood all of their green-tree reservoirs and waterfowl impoundments.

Coastal Habitat The majority of waterfowl habitat in South Carolina is found along our coastal rivers, fresh, brackish and saltwater tidal marshes. South Carolina is blessed with over 500,000 acres of coastal tidal marshes. In addition over 70,000 acres of historic rice fields are managed to produce natural and planted foods to attract wintering waterfowl. Crop production in coastal historic rice fields was greatly reduced from last year due to drought. Another important food source for ducks in the area is widgeon grass which is grown in brackish duck ponds. Widgeon grass production was reduced this year due to increased salinity levels as a result of hot and dry conditions. Wintering waterfowl habitat conditions on the coast will not be as good as last year. However, due to the large habitat area the coastal zone will continue to winter the greatest number of waterfowl.

Overall, abundant rainfall is needed this fall and winter to improve South Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wintering waterfowl habitat for what is expected to be a large fall flight of ducks and geese.

Will Brown raising funds for Camp Woodie My name is Will Brown. I am currently the cochairman of the Charleston Chapter of SCWA. I live in James Island, SC and I am a financial advisor for Principal Financial Group. I grew up fishing and hunting in the Lowcountry. Through my 26 years, I have developed a severe passion for the outdoors. I have always been a conservationist in both of my hobbies, as were most of the people that I did these with. I had a hunting/fishing buddy that passed away when we were 19 to cancer.

Following his passing, a couple of my close friends and I started a fishing tournament in honor of Joe, our friend that passed. We raised money for various charities in the area. I realized how easy it was to make a difference through fundraising. The desire to extend my fundraising abilities began to increase. I began to think about the things that were important to me that involved the hobbies and areas that I enjoy. I also have a passion for bringing kids into the outdoors. SCWA fit my passions like a glove. I think that Camp Woodie is something that is very important to the future of hunting and fishing in South Carolina. We are in charge of the future of those younger than us. They will suffer/prosper from our actions. With these ideas in mind, I could not think of a better organization to support. I hope to help in raising awareness and funds to keep Camp Woodie running and continue to improve the future of our waterfowl populations statewide.

WATERFOWL 29 6 WETLANDS

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I

2011

FALL F LIGHT FORECAST T M D E C !

HE

OST

UCKS

DOUG GARDNER.COM

t is once again time for the USFWS (United State Fish and Wildlife Service) to report their annual spring breeding pair counts. These counts are done to help determine the status of waterfowl populations across North America.

Airplanes, helicopters and people on the ground are used to count breeding ducks in both the traditional survey area and the eastern survey area. The traditional survey area is made up of land from the eastern Dakotas north through Ontario and west to Alaska and British Columbia. The eastern survey area is made up of those lands east of the Dakotas all the way to Nova Scotia. Last year was a very good year but this year the survey showed record duck numbers. Wet weather across the northern U.S. and Canada gave ducks more nesting areas resulting in higher nest success and also higher renesting success.

Total Ducks This year there were approximately 45.6 million total ducks in the traditional survey area which is up 4.7 million from last year. This is an 11% increase and 35% above the long term average.

Mallards (+9%), blue-winged teal (+41%), pintails (+26%), shoveler (+14%) and redheads (+27%) all showed large increases while wigeon (-14%) and green-winged teal (-17%) where the only two that

VER

OUNTED

showed significant decreases.

Mallard Mallard numbers for this year were good with 9.2 million birds counted in the traditional survey area. This is up from 8.4 million last year (+9%) and is +22% over the long term average. The eastern survey area showed 0.4 million birds which is similar to last year and close to the long term average. Mallards only represent about 15% of the ducks harvested in South Carolina with many of those coming from the eastern Dakotas, Minnesota and Michigan. Michigan showed a (-34%) decrease while the Eastern Dakotas (+6%) and Minnesota (+17%) showed increases due to a wet spring.

Teal Blue-winged teal continue to be a bright spot when it comes to overall numbers while their counterparts the green-winged teal posted losses for 2011. Green-winged teal numbers were down 14% from last year at 2.9 million but are still 47% above the long term average. Blue-winged teal experienced a 41% increase from last year at 8.9 million and are 91% above the long term. The combined teal numbers are up 22% from last year which is good news for not only the early teal season but also the regular season as teal make up about 20% of the total harvest here in South Carolina Gadwall Gadwall experienced a 9% increase in numbers from last year. They went from 3.0 million in 2010 to 3.3 million in 2011. They are now 80% above the long term and all areas in the survey continue to be above the long term except for northwest Canada and Alaska. These areas are relatively insignificant however with regard to Gadwall numbers as they make up only about 1% of the total population.

American Wigeon This year 2.1 million wigeon were reported in the traditional survey area. This number is down 14% from last year and down 20% over the long term average. All areas are now below the long term average with the exception of the eastern Dakotas and Alaska. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estimate is the sec-

WATERFOWL 32 6 WETLANDS

DOUG GARDNER.COM

WATERFOWL

33

year’s estimate of 0.69 million is up from 0.59 million last year. This is an 18% increase and 21% above the long term. The various survey areas showed mixed numbers with some being higher and some lower but the main breeding grounds in southern Saskatchewan and the eastern Dakotas Forecast continued on page 35...

DOUG GARDNER.COM

ond lowest in 20 years and has decreased every year for the past 5 years.

Northern Shoveler Shoveler numbers are at a record high of 4.6 million in the traditional survey area. This number is 14% higher than last year and 98% higher than the long term average. Alaska, northern Canada and the eastern Dakotas all showed losses while every other area showed gains of at least 70%.

“Hollywood” hunters should be happy.

Northern Pintail Pintail numbers continue to increase. This is the highest population estimate since 1980. There were 4.4 million pintails counted this year which is up from 3.5 million last year. This represents a 26% increase and is now 10% above the long term average. Southern Manitoba, southern Saskatchewan and southern Alberta showed increases of at least 100% while Alaska and northwestern Canada were the only places to show a decrease.

Redhead Redheads continue to show improvement setting a new population record this year. Last years record estimate of 1.06 million was shattered by this year’s estimate of 1.36 million. This is a 27% increase from last year and 106% above the long term.

North central Canada showed the biggest increase (+390%) while northwestern Canada showed the biggest decrease (71%).

Canvasback Canvasback numbers continue to stay strong. This

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both showed increases.

Scaup (greater and lesser combined) Scaup estimates were very similar to those from last year.

There were an estimated 4.3 million scaup this year compared to 4.2 million last year. This is a 2% increase but it is still 15% below the long term average. Most of the areas showed improvement in numbers with the exception of northwestern Canada and Alaska which are the main breeding grounds.

Wood Duck Wood ducks are the number one duck harvested in South Carolina. Last year we harvested an estimated 114,000 which made up 46% of the duck harvest in our state. This is the most wood ducks that we have ever harvested which is likely due to the cold winter that the northern Atlantic states experienced last year. Although they can not estimate wood duck populations like they can other ducks because of where and how they nest there is still an estimate based on banding data. The northeastern U.S. has their own survey that they do each year and this year they estimated 0.38 million which was similar to last year and to the average. SCWAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wood duck program is seeing good production from the boxes that they check and I anticipate another great year for wood ducks here in South Carolina.

Black Duck Black Ducks are not one of the ducks surveyed in the traditional survey area. They are however surveyed in the eastern survey area as they are the second most abundant duck on the east coast.

This year black duck numbers were estimated at 545,000 which is down 4% from last year and down 13% over the long term.

Ring-necked Ducks Ring-necks are also not counted in the traditional survey area but they are one of the most popular ducks here on the east coast. They are the third most harvested duck in the state and this year 484,000 ring-necks were counted which is down from 515,000 last year. This is a 6% decrease but is only 1% below the long term. As the abundance of eel grass increases on the Santee Cooper lakes the hunting should get better and better every year.

This should prove to be one of the best if not

DOUG GARDNER.COM

Forecast continued...

the best duck season that most of us have ever seen.

This does not mean that the glory days of tens of thousands of mallards in Sparkleberry swamp are back but it does mean that there should be plenty of opportunities to shoot ducks. If you can find the time (or money) to take a trip now would be as good a time as any. Remember to take time to plan your hunting trip and the number one rule to having a successful hunt is to go hunting when the ducks are there.

Word Find Game ANSWERS

G

WATERFOWL 35 6 WETLANDS

T

Hunt Em Up, Pup!

DOG TRAINING

(pigeons are usually readily accessible). If you are working a very young dog you can start this drill with white bumpers so that the pup gains confidence when he sees the bumper. Using orange will make him use his nose and not depend on his eyes to find the bumper.

You can do this drill on your own to start and can add another dog and handler later to stretch the dogs out to longer retrieves. Sit the pup and if needed, use a check cord to keep him steady. Toss the bumper or bird into the woods and tell the pup to “Hunt Dead”, encouraging him to go out away from you to find the bumper. You may have to walk in the woods with him at first until he gets the idea. After he picks it up, release him and walk on, but drop the bumper behind you as you leave.

Walk off twenty – thirty yards and turn and send the pup on “Dead Bird”, “Find it”. If the pup gets out of the area, call him back in to you and encourage him to “Hunt Dead”. This becomes a game and the pup will get excited when he finds the prize.

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This is harder to do in the water but if you have a decent arm and some rocks you can get the idea across using the same commands as in the woods. If the pup goes out and hunts short, toss a rock and tell him to “Hunt it up” and “Find it”.

With repetitions, he will gain the confidence to stay out there and hunt until he finds the bird. Do this exercise in flooded timber so pup learns to work over logs and through stumps to find your ducks when it matters most.

Best Afield, Pam

by Pamela O. Kadlec

here are only a few commands that your gun dog must know to be a working partner in the field. The first is to come Here when called, no matter what the distraction might be. Sit is the next most important and to stay seated until you give the command to Fetch. The dog needs to Sit to watch the birds fall, be Steady until released to retrieve, Fetch your birds and bring them back to you.

Delivery to hand is awful nice but if the dog will bring your birds and lay them within a foot or so, that’s okay too. You don’t want a dog to take off at the sound of the first shot, run all over the field, find a bird, any bird, and then proceed to a) Eat it or b) take it off and bury it.

There are some other, more refined commands, that are an added bonus in the field. Sitting to the whistle and taking casts on birds the pup did not see fall, is one of them. This skill takes a dog that has been conditioned to retrieve, a lot of patience and repetitions in training. Going out and hunting an area and finding birds just from the dog’s innate drive and nose is a definite plus. This one is fairly easy to train if you have a dog with a desire to hunt. Take the pup out to the woods and fields with several orange bumpers or birds

BY PAMELA O. KADLEC

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JIM HILLS

anana Water Lily, Nymphaea mexicana or Castalia mexicana as it used to be called, is an underappreciated and under utilized waterfowl food that is gaining acceptance as a real winner. Long known to be a great diver duck food source, it has been shown in our demonstration impoundment at Ingleside Plantation in Georgetown, South Carolina, to be a superior waterfowl food source for dabblers as well. We have approximately15 acres of Banana Water Lily in a 19 acre impoundment that consistently held approximately 600 waterfowl from late October, 2010 till mid-March, 2011, with the peak of approximately 3000 birds in mid-November, just prior to duck season. A short video of the Ingleside impoundment last fall can be viewed on You Tube at the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjVSbYlXs Wo The surprising thing we discovered in 2010, was that when we lowered the water level from our normal 21-35 inches of water to 12-18 inches of water, the number of different species of waterfowl increased dramatically. We went from primarily Ring Necks, Coots and Green Wing Teal, to adding Blue Wing Teal, Shovellers, Gadwall, Widgeon, Pintails, Mallards and a large number of Wood Ducks. We held this diversity of birds throughout the season and added about 40 Canvasbacks in February, a first for us. This has led us to recommend that Banana Water Lily be managed at a lower water level in the winter if maximum waterfowl usage is desired. This water level change allowed us to carry approximately 50% more waterfowl on average than we have experienced before at the higher water level. Time will tell if this will hold up in the future. It has

prompted us to convert an additional 100 acres to Banana Water Lily with another 62 acres to follow this coming year.

Cost is a big reason we are converting, as input costs continue to rise in our sport. Anything that can lower the cost of our duck hunting gets our attention. Although there is a cost associated with acquiring and planting the Banana Water Lily, the costs diminish dramatically after the first year. We will not have to plow it, fertilize it, spray it with herbicides, or fence out the deer, so the labor cost to manage it will be dramatically lowered after the initial installation cost.

Banana Water Lily is not as dependent on good weather as dry land crops, thus it is more dependable. The bullet points for Banana Water Lily are: (1) permanently flooded (2) natural regeneration (3) lower input costs over time (4) superior food source. I have had this plant in my impoundment for almost 20 years and believe it is a way to have quality hunting at a much lower cost.

Banana Water Lily flowers emerge from the water on day one and open at around 11 a.m. to be pollinated and close around 4 p.m. The flower stays above water for a second day, opening and closing as the previous day, then submerges to form a fig-like fruit underwater that produces as many as 60 seeds, each the size of Milo. Every flower you see stays visible for two days only so it is easy to see why this plant, that begins to flower in early May and continues into the fall, is such a prolific food source. Every day the numbers of blooms, in the thousands, are submerging after pollination to produce fruit and new blooms are emerging to get pollinated. The numbers of blooms seem to never diminish until later in the fall as the plants begin to form the starchy banana-like tubers that hibernate below the root system until a duck eats it or it sprouts next spring. The Banana Water Lily reproduces in three ways: from seeds, from rhizomes that sprout from another plant and from the banana hibernacula that awaken in the spring to form a new plant.

Waterfowl will consume the fruit, seeds, banana tubers and small plants. They will even uproot entire large plants that will float to the surface to then be picked apart by the feeding waterfowl.

Propagation Establishment is commenced in February, March

BY

WAT E R F O W L H A B I TAT

Banana Water Lily By: Jim Hills

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JIM HILLS

of the entire food of the 10 vegetarian species of ducks occurring there at the time.

This showing is much more significant from the fact that sago pondweed {Potamogeton pectinatus) also was abundant in the lake. The latter plant, in the writer's opinion, is the best all-round duck food in North America, yet at Lake Surprise it furnished somewhat less than 29 per cent of the food of the ducks, in comparison with more than 48 per cent supplied by Castalia mexicana.

Thirty-seven Canvasbacks collected at Lake Surprise had eaten various parts of this plant to the extent of 71.6 per cent of their diet. This is a second illustration of the unusual phenomenon of the Canvasback's being attracted to shallow water by a highly prized food. Six Ringneck Ducks, or Blackjacks, made more than 91 per cent of their food of this plant, and two southern Black Ducks (Anas fulviffula) 98 per cent. The following ducks also were feeding on the plant: Mallard, Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Redhead, and Shovelor. The parts eaten are the rootstocks, stolons, tubers, and seeds. Mr. Charles W. Ward has furnished rootstocks of Castalia mexicana from Avery Island, La., with the information that this plant and wild celery (Vallisneria spiralis) furnish the bulk of the food of Canvasbacks in that locality.

DESCRIPTION OF PLANT: The Banana Water Lily is the only native species of the group of true Water Lilies (as discussed above) that has yellow flowers. But the leaves and flowers of this species may either float on the surface of the water or stand a few inches above it. The leaves are green above with brown mottling and vary from greenish to purplish red below with Continued on next page...

BY

and April by planting the live plants in shallow water 12 to 18 inches deep. We have planted all of the way through the summer with diminishing success as the season begins to shorten. The best success is a late winter-early spring planting with plants at 5 foot intervals for coverage in one year or 10 foot intervals to get decent coverage in two years. If you have a well established plant population in an existing pond and you wish to change to Banana Water Lily, you may need to prepare your pond the previous fall with herbicide work to eliminate the potential competition the following spring.

There may be management options with water control or salinity that will help on competition. We can help with advice on how best to accomplish this.

We recently assisted Nat Ruth, manager of Mt. Pleasant Plantation, in establishing Banana Water Lily in an upland impoundment that had been previously drained, planted and re-flooded annually. We have been pleased at the success of this project and how well the plants adjusted to this application.

Banana water lily has a long and storied history dating from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s when wealthy business titans learned of its merits at attracting and holding waterfowl, especially the prized Canvasback. Edward McIllhenny had Banana Water Lily at Avery Island, Louisiana, home of Tabasco Sauce. Isaac Emerson inventor of Bromo-Seltzer had Banana Water Lily at Arcadia Plantation in Georgetown, SC, and Senator Gayer Dominick, of Dominick and Dominick on Wall Street, had Banana Water Lily at his hunting retreat on Bull’s Island just south of McClellanville, S.C. Dominick sold Bull’s Island in 1936 to the Fish and Wildlife Service to become part of the Cape Romain Wildlife Refuge. In 1937 the CCC Corps set up camp on Bull’s Island and built the Jack’s Creek Pond, a 750 acre impoundment on the northern end of Bull’s Island.

When Jack’s Creek Pond was completed, the Fish and Wildlife Service planted Banana Water Lily in this impoundment to complement the 400 acres of other impoundments that Dominick had planted in Banana Water Lily. John Cely, retired SCDNR biologist, reported in 1979 that 37% of the estimated Canvasbacks wintering in 1977 in South Carolina were eating Banana Water Lily.

Excerpt from a USDA Bulletin: W.L. McAtee, USDA Biologist, author, and waterfowl food expert, wrote about Banana Water Lily in USDA Bulletin 465 in 1917.

BY

JIM HILLS

BANANA WATER LILY - VALUE AS DUCK FOOD: The writer has investigated the value of the Banana Water Lily (Castalia mexicana) as a food for wild ducks in only one locality-Lake Surprise, Tex. The proofs of its importance are so great, however, that they should be brought to the attention of American sportsmen. At Lake Surprise the Banana Water Lily alone made up nearly half WATERFOWL 39 6 WETLANDS

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Banana Water Lily continued...

small black markings. The edges of the cleft of the leaf are either somewhat separated or overlapping. The plant springs from an upright rootstock which bears some resemblance to an unopened pine cone. The rootstocks vary in size up to 2 inches thick and 12 inches long. The smaller ones (at least up to 12 inches long by three-fourths of an inch thick) are swallowed by ducks.

Tender white stolons or runners extend in various directions from the rootstock. These runners are from a quarter to half an inch in diameter. During the active growing season they give rise to new plants, but in autumn they form peculiar hibernating bodies. These consist of the short modified tip of the stolon, which bears several (1 to 7) upwardly directed buds on one side and a cluster (2 to 17) of thick tuber-like roots on the other. The appearance of these is strongly suggestive of a miniature "hand" of bananas, and for this reason the name Banana Water Lily has been proposed for this plant, which has no distinctive vernacular appellation. The name has the additional merit of suggesting the yellow color of the tubers and of the flowers.

DISTRIBUTION: The Banana Water Lily has been known chiefly as a native of Florida, and the plants of that State have long gone under the name Castalia flava. Plants identified from a few localities in Mexico and from Brownsville, Tex., have been called Castalia mexicana. Dr. H. S. Conard, who has monographed the genus, unites these species, as he is fully justified in doing, on the basis of their possession in common of characters unique among Water Lilies. The new records of the plant from Galveston, Tex., and Avery Island, La., go far

toward bridging the previous apparent gap in distribution of the plant and toward corroborating Dr. Conard's views.

The accompanying map shows the probable natural range of the species along the Gulf coast and in Mexico.

Publication No. 4, Carnegie Institution, 1905

PROPAGATION: Although the Banana Water Lily is native to only a small portion of the United States, it can be successfully grown over practically the whole country. The plant has long been familiar in cultivation and is sold by most dealers in ornamental aquatics. The Water Lily expert of one of the largest firms in the United States reports that Castalia mexicana is perfectly hardy as far north as New York City when covered with a foot of water, and he believes that if covered with 2 feet of water it would be hardy at Boston.

The Banana Water Lily needs an abundance of sunlight, water from 1 to 3 feet deep, and a mud bottom. It is not injured by a trace of salt, as is shown by its growing in lakes very near the coast. The rootstocks may be planted by weighting them with stones and dropping where desired.

Having great vitality, they may be shipped with only moderate precautions to prevent them from drying, and may be transplanted at almost any time of the year. When established it will spread to places where the water is even 5 feet deep.

Jim Hills is a waterfowl consultant with Frost Waterfowl Trust and has projects in 11 states as well as 2 foreign countries. For information on Banana Water Lily call or email Jim Hills at: jim@frostwaterfowl.com ,843240-0530, www.frostwaterfowl.com

WATERFOWL 40 1 WETLANDS

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