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Meeting Minutes
February 18, 2025 @ 9:30am
353 Water Street, 4th floor conference room
Augusta, ME
(and virtually via Microsoft Teams)
Attending:
Timothy Peabody, Deputy Commissioner
Christl Theriault, Assistant to the Commissioner
Jen Vashon, Game Research and Management Section Supervisor
Kelsey Sullivan, Game Bird Biologist
Lauren McPherson, Resource Biologist
Kory Whittum, Fisheries Planner and Research Coordinator
Angie Dionne, Licensing and Registration Division Director
Cody Lounder, Game Warden Corporal
Andrew Smart, Game Warden
Becky Orff, Secretary/Recorder
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Bob Duchesne
Shelby Rousseau (vice-Chair) - via Teams
Eric Ward via Teams
Al Cowperthwaite via Teams
Tony Liguori via Teams
Mike Gawtry via Teams
Vacant Washington County seat
GUESTS
Claire Perry online
I. Call to Order
Timothy Peabody, Deputy Commissioner called the meeting to order.
I-A. Pledge of Allegiance
II. Moment of Silence
III. Introductions
Introductions were made.
IV. Acceptance of Minutes of Previous Meeting
A motion was made by Mr. Duchesne to approve the minutes of the previous meeting and that was seconded by Mrs. Rousseau.
Vote: Unanimous in favor minutes approved.
V. Rulemaking
A. Step 3
There were no items under Step 3.
B. Step 2
There were no items under Step 2.
C. Step 1
1. 2025-26 Migratory Bird Seasons
Mr. Sullivan gave a short PowerPoint presentation. For a copy of the slide presentation please contact becky.orff@maine.gov Mr. Sullivan went over harvest and population status metrics for key species and stated he would highlight some changes from the 2024 season that were outside of the changes for the calendar year. From 1999-2023 the estimate of active waterfowl hunters (HIP program) shows that over time there was a decline until about 2015 and there has been a steady increase in interest and participation. There was a general trend upward. In 2023, the USFWS had a change in sampling framework that led to an elevated level of estimates. fb88 sea duck harvest from 1999-2023, eiders, long-tailed ducks and scoters, we made a major change to the sea duck season in 2016 as a response to the decline in harvest which was reflective of a decline in populations. In 2024 we made a change to reduce the common eider bag limit from 3 to 2. In 2022 we made a change in the sea duck season to reduce the number of days and bag limit overall and still saw in increase the next year. That was part of the justification for reducing the bag limit. That trend was still of concern.
Mr. Sullivan stated from 1999-2023 for mallard and black duck harvest, the same trends were likely related to participation increasing. Both harvest estimates had increased slightly for mallards and more substantially for black ducks. Breeding population estimates for black ducks and mallards were from aerial transects that were flown by USFWS. There was a slight increase in mallard breeding population estimates and a slight decline in black ducks. The black duck trend was slight and associated more with habitat changes/losses and factors other than harvest which was why we didn't see a change to reduce the bag limit.
Mr. Sullivan stated wood duck and teal harvest for that same time frame had gone up likely related to participation. In 2008 we also had a bag limit change from 2 to 3 for wood duck and harvest had increased. The percentage of wood duck and hooded merganser broods observed in fb88 from 1999 2024, productivity had been increasing for wood ducks. The goal for wood ducks was that 25% of broods or greater were wood ducks in our counts. Even with the bag limit increase we maintained or increased beyond that goal. Merganser and ring-necked duck breeding population estimates in fb88, mergansers were at a slight increase and ring-necked ducks were showing a slight decline. The Canada goose harvest over the same time frame, with the goal to increase harvest in fb88 to reduce conflicts.
Mr. Sullivan stated American woodcock harvest in fb88 from 2006 2023, increase in harvest over that time similar to waterfowl attributed to the increase in participation. For the breeding population index, singing ground surveys show a slight decline per year attributed to habitat changes and loss not attributed to harvest.
Mr. Sullivan discussed the rule proposal, which was consistent with the previous years seasons, etc. One thing to note for the North zone, we could start as early as the Saturday closest to September 24th , but fb88 has traditionally started the Monday after that Saturday. Last year it was September 23rd, the way the calendar shifted for 2025 that Monday would be September 29th. Also, on pg. 5 of the proposal, there was an error. In "Exceptions" (Section F.) under northern pintail the bag limit should be 3. It should be listed in the wood duck section. The northern pintail bag limit had been one for several years, and there was a harvest strategy that dictates the allowable take. The 2024 breeding population estimate was 1.97 million across the country. That yields an allowable take of 3 northern pintail per day. How that related to fb88 was minimal, we harvested on average 220 northern pintail across the season.
Mr. Sullivan discussed a concept for next year. When he met with the waterfowl council in December 2024, the idea of shifting the north zone somehow was discussed. Every 5 years we could make a change to the waterfowl zone configuration and 2026 would be the next opportunity. We had made proposals in the past to modify the north/south zone line. When a season opened in the north zone it spanned a large geographic area. When it closed, which would be Dec. 6, 2025 up in Aroostook County it closed in Cumberland County as well. That north/south zone line closed when there was still probably 3-4 weeks of duck hunting opportunity. We proposed to make that line higher to accommodate when ducks were in that area, but in the past there was not enough support to change it. We were looking at a way to move the zone higher or have a split in the north zone so that it would close mid-November and reopen in mid-December so there could be more north zone hunting opportunity. We could move the line or have a split season for more hunting opportunity in the southern part of the zone. We would be working on a survey over the next year to gauge whether or not to move forward with a proposal.
Council Member Comments and Questions
Mr. Duchesne stated some of the uptick seemed to relate to Covid. We saw people going out and doing more recreational stuff and he wondered how much influence that might be in some of the uptick in hunting.
Mr. Sullivan stated he thought very much so. With waterfowl hunting it seemed to be sustaining.
Mr. Gawtry stated there had also been an uptick in sporting goods sales.
There were no further questions or comments.
2. Gray Squirrel Hunting Season
Mrs. Vashon stated we were recommending extending the gray squirrel season by one month. The season currently opened the last Saturday in September and closed on December 31st. We were proposing to extend the season and close on January 31st. There would be no change in the current bag limit or possession limit which was 4 and 8. There would not be any changes to the falconry season which opened the last Saturday in September and closed February 28th. We were proposing the change due to the abundance of the gray squirrel populations. Biologist Shevenell Webb had sent a survey to staff prior to proposing the rule change and everyone supported the increased hunting opportunity. This was also viewed as increased opportunity for youth hunting. We also looked at how our season related to other northeastern states. By extending our season it would be more in line with other states.
Deputy Commissioner Peabody asked if we had any requests from the public to extend the season.
Mrs. Vashon stated we had. Historically, we did receive some requests. We had one individual reach out over the past year.
There were no further questions or comments.
VI. Other Business
Deputy Commissioner Peabody discussed legislative proceedings. The bills were very slow in being printed. One bill had been passed through the IFW Committee which was a resolve for the Department to look into self-registration of deer. We would report back to the Committee in December on a proposed pilot project for self-registration of deer. He also discussed budget initiatives which included a $7 fishing license fee increase to support native fisheries and hatcheries.
Ms. Theriault discussed the Departments omnibus bill which included a lead tackle law clarification and added definitions for sinker and jig.
VII. Councilor Reports
Councilors gave reports.
VIII. Public Comments & Questions
There were no public questions or comments.
IX. Agenda Items & Schedule Date for Next Meeting
The next Advisory Council meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
X. Adjournment
A motion was made by Mr. Duchesne and that was seconded by Mr. Cowperthwaite to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.