Here is my column from The News Journal on January 5, 2012.
As I begin planning my 2012 hunting- and fishing-related activities, I can’t help looking back at 2011, a year that showed the unpredictable power of Mother Nature, the positive effects of wildlife conservation efforts, the much-needed preservation and sharing of hunting and fishing traditions and the common-sense progress toward hunting law reform.
The 2010-11 late deer, small game and waterfowl seasons were affected by heavy snow and bitter cold in the first weeks of 2011. While the snow and cold helped deer hunters hunting near food sources, the harsh weather hastened the southward migration of ducks, geese, woodcocks and other game birds, causing many hunters to put their guns away early.
Late-summer fishing was adversely affected by the winds, rain and runoff of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. In contrast, a rare October nor’easter led to successful early-season duck harvests for hunters who braved the rain, sleet, snow and wind that drove southward-bound ducks to Delaware’s waterways.
Although the Delaware duck season started out with promise, Mother Nature’s unpredictability surfaced again with above-average fall and winter temperatures from New England through the mid-Atlantic, seemingly slowing down the 2011 fall and winter migrations of ducks and geese. With 40-degree temperature swings over the past several days, it looks like Mother Nature’s bizarre grip will hold us for at least the first part of 2012.
The Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife celebrated a significant milestone in 2011: 100 years of wildlife conservation.
Some hunters disagree with certain seasons, regulations or enforcement techniques. But let’s face it, without the conservation efforts of the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, hunting and fishing as we know it would not exist. Since October 1911, the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (formerly the Board of Game and Fish Commissioners) has worked to establish hunting and fishing licenses, protect game species, re-introduce game species to Delaware, procure and preserve hunting and fishing lands and waterways, promote hunting and boating safety, and provide game donations to Delaware residents in need.
Many Delaware hunters and fishermen attempt to share their sporting traditions with others, and in 2011 I witnessed firsthand the positive effects of that.
My effort to share Delaware outdoors traditions ultimately begins with my family and friends, but it quickly spreads via my writings, speaking engagements and volunteer positions with various conservation organizations.
As a result of my involvement with Delaware’s hunting and fishing communities, I spent many hours afield with young people in 2011. I accompanied young hunters and anglers on their first hunts and fishing excursions, and I saw their (and their parents’) reactions when they harvested their first game or caught their first fish. The reactions reinforced the need to share the hunting and fishing traditions with more young people, and I encourage you all to do so in 2012.
Another noteworthy event of 2011 was the passing of a law that allows Delaware sportsmen to hunt on Sundays on private commercial hunting preserves. The law gives commercial game preserves the opportunity to compete with hunting preserves in neighboring states where Sunday hunting is allowed.
Although the new law limits Sunday hunting to commercial preserves, it provides hope for those of us who want to see overall reform of Delaware’s law that bans regular Sunday hunting. Perhaps 2012 is the year in which the law banning regular Sunday hunting in Delaware is lifted.