NEWS & INFORMATION FOR DUCKS UNLIMITED MEMBERS VOL 1 FALL 2009

Editorial

Are Hunting and Conserva-tion Still Compatible?

Ducks Unlimited Does Africa

DU Goes Hawking

Ursus Americanus

Sportsmen’s Interests Protectedin Annapolis

Maryland to Continue toControl Mute Swan Population

MD DU Event Schedule

INSIDE

www.ducks.org is Maryland DU’s website

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F O R T H E M E M B E R S O F M A R Y L A N D D U

M A R Y L A N D

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Chip Heaps136 Goucher WayChurchville, MD 21028

POSTMASTER: If undeliverable, do not return.

On May 18th, Congressman Frank Kratovilvisited the Ducks Unlimited Annapolis Officeto meet with DU staff and volunteers. In theprior week, the Congressman attended DU’sFederal City Chapter dinner in Washington,DC. Congressman Kratovil represents Mary-land’s 1st Congressional District, whichincludes the entire Eastern Shore as well asparts of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and HarfordCounties. The Con gressman is fromStevensville and formerly served as State’sAttorney for Queen Anne’s County. In Washing-ton, DC, Congressman Kratovil serves on threecommittees for the US House of Representa-tives: Agriculture, Armed Services, and Natu-ral Resources.

The seven DU supporters who volunteeredto meet with their Congressman were: FrankEisler (Cecil Co.), Maggie Sentman (Cecil Co.),Scott Jasion (Harfod Co.), Dave Gough (QueenAnne’s Co.), Steve Huettner (Baltimore Co.),Ron Flohr (Talbot Co.), and John Notarangelo

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDDucks Unlimited Inc.

(Cecil Co.). These volunteers enjoyed the oppor-tunity to connect with their Congressman andpassionately spoke about their connections toDU. The constituents of the Congressman did anexcellent job explaining why DU is important tothem in their daily lives. The group also dis-cussed the many successful DU events held eachyear throughout the State. After attending theFederal City Chapter dinner and hearing fromthe group, Congressman Kratovil expressed aninterest in attending upcoming DU events heldin his district.

Congressman Kratovil updated his con-

stituents and DU staff on news from ournation’s capital, including recent hearingsbefore the House Natural Resources Commit-tee and legislation he is sponsoring. This Com-mittee currently is considering legislation toincrease the Federal Duck Stamp price from$15 to $25, which will be the first price increasein 18 years. Ducks Unlimited is actively sup-porting this legislation because proceeds fromsales of the Federal Duck Stamp are used topurchase and protect waterfowl habitat acrossthe country. Since its inception in 1934, sales

Congressman Frank Kratovil Meets with DU Staff and Volunteers

(Continued on page 5)

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House of Representatives and 52 Senatorssigned onto the North American Wetlands Con-servation Act (NAWCA) letter, with the Houserecommending full funding of $52 million andthe Senate recommending $45 million for wet-lands. DU is also diligently working on twoother issues important to hunting and conser-vation: the Hunting Heritage Protection Actwhich would expand hunting opportunities onfederal lands and conservation easement legis-lation that would extend incentives forlandowners to conserve their land.

I look forward to what this next year has tobring. Winter snows and spring rains have theprairies dotted with numerous potholes bustlingwith waterfowl, some of which will make theirannual trek to the marshes and fields of Mary-land. As we go into this gunning season, remem-ber that all your hard work and commitmenthelp to make the annual migrations possible.

Maryland DU Regional Director Josh Voelker

this past July, the level of fundraising we wereable to accomplish in Maryland was down fromwhere it had been in the recent past. Fundrais-ing was also down nationwide, reflecting thatthe uncertain times of last year were not justlocalized to a few places around the country. Butwhile fundraising was down in Maryland lastyear, event attendance at most events was upover the previous year, indicating the core ofMD DU’s supporters is still alive and well.

Another positive note that has happenedover the past year is that several chapters havebeen re-started by groups of individuals thatstrongly believe in DU’s conservation mission.These chapters are: Patapsco Valley, PatuxentRiver, Salisbury University, and Towson. Wealso have a new Maryland Ducks Unlimitedmen’s lacrosse team based in Bethesda!

Exciting things are happening with DU atthe Federal level as well. The Ducks UnlimitedGovernmental Affairs office has been hard atwork this past year, and of note report that withthe help of DU members 107 members of the

It’s hard to believe that it has been a yearsince I began my role with Ducks Unlimited asRegional Director. Over the past year, it hasbeen my honor to meet and work alongside themany great people that truly make DucksUnlimited the best conservation organization inthe world.

The level of dedication that I have seen inMaryland’s volunteers is truly amazing, espe-cially given the economic conditions that wefound ourselves in beginning in the fall of 2008and that have continued to now. Given the diffi-culty of fundraising in such an economic cli-mate, it would have been easy for Maryland’svolunteers throw in the towel and wait for moreopportune times to try and raise money for ourwetlands and waterfowl. However, each andevery one of you went above and beyond andgave 110%, never lost focus of your goals andanyone would be hard-pressed to name anothertime when the mettle and determination ofMaryland’s volunteers was as proven.

When the books closed on the fiscal year

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EDITORIAL

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MARYLAND SINKBOX Ducks Unlimited is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to conserving

wetlands habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. DU was incorporated by a groupof farsighted conservationists on Jan. 29, 1937. Membership in the organization is $25 minimum, which includes a subscription to the national Ducks Unlimited magazine. As the organization’s official publication for Maryland, Sinkbox has a

circulation of 10,000. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those ofDucks Unlimited Inc. Similarities between the name Ducks Unlimited Inc. and thoseof advertisers are coincidental and do not indicate mutual affiliation unless clearlystated. Members who move, should send new address and current membership

number to national headquarters on POD Form 3578.

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The biggest change in snow goose huntingis the increased population of the snow gooseover the last few years hunting. This increasein population has lead to more juvenile birds tohunt, more liberal hunting regulations (e calls,unplugged guns, bag limits), and the birdsexpanding their range. Over the last few yearsare hunting areas in Maryland and Delawarethat never held snow geese.

Tommy MarvelChesapeake Guide Service

http://www.chesapeakeguideservice.comPhone: 410-648-5229

The biggest change in snow goose hunting isthe style and quality of decoys that are avail-able to a hunter these days. Gone are the daysof placing white rags and decoy socks for snows.Now we have entire trailers loaded with fullbody decoys, and we are now using stuffers justfor snow geese.

Ask the Waterfowl GuidesWhat is the biggest change that you have seen takenplace in snow goose hunting over the last few years?

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to take us further and further away from theconnection to the land, overwhelm the gamesability to elude us? More importantly, are weloosing the appreciation that learning instills inus? I’m talking about learning about the ani-mals we pursue, like knowing where this grousewas going to be today because of spending thetime required to find his drumming log. Follow-ing the sounds, walking the woods for severalmornings just to get sight of him.

Hunting comes down to respect for the landand pursuing game as a gift, not as a quarry.Hunters can never expect to be appreciated forwhat they do. Hunting is by nature, a taking.We have to keep preserving, maintaining andrestoring habitat not as a justification for whatwe do, but an appreciation for what has beengiven us. Respect for the creatures we kill,respect for landowners, respect for the laws thatgovern us, respect for life, define the very besthunters who have graced our ranks and savedso much of the land this country is unique in theworld for. I’m talking about the NationalWildlife Refuges, Wilderness Areas, NationalParks, State Game Lands. The list is long andconsequential.

Aldo Leopold in his Song of Gavilion wrote“Sit quietly and listen and think of all you haveheard (and seen) and tried to understand, andthen you may hear it – the vast pulsing harmo-ny, its score written on a thousand hills, itsnotes the lives and deaths of planets and ani-mals, its rhythms spanning the seconds and thecenturies.” When Theodore Roosevelt was beingattacked by the monopolies opposed to hisstrong conservation ethic, they accused him ofhypocrisy for striving for a strong conservationethic while at the same time being a disciple ofthe sporting life. He responded: “tho emphati-cally against game butchery, or any other butch-ery of wild animals, and emphatically in favor ofthe preservation of all wild life that can be pre-served without detriment to mankind, I still dofeel, not only that there is no objection to a rea-sonable amount of hunting, but that the encour-agement of a proper hunting spirit, a properlove of sport, instead of being incompatible withthe love of nature and wild things, offers the

I’ve been toying with writing about huntingand its relationship to conservation for sometime now. I wondered how it might be received.Could I put the right words on paper that wouldconvey some thought that can help build under-standing in the debate? Then I thought, whymust it be a debate at all? Hunting is such anemotional issue and those on the opposite sidesof emotional issues seldom see the others pointof view. For many of us, hunting is deep-rootedin tradition and family, a reason to be togetherand participate in, not just observe the environ-ment. It takes special folk to really understandthis who have not grown up, or at least felt theties of the blaze orange and suspenders of deercamp or the trust of a boat traveling out into themarsh in predawn darkness.

Can hunting be justified in this urban age ofworld travel and immediate gratification? Itseems to go against what we are as a societytoday where success is defined by how fast wecan get what we want; with an ignorant gleethat we have somehow beat the system. Wehave become a people more and more removedfrom the environment we have “dominion” over.Remember that dominion is defined as havingcontrol or power over, but also taking responsi-bility for the prudent and correct use of thatpower. Today the hunt itself can be laced withgizmos and gadgets that allow us to short cir-cuit the once acquired knowledge imparted bypatience, physical exertion and insight beforeone could be called a successful hunter. Animalswere living and dying long before man evershowed up on the scene. We must keep that inmind as we seek to justify the hunt to those whodon’t hunt. I doubt a grouse sitting in a hemlocktree waiting out the soaking rain understandsthis whole “communion with nature” thing. Idoubt he thinks about the camp, the cama-raderie, and the tradition. If fact I’m sure, he’dbe just as content to take his chances with star-vation or a goshawk.

It comes back to us as hunters. What kind ofdiscipline and morality do we bring to ourthinking? When is the balance between thehunter and the hunted tipped to far in ourfavor? When does technology, our unique ability

Thursday, June 18, 2009

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best guaranty for the preservation of wildthings.” Study the history of the environmentalmovement in America and you will find huntersat the heart of all the great battles that havebeen fought.

While traveling in up state New York, Inoticed a gravestone in a small country ceme-tery. The stone caught my eye because of itsmodern design and extensive carvings. Itseemed so out of place out there. I have sincelost the paper that I wrote down the authors’name, but the writings were wonderful anec-dotes attributed to the man buried there. Onepoignant saying dealt with our responsibility toleave a legacy; “It is man’s destiny to devise andpromote improvements in his own generationthere by enriching the lives of others whilerepaying in his own time that worthy debt ofhaving been born.” Conservation of landthrough organizations like Ducks Unlimitedhelps repay that debt. That debt we occur whenwe hunt, fish, trap….. breathe.

AArree HHuunnttiinngg aanndd CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonnSSttiillll CCoommppaattiibbllee??

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areas for wildlife (wetlands). In 2007, Bill Kilby contacted Bill Metcalf,

Soil Conservationist for Cecil County Soil Con-servation District, and asked what else could bedone on his farm for wildlife and water quality.Metcalf, who had been working with Kilby onsoil conservation programs since 1997, had aquick answer: wetlands! Metcalf helped Mr.Kilby enroll in the NRCS Wildlife HabitatIncentive Program for “Shallow Water Areas,”and designed three wetlands on the farm todetain sediment and provide habitat for ducks,geese, and other wildlife. As the projects movedforward, it became clear that the Soil Conserva-tion District and the Kilbys would need someadditional help with the project, and they con-tacted DU. DU provided technical support andcost-share for the first two wetland areas, whichwere constructed in Spring, 2009.

The two wetlands restored on this perma-nently-protected farm show the value of part-nerships – since without NRCS, Cecil Soil Con-servation District, Ducks Unlimited, fundingfrom the Easton Waterfowl Festival, and mostimportantly, the Kilby Family, these importantareas for wildlife would not have been complet-ed. Bill Metcalf said, “Bill Kilby is a progressivefarmer who is always looking to use new tech-nologies and techniques to improve his produc-tivity and improve the quality of his land andsoil, both for wildlife conservation, and toensure the value of the land for future genera-tions of his family. When groups like DucksUnlimited support the conservation efforts offamily agribusinesses, everybody benefits.”

For nearly 50 years, Kilby Creamery andDairy Farm has been a recognized institution offamily agribusiness in Cecil County. Comingfrom a century-long family tradition of dairyfarmers, the Kilbys have called Cecil Countyhome since 1961. In a bold move to protect theirbeautiful farm for the future generations oftheir family, the Kilbys negotiated a permanentagricultural easement on the property with theMaryland Department of Agriculture in 2005.The farm’s sweeping hills and green valleysdrain directly into Basin Run, a Class III tribu-tary of Octoraro Creek, which feeds into theSusquehanna River just below Conowingo Dam– and less than 10 miles upstream of the fabledSusquehanna Flats. Urban, industrial, andagricultural runoff in the mid-20th Century sig-nificantly damaged the submerged vegetationbeds across the Flats….damage that seems tobe slowly improving due to efforts of familyfarmers like the Kilbys.

While the casual observer might not beaware of the connections between farming,wildlife, and water quality, Bill Kilby and hisfamily certainly are. The Kilbys have takenadvantage of every soil and water conservationprogram appropriate for their farm operationsince 1974. That year, John Kilby (Bill’s father)first enrolled a section of the farm in ASCS con-servation programs, and Bill has continued thetradition through the 1990s and into the 21stCentury, enrolling in dozens of soil and waterconservation practices like riparian forestbuffer fencing, manure waste storage facilities,grade stabilization structures, nutrient man-agement, and most recently, shallow water

from the stamp have topped $700 million andhave conserved more than 5.2 million acres ofvaluable waterfowl habitat. DU’s Chief Biolo-gist, Dale Humburg, testified in support of theincrease at the hearing on May 13th.

The Congressman also highlighted his ownlegislation that is before the House NaturalResources Committee that will create instatute Joint Ventures led by the US Fish andWildlife Service. These Joint Ventures current-ly exist as partnerships between federal andstate agencies as well as other organizationsto implement bird conservation plans. DU hasbeen a strong partner with these Joint Ven-tures since they were created in the mid 1980sto execute activities such as biological plan-ning, conservation design, project develop-ment and implementation, monitoring, evalua-tion, applied research activities, communica-tions, outreach, and fund-raising for projectsand activities. The Congressman’s legislationwill be a step toward ensuring these programsreceive appropriate federal resources to con-serve waterfowl and their habitat. Severalmembers of DU’s public policy staff are closelymonitoring this legislation.

After the Congressman spoke about thelatest Washington news, DU’s Manager ofConservation Programs, Kurt Dyroff, briefedhim on DU’s conservation efforts in the GreatLakes and Atlantic Regions. Kurt explainedthe priority conservation areas for DU in theAtlantic Region and focused on the Chesa-peake Bay watershed. Next, Virginia andMaryland Biologist, Kirk Mantay, highlightedthree DU projects from the Congressman’sdistrict in Cecil, Dorchester, and QueenAnne’s Counties. The Congressman expressedan interest in visiting these and other DUprojects in his district. Bernie Marczyk, Gov-ernmental Affairs Representative, and BartJames, Director of Public Policy, thanked Con-gressman Kratovil for his support of publicpolicy initiatives important to DU, includingthe North American Wetlands ConservationAct and Joint Venture legislation. All volun-teers and staff expressed gratitude to theCongressman for his appropriations requestfor $1 million for DU to conserve waterfowlhabitat in Maryland. This request is sched-uled to move through the legislative processbeginning in June and ending sometime inthe fall of 2009.

Congressman Frank Kratovil Meetswith DU Staff and Volunteers(Continued from page 1)DDUU,, NNRRCCSS,, aanndd KKiillbbyy CCrreeaammeerryy

TTeeaamm UUpp TToo BBuuiilldd WWeettllaannddssaanndd SSaavvee TThhee FFllaattss!!

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Sales-Service-Maintenance

FALL 20096 MARYLAND

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We’re Looking to Add SomeDucks to our Flock

The Central Maryland Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is looking for new committee members.If you enjoy great people, fun times, and raising money for the environment, the Central

Maryland Chapter of DU is for you. For questions and information contact:

Steve Huettner 410-302-2103 or e-mailshuettne@jhsph.edu

Kirk Mantay

The partnership between Ducks Unlimitedand the Waterfowl Festival has a long-standinghistory of conserving habitat for ducks fromCanada to the eastern shore of Maryland. Sincethe 1970’s, the Waterfowl Foundation has con-tributed more than $1 million in funds to sup-port DU’s mission of providing habitat for NorthAmerica’s waterfowl.

Since 2000, DU has received over $250,000from the Waterfowl Festival’s grant program tosupport DU wetland restoration projects on theDelmarva Peninsula. The Waterfowl Festivalcontribution has assisted DU in co-funding 167projects, restoring over 1,500 acres of waterfowlhabitat on the Delmarva Peninsula. DU hasleveraged those vital private contributions withmultiple state and federal grants amounting to

more than $3 million for restoration throughoutthe Chesapeake Bay.

The 2008 wetland construction seasonproved to be an exceptional year for habitatrestoration on the eastern shore. In addition tofunding work on private lands through DU’sHabitat Stewardship Program, the WaterfowlFestival provided funds to help DU restore a50-acre site at Blackwater National WildlifeRefuge (NWR), as well as to protect a criticalsubmerged grass bed for wintering Canvas-backs at Eastern Neck NWR.

Our joint project at Blackwater NWR, inDorchester County, is a prime example of theimportance of the DU/Waterfowl Festival part-nership on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Thisproject, known as “Pool 1,” enhanced an existing40-acre impoundment on Wildlife Drive, andadded 10 new acres of wetlands to the impound-

ment, so that Refuge staff can manage the siteas an emergent or “moist soil” wetland. Thistype of seasonally-flooded wetland encouragesthe growth of wetland plants and invertebratesthat are highly nutritious for ducks and othermigratory birds. Freshwater wetlands incoastal areas, like the Blackwater Pool 1 proj-ect, also provide resting areas for many speciesthat feed in nearby salt marshes, like the Amer-ican Black Duck.

The Waterfowl Festival Continues to Support DU’s Wetland Restoration Program for Eastern Shore Ducks

Maryland DU is blessed with 11,000 mem-bers in the Free State. Sadly, only a small frac-tion of these 11,000 members step up to thenext level and become committee members.There are many factors that prevent peoplefrom becoming committee members: work, fam-ily, children, lack of free time, and fear of theunknown. What is a committee and what dothey do?

Maryland DU is comprised of 35 chaptersstretching from the far western part of thestate to the lower eastern shore. The job of thecommittees are to inform the public about DU,hold events, and raise funds to ensure the workof DU gets done both here in Maryland andthroughout North America.

I still remember attending my first CentralMaryland DU committee meeting some tenyears ago. At the time all I knew about DU wasthat I was a member (I had the sticker on mytruck to prove it), I received a magazine everymonth, and DU did stuff to help ducks. Over thecourse of the last ten years I learned a bit moreabout the stuff DU does not only “for the ducks”but the environment as a whole.

While having events and raising funds for anoble cause is a good time, the greatest benefitof being a committee member are the people

that you meet and work with. The peopleinvolved with DU committees are the kind ofpeople you want as friends. They are honest,trustworthy, and giving to a fault. During thelast ten years the people I have meet throughDU are people I consider good friends and haveI’ve been blessed with more laughs and goodtimes than should be allowed.

Over the course of the next year, if you’ve

never been to a DU event, take the time andattend one. If you’ve ever wondered what goeson at a committee meeting and want to increaseyour circle of friends, contact a local committeeand attend a meeting; I promise you that youwill not be disappointed.

Yours in conservation,Hutty

DU and Committees: Get Involved

7FALL 2009

“All I wanted to do now was to get back toAfrica. We had not left it yet, but when I wouldwake in the night I would lie, listening, homesickfor it already.” Ernest Hemingway- The GreenHills of Africa

This past July saw a group of adventuroushunters board a plane for the African country ofZimbabwe where they would spend two weekshunting all that Africa had to offer. The groupwas comprised of DU zone chairman FJ Stet-son, Central MD committee member StevenHuettner, DU member Captain Phil Gootee Jr.,and Dr. Rabie Zalzal.

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Ducks Unlimited Does AfricaThis group of nimrods would be entrusting

themselves in the capable hands of OutfitterCharlie Campbell and his company SafariTrackers Zimbabwe (http://www.safaritrackers-zim.com). After two days of uneventful travel byairplane and car (except dodging cattle wander-ing along what passes for highways) they final-ly reached their respective camps that would behome for the several weeks.

The species that the group was huntingwere wide a varied, ranging from the alwaysattractive warthog to largest land mammal, theAfrican elephant. Zimbabwe has been in thenews quite often, and not for positive reasons. Itis a country that has undergone political andeconomic upheaval, and just recently sufferedfrom the world’s highest rate of inflation. It is acountry that is slowly trying to work its wayback up where it once stood some two decadesago. Even with all the negatives, Zimbabwe iscountry of unparallel natural splendor, andwarm and inviting people. Whether one meas-ures success by the game taken, the challenge ofthe hunt, or the life experiences gained; thisadventure measured up on all accounts.

Glassing the Bushveld

Trackers Rom and James scan for game

Happy group of nimrods

The beauty of Africa

Zone Chairman FJ Stetson with his leopard

Women hard at work

Phil Gootee Jr. with a nice wildebeest

An old dugga boy

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for decoration. The Hooded Merganser ismore of a black and white duck that whenalerted sports a “Mohawk” style headdresswith feathers sticking strait up, makinghim look much bigger than he actually is.Although most ducks eat invertebrates andsmall plant life in the streams and ponds,the Hooded Merganser has a beak shapedlike two matching saw blades used forgrabbing small plants and some say forholding on to small fish.

The importance of projects like this oneis to help maintain a balance of nature andthe effects of mankind. The Fort Meade

Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is dedicated tohelping maintain an environment where WoodDucks can have a better chance of survival. Aswe continue to encroach upon our naturalresources, it is getting harder and harder forWood Ducks to find natural nesting areas asmore and more trees are cut down. Young duck-lings, as well as older ducks are often harmedby people not understanding how fragile theseducks really are. For instance, the feeding ofducks has always been a summer pastime forchildren, but this practice can be very harmful,especially for young ducklings. Most peopledon’t know that ducks are extremely sensitiveto mold toxins. These toxins can be producedfrom bread or crackers that aren’t eaten rightaway and found a few days later by a hungryduck. Mold toxins can cause damage to theducks' digestive organs, liver, kidneys, muscles,and plumage, and can also reduce growthand/or reproductive performance. Furthermore,many people do not realize that a diet of whitebread can be fatal to waterfowl. When the birdsgorge themselves on bread, they stop eatingtheir natural foods, which are much more nutri-tious. The birds become malnourished and therehave also been cases of birds choking on wads ofbread. You can help by encouraging others notto feed the ducks.

This Ducks Unlimited project on FortMeade has been a great success and welook forward to next years hatch. Organiza-tions like Ducks Unlimited, the MarylandWood Duck Initiative and hard work by theBoy Scouts, along with the cooperation ofthe Fort Meade leadership are making adifference. Conservation is something wecan all take part in and the future of theselittle ducklings is proof that it pays off!

For more information about DucksUnlimited, The Maryland Wood Duck Ini-tiative, and the Boy Scouts of America,please visit the following websites:www.ducks.org; http://www.mwdi.net/mwdi/index.asp; www.scouting.org.

birds is common. In the past, we’ve found Hood-ed Merganser eggs in our boxes along withWood Duck eggs. This is always a bonus. Hood-ed Mergansers and Wood Ducks can be seenearly in the mornings around the small streamsand swampland of Fort Meade. Another good

place to spot these beautiful ducks is on BurbaLake either early in the morning or evening.

The male (drake) Wood Duck is one of themost colorful ducks with many shades of purpleand green, as well as a series of contrastingwhite lines adorning its head. In fact, NativeAmericans drew the species on bowls and pipes

The results are in! 68 Wood Duck eggshatched this year on Fort Meade! For the3rd year in a row, members of the GeneralGeorge G. Meade Chapter of Ducks Unlim-ited have had success in hatching WoodDuck eggs on Fort Meade. Meta Shaw, theproject Chairperson and COL Robert Shawcan be found walking through the swamp-land on Fort Meade with their ChocolateLab, “Mocha” almost every weekend. FromMarch through July, they carefully inspectthe Wood Duck boxes erected with the helpof Boy Scout Troop 377 back in 2007. So far,the totals have gone up and even thoughthis is a small project as compared to somein Maryland, the project is producing youngWood Duck chicks as part of the Maryland WoodDuck Initiative (MWDI).

The inspections are completed weekly andnotes are carefully taken to describe theamount of down cover, weather conditions, num-ber and types of eggs in the boxes, as well asother data that may help us understand moreabout the Wood Duck. The results and bestpractices are shared by others in the MWDIprogram in order to learn more about theseducks and increase the success rate. An annualreport is filed with both the MWDI and FortMeade Environmental Office.

For various reasons, not all the eggs hatch,but the success rate this year has been out-standing as this project finishes up its 3rd year.The Wood Ducks began laying their eggs inearly March and normally, about 30 days laterhatch their ducklings. The Wood Duck hens willcontinue to occupy the boxes and lay eggs overthe next few months into the end of June. Oncethe Wood Duck chicks are hatched, they remainin the box with the mother hen for about 24hours. The mother hens will then fly out of thebox and call the young chicks out into the wateror on the ground, where she can gather them upand move them to safety.

The boxes installed on Fort Meade aredesigned to provide the best habitat for thehens and to keep predators out. Fox, rac-coons, snakes and other animals will oftengo to extreme measures to enjoy a freemeal. This year, there were no cases of pre-dation in any of the Fort Meade boxes. Thisis mainly due to the special design of theboxes and the use of predator guards. Theboxes are placed up off the ground andalongside small streams inside woodedareas to emulate the natural habitat WoodDucks look for to lay their eggs. This prac-tice gives those that hatch the best chancefor survival.

Sharing of the Wood Duck box by other

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Ducks Unlimited Efforts On Fort Meade Succeed For 3rd Year In A Row!

Recording the data

Meta holding the results

A successful hatch

9FALL 2009

The hunt starts off with Jason and his birdsAbbey. As we approach a block of hardwoods,Abbey is released where she flies off to find a nicecomfortable perch at the top of a tree. Now the realwork begins. The job of the falconer and his assis-tants (Isabella and me) are to walk through thewoods making noise and trying to spot squirrels inthe tops of trees. Once a squirrel is sighted, the fal-coner attempts to get his birds attention, to let itknow that a potential meal has been sighted. Moreoften then not, this is easier said then done.

The action begins when Abbey spies movementon the trunk of the tree. The squirrel sensing some-thing is amiss remains still, body pressed againstthe bark, bringing a new meaning to the term treehugger. As Abbey crashes through the tops of treestrying to get a read on her prey, the squirrels hasto decide to whether to stay still or make a dash forits nest, or a hole in the tree. More often then notthe squirrel is victorious and manages to elude

Becoming a FalconerBecoming a falconer is not a casual task one

decides to undertake. There are several differentlevels of falconry. An apprentice falconer is thelevel a beginner starts at. You are required to havea sponsor to help train during the two yearapprentice program. You must also pass a statefalconry exam which usually consists of a 100question test. A novice falconer can have only onebird for training at any one time. A general falcon-er requires two years of training as an apprenticefalconer. At this level you will be allowed to havetwo raptors at any one time and you will also beallowed to use other types of raptors besides theRed Tail and Kestrel. Master Falconer usuallytakes a minimum of five years and is the highestlevel you can obtain. You can have a maximum ofthree birds for falconry training at any one time.

The HuntMy five year daughter Isabella and I were

invited to join Bill Barbour and Jason Stewart ona Sunday afternoon this past fall to hunt withtheir respective hawks C.B. and Abey. As I statedwhatever idea you have of falconry is best left athome. Your gear consists of briar proof pants andcoats, thick gloves, a small saw, sling shots and amyriad of other gear that falconers love to collect.

When one thinks of falconry, it conjures up animage of wind swept open plains, a man on horse-back, with a falcon on his arm, releasing his falconupon seeing a game bird flying across the plain. Ican tell you that hunting rabbits and squirrelswith Red Tail hawks is nothing like that.

Central Maryland DU committee memberJason Stewart has been involved with birds ofhawks and falcons during the last several years.Jason, met master falconer Jeff Cowen at theUpper Bay Greenwing Chapter event. For the lastseveral years Jeff has been gracious enough tobring his birds to our event and educate bothyoungsters and adults about these majestic birds.Jason became intrigued and began his apprentice-ship to get his own birds.

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Ducks Unlimited Goes Hawking

The sport of falconry began in the UnitedStates began in the early 20th century but did nottake hold until the 1960s, after the founding of theNorth American Falconers Association (NAFA).Prior to the 1960’s peregrine falcons were used bya small number of gentlemen. Once the use of redtail hawks was discovered, hawking increased inpopularity and the red-tailed hawk became thesports mainstay.

A male Red-tailed Hawk weighs between 1.5to 3.0 pounds and measures 18 to 22 inches, whilea female can weigh between 2 and 4.5 pounds andmeasure 18 to 26 inches. As with many raptors,females are up to 25% larger than males.

The Red-tailed Hawk is an opportunistic feed-er. Its diet consists of small mammals androdents, which make up to 85% of its diet. In cap-tivity in winter, an average Red-tail will eat about4-5 oz daily. The Red-tailed Hawk hunts primari-ly from an elevated perch, preferring to swoopdown from a perch to seize prey, or pursuing preyon the ground from a low flight.

Abbey. When she finally does connect with a squir-rel, it is true vision of power and grace. I watch herfly through an opening in the trees; the squirrelhas chosen to remain still, hoping that Abbey willnot see her. The squirrel this time has chosen poor-ly and Abbey crashes into the squirrel and thetree, sinking her talons into the squirrel andbreaking its neck from sheer force. After Abbey hasa firm grip of the squirrel she flies down to theground with her spoils. Jason sits next to her andcuts a small piece of the squirrel while removingthe rest of the squirrel and placing it in his gamebag to be eaten at a later date.

Abbey is then returned to her cage and Billtakes out C.B. We spend the next several hoursrunning through the woods, wading creeks, slid-ing through briar patches, and beating on treeswith sticks, all in the hopes of watching C.B. suc-cessfully score on a squirrel. There are severalnear kills, close escapes, leaping squirrels andC.B. crashing through trees. As the sun is begin-ning to set, and we are starting to head backtowards the car, C.B. suddenly flies from the top ofa tree and crashed into the ground not more then10 yards from where we are standing. As we drawcloser, there she is in her splendor, squirrel in hertalons, that none of us had seen. You can’t end aday any better then that.

CB with a comfortable rest

Don’t slip

Jason Stewart and Abey

Move squirrel Abey’s Business End

FALL 200910

bear. Scott Sheckells spent the day with threedifferent bears. Paul Frank not only was cov-ered in bears (15 bears), but got a bit up closeand personal with one particular bear. This bear

home away from home, Green Lake Outfitters. Wewere greeted by Trevor Vause, John, and the campbear dog, Alex. After settling in and eating a greathome cooked meal by our multi-talented outfitter,it was time to turn the generator off and get somesleep.

In what would be our basic morning routinefor the rest of the week, we woke up at about6:30 a.m. and ate breakfast at 7:00 a.m. The restof the morning was spent at our leisure relaxingand enjoying the camp and each others compa-ny. As it turned out we were a week early forfishing season or we would have been able tofish for “jacks” during the morning hours.

At noon time we ate our large meal due tothe lateness of retuning from our hunt. Finally,it was time to get our gear ready for our bearhunt. We split up into two groups, Ed Zimmerand Scott Sheckells were guided by John, andPaul Frank and I were guided by Trevor.

On Monday, May 11, the afternoon of ourfirst day hunt, the weather was mild with tem-peratures in the mid 50’s. With excitement run-ning high, we went to our stands.

The stands where we hunt were 20 to 25kilometers back off the paved roads. By about2:00 to 2:30 p.m. we were settled in our standsand ready to see some bears. And bears we saw.

Our guides returned to start picking us upat last shooting light which was about 9:30 p.m.The second man was picked up at about 10:00p.m. By the time we got back to the truck,loaded the four wheelers and our gear anddrove back to camp it was after 11:00 p.m. Oversome homemade soup, we shared our sightings,photos and videos.

Ed Zimmer saw multiple bears and videotaped a very respectable cinnamon phase black

In May 2009, four members of the CentralMaryland Chapter boarded a plane and tookflight for the prairie pothole region of northwestSaskatchewan Canada, not for waterfowl as youmight expect, but for a more elusive prey: UrsusAmericanus, the American Black Bear.

Upon our arrival in Saskatoon,clearing cus-toms and gathering some provision, we beganour four hour drive northwest to Green Lake.The drive passed quickly and the scenery wasflat. One young man we spoke with described itas “Flat, so flat you could watch your dog runaway for a week.” Now that’s flat.

Upon arrival at camp, we were instructed byour outfitter to sight our guns in once wereached Green Lake at the public gun range.The town of Green Lake consisted of a generalstore, one gas pump, 10 to 15 homes, the gunrange consisting of a pile of dirt and a picnictable, and, of course, Green Lake.

After see that our rifles were still sighted, wecontinued approximately another 40 kilometers to

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Ursus Americanus

eyed up a tree, charged it and climbed to about20 feet with just three lunges. The video he tookwas of this particular bear chewing on the stepsleading up to his tree stand. The only audio onthe video was of Paul hollering “NO” when thebear made a lunge to join him in his tree stand.I was able to see four bears, two of which werecinnamon phased on sow and one young bear.

Green Lake Outfitters, owned by TrevorVause, has many well placed stand sites. Theyget you up close and personal with the bear.Most stands are set up for archery shots with amaximum yardage of 20 yards from stand tobait. With 200 square miles of hunting area andonly 25 bear tags per season, it is a great oppor-tunity to see and harvest the bear of your choice.Trevor also has great opportunities for whitetails, with 140 plus class deer being plentiful.

Tuesday, May 12, brought change to ourhunt via the weather. It started out much thesame as Monday’s hunt with more clouds and a

By George Nitzel

Central MD Members Scott Schekells, Paul Frank, EdZimmer, and George Nitzel

George Nitzel happy with his bear

Scott Schekells with a nice color phase bear

Home Sweet Home Ed Zimmer and his last day bear

11FALL 2009

The Admiral of the Chesapeake has goneto where the bucks are all perfect eight point-ers, the rockfish are always hungry, and thegeese and ducks always want to land in yourspread. Maryland’s iconic outdoor writer, anddie hard pipe smoker died at age 82 after abattle with cancer.

Anyone who has wet a line or spent a dayafield has read Burton’s stories about hunt-ing and fishing in the Land of Pleasant Liv-ing. Bill was a man who fished with royalty,presidents, and sports legends, but wrote hiscolumns for the everyman; first as outdoorEditor for the Baltimore Sun for 37 years,and then for the Bay Weekly and The Capitalin Annapolis.

During almost five decades of reportingBill had developed not only had loyal follow-ing of readers, but a list of contacts fromevery corner of the state that enabled him toreport about what was happening through-out Maryland’s outdoors. Many sportsmen

looked forward to his Thursday outdoor col-umn or his five minute TV show on the localnews letting you know where the hot fishingaction was to be found.

I was fortunate to share a mast headwith Bill for several years at the Fishing andHunting Journal and joined him on a fewfishing trips on his beloved Chesapeake Bay.After 50 years of fishing, the thing that stuckin my mind the most was how he was stillexperimenting and wanting to try differentmethods and different lures. He said thatonce you stop trying new things, it wasn’tfun.

In a fitting tribute to a man who believedthe Chesapeake should be accessible to all,the Maryland DNR, along with the Board ofPublic Works, renamed the Choptank Fish-ing Pier in his honor. For once, it seemed thegovernment got something right. Enoughsaid.

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Goodbye Bill Burton

SHECKELLS & SONS CONSTRUCTION

818 Stumpfs RdBaltimore, MD 21220

(410) 335-7500Fax: (410) 335-8650

SCOTT SHECKELLSPresident

slight change with rain. The four of us dressedthe same as on Monday and headed out for our“spring” bear hunt. Once on the stand, changewas in the air, literally. A front moved throughand the winds kicked up to about 25 mph withgusts up to 40 mph, and the temperature start-ed to drop. Most of our hunt that evening wasspent trying not to be blown out of the standand staying warm.

On Wednesday morning, May 13, we awoketo temperatures in the low 20’s and a dusting ofsnow. It was time to rethink what to wear intothe stand this evening. We hoped we packedenough.

Scott had a very eventful evening on the13th. Shortly after he settled into his stand, thebears started coming. He counted over 12 dif-ferent bears. One pair was a very large sowwith her cub. As the pair tried to feed on thebait, they were interrupted by other bears.Mama did not take kindly to that and becamevery aggressive. She kept herself busy runningoff several big boars. As shooting light fadedand mama bear was out scraping with one ofthe unwelcome intruders, a beautiful cinnamonphase bear snuck into the bait. Scott drew hisMathew and let his arrow fly. Scott made agreat shot at just about 15 yards.

When John arrived, the two men took upthe blood trail. After trailing the bear for about50 yards in the dark, armed with a flashlightand a bow, the two decided it was time to goback out and resume the search in the morning.

After a restless night, we got back on theblood trail again on Thursday morning. Thebear had only made it about another 20 yardsfrom where they had stopped looking the nightbefore.

Friday, May 15 we awoke to find that we hadbeen visited by a thief. As Scott was brushinghis teeth he noticed a trail of salt leading backinto the woods and realized that his bear hidewas missing. It seems we had a black bear visi-tor during the night who decided the liberateScott’s bear hide. Fortunately, after about anhour of searching, we were able to find the hideabout 200 yards from camp.

The Friday evening hunt proved to be success-ful for Paul and myself as we were able to take twonice boars.

Ed Zimmer decided he had watched enoughbears coming to his bait over the last five days. Soon Saturday, May 16, Ed took aim on a nice blackbear. When that Thompson center barked, his tagwas filled.

This concluded our bear hunt. The onlything better than filling our tags, was sharing

Ducks Unlimited is hosting a fund-raisingevent on Friday, October 16 in conjunctionwith this year’s national duck stamp contest.The event will be held at the visitor center onthe Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge nearLaurel, Maryland. A live auction and rafflesare planned. Some of America's best knownwildlife artists will be in attendance. For eventand ticket information, contact DU RegionalDirector Josh Voelker by phone at 410-827-8185 or by e-mail at jvoelker@ducks.org

Maryland DU FederalDuck Stamp Event

the adventure with great friends.Green Lake Outfitters can be contacted at:

Green Lake OutfittersTrevor Vause2978 Mellor Rd.

Cranbrook, BC VIC 7C8www.greenlakeoutfitters.com

e-mail info@greenlakeoutfitters.comPhone 250-427-3914

FALL 200912

your local sporting goods store, you would havehad to sign documents disclosing your name,address, and other personal information for“safe keeping” by the Department of StatePolice. The Caucus rallied against this propos-al and the Department of State Police – onbehalf of the Administration – withdrew thebill from legislative consideration. A tremen-dous victory for sportsmen with whom muchcredit has been given for the defeat of this mis-guided legislation!

Fourth, the Fisheries Service within theDepartment of Natural Resources was targetedby the General Assembly’s staff agency –Department of Legislative Services – with aproposed $2.5 million reduction to its fiscal year2009 and 2010 budget, respectively. The Caucus– with Maryland’s entire recreational fishingcommunity at its side – persuaded the budgetcommittees to reject this proposed budgetaryreduction. Few could have imagined that — inthis economic climate — a unit within an Exec-utive Branch agency would remain fiscallyunscathed…but, we – Caucus, Foundation andsportsmen’s community – prevailed to the shockand wonder of many!

Fifth, we received great news this springthat yellow perch populations reached a 40-yearhigh. Biologists and anglers credited the Cau-cus – and the Foundation – for helping lead aneffort in 2007 which resulted in the measurablereduction of commercial harvesting of yellowperch en route to their annual spawninggrounds. This was a most controversial issue in2007 because commercial and recreationalinterests clashed big time in the Halls ofAnnapolis. However, conservation-mindedinterests prevailed over short-term economicgains of a select few commercial watermen.Today, no longer are hundreds of nets strategi-cally placed to capture these beautiful migrat-ing fish in key tributaries, much to the pleasureof recreational anglers who thought they’d seenthe last of the yellow perch hay days during theannual spring run.

I could go on and one…recounting theaccomplishments of the Caucus/Foundationpartnership on behalf of sportsmen in the Hallsof Annapolis during the previous 7 consecutiveyears. Before this partnership, sportsmen’s

drawn by the sponsor. The proposal emanatedfrom last fall’s incident in Howard County whena shot gun slug hit a day care facility there dur-ing deer season. Instead, the Department ofNatural Resources will confer with sportsmen –under the guidance of the Foundation – todetermine if certain circumstances in high den-sity populated areas dictate a statutory change.If this bill had been enacted, countless water-fowl hunting opportunities would have beeneliminated, including where I duck and goosehunt on the Eastern Shore…we will not let thishappen on our watch!

Third, the O’Malley Administration intro-duced legislation that would have imposed astatewide ammunition registration system. Inshort, if you bought a box shotgun shells at

Not everyone understands the intricacies ofthe decision-making process in the Halls ofAnnapolis – but, Maryland sportsmen shouldrest assured because the bi-partisan MarylandLegislative Sportsmen’s Caucus with its non-partisan affiliate organization, the MarylandLegislative Sportsmen’s Foundation, doesunderstand this process. The beneficiary of thispartnership: the rights of sportsmen in Mary-land to hunt, fish, trap and enjoy the lawful useof their firearms.

Time and space constraints here precludean in-depth explanation of every factor in thelegislative equation impacting sportsmen’srights from a budgetary, statutory, regulatoryand administrative standpoint. But, suffice it isto say, the 2009 Session of the Maryland Gener-al Assembly adjourned without adverselyaffecting any of our traditional rights. This is nosmall achievement given the fact you couldprobably count on one hand the number of law-makers in Annapolis – 188 Members – who reg-ularly hunt and fish.

In short, the urban mindset prevails inAnnapolis. Our job – Caucus and Foundationpartnership – is to navigate through the legisla-tive maze to ensure this fact does not manifestinto a decision-making majority that compro-mises our traditional rights. In the last 8 con-secutive years of our partnership’s existence,not one – mind you, not one – statutory enact-ment has been enacted to the detriment of ourtime-honored, traditional rights.

Okay then, what happened during the 2009Session of the Maryland General Assembly?

First and foremost, let’s address what didnot happen. Legislation was not introduced thisSession – as in year’s past – to (1) restrict bearhunting in Western Maryland; (2) prohibit thestatewide use of leghold traps; and (3) impose aminimum age hunting requirement. Our suc-cesses in the Halls of Annapolis in defeatingthese measures in previous years must havepaid off because we did not have to fight themthis Session.

Second, legislation was proposed to expandthe “safety zone” from 150 yards to 300 yards —the minimum distance one could discharge afirearm or release an arrow from a dwelling –but, the Caucus was able to have the bill with-

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Bill Miles and his brother on the annual Saskathewantrip

Sportsmen’s Interests Protected in Annapolis2009 Session of the Maryland General Assembly

13FALL 2009 MARYLAND

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Owned & Operated by Randy Nelson1920 White Hall RoadWhite Hall, MD 21161

410-343-3172www.whitehallgf.com

Hail Cove Canvasback Project at Eastern NeckBy Kirk Mantay

This week, Ducks Unlimited and 16other habitat partners prepared to kick offan ambitious coastal wetland project to cre-ate 4 acres of tidal wetlands and protect anadditional 112 acres of submerged grassbeds – prime waterfowl wintering habitat –in Hail Cove near the southern tip of East-ern Neck Island. This rare opportunity toenhance and protect a critical habitat forone of Maryland’s signature wildlife species– the Canvasback, was initiated by DU,USFWS, and DNR in December 2007, aftera warning from DNR biologist Don Websterthat the habitat, situated within EasternNeck National Wildlife Refuge, could be lost

due to rapid erosion in the Chester River. Submerged aquatic beds in the Chesa-

peake Bay – a highly threatened habitattype – are absolutely vital for winteringCanvasbacks, Scaup (Bluebills), Redheads,Wigeon, Northern Shovelers, and BlackDucks. In addition, sites like Hail Cove,which is between 6” and 30” deep across itsentire 112 acres, are critical nurseries forblue crabs and several species of fish. Theover 1,000 acres of maritime uplands – alsothreatened by the erosion of the ten footwide spit leading to Hail Point, are full ofimportant nesting areas for numerous birdand reptile species, including the Diamond-

back Terrapin. The quarter-million dollar-plus project

is primarily funded by the US Fish &Wildlife Service, Vulcan Materials, Mary-land DNR, Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Eas-ton Waterfowl Festival, and DU. Additionalpartners include the Eastern Shore RC&DCouncil, Washington College, the Friends ofEastern Neck NWR, and the NationalAquarium at Baltimore. DU has providedextensive technical services on the project,from surveying and drafting to SAV sur-veys, to bidding and contractor coordina-tion. The project is expected to be completedprior to hurricane season.

interests were fragmented, meaning everyonewas on their own in trying to influence policy inAnnapolis...kind of like duck hunting on a bluebird day. Today, the Caucus/Foundation part-nership still works with these groups, but thepartnership provides as an umbrella-type serv-ice in protecting the rights of all sportsmen, nomatter what their favorite activity afield. And,we will continue to do so until we can no longercontinue to do so.

We can be contacted at:Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s

FoundationP.O. Box 251

Huntingtown, Maryland 20639billmiles@chesapeake.netwww.mdsportsmen.com

Bill Miles is the Vice-Chair of the MLSFand a Life Sponsor of DU. He and his brotherMike annually hunt waterfowl in the CentralFlyway and Saskatchewan, a passion both willtake to their grave.

Verdant Valley Farms, LLC 3300 Jarrettsvillle PikeMonkton, MD 21111410-852-8202

Jim FranzoniProprietor

Specializing in Upland Game and Deer HuntingGroup rates available

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ANNAPOLIS–In response to recommenda-tions of the majority of the members of Mary-land’s Mute Swan Task Force, the MarylandDepartment of Natural Resources (DNR) willcontinue to reduce the Chesapeake Bay’s popu-lation of non-native mute swans. Because of theState’s successful control efforts, there are farfewer mute swans in Maryland today thanthere were a few years ago; about 500 remain ofa population that had reached nearly 4,000 adecade ago.

In the spring of 2009, DNR convened agroup of environmentalists, scientists, animaladvocates, and other stakeholders to revisit theMute Swan Plan and develop a recommenda-tion for how Maryland should proceed. Thatgroup split over the issue of lethal control ofadult mute swans and presented two contrast-ing reports. One report, from two animal rightsmembers, advocated maintaining a populationof mute swans in the Chesapeake Bay. Thereport from the other 10 members, includingscientists, conservationists, and State and Fed-eral agency representatives, argued for the con-tinued reduction of mute swans. Both reportsmay be viewed at: http://wwwdnr.state.md.us/wildlife/MS2009_Report.html

“While the swans may be beautiful, theycontinue to pose a serious threat to the Chesa-peake Bay and its native wildlife, and non-lethal controls have proven insufficient forreducing the population,” said DNR SecretaryGriffin. “For these reasons, we are unfortunate-ly compelled to continue Maryland’s mute swancontrol efforts, through both non-lethal andlethal means.”

“After reviewing the reports and consider-ing the best advice of my staff and the scientif-

Barts Sports WorldGlen Burnie, MD

410-761-8686 800-835-1301www.bartssports.com

SHOTGUNS-RIFLES-PISTOLSNEW AND USED

LESSONS, GUN SMITH WORKSHOOTING CLOTHS, GLASSES

ic and environmental communities, I havefound the case for continued controls ecological-ly crucial and in alignment with both the 2000Chesapeake Bay Agreement invasive speciescontrol plans and Maryland State law,” the Sec-retary added.

Jonathan McKnight, the Maryland DNRBiologist who coordinated the Mute Swan Advi-sory Committee said, “There is a solid body ofscientific literature demonstrating that thisspecies — like the nutria, a marsh rodent fromSouth America — causes harm to nativespecies and the Chesapeake ecosystem.”

Environmentalists and conservation groupspraised the decision, which the animal rightsgroups PETA and the Humane Society of theUnited States had lobbied against.

“We support the DNR in making this diffi-cult decision”, said Kim Coble, Maryland Exec-utive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Founda-tion. “It's controversial, but it's the right thingto do to protect important Chesapeake Bayresources.”

The Maryland Ornithological Society, whichhas supported mute swan control because of thetendency of mute swans to drive decliningnative birds from their nesting grounds, wasalso pleased.

“This was clearly the right call for theresource and I’m impressed that DNR movedquickly to make this decision,” said MOS Presi-dent Dr. Wayne Bell. “Maryland has achieved anunparalleled 80 percent reduction in the popu-lation of this invasive species, so to stop nowwould have made little sense.”

Mute swans are native to Europe and Asia.Maryland’s population of mute swans originat-ed when five birds escaped from captivity in

Jay Shires, DDS

When you confirm at the dinner tableit wasn’t a head shot!

Hevi Shot, Bismuth, Tungsten-Iron and Steelare much harder then teeth.

Towson, MD Office 410-296-6527Blind 410-236-8067

Maryland to Continue to Control Mute Swan Population

Talbot County in 1962. Currently, about 500mute swans remain in the Bay and its tributar-ies. They are now established in all major trib-utaries to the Maryland portion of ChesapeakeBay. Mute swans have caused adverse ecologi-cal impacts by driving out nesting native water-fowl and the removal of submerged aquatic veg-etation (SAV) during the summer, fall andspring when SAV are reproducing; and thedestruction of SAV restoration and replantingsites.

Mute swans are one of six species identifiedin the Chesapeake Bay Agreement as priorityinvasive species that threaten the Chesapeakeecosystem.

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Central Maryland andthe Ducks Benefitfrom Underwriters

Maryland Sportsmen’s Association 2009 15 Day Premium Firearm Raffle

All Firearms Provided byBASS PRO Outdoor World

Dec 1. Winchester SX3 12ga semi auto shotgun Dec 2. Thompson Center Pro-Hunter .270 WIN Dec 3. CVA Accura .50 muzzleloaderDec 4. Savage 93r17 17hmrDec 5. Ruger GP-100 .357 pistol Dec 6. Beretta AL390 12ga semi auto shotgun Dec 7. Winchester M70 30/06 bolt action Dec 8. Remington 11-87(deer slayer) 20ga Dec 9. Ruger super single six 22lr\22mag revolverDec 10. Thompson Center Triumph .50 muzzle-

loader Dec 11. Springfield XD-40 40 S&W semi auto pistolDec 12. Marlin 336 30/30 lever action rifleDec 13. Ruger Hawkeye .300 WIN bolt action rifleDec 14. Beretta PX4 Storm 9mmDec 15. Beretta Urika 20ga semi auto shotgun

Winning # based on the MD Lottery 3 digit evening #

Donation $20.00

Tickets can be purchased on the MSA websitewww.marylandsportsmen.org ordered by e-mailingdona5779@zoominternet.net or phone 410-302-2103.

Over the course of the last 6 years, the Central Mary-land Chapter of Ducks Unlimited has benefited from thegeneriosity of several underwriters at their annual banquet.The underwriters help pay the cost for the food, drink, andhall for the event, allowing monies raised to go directly toconservation.

We would personally like to thank the following individu-als and their companies.

Thomas A Benney of Group Benefit Review (410.882.3700) whohandles corporate and personal insurance planning.

Peter Vinton of Corporate Coverage (410.561.2222) who is anemployer benefit specialist.

Brue Grau of Bruce Grau and Associates (410.661.5911) whodoes both business and personal insurance services.

It is because of companies like these that Central Mary-land remains a top one hundred national chapter.

Maryland Major Donor UpdateDaryn Peel, Phil Poux and ChipHeaps

Ducks Unlimited Member and Central Maryland Dinner Volun-teer Drew Goodwin placed second in the prestigious White MarlinInvitational in Ocean City, Maryland. Drew’s dad, Jeff is a DU LifeSponsor, and his mother Kathi is a Central Maryland Committeemember and all around dinner banquet program guru.

The white marlin hooked up at 3:20 p.m. on Friday August 14,2009, the last day to fish tournament. After setting the hook it tookDrew 10 minutes to reel to land the 85lb. white marlin.

The acorn apparently doesn’t fall far from the tree. His father Jeff,seven years ago also placed second pl in the white marlin open.According to mom, Drew has been off shore fishing since he was sixyears old. Mom and dad used to use to have to hold in him in the fight-ing chair so he wouldn't fly out. Drew is a seasoned vet and has fishedthe White Marlin Open for 15 years now with his dad.

In between his international fishing trips, Drew is a full time college student at the University of Maryland where he majoring inengineering.

DU Member Places Secondin Ocean City

White Marlin Open

We have some great news to report on theMajor Gift front for Maryland Ducks Unlimited.Please take a minute to review what has hap-pened during the last year with our MajorDonor Program and what we have planned forthe upcoming year:

Daryn Peel has accepted the position of ourMaryland State Campaign Chairman. Daryn’sbasic function is to develop and implementMaryland’s Major Sponsor and Feather Societyprograms and recruit influential leaders to bepart of our State Campaign Committee. Darynand his Team will also Identify and solicit MajorSponsor and Feather Society gifts and encour-age other volunteers to identify potentialprospects.

Here is Maryland’s State Campaign Com-mittee: Daryn Peel – Chairman, Earl Giesman,David Huffman, Ned Grassi, Del Baker, RayThompson, Dave Butler, Terry Lemper, PhilPoux and Chip Heaps

We are planning at least 2 major DonorCocktail Parties this year; one on the uppereastern shore and one in the Baltimore area

If you are interested in Ducks Unlimited’sMajor Gift Program and what we are doing inMaryland and would like more informationplease contact Daryn Peel at (410) 340-0016 ordpeel@ffgmd.com.

Maryland Major Donor UpdateDaryn Peel, Phil Poux and ChipHeaps