Waterfowl Subject of New York and Vermont Annual Meetings

Monday, August 2, 2010

WATERBURY, VERMONT - Public meetings on the status of waterfowl populations and waterfowl hunting seasons for Lake Champlain in New York and Vermont will be held Tuesday, August 10, in Whitehall, New York, and Wednesday, August 11, in Burlington, Vermont. The annual meetings are being held by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

The August 10th meeting will be held at the Skenesborough Rescue Squad building in Whitehall, New York. The August 11th meeting will be held at the University of Vermont's Billings Lecture Hall. Both meetings will run from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Those attending the Burlington, Vermont meeting should park off Colchester Avenue.

Vermont and New York waterfowl hunters are encouraged to attend one of these meetings and share their recommendations and opinions with other waterfowl hunters and Vermont and New York wildlife personnel.

The current Lake Champlain Waterfowl Zone, established in 1988, includes all of Lake Champlain and an additional narrow strip land in both Vermont and New York. Under Federal regulations, waterfowl seasons, bag limits, and shooting hours in the Lake Champlain Zone must be uniform throughout the entire zone. Therefore, waterfowl seasons in New York's portion of the Lake Champlain Zone must be identical to the waterfowl season in Vermont's portion of the Zone.

Comments received at the August meetings, as well as input and recommendations from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation will be reviewed by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board. The Board will set the migratory game bird seasons at their August 18 meeting.
Contact:
Vermont - Bill Crenshaw (802) 878-1564; New York - John O'Connor (518) 897-1291