Post by sculler72 on Dec 22, 2021 20:41:59 GMT
Bant season for 2021 was better then thought in Humboldt bay.
After spending mountless time looking, chatting, and calling, everyone whom I know that still Brant hunts, It came to the conclusion I'd better chat with those in Izembek Bay Alaska and find out the numbers still in Izembek as all that I know indicated a great opener but not much happening since.
After making the call I was very surprised to find out that the majority of Brant staging at Izembek for there long journey to Baja Mexico had all left on the 4th of October this year with the very few still staging which was a small amount. Those few also left on the 2 of November putting a huge amount of Brant in Humboldt Bay 2-3 weeks before the season opener.
Now I'm understanding why the opener for 3 days was so good which was totally abnormal for those numbers to be there so early.
Each year of coarse being so different, But! still on a normal year those birds stage and leave around the middle to late November.
With all that you never know if the Birds are going straight thru to Baja or a few which has been the case that stop for sand and a bite to eat before continuing there journey south.
Izembek indicated to me that some where between 150,000 to 200,000 Brant stage there browzing the eel grass beds fattening up for that long 3 day journey to Baja.
3 days on a straight thru flight for those birds which to me is extraordinary then there are the few that stop off in small bays thru out there journey.
While speaking with these folks in Izembek I wanted to know and understand a little more on why the huge supposedly change in numbers over all and why the months we are able to hunt them has changed so drastically.
I asked if they could give me a count if possible from as far back as they could to try and justify the dept of wildlife reasoning on both issues.
1. Being the count numbers from 1970 to date, 2The reasoning on such huge date changes when were able to hunt these great Birds.
Back in the Day 60's 70's we were able to take 4 brant a day and hunt them from November thru the 18th of February, meaning these birds were on there flight back from Baja to Alaska where they summer and nest
Results: in 1970 there were aprox 150,000 Brant staging in Izembek bay with very few years between 1970 and 2021 with numbers down. But, On the next year after these drops they had astronomical hatches bringing the over all picture holding its own without any huge loss and when there was a loss prior or years after they picked right back up.
I guess what I'm asking is How? Why? does the Fish and Wildlife get away with cutting back on the sportsmans Limits and days they can hunt when there has been no changes within the species reduction.
The same goes for the west coast Sprig (Pin Tail ) population. they give us 1 Sprig where it used to be 7 and justify the numbers theory again.
I'm an old guy some would say in today's world and have probably seen the best. But! When I'm asked these questions after coming in from sculling with a nice limit of Birds and 1 bull sprig which I would of shot my seven over my 6 drake mallards, as they are one the finest eating Birds.
They raise our license and stamps every year and want to take away something every season. Why? Its definitely not because we don't have the Birds, and in most cases you have commissioners making all these bureaucratic decisions whom never get off there duff, get out and see the real aspects of what really goes on.
Sorry for voicing my opinion on this topic but its time we sportsman speak up, write letters, and stand together before its all gone..
Think of it this way! WHAT IS NEXT? THANKS GUYS SCULLER72
After spending mountless time looking, chatting, and calling, everyone whom I know that still Brant hunts, It came to the conclusion I'd better chat with those in Izembek Bay Alaska and find out the numbers still in Izembek as all that I know indicated a great opener but not much happening since.
After making the call I was very surprised to find out that the majority of Brant staging at Izembek for there long journey to Baja Mexico had all left on the 4th of October this year with the very few still staging which was a small amount. Those few also left on the 2 of November putting a huge amount of Brant in Humboldt Bay 2-3 weeks before the season opener.
Now I'm understanding why the opener for 3 days was so good which was totally abnormal for those numbers to be there so early.
Each year of coarse being so different, But! still on a normal year those birds stage and leave around the middle to late November.
With all that you never know if the Birds are going straight thru to Baja or a few which has been the case that stop for sand and a bite to eat before continuing there journey south.
Izembek indicated to me that some where between 150,000 to 200,000 Brant stage there browzing the eel grass beds fattening up for that long 3 day journey to Baja.
3 days on a straight thru flight for those birds which to me is extraordinary then there are the few that stop off in small bays thru out there journey.
While speaking with these folks in Izembek I wanted to know and understand a little more on why the huge supposedly change in numbers over all and why the months we are able to hunt them has changed so drastically.
I asked if they could give me a count if possible from as far back as they could to try and justify the dept of wildlife reasoning on both issues.
1. Being the count numbers from 1970 to date, 2The reasoning on such huge date changes when were able to hunt these great Birds.
Back in the Day 60's 70's we were able to take 4 brant a day and hunt them from November thru the 18th of February, meaning these birds were on there flight back from Baja to Alaska where they summer and nest
Results: in 1970 there were aprox 150,000 Brant staging in Izembek bay with very few years between 1970 and 2021 with numbers down. But, On the next year after these drops they had astronomical hatches bringing the over all picture holding its own without any huge loss and when there was a loss prior or years after they picked right back up.
I guess what I'm asking is How? Why? does the Fish and Wildlife get away with cutting back on the sportsmans Limits and days they can hunt when there has been no changes within the species reduction.
The same goes for the west coast Sprig (Pin Tail ) population. they give us 1 Sprig where it used to be 7 and justify the numbers theory again.
I'm an old guy some would say in today's world and have probably seen the best. But! When I'm asked these questions after coming in from sculling with a nice limit of Birds and 1 bull sprig which I would of shot my seven over my 6 drake mallards, as they are one the finest eating Birds.
They raise our license and stamps every year and want to take away something every season. Why? Its definitely not because we don't have the Birds, and in most cases you have commissioners making all these bureaucratic decisions whom never get off there duff, get out and see the real aspects of what really goes on.
Sorry for voicing my opinion on this topic but its time we sportsman speak up, write letters, and stand together before its all gone..
Think of it this way! WHAT IS NEXT? THANKS GUYS SCULLER72
