Pikes Peak Retriever Club, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Subject: Proposed Changes In Regs On The Shooting Of Pen Raised Mallards

This situation has evolved over the last several months, but the proposed change in regulations was published just this last week. We thought the retriever community would be exempted. We were wrong.

We are very close to losing live flyer mallards if the proposed USFWS proposal on the subject is adopted. The final public notice of regulations pertaining to the release of domestic mallards was published in the Federal Register on 8/26/03 (vol. 68, no. 165). Comments must be received by 12/20/03. While the title and body of the proposed regulation only seems to affect shooting clubs, the devil is in the attachments as the release of "captive-reared mallards" would also be prohibited in trials, tests and training. The final draft may be viewed at http://migratorybirds.fws.gov

It is important to have a massive response to this unwarranted attack on the use of mallards. The primary concerns are the spread of disease and the watering down of the viability of the mottled duck in Florida. For some reason, the Western Flyway people also want the practice eliminated. At a minimum, specific wording excluding mallards used in dog performance events should be included.

Comments should be directed to:
Jerome R. Serie
Atlantic Flyway Representative
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Migratory Bird Management
Room 224
12100 Beech Forest Drive
Laurel, MD 20708-4038

Reprinted from Retriever Field Trial News, October 2003

NOTICE CONCERNING MALLARD USE!

To Mary Knapp
Editor, Retriever Field Trial News

Note to the Editor:

In response to a news item that recently appeared in RFTN, I would like to clarify that the "Review of Captive-reared Mallards on Shooting Preserves" by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) does not in any way involve the use of captive-reared mallards for retriever trials, tests, and training. The Service fully supports the use of captive-reared mallards for these activities and recognized the important role that well trained hunting dogs play in the conservation of our waterfowl resources.

Further, the document referenced is not a rulemaking or proposed policy. It is a report that explores issues associated with the practice of releasing free-ranging mallards on state licensed shooting preserves and the potential for adverse effects to wild populations of waterfowl. Although this is not a rule-making document, we have made this report available to the public to obtain their input on this issue. The comment period will remain open until December 20, 2003.

In the event that the Service does propose new regulations on the release of captive-reared mallards, I assure you that it will in no way prohibit nor impact the use of these birds at trials, tests and training.

I would appreciate your help to inform the readership of RFTN and other gun dog magazines, that the views expressed in the last issue of RFTN are not correct and that their fears are unfounded.

Thank you.

Matt Hogan
Deputy Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Reprinted from Retriever Field Trial News, November 2003