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The Game Hoggs Celebrity Views Archives |
GHHC Fowl News Archive: HOGG News from the Past...
Wigeon Satellite Tracking Study Update..From Doug Howell NCWRC To date, seven hens with operating transmitters remain alive. This includes 2 instrumented in 2007 and 5 instrumented in 2008. We continue to receive intermittent signals from an additional hen from 2007. Since the last update, one transmitter either failed or the hen died, and one hen was shot by a Cree hunter in Waskaganish, Quebec in early May. We hope to recover that transmitter from the hunter. I have attached a map of the latest movements. One interesting note: a 2007 hen (72791) has now reached almost the exact coordinate where she spent the summer of 2007 – probably a good indication of a nesting area. Specific movements include: 44677: On 4/25 moved from Kincardine, Ontario to Lac la Belle, WI on Lake Superior. On 5/5 moved to Lake Elsie NWR in North Dakota. On 5/10 moved to Arrowhead NWR, North Dakota. On 5/11 moved to the area of the Swan River, Manitoba. On 5/12 moved to Peesane, Saskatchewan, where it remains to date. 44690: 44690: On 4/25 moved from Tonowanda State WMA, NY to south of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. On 5/3 moved to Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Michigan. On 5/5 reached Echo Harbor, Huron Bay, Lake Superior, Michigan. On 5/7 located near McMunn, Manitoba. On 5/12 was at Pelican Bay, Lake Winnipegosis, Manitoba. On 5/17 located near Split Lake, Manitoba where it remains to date. 45893: On 4/27 moved from Campden, Ontario to East of Warner, Ontario. On 5/2 moved to West of Waskaganish, James Bay, Quebec. Shot by Cree hunter on 5/8. 55010: On 4/26 moved from Gainesville, Wyoming
County, NY to west of Waterford, Ontario. On 5/7 moved to Hammond Bay,
Lake Huron, Michigan. On 5/9 moved to Caribou Island, Lake Superior,
Michigan. On 5/10 reached to Gull Bay, Ontario. On 5/15 moved to
Wigwascense Lake, Ontario. On 5/16 moved to Wunnummin Lake,
Ontario. On 5/20 moved to Big Trout Lake, Ontario where it remains to
date. 55019: On 4/23 moved from Mount Forest, Ontario to Lakelet, Ontario. On 4/25 reached Kenogami River Basin, Ontario. On 4/28 was near Kapuskasing, Ontario. On 5/2 was near Opasatika, Ontario. On 5/17 was west of Kenogami River, Ontario. On 5/19 reached Atikaki Wilderness Provincial Park, Manitoba, where it remains to date. 63004: On 4/27 moved from the Currituck Sound, NC to the Rappahannock River, Richmond County, VA. On 5/8 moved to the Lackawana River, near Scranton, PA. On 5/21 reached the Thousand Islands, St. Lawrence River, NY where it remains to date. 72791: On 5/2 moved from the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest, Beltrami County, MN to Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, MN. On 5/12 moved to Lake Winnipegosis, Manitoba. On 5/15 reached the Saskatchewan River, southwest of Root Lake, Manitoba where it remains to date. 72793: On 5/6 moved from Saint Clair National Wildlife Area, Lake Saint Clair, Ontario to Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario. On 5/6 reached Wabakimi Lake, Ontario. On 5/9 was near Gimli, Manitoba. On 5/15 moved to Berens Island, Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba. On 5/18 was located west of Kinusisipi, Playgreen Lake, Manitoba where it remains to date. Wigeon Satellite Tracking Study..From Doug Howell NCWRC May 2008 In
February we instrumented an additional 10 wigeon with solar satellite
transmitters. Two hens remain active from those we instrumented in 2007
(72791, 72793) and we continue to receive intermittent signals from an
additional hen from that same year. For those birds deployed in
February, 7 transmitters are active, we have had one confirmed
mortality and 2 transmitter failures (although I expect one of these
could possibly begin to transmit again). I have attached a map of the
latest movements as of 4/21. I also attached a movement map from the
same time last year (Compare 72791 and 72793 from each year). If anyone
does not want to receive future updates, just holler and let me know. Hen House Study..From the PA Game Commission
May 2008 PRELIMINARY RESULTS: Hen house occupancy rates: • In 2007, both southern Ontario and northwest Pennsylvania had an increase in hen house occupancy rates over 2006. In Pennsylvania a total of 56 (29%) hen houses were occupied including 29 wood duck nest and 27 mallard nest. • The overall occupancy rate for northwest Pennsylvania increased 40% from 40 occupied nests in 2006. There has also been a 69% increase in mallard nest and a 16% increase in wood duck nest from 2006. • In southern Ontario a total of 32 (17%) hen houses were occupied, including 24 mallards and 8 wood ducks. The overall occupancy rate for southern Ontario increased 78% from 18 occupied nests in 2006. There was also a 400% increase in mallard nest and a 50% decline in wood duck nest.  Nesting success rates: • The nest success for mallards has decreased in both study sites. Pennsylvania declined from 93% in 2006 to 67% and southern Ontario declining from 100% in 2006 to 71%. Although there was a decline for mallards in both study sites, the success rate is likely well above ground nesting mallards in both regions. • Wood ducks success also declined in Pennsylvania from 60% in 2006 to 40% in 2007 and southern Ontario increased from 58% to 75%. These declines are a result of several factors, including eggs freezing during early nesting attempts, abandonment from nest checks and capturing, water level rising and flooding nest, dump nesting of wood ducks, as well as two predated nest.  Banding and web tagging: • During the 2006 nesting season, 15 mallard hens were banded in northwest Pennsylvania and southern Ontario to determine if successful hens are returning to the same hen house from year to year. • During 2007, 8 mallard hens (55%) were recaptured in the same or nearby hen houses indicating that hen philopatry to nesting structures is high. • Twenty five additional hens (consisting of 5 second year and 20 after second year) were also captured and banded in 2007 to examine homing rates next year. • During the 2007 nesting season, 34 mallard nests hatched producing 313 mallard duckling in both Pennsylvania and Ontario Combined. Of those, 251 ducklings were web tagged to study natal philopatry of offspring to nesting structures. As of 2007, there was no offspring philopatry from the 160 mallard web tagged in 2006. Invertebrate and land use data: • Currently, the 170 invertebrate samples, wetland size, and the land use data surrounding the 400 hen houses are being analyzed. Once this data has been collected, we will analyze it, along with other pond measurements to determine variables that influence site selection of mallards and wood ducks. The data will also be used to make a regional comparison of hen houses occupied by mallards to explain spatial variation in occupancy rates. Sausage Fest 08'..By David Rearick April 2008 After a long and successful season most waterfowlers are left with alot of meat in their freezer. There is no better to clean up the leftovers all the while making something that even a Vegan could love- SAUSAGE- and lots of it varying in flavor from Maple, to Italian, to Cajun and Beyond!!! After all the meat was mixed, stuffed, cut, and wrapped 309 pounds of your favorite red meat was ready to be taken home by the participants. Thansk go out to Murphy for putting this together as he and Kim hosted the evnt at thier home for the second year running. To Make Sausage, you need MEAT!!!
 ©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club
The Best Sausage Stuffer in NY?  ©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club
It's Hard to Screw This Part Up, Or is it?  ©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club
A Little Down Time....  ©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club
The Hero of the Season...  ©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club Seasons Greetings!!  GHHC Calling Contest Winnings..By David Rearick September 2007 Game
Hogg Erik Nilsson has been busy in the calling contest circuit as of
late taking multiple 1st-3rds at local and regional contests. With the
calling contest season coming to a close, we wanted to take the time
and Congratulate Erik on his accomplishments!! Way to be E!
Championships: 2007- Pymatuning Waterfowl Expo Open Meat Duck Runner Up:
2007- #3 at the Kings of Crane Creek 2007- #3 at the Sportsman's Warehouse Pittsburgh, PA Open Meat Duck 2007- #4 at the Sportsman's Warehouse Pittsburgh, Pa Open Meat Goose GHHC Banding BBQ and Hogg Doggs 07..By David Rearick August 2007 The first annual GHHC Banding BBQ and Hogg Doggs 07 was a great success. Many friends, family, and youngsters took part in the 2 day event, and went home with many memories and pictures. In total, 58 bands were put on 57 ducks, plenty of good food was cooked and consumed, and some excllent dog training took place on day 2. Next year we are hoping for an even bigger and better event, and planning hs already begun. To view information about the event check out the Hoggs Shots and Hogg Journal Archive Page or check out Hollywood's Journal Entry on the Avery Message Boards...  ©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club Pymatuning Fundraiser Benefit..By David Rearick Game Hogg members David Rearick and Erik Nilsson along with other waterfowlers in the area have teamed up to form the PA Waterfowl Heritage Society. The main goal behind the organization is to put money directly into the hands of local refuges and groups that can impact waterfowl for the Atlantic Flyway in PA. This event has many sponsors including David Denies Wingshooting, Sportsman's Warehouse, Avery, GHG, Zink, James Creek Outfitters and more. The ticket is $100.00, and there are only 100 tickets sold. There are four prizes, so essentially a 1 in 25 chance to win everything from an all expenses paid trip to Argentina to a Limited Edition Henry rifle to a Snow Goose Hunt. Check out the website for more information. (click on poster below)
HDC 2007 Traditional Layout Hunt Benefit..By David Rearick  We Also Want to Thanks Our Local Sportsman's Warehouse in Pittsburgh Pa for Their Donation to the Cause.  Delta Waterfowl Sporting Clays Fundraiser..By David Rearick Our Delta Waterfowl Chapter for Western PA hosted a sporting clays event at Castlewood Rod and Gun Club on May 6th, 2007. We had approximately 90 shooters for the event and it was really a great time and a great way to practice for the off season. Aside from a little, well maybe a lot, of old fashioned ribbing we all shot well on a very difficult course and a windy day. It was a great event and Game Hogg Erik N. even walked away 2nd out of 90...  ©David Rearick, Game Hogg Hunt Club
SUNY Cobleskill Fish and Wildlife Festival..By Mike Bard SUNY Cobleskill hosted their 12th annual Fish and Wildlife Festival and on hand was Game Hogg Hunt Club’s Mike Bard and Back Water DC’s Ron Zega and Arliss Reed. The three were there representing their respective call manufactures, as well as, running and judging the waterfowling contests. The festival made for some great family fun with a kids fishing derby, calling contests, plenty of live animal exhibits – to include a live artic wolf and gators, logging sport demos, fly fishing classes, several vendors and exhibitors, plus some great fish fry and chicken BBQ. The waterfowl calling contest was sponsored by Honker Bonker Guide Service, Zink Calls and Buck Gardner Calls. A meat calling format was used and three gentlemen proved their calling skills, placing in the top three for both the duck and the goose contests. Nate Bent took 1st in duck and goose, while David Johns and Brandon Ferns swapped between 2nd and 3rd in duck and goose.
 ©Mike Bard, Game Hogg Hunt Club
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