[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 174 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 174

Expressing the sense of the Congress that hunting seasons for migratory 
ducks and geese should be modified so that individuals have a fair and 
              equitable opportunity to harvest such birds.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 22, 2007

  Mr. Young of Alaska submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that hunting seasons for migratory 
ducks and geese should be modified so that individuals have a fair and 
              equitable opportunity to harvest such birds.

Whereas the vast majority of ducks and geese that hatch, fledge, and nest on the 
        North Slope of Alaska migrate south beyond the boundaries of that State 
        before the national hunting season opening date of September 1, thus 
        denying hunters in Alaska an equitable opportunity to harvest these 
        species;
Whereas ducks and geese are some of the most widely distributed and harvested 
        game birds in North America;
Whereas current regulated hunting for ducks and geese has been conclusively 
        found to cause no significant effects on recruitment of fledglings in 
        duck and geese populations;
Whereas sportsmen have a strong commitment to the health, conservation, and 
        enjoyment of wildlife, as demonstrated by the billions of dollars they 
        have voluntarily paid over the past 70 years into the Federal Aid to 
        Wildlife Restoration Fund established by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife 
        Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.);
Whereas migratory waterfowl hunting has been a cherished and honored tradition 
        in the United States for generations;
Whereas migratory bird hunters provide millions of dollars to wildlife 
        conservation and local economies; and
Whereas hunters in Alaska are currently unable to experience hunting conditions 
        similar to conditions in other regions of the country with respect to 
        game availability because of the current unfair hunting season 
        restrictions: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That it is the sense of Congress that, to provide a fair and equitable 
opportunity for individuals to hunt for ducks and geese--
            (1) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 should be 
        modified to allow for duck and goose hunting during the last 
        week of August in areas north of 49 degrees north latitude, as 
        approved by the parties to the appropriate international 
        agreement;
            (2) such an extended hunting season will--
                    (A) improve hunting opportunities in Alaska without 
                causing negative impacts on waterfowl populations;
                    (B) through the sale of hunting permits, generate 
                additional revenue that may be used for the better 
                management and conservation of ducks, geese, and other 
                wildlife species in Alaska; and
                    (C) continue to provide for the conservation and 
                enhancement of waterfowl populations; and
            (3) the United States should take immediate steps to begin 
        discussions with the appropriate parties to ensure that all 
        Americans have an opportunity to harvest migratory ducks and 
        geese in an equitable manner.
                                 <all>