Without much question or need for debate, waterfowl hunting in SC is getting noticeably worse with each passing season. The debate starts, though, with the question “how do we fix it?” Even when we agreed on solutions, the implementation of such solutions remained elusive because waterfowling interests take a back seat when forced for legislative funding and/or to compete for DNR’s finite resources.
Finally, though, there is an idea that I believe streamlines this process by making one person responsible for improving waterfowl hunting in the state.
The Idea…
1) Create a State Waterfowl Manager position within the SCDNR whose singular job responsibility is to quantifiably improve waterfowl hunting in South Carolina,
2) Move waterfowl management up within the reporting structure of the DNR organization to a division level where it would be a peer to Law Enforcement, Marine Resources and Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries, and
3) Add public accountability and oversight with access to properties, plans, projects and employees.
The Request…
1) Support (or don’t actively oppose) an increase in the price of the state duck stamp to $15.50/season enacted through legislation with a 6 year sunset clause, and
2) Stay active in the sport for the next 6 years.
Some Details…
1) The accountability and oversight would come from a 6-person Advisory Committee, one each nominated by 1) the governor’s office, 2) the DNR, 3) House Ag Committee, 4) Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee, 5) House Ways and Means Committee and 6) Senate Finance Committee, and
2) During years 1 through 3, 10% of the new state duck stamp revenues go to breeding grounds that specifically produce waterfowl that winter in SC. This is increases to 20% for years 4 through 6 then returns to zero with the sunset of the enabling legislation.
I was involved with the DNR from 2006 through 2020 serving on the Waterfowl Advisory Committee for 8 years and the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Advisory Committee for 6 years. From everything I’ve seen there is nothing corrupt, incompetent or nefarious going on with waterfowl management. It just doesn’t get the attention it needs because 1) there is no single employee who is empowered and solely responsible for improving waterfowl hunting across the state and 2) there it too much competition from all the other interests, like deer or, increasingly, non-consumptive activities, that fall under the very broad umbrella of “Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries”.
The proposed legislation fixes these two major issues by elevating waterfowl management to its own division and by providing a 100% dedicated employee that is held accountable for demonstrable improvements in waterfowl hunting. Kudos to whoever put this idea together and thanks to Duke Tape for being willing to spend political capital make it a legislative reality.
This is honestly the first time in 14 years of messing with this stuff that I was 100% in agreement with a proposed solution to our waterfowling problem. Getting public support for the 6 year initial term is critical to getting the right person hired as the State Waterfowl Manager.
Thoughts?
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