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TESTIMO^fY BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES REGARDING THE 



NEED TO CHANGE FEDERAL WATERFOWL BAITING REGULATIONS 



by Brent Manning, Director 



Illinois Department of Natural Resources 



May 15, 1996 



Good morning, Mr. Chairman. I am Brent Manning, Director of the 

 Illinois Department of Natural Resources. I appreciate the 

 invitation to testify today on behalf of the Department and 

 Illinois waterfowl hunters. 



I commend the members of this committee for their interest in the 

 magnificent waterfowl and wetland resources of this continent and 

 for their interest in the plight of the common waterfowl hunter. 

 Although several aspects of federal migratory game bird baiting 

 regulations deserve review, I would like to direct my remarks 

 this morning to the specific issue of federal waterfowl baiting 

 regulations as they pertain to the management of wetland 

 vegetation. Let me say first that I am not a proponent of 

 waterfowl baiting. I am seeking a revision of federal rules 

 governing the taking of waterfowl that will permit certain non- 

 baiting management practices than are, in my opinion, 

 inappropriately prohibited. 



The state of Illinois has a long history of waterfowl management 

 and protection. The first public waterfowl refuge in the state 

 was established by the Department of Conservation at Horseshoe 

 Lake, Alexander County in 1927. Waterfowl baiting began in the 

 prairie state early in this century. Old-time duck hunters 

 believe the practice began in central Illinois as an effort to 

 compensate for a loss of natural foods caused by the diversion of 

 water from Lake Michigan into the Illinois River valley. The 

 first Illinois law restricting the use of bait to attract 

 waterfowl dates back to 1909. Federal regulations prohibiting 

 the use of bait for hunting waterfowl were adopted 26 years later 

 in 1935. These federal regulations have not been significantly 

 revised for decades. However, the science of wildlife management 

 has not been as static. Watgrfowl management practices in 

 particular have been steadily evolving. As a result, baiting 

 regulations today create a disincentive for waterfowl hunters to 



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