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DELTA WATERFOWL PO. box 3128 • BISMARCK, ND 58502 • phone 701 222 8857 • FAX: 701-223 4645 



May 14, 199 6 



The Honorable Don Young 

 Chairman, Resources Committee 

 United States House of Representatives 

 1324 Longworth Office Building 

 Washington, D.C. 20515 



Dear Representative Young: 



Please include this statement for the record in the Oversight 

 Hearing on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS^ actions and on 

 the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in relation to the issue of baiting. 



Delta Waterfowl is a long standing, private, non-profit waterfowl 

 organization being founded in 1911. We have a world renowned 

 research program that has been instrumental in building the science 

 and understanding of waterfowl biology and application of 

 management practices. We are very well qualified to comment on a 

 review of activities that effect waterfowl. 



In regards to actions of the FWS we urge the Committee to focus on 

 the original intention of the regulation and then to factual 

 actions of the Service. We urge caution on the reaction to 

 emotional, subjective and unsubstantiated claims that are commonly 

 fostered in this time of anti-federal attitudes. We encourage the 

 Committee to wade through the expected rhetoric and focus on the 

 intent of the law and the facts surrounding any action taken by the 

 FWS. 



Related to the above issue is the specific attention to the baiting 

 regulations. First, please review the original intent of the 

 Migratory Bird Treaty Act in terms of avoiding the unnatural lure 

 of baiting. Any consideration for modification or adjustment to 

 current regulations must be based on whether those actions will be 

 consistent or inconsistent with the original intent of the Act. 



Second, carefully weigh the impact of any potential change on the 

 long term ability for compliance. Adding confusing and complex 

 adjustments to potentially placate what is possibly now an overall 

 minor issue could result in greater problems and subsequent impact 

 to waterfowl than expected. 



And thirdly, we support greater attention be given to standardizing 

 application of regulations and most importantly to education of the 

 public on baiting regulations. We feel that a more concerted 



TOGETHER WE CAN BRING BACK THE DUCKS 



