Saunders with decoys, some homemade 



Also, the National Audubon Society recently was 

 given the 3,600-acre Pine Island in Currituck County 

 to manage as a waterfowl area. Massengale says he 

 hopes coordinated management will be worked out 

 for all three areas and perhaps some of the lands 

 owned by the remaining hunting clubs in Currituck 

 County. The three islands comprise most of the major 

 areas of waterfowl marsh on the Currituck Outer 

 Banks. 



Hunting: good, bad news 



Hunters in North Carolina killed 30 percent more 

 ducks last year than in 1976. That's more ducks than 

 were killed in any other southeastern state. 



One reason the figure went up is that more scaup, a 

 species of duck, stopped off in North Carolina than 

 usual. But Wildlife Resources Commission officials 

 are the first to admit that they really aren't sure why 

 more scaup stopped off on their way south or why the 

 total kill went up so dramatically. 



The situation is indicative of the illusive nature of 

 waterfowl hunting and management in North 

 Carolina. Firm figures are hard to come by and the 

 factors which influence bird populations and habits 

 are complex. Bird populations seem to be holding 

 their own, but there are a number of issues which 

 concern hunters, managers and conservationists. 



Official records show 276,049 ducks were killed 

 here last year. But one unofficial estimate places the 

 figure at twice that once illegal hunting, exceeding 

 bag limits, time restrictions and shooting over bait, is 



taken into consideration. Since ducks and geese are 

 hunted in sounds, rivers and ponds, enforcement of 

 regulations in these remote areas can be difficult. 

 And, hunters say more people are hunting. 



Birds generally summer in the North and winter in 

 the South. Breeding grounds in the North have been 

 degraded so fewer birds are making the southbound 

 migration than did 50 years ago. And waterfowl 

 habitats in North Carolina are shrinking because of 

 increasing development, though water pollution is 

 not the problem it once was. 



The well-being of ducks and geese which pass 

 through the state is thus subject to a complex set of 

 factors. Some informed observers predict the end of 

 waterfowl hunting as it is known today — based on 

 biology, not anti-hunting sentiment. More often 

 though, observers say things are basically fine while 

 cautioning that bird populations and habitats must 

 continue to be protected. 



In coastal North Carolina waterfowl are hunted on 

 private gamelands, on public gamelands and in open 

 sounds. From about Oregon Inlet northward, most 

 hunting is done with the assistance of a guide who 

 provides the blind. Currituck Sound, in the 

 northeastern corner of the state, is probably the most 

 important waterfowl hunting area in North Carolina. 

 In the southern part of the state, hunting is carried 

 out without guides. 



The federal government maintains approximately 

 110,000 acres of refuges and 35,000 acres of adjacent 

 lands in North Carolina so that passing birds will 

 have a place to rest and eat. In some cases, hunting is 

 allowed on the refuges. But generally hunting is 

 prohibited within 500 feet of the refuges. 



