Post by Goosehunter on Jul 2, 2015 6:34:18 GMT -5
Yes, I've been harsh on the PGC for neglecting MC for the last 15 years. So, when things turn around it's important to give credit where credit is due.
Yesterday was that day. But first a little background info.
In February I had made contact with Dave Mitchell, who has been with the PGC for 20 years but was recently promoted to the position of "Land Management Supervisor of the Southeast Region." Dave oversees 160,000 acres of SGL habitat here in the SE corner of the State. A fresh new face.
As my emails to the PGC increased in volume over the last few months and Dave was included in all these emails, Dave ask what I'd like to see at MC. Then he offered to meet me at MC and go for a drive and discuss all my ideas. Pretty refreshing to say the least as this has not been my treatment over the years.
So yesterday I met with Dave and an excellent young man named Steve and we drove around MC for over 2 hours. I'm telling ya these two men are normal guys, both are avid hunters, really into their habitat work and were very interested in helping me understand the goals for the future of MC.
I ask Dave if he attended the "internal" meeting about MC, his reply was that HE called for the meeting because MC needed some direction. Wow, now I'm impressed.
Dave assured me that the PGC wants to continue the hunts inside MC and for that to be successful it's important to have more geese. Habitat is the key. There's no doubt that with Dave's personality and honest approach he will make it happen.
As an example, one of the suggestions by Dave at the internal meeting was to mow more areas, more often.
Look what recently happened at the pond in front of the Visitors Center. Dave made this happen.
This is what it used to look like.
Of course I was very interested in the goose banding numbers from last week. Dave whipped out a sheet showing the MC banding numbers from last Tuesday. Now I'm even more impressed.
But even more impressing than the fact he had the info was the number of geese banded. The numbers are way up.
Adults banded numbered 194, juvies banded totaled 92, and there were 34 recaptures, making for a total of 320 geese captured. This was only at 2 locations inside MC. Since their quota for this stratum was only 400, they didn't trap any more geese on the rest of MC. No sense in putting all the bands at one location. Never thought I'd see the day when they could of got more but wanted to spread out the bands to other areas.
Dave talked about doubling the number of manmade goose nesting structures, from the current 100 to 200 structures. Wow.
Trapping both furbearers and snapping turtles are also on his radar.
One fly in the ointment is the recent retiring of Waterfowl Biologist Jack Gilbert. The PGC has not filled Jack's position and Dave is working hard to get a replacement.
Dave said if we're gonna keep track of the SUCCESSFUL number of goose nests, come up with a total goose population, web tag goslings, this position needs to be filled. WOW.
There's no doubt in my mind that with Dave looking after MC we have turned a corner and in a few short years MC will once again be the Crown Jewel of the PGC.
Well Done Dave Mitchell!
Yesterday was that day. But first a little background info.
In February I had made contact with Dave Mitchell, who has been with the PGC for 20 years but was recently promoted to the position of "Land Management Supervisor of the Southeast Region." Dave oversees 160,000 acres of SGL habitat here in the SE corner of the State. A fresh new face.
As my emails to the PGC increased in volume over the last few months and Dave was included in all these emails, Dave ask what I'd like to see at MC. Then he offered to meet me at MC and go for a drive and discuss all my ideas. Pretty refreshing to say the least as this has not been my treatment over the years.
So yesterday I met with Dave and an excellent young man named Steve and we drove around MC for over 2 hours. I'm telling ya these two men are normal guys, both are avid hunters, really into their habitat work and were very interested in helping me understand the goals for the future of MC.
I ask Dave if he attended the "internal" meeting about MC, his reply was that HE called for the meeting because MC needed some direction. Wow, now I'm impressed.
Dave assured me that the PGC wants to continue the hunts inside MC and for that to be successful it's important to have more geese. Habitat is the key. There's no doubt that with Dave's personality and honest approach he will make it happen.
As an example, one of the suggestions by Dave at the internal meeting was to mow more areas, more often.
Look what recently happened at the pond in front of the Visitors Center. Dave made this happen.
This is what it used to look like.
Of course I was very interested in the goose banding numbers from last week. Dave whipped out a sheet showing the MC banding numbers from last Tuesday. Now I'm even more impressed.
But even more impressing than the fact he had the info was the number of geese banded. The numbers are way up.
Adults banded numbered 194, juvies banded totaled 92, and there were 34 recaptures, making for a total of 320 geese captured. This was only at 2 locations inside MC. Since their quota for this stratum was only 400, they didn't trap any more geese on the rest of MC. No sense in putting all the bands at one location. Never thought I'd see the day when they could of got more but wanted to spread out the bands to other areas.
Dave talked about doubling the number of manmade goose nesting structures, from the current 100 to 200 structures. Wow.
Trapping both furbearers and snapping turtles are also on his radar.
One fly in the ointment is the recent retiring of Waterfowl Biologist Jack Gilbert. The PGC has not filled Jack's position and Dave is working hard to get a replacement.
Dave said if we're gonna keep track of the SUCCESSFUL number of goose nests, come up with a total goose population, web tag goslings, this position needs to be filled. WOW.
There's no doubt in my mind that with Dave looking after MC we have turned a corner and in a few short years MC will once again be the Crown Jewel of the PGC.
Well Done Dave Mitchell!
