Columnist Paula Del Giudice: Hunters must get HIP to new wildlife program

Thursday, Aug. 20, 1998 | 10:56 a.m.

PAULA DEL GIUDICE has been an outdoors freelance writer, author and photographer for 13 years. Her column appears Wednesdays.

HUNTING SEASON is just around the corner with blue and ruffed grouse and snowcock opening on Saturday, Aug. 29. Next will be the mourning dove season opener Sept. 1.

Hunters are reminded that this year a new program is being implemented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that requires them to have a HIP (Harvest Information Program) number and write it on their hunting license before heading for the field.

Hunters who intend to hunt migratory birds such as doves and waterfowl should call 1-800-WETLAND to obtain their HIP number. Hunting licenses must be purchased before the number can be obtained.

The new program is a national effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state wildlife agencies to give biologists more reliable estimates of the number of birds harvested throughout the country.

Regulations for upland game bird seasons are available at stores that sell hunting licenses and the Nevada Division of Wildlife, 4747 W. Vegas Drive.

Bird bands

Have you ever harvested a banded game bird and wondered where the bird originated, how old it is or whom to contact to report the information on the band?

The U.S. Geological Survey's Bird Banding Laboratory, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, recently has placed a toll-free number on bird bands. Hunters can call 1- 800-327-BAND or 1-800-327-2263 to report the recovery of a banded bird.

When hunters make the call, they can find out where and when the bird was banded. In addition, each hunter who reports a band recovery will receive a certificate of appreciation.

The USF&WS is responsible for establishing waterfowl hunting regulations. The banding program helps provide information about waterfowl movements, survival rates and harvest rates that is critical to population management.

Information collected in the banding process has revealed some interesting information. For instance, the oldest northern pintail ever recovered was 22 years old; the oldest mallard, 23 years old.

Beyond longevity records, the lab also maintains data on waterfowl movements, such as waterfowl banded in Russia that are recovered in the Central Valley of California, or a northern pintail banded in California that was recovered in Arkansas.

Calling outdoors writers

Annual awards are being offered to students as part of the Norm Strung/OWAA Youth Writing Award sponsored by the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA).

Awards in the senior division (grades 9-12) will be made in the amounts of $300, $250 and $200. Junior division (grades 6-8) winners will be awarded $100, $75 and $50. Additionally, the top three winners in each category will receive wall plaques. The judges' sole criterion is "excellent writing."

In order to qualify, the article must have been published in a newsletter, newspaper, magazine or literary collection, during 1998. The publication can be school or club related or commercial. The topic must be outdoor-oriented: hiking, camping, fishing, boating, hunting, nature, ecology, canoeing, etc.

Entries must be received by Jan. 31, 1999. Entrants must submit one original published tearsheet or entry. The tearsheets must contain the publication name and date. A cover sheet should include the entrant's address and grade in school at the time of publication.

Send entries to OWAA Headquarters, 2155 E. College Avenue, State College, PA 16801- 7204. Mark the lower left hand side of the envelope with the proper division (junior or senior).

Winners will be announced at the OWAA annual conference in Sioux Falls, S.D., June 20-24, 1999.