Grandfather clause

GRANDFATHER CLAUSE INFO & ENTRY FORM

Due to the fact that many hunters may have already successfully harvested a specific species that is very hard to attain, the UWC is now allowing the ability for a participant to certify up to 3 waterfowl species that have been previously harvested prior to the participant’s official start date for the UWC Challenge. To be eligible to certify a pre-harvested species one of the four following verification sources MUST BE confirmed prior to adding those species to a hunters certified species list. This is a one-time certification option. Once a bird has been certified using the Grandfather Clause it cannot be changed or reversed.

SOURCE 1:
Confirmation from a witness who was present at the time of the harvest. Ideally an outfitter who was present at the time of the harvest. However a hunting partner or other credible source is acceptable.

Note: The witness WILL BE contacted via phone to confirm the accuracy of the species harvested. If the witness is not deemed to be a credible source that person may be unacceptable to use as SOURCE 1 in the Grandfather Clause.

SOURCE 2:
A photo of the hunter with the bird may be used as a second source. The photo must clearly show the hunter along with the species harvested. If there is any question on the species of the bird or the recognition of the hunter who harvested the bird, or the authenticity of the photo, the photo may be disqualified as acceptable using SOURCE 2 in the Grandfather Clause.

SOURCE 3:
If the harvested bird was mounted as a trophy, a photo of the hunter who harvested the bird standing next to the mount, along with the name and contact information of the taxidermist who mounted the bird may also be used as a credible source to verify the species being certified using SOURCE 3 in the Grandfather Clause.

SOURCE 4:
If the bird was banded and the UWC participant has the Official Certificate from the USGS with the bird’s info and hunter’s name on the certificate a photo of the certificate may be submitted as a credible source to verify the species using SOURCE 4 in the Grandfather Clause.

NOTE:
There will be a $10.00 Registration fee for entering each bird using “The Grandfather Clause.” Please see the Grandfather Clause page of the waterfowlerschallenge.com website for more information and how to verify a pre-harvested species. Due to the fact that it is always possible to fabricate the authenticity of a bird harvested, we encourage our participants to rely on the proper ethics instilled in the UWC Challenge. The UWC Challenge is set up for the hunter participant to have an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Cheating the system only hurts the participant involved and the credibility of the UWC Challenge overall. If a participant is caught trying to cheat the system they may be disqualified from the challenge.

SECURE ORDER FORM Your transaction will be confirmed by email Species Entry Fee (10.00 each)

GENERAL INFORMATION

First Name:

Last Name:

Number of Species:

Address:

City:

State/Prov:

Zip:

Country:

Phone Number:

E-Mail Address:

Members Issued Hunter ID:

Species Harvested:

Date of Kill:

Closest City, State/Province to Harvest Location:

Outfitter/Guide Used (if applicable):

SOURCE 1: Confirmation from a witness who was present at the time of the harvest. Ideally an outfitter who was present at the time of the hunt. However a hunting partner or other credible source is acceptable.

Note: The witness WILL BE contacted via phone to confirm the accuracy of the species harvested. If the witness is not deemed to be a credible source that person may be unacceptable to use as SOURCE 1 in the Grandfather Clause.

Witness Name, Affiliation to Situation, Phone Number:

SOURCE 2: A photo of the hunter with the bird may be used as a second source. The photo must clearly show the hunter along with the species harvested. If there is any question on the species of the bird or the recognition of the hunter who harvested the bird, or the authenticity of the photo, the photo may be disqualified as acceptable using SOURCE 2 in the Grandfather Clause.

Note: A secondary, close up photo of the bird is also acceptable to confirm the species harvested. All photos can be submitted to entries@waterfowlerschallenge.com

SOURCE 3: If the harvested bird was mounted as a trophy, a photo of the hunter who harvested the bird standing next to the mount, along with the name and contact information of the taxidermist who mounted the bird may also be used as a credible source to verify the species being certified using SOURCE 3 in the Grandfather Clause.

Note: The taxidermist WILL BE contacted via phone to confirm the accuracy of the species harvested.

Taxidermist Name, Company Name, Phone Number:

SOURCE 4: If the bird was banded and the UWC participant has the Official Certificate from the USGS with the bird’s info and hunter’s name on the certificate a photo of the certificate may be submitted as a credible source to verify the species using SOURCE 4 in the Grandfather Clause.

CREDIT CARD INFORMATION

Card Number:

Exp. Date:

Submit this form ONCE ONLY. Your transaction should be completed in 10-60 seconds, depending on Internet traffic. In some cases, it may take longer.

SPECIAL ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

DRAKES ONLY are allowed for certification on all species of: Puddle and Diver Ducks, Sea Ducks and Mergansers except the Mottled Duck.
Either sex are allowed on all species of: Geese, Cranes and Swans.
To complete a certified species entry there will be a $10.00 entry fee per species (see below) to certify up to three species per member. After completing the entry fee transaction, a short entry form must be filled out and submitted, along with two photos for each species. The transaction payment receipt ID code must also be written in the form along with the participant’s issued waterfowl ID number to complete the successful submission

Photo Instructions

A close up, clear photo of the bird on its stomach, showing the side of the birds head, wings extended, with the participants waterfowl ID card placed directly below the bill of the bird showing the waterfowl ID number clearly.

SPECIAL SPECIES SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

CANADA GOOSE AND CACKLING CANADA GOOSE – Due to the fact that there are 7 different sub species of Canada Geese and 4 different sub species of Cackling Canada Geese, we have elected to simplify these into two categories- Canada Geese and Cackling Canada Geese. To distinguish the difference between the two, there are two different criteria to go off of. Any Canada goose weighing more than 6 pounds will fall under the Canada goose species. Any Canada goose weighing less than 6 pounds will fall under the Cackling Canada Goose species. The second criteria is the length of the goose’s bill. A Cackling Canada Goose will have a short triangular bill normally less than one inch in length, while a Canada goose will have a more elongated bill, over one inch in length.
GREATER AND LESSER SCAUP – Due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to determine the difference between the two species, a third photo must be included for certification of these two species. The third photo must show the extended wing to show the white speculum in its entirety. Note: The Greater Scaup will have a white wing speculum that extends the entire length of the wing while the Lesser Scaup will have a white speculum that only extends half way across the wing.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL AND CINNAMON TEAL – Due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to determine the difference between the immature drake and hen Blue-winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal, a third photo may be needed for certification of these two species, if it is not evident that the bird is a drake. The second photo must show the extended wing to show the complete white speculum below the blue wing patch. On the drakes the white area will be clearly white, while the hens will have a speckled white wing speculum.D. MOTTLED DUCK – The Mottled duck, found in the southern region of the United States is difficult to tell the difference between the male and female. Therefore either sex is allowed to certify this species.
BLACK DUCK – The Black duck, found throughout the United States is difficult to tell the difference between the male and female. Therefore either sex is allowed to certify this species.
FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK – The Fulvous Whistling Duck, found in the southern United States and throughout Mexico is difficult to tell the difference between the male and female. Therefore either sex is allowed to certify this species.
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTING DUCK – The Black-bellied Whisting Duck, found in the southern United States and throughout Mexico is difficult to tell the difference between the male and female. Therefore either sex is allowed to certify this species.

You will receive email verification that your entry was successful within 7-10 business days

UWC OFFICIAL SPECIES LIST

WHAT IS IT?

The goal is to legally and ethically harvest all 41 UWC Certified North American Waterfowl Species (see the official species list below).

Big Game Hunters have the Super Slam and the record books while Turkey Hunters have the Grand Slam. As waterfowl hunters what do we have? A banded bird every year or two if we are lucky.

That is why we have developed The Ultimate Waterfowlers Challenge (UWC). A system to certify and record every species of waterfowl that you harvest over the next 5-20 years. We will track each members list of waterfowl and certify each species on the UWC website.

It’s as simple as snapping a couple quick photos of the male bird you harvest and submitting a short online form to certify your bird.

BECOMING A CERTIFIED MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

Once you have successfully submitted a minimum of 15 of the 41 UWC Certified Waterfowl species your name and bio will be added to the Master Waterfowl Hunter page of the UWC website and you will receive a custom 14” x 17” wall plaque in the mail. There is no time limit to attain this certification.

Receive this Custom Master Waterfowl Hunter Plaque when you successfully register 15 of the 41 UWC species.

BECOMING A CERTIFIED MASTER ELITE WATERFOWL HUNTER

The second level above the Certified Journeyman Waterfowl Hunter is becoming a Certified Master Elite Waterfowl Hunter. To achieve this certification level a member must successfully harvest and become certified for a minimum of 30 of the 41 Official Certified UWC Species.

Once a member successfully certifies a minimum of 30 species, the status of Certified Master Elite Waterfowl Hunter has been achieved. The member will receive a custom 14” x 17” Master Elite Waterfowl Hunter wall plaque with their full certified waterfowl species list included on the plaque, as well as their favorite hunting photo.
(see adjacent image for choice of 3 different plaque options).

The member’s upgraded bio will also be added to the Master Elite Waterfowl Hunter page of the UWC website and they will have the ability to add their upgraded bio and three favorite photos added to the page for fellow waterfowl hunters to read.

Receive this Custom Master Elite Waterfowl Hunter Plaque when you successfully register 30 of the 41 UWC species.

BECOMING A CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

For those waterfowl hunters who are a little crazy in the head and go for it all, successfully completing the challenge by certifying all 41 of the 41 UWC certified waterfowl species in North America. You will receive a custom engraved Grand Master Waterfowl Hunter name plated King Eider decoy with wood base. You will also receive a full bio on the Grand Master Waterfowl Hunter page of the UWC website. You have attained the highest level of waterfowl hunter certification across North America and have mastered your skills at both duck hunting and goose hunting!

Receive this Custom Engraved Grand Master Waterfowl Hunter King Eider Decoy with hunters name plated on a wood base when you successfully register all 41 UWC species.

Thank you very much for your interest in participating in the Ultimate Waterfowlers Challenge. To get started today simply CLICK HERE and get registered.

We look forward to the journey and expect to receive your start up kit within 7-10 business days.

OFFICIAL UWC NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWL SPECIES LIST

The Official UWC Waterfowl species list includes:

Note: For All waterfowl other than Geese, Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Black Duck and the Mottled Duck, only drakes are able to be entered to certify a species.

Puddle Duck Division

Mallard
Pintail
American Wigeon
Gadwall
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Wood Duck
Black Duck
Mottled Duck
Black Bellied Whistling Duck
Fulvous Whistling Tree Duck

Diver Duck And Merganser Division

Canvasback
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Barrows Goldeneye
Ruddy Duck
Bufflehead
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser

Sea Ducks Division

King Eider
Common Eider
Old Squaw (Long Tailed Duck)
Harlequin Duck
Common (Black) Scoter
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter

Geese, Swans and Cranes Division

Tundra Swan
Sandhill Crane
Canada Goose
Cackling Canada Goose
Snow Goose
Blue Goose
Ross Goose
White-fronted Goose (Specklebelly)
Brant Goose

Bonus Waterfowl Division

(Waterfowl Species Outside Of The Official UWC NA Waterfowl Species List)
There are several other species of waterfowl that may be harvested in North America and many other waterfowl species found worldwide that do not fall into the 41 species of the Official UWC North American Waterfowl list, that may be harvested by a UWC participant. The species listed below are the most common additional waterfowl species that may be found in North America and are eligible to assist in attaining both the Master Waterfowl Hunter Certification and the Master Elite Waterfowl Hunter Certification. However all 41 species found on the Official UWC North American Waterfowl Species List must be harvested and certified to attain the Grand Master Waterfowl Hunter Certification.

Any of the waterfowl species submitted below will also be added to the UWC Member’s online waterfowl species list for additional accreditation and recognition after achieving the Grand Master Waterfowl Hunter Certification.

Eurasian Wigeon
Tufted Duck
Mexican Duck
Eurasian Teal
White-Cheeked Pintail
Masked Duck
Blue Phased Ross Goose
Barnacle Goose
Pink Footed Goose
Any Hybrid Species Of Waterfowl

NOTE: On the Official Species Registration Form, please write in “Other” on the line for species harvested and fill out the short addendum form also found on the Species Registration page of the UWC website for any waterfowl species not listed on the official North American Species list as seen above.

Grandfather clause