S.C. Waterfowl Season Gets Underway Nov. 26
November 21, 2008
The 2008-2009 late waterfowl season will soon get underway with the first segment opening on Wednesday, Nov. 26 running until Sunday, Nov. 30.
Changes in regulations include an increase in the wood duck bag limit from two to three, a hybrid daily bag limit for scaup, and a closure of the canvasback season. This season will also include three youth waterfowl hunting days. State youth day is Dec. 6. Federal youth days are Jan. 31, 2009, and Feb. 1, 2009.
Copies of the regulations booklet and migratory bird brochure are available by writing to DNR, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202; or by calling (803) 734-3886 in Columbia.
DUCKS (Excluding Sea Ducks) - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset – Differential bag limit: 6 total, including no more than 4 mallards (1 hen), 1 pintail, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 1 black-bellied whistling duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads and 1 black duck or 1 mottled duck. The 6 total shall include no more than 1 scaup for the period Nov. 26-Nov. 30 and Dec. 12-Jan. 5. The 6 total shall include no more than 2 scaup for the period Jan. 6-Jan. 25. - Possession limit: 12 total, including no more than 8 mallards (2 hens), 2 pintails, 2 fulvous whistling ducks, 2 black-bellied whistling ducks, 6 wood ducks, 4 redheads, (2 black ducks or 2 mottled ducks or 1 black duck and 1 mottled duck). The 12 total shall include no more than 2 scaup for the period Nov. 26-Nov. 30 and Dec. 12-Jan. 5. The 12 total shall include no more than 4 scaup for the period Jan. 6-Jan. 25.
Dec. 6, 2008 is State Youth Day. Only hunters 17 years of age or younger may hunt waterfowl (ducks and geese) on this day. The youth(s) must be accompanied by an adult of at least 21 years of age. The adult is not allowed to carry a gun or hunt, but must be properly licensed, including state and federal duck stamps. Youth who are 16 and 17 years of age who hunt on this day are not required to be licensed or have a state waterfowl stamp but must possess a Federal Waterfowl Stamp. The regular duck season limits apply except on this day, the 6 total limit may include no more than 1 scaup.
Jan. 31, 2009 and Feb. 1, 2009 are Federal Youth Days. Only hunters 15 years of age or younger may hunt waterfowl (ducks and geese) on these days. The youth(s) must be accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age. The adult is not allowed to carry a gun or hunt, and does not have to be licensed. The regular duck season limits apply except on these days, the 6 total limit may include no more than 2 scaup.
MERGANSERS - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 5 (not to include more than 1 Hooded Merganser) - Possession limit: 10 (not to include more than 2 Hooded Mergansers).
SEA DUCKS - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Oct. 11–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 7 (Not to include more than 4 scoters) - Possession limit: 14 (Not to include more than 8 scoters) — Sea ducks taken outside of the regular duck season may be hunted only in Atlantic Ocean waters separated from any shore, island or emergent vegetation by at least one mile of open water. Sea ducks include eiders, scoters and long-tailed ducks.
COOTS - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 15 - Possession limit: 30.
CANADA GEESE/WHITE FRONTED GEESE (Late Seasons) - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan 30, Feb 2-Feb 15 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 5 (not to include more than 2 white-fronted geese) - Possession limit: 10 (not to include more than 4 white-fronted geese). Excludes all of Clarendon County, that portion of Orangeburg County North of SC Highway 6 and that portion of Berkeley County North of SC Highway 45 from the Orangeburg County Line to the junction of SC Highway 45 and State Road S-8-31 and that portion West of the Santee Dam.
BLUE and SNOW GEESE - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 15 - Possession limit: No limit.
BRANT - Open Dates (All Dates Inclusive): Nov. 26–Nov. 30; Dec. 12–Jan. 25 - Hunting hours: 1/2 Hour before Sunrise until Sunset - Bag limit: 3 - Possession limit: 6.
There is no open season on canvasbacks or harlequin ducks.
Shooting hours for late season duck hunting are uniform statewide. Hunters should take notice that DNR law enforcement officers will pay special attention to “late shooting violations” throughout South Carolina. Check local newspapers for sunrise and sunset times. Any South Carolina hunter born after June 30, 1979, must complete an approved hunter education course to purchase a hunting license.
Nontoxic shot (such as steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten-polymer, or other federally approved shot) is required for all waterfowl hunting. The possession of lead shot is prohibited for all waterfowl hunting statewide.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
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A Goose By Any Other Name…
November 7, 2008
![Canada goose [Branta canadensis maxima] - by Lowell Washburn](http://www.outdoorcentral.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/20081107003.jpg "Canada goose [Branta canadensis maxima] - by Lowell Washburn")
by Lowell Washburn
With incredible weights attaining 10, 12, and rarely even 15 pounds, its easy to see where Iowa’s homegrown, corn fed giant Canada goose [Branta canadensis maxima] gets its name.
But when it comes to determining the proper name of our smallest subspecies of Canada goose, the water becomes more cloudy. Commonly referred to as Hutchins’ goose, Hutchie, cackling goose, squealer, and even brant — no other bird name is surrounded by more confusion.
Weighing roughly the same as a drake mallard [some mallards are actually heavier], Hutchins’ Canada geese are best known for small size, stubby bills, and high pitched call. Enduring the longest migration of any North American goose, Hutchins’ Canadas nest on the remote tundras of arctic Canada. In fall, they migrate southward through prairie Canada, the Dakotas, and Iowa. Primary wintering areas are found along the sunny coastal marshes of Texas and Mexico.
In spite of its scientific name — Branta canadensis hutchinsi — many hunters are surprised to learn that the familiar Hutchins’ goose isn’t really a “Hutch” at all, but is properly referred to as the Richardson’s Canada goose.
Here’s how the confusion began. According to historic text, the species was first reported by Sir John Richardson from a goose killed north of Hudson Bay in 1822. Although Richardson named the ‘new’ species after himself, Sir John promptly assigned the bird the scientific name of “Hutchinsi” after Thomas Hutchins who was a former naturalist, fur buyer, and accountant for the famous Hudson’s Bay Company. Oddly enough, the scientific name seems to be the only one that stuck, and the species has been incorrectly referred to as a “Hutchie” ever since.
During the 1960s, large numbers of Hutchins’ geese [I still call them that myself] always arrived in Iowa during the third week of September. This migration was followed by mass arrival of snow geese during mid-October. Neither of these arctic nesting species appeared to have encountered much in the way of hunting pressure before arriving here and were easy pickings for Iowa hunters.
Tame and trusting, flocks of Hutchins’ geese would eagerly respond to the most inept calling [You should have heard us] and minimal spreads of crude decoys.
But times have changed. Although legions of Hutchins’ Canada geese still arrive in Iowa each autumn, they are now among the most wary of all wildfowl. Contemporary Hutchins’ can tell decoys from the real thing from a mile away, and putting one in the roaster usually requires abnormal weather conditions such as driving sleet, snow, or better yet, fog. But whether the noisy flocks make it all the way into the decoys or not, just the opportunity to thrill to the sight and sound of these tiny arctic travelers makes the outdoor adventure well worth the effort.
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Many Hunting Seasons Open This Weekend in Nebraska
October 9, 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. – A big weekend of hunting is on tap in Nebraska, with several seasons opening on Saturday, Oct. 11. While many seasons are underway, this weekend is a good opportunity for hunters to stock up their freezers for the winter.
The following hunting seasons open Oct. 11:
Waterfowl – dark goose (Canada and brant), north central unit; light goose, statewide; white-fronted goose, statewide; duck, pintail, and canvasback, low plains early and high plains units;
Turkey – shotgun season, statewide;
Big Game – antelope, firearm season, designated units.
Permits may be purchased online at OutdoorNebraska.org.
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