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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Marsh Hen, Teal Seasons Open Soon in South Carolina
October 6, 2008
The migratory bird hunting seasons for marsh hens (rails) and teal will soon open.
The two-part season for marsh hens—including king, clapper, sora and Virginia rails—and common moorhens and purple gallinules will be from Sept. 15–Sept. 20 and Oct. 13–Dec. 15. The daily bag limit for king and/or clapper rails is 15 birds per hunter and moorhens and/or purple gallinules are 15 birds per hunter. The daily limit for sora and/or Virginia rails is 25 birds per hunter. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. Lead shot is legal for rail hunting, except that non-toxic shot is required on National Wildlife Refuges. Â
The South Carolina early season for teal will be Sept. 19-27. The daily bag limit is four birds. Shooting hours are sunrise until sunset (not 30 minutes before sunrise, as with other migratory bird seasons). Nontoxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting.
For more information, write to Early-Season Migratory Birds, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202, call (803) 734-3886 in Columbia.
South Carolina migratory bird hunters age 16 and older must have a state hunting license and a free migratory bird permit. Additionally, participants in the September Canada Goose season and the early teal season must have the Federal Waterfowl Stamp and SC Waterfowl Permit. Completion of an approved hunter education course is mandatory for resident and nonresident South Carolina hunters born after June 30, 1979, to purchase a license, and voluntary for older and younger hunters.
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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Mississippi Waterfowl Late-Season Dates Set
September 9, 2008
Jackson- The Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks approved dates for the 2008-2009 waterfowl hunting season, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released late-season frameworks in early August providing a “window” of dates from which states may select specific season dates.
The duck, merganser, and coot seasons will open on November 27, 2008 and run continuously until January 25, 2009. The duck daily bag limit will be a total of 6 ducks, including no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be females), 3 mottled ducks, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 scaup, 1 black duck, and 1 pintail. The season on canvasbacks will be closed. The merganser daily bag limit will be a total of 5 mergansers, only 2 of which may be hooded mergansers. Coots will have a 15-bird daily bag limit. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit for ducks, mergansers, and coots.
Ed Penny, MDWFP Migratory Game Bird Program Coordinator, said “The most significant changes to this year’s bag limits include the 3-bird wood duck daily bag limit, the bag limit reduction of scaup to a 1-bird daily bag limit, and a closed canvasback season.”Â
Late-season Canada goose and brant seasons will occur from November 17, 2008 – January 25, 2009. Canada geese will have a 3-bird daily bag limit and brant will have a daily bag limit of 2 birds. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit for Canada geese and brant.
Snow, blue, Ross’s, and white-fronted goose (white-fronted geese are known as “specklebellies” by many hunters) seasons will be from November 15, 2008 – January 25, 2009. Snow, blue, and Ross’s geese will have a daily bag limit of 20 birds. White-fronted geese will have a daily bag limit of 2 birds. In addition to the regular hunting season, there will again be a conservation order for snow, blue, and Ross’s geese during the following dates: October 1 – November 14, 2008; January 26 – January 30, 2009; and February 2 – March 31, 2009 (only snow, blue, and Ross’s geese may be taken during the light goose conservation order). The possession limit for white-fronted geese is 4 and there is no possession limit for snow, blue, and Ross’s geese.Â
“Similar to last year, we will extend the light goose conservation order on snow, blue, and Ross’s geese later into the year, because a few geese remain in Mississippi through the month of March” said Houston Havens, MDWFP Migratory Game Bird Program Biologist. “This year, hunters will again have that extra opportunity.”
The youth waterfowl weekend will be the weekend of January 31 – February 1, 2009.
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Youth Waterfowl is Sept. 20-21 in North Dakota
September 8, 2008
North Dakota’s two-day youth waterfowl season is Sept. 20-21. Legally licensed resident and nonresident youth waterfowl hunters age 15 and younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers statewide.
The daily bag limit and species restrictions for the youth season are the same as for regular duck and goose seasons.
Resident and qualifying nonresident youth waterfowl hunters must possess a general game and habitat license and a fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate. (Nonresidents from states that do not provide a reciprocal licensing agreement for North Dakota residents must purchase the nonresident waterfowl license package.) In addition, all youth hunters must be Harvest Information Program certified, and youth ages 12 and older need to have passed a certified hunter education course. Hunters age 15 and younger do not need a federal duck stamp.
Hunters who purchase a license through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department can easily get HIP certified. Otherwise, hunters must call 888-634-4798, or log on to the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov, and record the HIP number on their fishing, hunting and furbearer certificate.
Hunters are reminded to HIP register in each state for which they are licensed before hunting migratory game birds.
Shooting hours for the youth waterfowl season are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. An adult at least 18 years of age must accompany the resident youth hunter into the field, and a licensed adult is required to accompany a nonresident youth hunter. The two-day weekend hunt does not count against a nonresident adult hunter’s 14-day regular season waterfowl dates.
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Alabama Continues ‘Liberal’ Waterfowl Seasons
August 26, 2008
Alabama’s waterfowl hunters will again enjoy waterfowl seasons under the “liberal” designation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The 60-day regular duck, coot and merganser season will run Nov. 27 through Jan. 25 with a six-duck bag limit.
The daily limit can consist of no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be female), three wood ducks, three mottled ducks, one black duck, two redhead and one pintail. The scaup (bluebill) bag limit will be one bird from Nov. 27 through Jan. 5 and then increase to two birds per day from Jan. 6-25. The harvest of canvasback is prohibited because of a significant reduction in the USFWS’ breeding population count.
The bag limit for mergansers is five per day, only two of which may be hooded mergansers. The bag limit on coots is 15 per day. The possession limit on coots and mergansers is twice the daily bag limit.
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except during regular duck season in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. In the area north of Battleship Parkway, west of Alabama Highway 225, south of CSX Railroad tracks, and east of the west bank of the Mobile River: Monday through Thursday shooting hours shall be one-half hour before sunrise to 12:00 noon; Friday through Sunday shooting hours shall be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
The special teal season is scheduled for Sept. 6-21 with a daily bag limit of four and possession limit of eight.
A special early Canada goose season is set from Sept. 1-15 with a daily bag limit of five with a possession limit of 10.
The regular goose season – statewide, including the Southern James Bay Population Zone – is Sept. 27 through Oct. 6 and Nov. 27-Jan. 25.
The daily bag limit of five shall not include more than two Canada geese or two white-fronted geese. The possession limit of five shall include no more than four Canada geese and white-fronted geese in aggregate. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com
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New Rules for the Ocklawaha Prairie Public Small Game Hunting Area
August 18, 2008
The Ocklawaha Prairie Public Small Game Hunting Area in Marion County has a new permitting process this year. In an effort to provide an equitable hunting opportunity, daily quota permits are limited to five per person per waterfowl season. Additionally, the horsepower limit allowed for boat motors on the area has been raised from 10 to 40 to enable hunters to navigate through vegetation more successfully.Â
“It’s important to create rules and quotas on public lands, such as this one, that allow as many hunters as possible to use the area, without sacrificing hunt quality,” said Jen Williams, hunting coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Northeast Region.
Ocklawaha Prairie Public Small Game Hunting Area is about 2,300 acres, just north of Moss Bluff along the Ocklawaha River and is convenient to Ocala. It is legal to hunt ducks, coots and snipe during the season. Hunters must enter through the check station off 137th Avenue (Old River Road).
For detailed regulations specific to this hunting area, log onto MyFWC.com/hunting/wma/2008-09/Northeast/OcklawahaPrairiePSGHA.pdf.
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L.W.F.C. Sets Tentative Migratory Waterfowl Seasons
August 12, 2008
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) voted to tentatively adopt proposed season dates, bag limits and shooting hours for the 2008-09 migratory waterfowl season at their Aug. 7 meeting. The dates will be ratified by a declaration of emergency from the commission, after approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is once again recommending a 60-day season be adopted for ducks and coots. In the West Zone, the first segment will open on Nov. 8 and close on Nov. 30. The second segment will open on Dec. 13 and run through Jan. 18. In the East Zone, the first segment will go from Nov. 15-30. The second segment will last from Dec. 13-Jan. 25.
Youth waterfowl weekend in the West Zone is Nov. 1-2 and in the East Zone Nov. 8-9.
The daily bag limit on ducks is six and may include no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be females), one pintail, three mottled ducks, one black duck, three wood ducks and two redheads. The daily bag limit for scaup is one per day until Dec. 30 in the West Zone and one per day until Jan. 6 in the East Zone. Daily bag limit for scaup is two per day on those dates and thereafter in both zones. The daily bag limit on coots is 15. Canvasbacks will not be allowed this year in the daily bag limit on ducks and will be closed statewide for the 2008-09 season. In addition to the daily bag limit for ducks, the daily bag limit for mergansers is five, only two of which may be hooded mergansers. The possession limit on ducks, coots and mergansers is twice the daily bag limit.
Light geese and white-fronted geese will have a 72-day season. The first segment in the West Zone will open on Nov. 8 and close on Nov. 30. The second segment in the West Zone will run from Dec. 13-Jan. 30. The first segment in the East Zone will open on Nov. 3 and run until Nov. 30. The second segment will run from Dec. 13-Jan. 25. The daily bag limit on light geese is 20, with no possession limit. The daily limit on white-fronted geese is two, with a possession limit of four.
The special-permit-required Canada goose season will be from Jan. 10-25 statewide, except for a small area in southwest Louisiana. The daily limit for Canada geese is one and the possession limit is two. The special $5 permit may be obtained from any license vendor.
The Statewide Conservation Order for light geese will open in the West Zone on Dec. 1, and the first segment will close on Dec. 12. The second segment in the West Zone will run from Jan. 31-March 8. The first segment in the East Zone will run from Dec. 1-12, and the second segment will be from Jan. 26-March 8. During this time, only snow, blue and Ross? geese may be taken and daily bag and possession limits are eliminated. The use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns is permitted. Shooting hours during the Conservation Order begin one-half hour before sunrise and extend until one-half hour after sunset.
Rails may be taken from Nov. 8-Dec. 31. For King and Clapper rails, the daily limit is 15 in the aggregate, with a possession limit of 30. Sora and Virginia rails have a daily and possession limit of 25 in the aggregate.
Gallinule season will open on Nov. 8 and close on Dec. 31. The daily bag limit is 15 and possession limit is 30.
Snipe may be taken in the first segment from Nov. 1-30 and from Dec. 13-Feb. 27 in the second segment, with a daily bag limit of eight and a possession limit of 16.
Shooting hours for migratory bird hunting, except for the Conservation Order, are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except at the Spanish Lake Recreation Area in Iberia Parish where shooting hours, including the Conservation Order, end at 2 p.m.
An extended falconry season for ducks, rails and gallinules will take place from Nov. 1-Jan. 30.
For more information, contact Larry Reynolds at 225-765-0456 or lreynolds [at] wlf [dot] louisiana [dot] gov.
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