Dove Season Set to Open on Sept. 1st Throughout North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C.  – North Carolina’s dove season opens statewide on Monday, Sept. 1 at noon with a daily bag limit of 15 doves per hunter per day.

Traditionally Labor Day weekend is the opening of dove season in North Carolina and includes both Saturday and Monday – giving most hunters two days off from work to hunt.  However, under the federal frameworks for hunting migratory birds the season cannot open before Sept. 1, so the season will open on the Monday of Labor Day weekend this year.

After opening day, hunting opens a half hour before sunrise to sunset. Dove season will be split into three segments this hunting season, with the first segment from Sept. 1 through Oct. 4. The second segment is from Nov. 24 through Nov. 29, and the final segment from Dec. 12 through Jan. 10.

When dove hunting, wildlife officers with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission advise:

• BE SAFE: When hunting in a group, know where others are and communicate. Never shoot at low-flying birds and alert companions when a bird is too low to safely allow a shot. Wearing proper eye and ear protection is advised.
• SHOOT RESPONSIBLY: Know your field of fire and don’t pepper people, nearby buildings or vehicles with falling shot.
• KNOW THE RULES: Don’t hunt over baited fields. According to state regulations, placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, grain or other feed that could serve as a lure for migratory game can constitute a baited area.
• ENROLL IN HUNTER EDUCATION: First-time hunting license buyers must successfully complete a Hunter Education Course, offered free across the state.
• FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click here to consult the online version of the 2008-2009 N.C. Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest or call (919) 707-0031.

Phone Applications For Black Bear Hunting Permit Begin Aug. 25 For Maryland

ANNAPOLIS - On August 25, 2008, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will begin accepting phone-in applications from hunters wishing to participate in this year’s black bear hunting permit lottery. Applications will be accepted over the phone at 1-888-579-6768 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. from August 25 through August 29, 2008.

Harry Spiker, DNR Game Mammal Section Leader reminds that “hunters must apply each year to retain their preference points in the lottery. Preference points increase your odds of being selected in future lotteries. Beginning this year, hunters may opt to purchase a preference point only. This will allow those who cannot hunt in 2008, the opportunity to retain their preference points for use in future lotteries.”

Hunters may continue to apply online 24 hours a day through 6:00 p.m. on September 1, 2008 at http://blackbear.dnr.state.md.us

A $15 application fee must be submitted via credit card, check, or money order by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 and should be made payable to MDDNR Black Bear and mailed to MDDNR Black Bear, P.O. Box 30, Cumberland, MD 21501. Only one application per person will be accepted. Duplicate applications will result in disqualification and the loss of all fees.

In order to allow all interested parties an equal opportunity to participate, permits will be awarded by a random selection process which will be held on Thursday, September 4. A list of winning applicants will be available online at http://blackbear.dnr.state.md.us starting 5 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2008. Maryland’s black bear hunting season begins October 20, 2008 in Garrett and Allegany Counties.

For more info, please visit: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/bbregs.asp.

Swan Hunt Lottery Held In North Dakota, Licenses Remain

North Dakota’s swan lottery has been held and more than 800 licenses remain. Only hunters who do not have a swan license for the 2008 season can apply, as regulations limit hunters to one license per year.

First come, first served licenses can be purchased online at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov. Hunters may also request an application by calling the department’s Bismarck office at 701-328-6300.

The statewide tundra swan hunting season is Oct. 4 – Jan. 2, 2009. North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The fee is $5 for residents and $25 for nonresidents.

Are Off-Highway Vehicles And Hunting Compatible?

The Montana Hunter Behavior Advisory Council reported ten years ago that motor vehicle use during hunting, including off-highway vehicles, is creating serious problems. Today the situation is magnified, as growing numbers of hunters use OHVs.

“An estimated 30,000 hunters used OHVs during Montana’s 2007 hunting season,” said Ray Paige, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks motorized trails specialist. “OHV registrations in Montana climbed from about 23,000 in 2003 to about 54,000 today.”

Paige said that hunters who obey the laws and regulations guiding the use of OHVs during the hunt are in the majority. However, only a few motorized vehicles can do real harm to wildlife, wildlife habitats and the hunting experiences of others when hunters don’t know the law or choose to ignore it.

According to a 2007 Montana Wildlife Federation survey of private landowners, ATV use and abuse is cited as one of the top ten reasons a landowner would not allow the public to hunt on their lands.

“OHV issues occur on public and private land, but this survey makes it clear OHV abuses hurt all hunters’ chances for hunting access to private lands,” Paige said.   “If the trend continues, the FWP Commission has said hunters may see new restrictions on OHV use.”

FWP stepped up education on proper OHV use during the 2006 and 2007 hunting seasons, in a cooperative effort involving FWP, the Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association, US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. One outcome, a brochure just for hunters titled Hunting and ATVs, is available at FWP regional offices and at many license providers.

MTVRA, with a Montana Trails Grant, administered by FWP, has also produced educational brochures, a youth education program in the schools and aired a television PSA promoting ethical use of OHVs.

  Paige said it is a tough task to change the behavior of riders who knowingly violate the law. Enforcement is one answer, but enforcement budgets, such as FWPs, are limited to user fees from OHV registrations.

“The USFS and BLM participate in FWP’s TIP-MONT program and receive information directly from callers reporting OHV and other violations,” Paige said. “FWP game wardens work on the ground with USFS and BLM rangers to respond to these reports.

FWP encourages hunters and others who observe hunting violations involving OHVs to report them to 1-800-TIP-MONT, that is 1-800-847-6668, and to gather appropriate evidence when it is safe to do so, including license and registration numbers, photos of the OHVs with the license plate in the image, and photos of tracks and other evidence of damage. Callers may remain anonymous and could receive an award for information that leads to a conviction.

Here are some tips for hunters to help reduce the impact of OHVs during hunting season.

• Know the vehicle use regulations for the area you are in.
• Stay on designated public roads or trails. It is the law.
• Access your hunting area before shooting hours and then hunt on foot.
• Retrieve harvested big game from the nearest designated road or trail.
• Respect other hunters and recreationists by slowing down or stopping as you approach them on the trail.
• Avoid wet areas.
• Reduce emissions and sound.
• Pass in a safe and courteous manner when overtaking others.
• Limit OHV use in and near campgrounds.
• Report violations to TIP-MONT at 1-800-847-6668.

Hunting Stories Now Available from the Colorado DOW

The Colorado Division of Wildlife has posted its annual story package for the 2008 Big Game Hunting Season. All media outlets are invited to use these for specials sections, on web sites or in regular publications.
 
Go to this web site to access the stories:
http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/BigGameHuntingStories.htm

The DOW recently posted a new image data base. Instructions to download photos are included on the web page.

Following is a list of the stories available this year.

•    Hunting safely
•    What to do if you make a mistake while hunting
•    Know where you’re hunting
•    Understanding Colorado’s preference point system
•    How not to get lost in the woods
•    Hunters, conservationists joined to preserve wildlife
•    Ranching for Wildlife bonus for Colorado hunters
•    Common violations can be costly
•    Moose or elk? Don’t mistake the two
•    Taking care of big game meat
•    How to hunt deer in Colorado
•    Caring for your campsite
•    Be prepared for your hunt: Make a checklist
•    High-altitude survival
•    How to hunt elk in Colorado
•    Hunting ethics
•    Follow the rules when hunting with horses
•    Know the rules and your own limits
•    Other big game hunting in Colorado
•    Poaching a constant problem
•    Pronghorn provide a unique challenge for hunters
•    Use ATVs properly; and know the laws
•    Hunting and wildlife management
•    DOW biologists studying mule deer aging

Early Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has finalized the 2008 hunting season dates and bag limits for early season migratory game birds, with no significant changes from last year.  The 2008 seasons for these game birds are as follows:

Resident Canada geese:  The bag limit is five birds per day during the September season, which extends from September 2 (the day after Labor Day) through September 25, 2008.  As was true last year, New Hampshire’s resident Canada goose population continues to grow and has a statewide distribution. 

Youth Waterfowl Weekend: The last weekend in September, this year the youth weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28. All regular season waterfowl regulations, including bag limits, shooting hours, use of non-toxic shot, etc., apply during the youth weekend.

Woodcock:  October 6 - November 4, 2008. Bag limit is 3 birds per day.

Snipe:  September 15 to November 4, 2008. Bag limit is 8 birds per day.

Sea ducks: October 1, 2008 - January 15, 2009. Bag limit is 7 birds per day, with no more than 4 scoters, 4 eiders or 4 long-tailed ducks

Crows:  The fall crow-hunting season runs from August 15 to November 30, 2008; next spring’s two-week crow season will be March 16-31, 2009.

Hunters of all migratory game birds must have a 2008 New Hampshire hunting license and are required by federal law to register for the National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP). In New Hampshire, this includes all who hunt ducks, geese, snipe, woodcock and coots.  Separate HIP permits are needed in each state.  Licensed hunters should call 1-800-207-6183, or go to the “Buy Your License Online” section of the Fish and Game website www.HuntNH.com, to receive a permit number (there is no charge).  This number should be written on the hunting license.  Harvest information from HIP helps Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service make more reliable estimates of the number of all migratory birds harvested.  Each year, a random selection of hunters is asked to complete a voluntary harvest survey.

Waterfowl hunters must also obtain a federal duck stamp and a New Hampshire Migratory Waterfowl hunting license.

If you’re new to waterfowl hunting or thinking about getting started, get an introduction at a free waterfowl hunting seminar being offered by N.H. Fish and Game on Saturday, September 13, 2008, from 9 a.m. - noon at the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center on Perch Pond Road in Holderness. The session will be taught by veteran waterfowler Pete Lester.  Pre-registration is required. To sign up for the workshop, call (603) 536-3954. For more information, click here.

Late-season waterfowl dates for the upcoming season in New Hampshire will be finalized after a public hearing on August 26, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. at N.H. Fish and Game headquarters on Hazen Drive in Concord, N.H.  For more information, visit http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2008/News_2008_Q3/Waterfowl_Hearing_080508.html.

Hunters are asked to report all banded birds by calling toll-free to 1-800-327-BAND.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will send a certificate with information about the bird.

For more information on New Hampshire hunting season dates and regulations, click here.

To buy licenses and permits online, visit www.HuntNH.com.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.

First 2008-2009 Early Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons Begin Sept. 1

ANNAPOLIS — Today, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the 2008-2009 early migratory game bird hunting seasons.

“The dove season, which marks the traditional start of hunting activity each year in Maryland, opens on Monday, Sept. 1, and continues through Oct. 11,” said Bill Harvey, DNR migratory game bird manager.

The second dove season runs from Nov. 15 to Nov. 28. The third split dove season begins Dec. 20 and runs through Jan. 3. The daily bag limit for doves will remain at 12 for the 2008-2009 hunting season.

Maryland’s woodcock season is split into two segments, Nov. 8-28 and Jan. 16-24.

The early resident Canada goose season opens Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 15 in the eastern zone. In the western zone, the season will continue through Sept. 25. The daily bag limit is eight geese per day. During the early resident Canada goose season, hunters may use shotguns capable of holding more than three shotshells and shooting hours are extended to one-half hour past sunset.

September teal season begins Sept. 18 and continues through Sept. 27. Hunters should note that the boundary for the September teal season zone changed slightly last year, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/ewfchart.asp for the zone description. Shooting hours for the September teal season are sunrise to sunset.

All migratory game bird hunters, including landowners who are license exempt, must obtain the HIP (Harvest Information Program) permit and the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp in addition to a general hunting license. Hunters must possess the printed receipt showing proof of purchase of the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp while hunting migratory game birds. Migratory bird hunters are no longer required to sign and attach the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp to their hunting license. Hunters may now purchase licenses and stamps online by accessing the DNR’s website at www.dnr.state.md.us.

All waterfowl hunters age 16 and over must possess the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp). Hunters are still required to sign the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp) and have it in their possession while hunting waterfowl. Hunters may obtain federal duck stamps at U.S. Post Offices, National Wildlife Refuges, and some DNR sport license agents.

Nontoxic shot is required for hunting rails, snipe, waterfowl, and coots. Hunters may not possess or use nontoxic shot larger than size No. T or use or possess any lead shot while hunting rails, snipe, waterfowl, and coots. Approved types of nontoxic shot and other information on migratory bird hunting is listed in the free booklet Hunting and Trapping in Maryland 2008-2009 or on the DNR’s website: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/index.asp.

For a table that lists the dates and bag limits for Maryland’s 2008-2009 early migratory game bird hunting seasons, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/weblesschart.asp. For a quick reference to the early resident Canada goose and September teal seasons and bag limits, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/ewfchart.asp. Hunters are encouraged to report banded migratory game birds by calling 1-800-327-BAND (2263) or through the Internet at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/.

Official shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for all migratory game bird hunting EXCEPT for: (1) mourning dove during the first season segment, when shooting hours are from noon to sunset; (2) teal during the September teal season when shooting hours are sunrise to sunset; and (3) early (September) resident Canada goose season when shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Goose Hunting Seasons Finalized in South Dakota

FORT SISSETON HISTORIC STATE PARK, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Commission finalized the state goose hunting seasons at its August meeting amid reports that goose populations remain robust.

“There will be a strong population of migrant birds,” Wildlife Division Assistant Director George Vandel  told commissioners. “Snow geese numbers should still be quite good as well.”

With geese arriving on the Missouri River later each year, the start of the 2008 season will begin on Nov. 1 in Unit 2. That unit is largely those counties along the Missouri River and portions of Custer and Fall River Counties. In order to take advantage of later-arriving geese, hunters in Perkins County have asked that their county also be included in Unit 2.

The goose hunting season dates include:

Light geese and white-fronted geese, statewide, Sept. 27 through Dec. 21.

Canada geese, Unit 1, Sept. 27 through Dec. 21.

Canada geese, Unit 2, Nov. 1 through Feb. 13, 2009.

Canada geese, Unit 3, Jan. 10-18, 2009.

The daily limit is three Canada geese, 20 light geese and one white-fronted goose. Possession limits are unlimited for light geese which include snows, blues and Ross’ geese and twice the daily limit for all other geese.

Duck Season in South Dakota Set with Third Year of Hunter’s Choice Experiment

FORT SISSETON HISTORIC STATE PARK, S.D.–As it enters its third and final year, the Hunter’s Choice experiment for duck hunters seems to be achieving its desired effects. That’s what Game, Fish and Parks Commissioners heard prior to finalizing the state duck hunting season at their August meeting at Fort Sisseton Historic State Park.

“We’re saving a lot of hen mallards with Hunter’s Choice,” GFP Senior Waterfowl Biologist Spencer Vaa told commissioners. Hunter’s Choice uses an aggregate bag of one hen mallard or one pintail or one canvasback. This limits the harvest of species that need protection while maintaining a full hunting opportunity on more abundant species. Prior to the implementation of Hunter’s Choice, South Dakota’s duck season used a season-within-a-season for the taking of pintails and canvasbacks.

“In two years of Hunter’s Choice, it looks like it’s doing what we wanted it to,” said Wildlife Division Assistant Director George Vandel, “limiting harvest without limiting hunting opportunity.”

Vandel reminded commissioners that federal regulations govern the taking of migratory birds. “You have to work with the other states in the Central Flyway,” Vandel said. “As a state, you just can’t do what you want.”

The original proposal before commissioners offered a limit of three wood ducks. Taking its direction from the Central Flyway, that limit was reduced to two wood ducks in the finalized season. For South Dakota, the daily duck bag limit is five comprised of no more than two scaup, two wood ducks, two redheads, one hen mallard or one pintail or one canvasback.

“Canvasbacks took a pretty good hit,” Vandel said. Of the four flyways, the states in the Central Flyway are the only ones eligible to hunt canvasbacks this year. That season is closed in the other three flyways.

In South Dakota there will also be a daily limit of 15 coot and five mergansers with the merganser bag limited to no more than two hooded mergansers. Possession limits are twice the daily bag limit.

Season dates are Oct. 4 through Jan. 8, 2009, in the High Plains; Sept. 27 through Dec. 9 in the Low Plains North and Low Plains Middle; and Oct. 11 through Dec. 23 in the Low Plains South.

As the Hunter’s Choice experiment comes to an end, Vandel said the next step will be an evaluation of the results. “We’ll study how to incorporate Hunter’s Choice into our season or if hunters even want Hunter’s Choice.” According to Vandel, part of the evaluation will include a survey of waterfowl hunters.

FWC Announces 2008-09 Hunting Seasons

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
2008-09 hunting season dates

(Seasons and dates are not applicable to wildlife management areas)

Season	Northwest Zone	Central Zone	South Zone
Archery	Oct. 18 - Nov. 16, 2008	Sept. 20 - Oct. 19, 2008	Sept. 6 - Oct. 5, 2008
Deer-dog training	Oct. 25 - Nov. 13, 2008	Oct. 4-23, 2008	Oct. 4-23, 2008
Crossbow	Dec. 1-7, 2008	Oct. 20-24, 2008	Oct. 6-10, 2008
Muzzleloading gun	Nov. 21-23, 2008 and Feb. 19 - March 1, 2009	Oct. 25 - Nov. 2, 2008	Oct. 11-19, 2008
General gun	Nov. 27-30, 2008 and Dec. 13, 2008 - Feb. 18, 2009	Nov. 8, 2008 - Jan. 18, 2009	Oct. 25, 2008 - Jan. 4, 2009
Antlerless deer	Dec. 20-26, 2008	Nov. 15-21, 2008	Nov. 1-7, 2008
Fall turkey*	Nov. 27-30, 2008 and Dec. 13, 2008 - Jan. 18, 2009	Nov. 8, 2008 - Jan. 4, 2009	Nov. 8, 2008 - Jan. 4, 2009
Quail and gray squirrel	Nov. 8, 2008 - March 1, 2009	Nov. 8, 2008 - March 1, 2009	Nov. 8, 2008 - March 1, 2009
Bobcat and otter	Dec. 1, 2008 - March 1, 2009	Dec. 1, 2008 - March 1, 2009	Dec. 1, 2008 - March 1, 2009
Spring turkey	March 21 - April 26, 2009**	March 21 - April 26, 2009	March 7 - April 12, 2009

Wild hogs, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, skunks, nutrias, beavers and coyotes may be taken year-round.

* No fall harvest of turkeys allowed in Holmes County.

** Spring turkey season is limited to March 21 - April 5, 2009 in Holmes County.

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