U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Finalizes Light Goose Conservation Rules
December 3, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently finalized rules allowing the use of expanded hunting methods and implementation of a conservation order to increase light goose harvest. The regulations have been in place in the Central and Mississippi Flyways on an interim basis since 1999, when the Arctic Tundra Habitat Emergency Conservation Act was passed. The final rule makes the regulations permanent in those flyways, and also makes Atlantic Flyway states eligible to implement them. To finalize the regulations, the Service published a Record of Decision and Final Rule that completes the National Environmental Policy Act process for light goose management in the November 5, 2008, Federal Register.
“The overabundance of light geese is harming their fragile arctic breeding habitat,” said H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The damage to the habitat is, in turn, harming the health of the light geese and other bird species that depend on the tundra habitat. Returning the light goose population to sustainable levels is necessary to protect this delicate habitat, and every species dependent on it.”
During the last few decades, populations of greater and lesser snow geese and Ross’s geese, collectively called “light geese,” have grown to historic highs. The current breeding population of mid-continent light geese likely exceeds 5 million birds, an increase of more than 300 percent since the mid-1970s. Historic numbers of central arctic light geese have denuded portions of their fragile tundra breeding habitat to the point many areas may take decades to recover. The geese are showing lower-than-normal body size and suffering a decrease in gosling survival due to habitat degradation. The deteriorating habitat is also having a negative impact on some local populations of other bird species. For example, the number of semi-palmated sandpiper and red-necked phalarope nests have declined at La Perouse Bay, Manitoba, where habitat has been severely degraded by the geese. Overabundant greater snow geese have also damaged natural marsh habitats and caused agricultural depredations on migration and wintering areas in eastern Canada and Atlantic coast states. Decreasing the light goose population will help ease the pressure on the arctic and migration habitats, improving the health for all its associated wildlife populations, including light geese.
Since implementation of the conservation order in 1999, the harvest of mid-continent light geese has more than doubled, and the population growth rate as measured by the midwinter index has been reduced. The management goal is to reduce the number of mid-continent light geese by 50 percent, and to reduce the greater snow geese population to 500,000 birds.
The final rule authorizes the use of new hunting methods, such as electronic calls and unplugged shotguns, to harvest light geese during normal hunting season frameworks. These regulations are allowed during a light-goose-only hunting season when all other waterfowl and crane hunting seasons, excluding falconry, are closed. Further, the rule authorizes States to implement a conservation order to allow the harvest of light geese outside of traditional hunting seasons. In addition, the conservation order allows shooting hours to continue until one-half hour after sunset and removes the daily bag limit for light geese.
The Service published two rules in 1999 to authorize 24 southern and Midwestern States to increase the harvest of light geese in order to reduce the population. The rules were the result of an extensive study of arctic light goose populations completed in 1997 by the Arctic Goose Habitat Working Group, as well as dozens of scientific papers describing the burgeoning light goose population and subsequent degradation of arctic habitat and associated wildlife health. The rules were withdrawn to prevent further litigation following a court challenge by the Humane Society of the United States, Animal Alliance of Canada, Canadian Environmental Defence Fund, and The Animal Protection Institute. However, Congress subsequently passed the Arctic Tundra Habitat Emergency Conservation Act in 1999 to reinstate the rules while the Service completed an Environmental Impact Statement on light goose management. The Service published the Final Environmental Impact Statement in June of 2007 after undergoing public comments and hearings on the Draft EIS. The EIS examined five alternatives for managing light goose populations, ranging from no action, direct agency population control, to the preferred alternative of authorizing regulations to increase harvest.
The Final Rule that implements the preferred alternative in the EIS is available on the internet at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/fedreg/MGBHR.HTML
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The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
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Pennsylvania Game Commission Announces Results of October Board Meetings
October 27, 2008
BOARD TAKES STEP TO EXPAND MENTORED YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES
HARRISBURG – Taking a step forward to grow the agency’s popular Mentored Youth Hunting Program (MYHP), the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to add coyotes to the list of species that may be hunted by youths under the age of 12 while under the supervision of a mentor.Â
The addition of coyotes to the MYHP line-up was recommended by the Governor’s Youth Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation and the Pennsylvania Fox and Coyote Hunters Association.
Under the MYHP, a mentor is defined as a properly licensed individual at least 21 years of age, who serves as a guide to a mentored youth while engaged in hunting or related activities, such as scouting, learning firearm and hunter safety and wildlife identification. A mentored youth is defined as an unlicensed individual under the age of 12, who is accompanied by a mentor while engaged in hunting or related activities.
The mentor-to-mentored youth ratio may not exceed one mentor to one youth, and the pair may possess only one sporting arm while hunting. While moving, the sporting arm must be carried by the mentor. When the pair reaches a stationary hunting location, the mentor may turn over possession of the sporting arm to the youth and must keep the youth within arm’s length at all times.
“As with other MYHP opportunities, mentored youth who choose to hunt for coyotes must do so from a stationary hunting location,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director.Â
The MYHP, first implemented by the Board in 2006, also enables participating youth to hunt for squirrel, woodchuck (groundhog), spring gobbler and antlered deer. Antlerless deer are not legal, so mentored youth may not participate in any antlerless-only deer seasons. Also, if mentored youth are participating in the early or late archery deer seasons, or the late flintlock muzzleloader seasons, they must use the sporting arms legal for those seasons to take antlered deer only.
Youth and mentors are required to abide by all fluorescent orange regulations, and the mentored youth must tag and report any antlered deer or spring gobbler taken. Mentored youth may participate in the youth-only squirrel season and the youth-only spring gobbler day, as well as the general squirrel and spring gobbler seasons.
Youths participating in the Mentored Youth Hunting Program are required to follow the same antler restrictions as a junior license holder, which are two or more points on one antler or one antler three or more inches in length. Mentored youth may only pursue antlered deer, and may only participate in seasons in which antlered deer are legal and must follow appropriate sporting arm restrictions.
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BOARD APPROVES ADDITIONAL URBAN DEER MANAGEMENT OPTION
Continuing to implement recommendations of its Urban Deer Management Plan, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a regulatory change to allow homeowners associations and nonprofit land-holding organizations to apply for a Deer Control Permit under the same process provided for political subdivisions, such as boroughs and townships.
“In developed landscapes, lower deer populations result in fewer deer human conflicts,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “And, although we prefer to use hunting to manage deer populations, hunting is not always feasible in an urbanized setting due to safety zone restrictions. We must, therefore, consider alternative herd reduction tools for communities to address their growing deer populations.
“Recognizing that urban deer issues do not always affect an entire township or borough, the Board is proposing to expand the list of authorized Deer Control Permit applicants to include homeowners associations and nonprofit land-holding companies. This does not change the requirements of the review process, but it does make this tool available to more groups experiencing unacceptable levels of deer-human conflicts in developed areas.”
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BOARD GIVES PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO EXPANDED USE OF CROSSBOWS
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to expand the lawful use of crossbows to include both the archery deer and bear seasons. The Board would need to approve the measure at another public meeting in order for the proposal to take effect, so this change will not be in place for the 2008-09 seasons.
The proposal given preliminary approval also would remove the lawful use of crossbows during the October muzzleloader or late flintlock muzzleloader season.
Other changes made by the proposal would simplify and make the language of the regulations easier to understand.
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BOARD APPROVES SIX STATE WILDLIFE GRANTS PROJECTS
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved six projects that will study or help species of concern in Pennsylvania. The projects approved are funded from an allocation provided by the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program, administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Federal Aid Program.
The SWG program focuses on endangered species prevention and ensuring that common species remain common. To be eligible for SWG appropriations from the federal government, Pennsylvania developed a “Wildlife Action Plan” that focuses on species with low and declining populations and species that are in great need of proactive conservation, by monitoring more abundant species for which Pennsylvania bears a special responsibility in their long-term conservation, and by incorporating habitat-level management rather than case-by-case, species-specific intervention.
“The SWG program has made Pennsylvania a better place for many species of concern and provided managers with important background to improve resource management programs,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “This work, conducted largely by both local and national partners to our agency, has accomplished great good for wildlife and the environment. But there’s much more work to do, and the cost of doing that research and intervening usually becomes more expensive with each passing year. That’s why the SWG program is critical to Pennsylvania. It makes an important difference for some species before it’s too late.”
Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) can be viewed on the internet by going to the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) by clicking on “Wildlife” in the left column, and then selecting “Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Action Plan” in the “Wildlife Grants & Programs” box.
The projects approved by the Board today are as follows:
EASTERN WOODRAT (NEOTOMA MAGISTER) MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS: Classroom and on-site instruction (at four, two-day regional workshops), will provide 90 or more resource managers with a foundation for the adaptive management of insular, surface rock communities, emphasizing the delineation of N. magister habitat sites and the avoidance, reversal or mitigation of factors potentially contributing to the decline of this species and ultimately federal listing as a threatened species. Concurrently, a workshop steering committee will form the nucleus of a N. magister recovery team (Jerry Hassinger - $30,000).
STATE GAME LAND 214 (PYMATUNING) WETLAND RESTORATION: This work will restore and enhance 113 acres of emergent and scrub-shrub wetlands for WAP species of high concern (Kurt Dyroff, Ducks Unlimited - $63,000).
TESTING SOLUTIONS TO BAT FATALITIES BY WIND TURBINES: PROACTIVE RESPONSE TO THREATS: This is the first time a wind power facility is participating in a program designed to test deterrence and curtailment options to reduce the threat of wind turbines to bats. This work will ensure substantial and measurable progress in understanding patterns of activity and fatalities and implementing deterrence and curtailment options to reduce fatalities (Ed Arnett, Bat Conservation International - $45,000).
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP NGTC GRASSLAND HABITAT: Improve high quality native warm-season grassland habitat by implementing an ecosystem based restoration plan to benefit 19 WAP priority species. Rehabilitating former grasslands and expanding current grasslands at FIG will have a tremendous impact on the cohesiveness and connectivity of this segmented habitat (Todd Bacastow, Pennsylvania State University - $41,549).
PINEY TRACT IMPORTANT BIRD AREA GRASSLANDS MANAGEMENT: This project will improve habitat at the Piney Tract IBA, a site of global significance to several grassland-obligate bird species of conservation concern. Invasive trees and shrubs will be removed and bird populations will be monitored in response to the removals. The results will help inform additional restoration efforts on similar habitats (Sarah Sargent, National Audubon Society - $30,000).
ANALYSIS OF BREEDING BIRD ATLAS DATA IN PREPARATION FOR PUBLICATION: This effort will compile and analyze data resulting from 5 years of the successful 2nd PA Breeding Bird Atlas that resulted in an average of over 68 birds in nearly all 5,937 blocks. The result is a new comprehensive assessment of all breeding birds, summary of broad distribution and abundance patterns, and thousands of point-specific locations for priority species. The resulting report will focus on new conservation guidance and tools for conservation and management of breeding birds and new evaluation of habitat associations. (Bob Mulvihill, Carnegie Museum of Natural Science at a cost of $120,000).
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BOARD APPROVES THREE LAND DONATIONS
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved three land donations offered in Greene, Lebanon and Luzerne counties to be added to the agency’s network of 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands.
In Greene County, the Board approved accepting a donation of 125 acres in Richhill Township, adjoining SGL 302, which currently is comprised of 1,196.2 acres in Greene and Washington counties. This donation from Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company, of Pittsburgh, consists of 60 acres of mixed hardwoods, 35 acres of shrub lands and reverting old fields and 30 acres of agricultural land; of which 20 acres are tillable. There is a small stream originating from ground water and springs on the property that flows into the Enlow Fork of Wheeling Creek. Indiana bats, which are a federal- and state-listed endangered species, are present on or near the property. There is no surface mining taking place on the tract, but there is a 10-foot square fenced vent shaft and a two-acre vent shaft adjacent to the tract, which will need to be subdivided prior to the donation. The entire property currently is being long-wall mined and will be subject to planned subsidence. No evidence was seen of acid mine drainage.
In Lebanon County, the Board approved accepting a donation of 1.99 acres in Cornwall Borough, adjacent to SGL 156, which currently consists of 5,184 acres in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. This donation from Catherine M. Fitzgibbons, Cornwall, is a forested parcel about 4,268 feet long by 20 feet wide and is adjacent to an existing electric transmission line right-of-way on SGL 156. Oak, hickory, black gum and sassafras make up the overstory with arrowwood, witch-hazel, maple-leaf viburnum and blackberry in the understory.
Finally, in Luzerne County, the Board approved accepting a donation of one acre in Dennison Township, which is about 2.3 miles away from SGL 187, which currently consists of 8,186.2 acres in Luzerne County. This donation from Patricia A. Davis, of Greenville, South Carolina, is a detached parcel predominately forested with northern hardwoods and eastern hemlock.
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BOARD APPROVES LAND EXCHANGE IN WARREN COUNTY
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a land exchange with the Tony L. Stec Lumber Company Inc. that will result in 100 acres of additional land being added to State Game Land 86 in Warren County.
Stec previously was the high bidder on a Game Commission timber sale on SGL 86 and agreed to pay the agency $202,020 for the timber. The Stec family is the owner of a tract of land comprised of 100 acres in Deerfield Township, Warren County, which is an indenture into SGL 86. As the Game Commission is interested in acquiring this tract to protect potential encroachment into SGL 86, the agency and Stec have agreed to the value of $170,000 for the 100-acre parcel.
As part of the exchange, Stec will transfer the 100-acre parcel to the Game Commission, and the agency would credit Stec’s timber contact $170,000 toward the $202,020 commitment.
The property is entirely forested with mostly mixed northern hardwoods to include hickory, oak and cherry. The majority of the tree species are in early forest succession. A small one-acre wetland is located on the property and an unnamed tributary, which supports native brook trout, flows across the property.
SGL 86 currently consists of 14,271 acres in Warren County.
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BOARD APPROVES GAS STORAGE LEASE AMENDMENT
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a lease amendment with Steckman Ridge to its existing 753.32-acre oil/gas lease on State Game Land 49 in Monroe Township, Bedford County.
The lease amendment consists of the addition of gas storage rights in the Oriskany formation for 82.36 storage acres and 398.6 buffer acres. Steckman Ridge is converting 1,906 acres of the now depleted Oriskany sandstone formation to a natural gas storage field, of which 82.36 acres is under the Game Commission’s ownership.
In exchange for the lease amendment, Steckman Ridge will make a one-time bonus payment of $48,460 to the Game Fund. Steckman Ridge also will pay the Game Commission an annual rental of $15,067 per year or a storage fee rate of three-cents per MCF of the storage field proportionally owned by the Game Commission, whichever the greater.
The project will be regulated by the Commonwealth’s oil/gas regulations and the Game Commission’s standard lease agreement. There will be no surface use of the lease area associated with this proposed gas storage lease amendment. All other terms and conditions of the lease will remain unchanged.
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BOARD APPROVES COAL REFUSE REMOVAL AND RECLAMATION LEASE
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved a lease with CMT Energy Inc., of Brisbin, to mine and remove abandoned coal refuse disposed on a portion of a 20.2-acre tract of State Game Land 60 in Gulich and Beccaria townships, Clearfield County.
The proposed coal refuse removal will entail about 9.3 acres of unreclaimed coal refuse spoil piles. The remaining lease acreage will be utilized for access to the coal refuse removal site, construction of erosion and sedimentation controls and operational support. The accumulated coal refuse royalty value of this proposed project has been calculated at approximately $25,000.
Removal and reclamation of the spoil piles will reduce ongoing pollution into Muddy Run.
Reclamation will be regulated by the Commonwealth’s surface Mining regulations and the Commission’s coal refuse removal and reclamation lease agreement. The five-year lease will include a $10,000 performance bond and environmental protection standards.
Further, CMT Energy will be obligated to carry out a site specific wildlife habitat and reclamation plan as per the direction of the local Land Management Group Supervisor. The reclamation plan will include the development of a 1.5- to two-acre shallow water wetland complex. No merchantable timber is to be affected by this reclamation operation.
In exchange for the coal refuse removal and reclamation lease, CMT Energy will pay the Game Commission a royalty of 10 percent F.O.B pit price or a minimum of $1/ton, whichever the greater for each and every ton of coal refuse mined and removed from the site.
BOARD TAKES OTHER ACTION
In other action today, the Board of Game Commissioners:
- Gave final approval to a series of technical changes to the agency’s regulations governing those operating under a wildlife rehabilitation permit;
- Gave final approval to a series of technical changes to the agency’s regulations governing those operating under a commercial wildlife pest control permit, which will be renamed nuisance wildlife control operator permit, consistent with industry standards. Additionally, those who possess a nuisance wildlife control operator permit will be able to take a second test and become authorized to address nuisance deer situations;
- Gave preliminary approval to a regulatory change to permit the use of electronic calls during the snow goose conservation hunt. The agency continues to await approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on it’s snow goose conservation hunt proposal;
- Recognized the final meetings of Game Commissioners Russell Schleiden and Roxane Palone. While this was the final meeting in their eight-year term, both Commissioners have the option of serving up to an additional six months, or until their successor is confirmed by the state Senate;
- Approved a resolution proposed by Game Commissioner Jay Delaney to support and advocate the implementation of the agency’s Ring-Necked Pheasant Management Plan; and
- Reaffirmed that the Board’s first meeting of 2009 to be held on Jan. 25-27, in the auditorium of the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave., just off the Progress Avenue exit of Intestate 81 in Dauphin County.
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What’s Open For Hunting in Arkansas - 10/15/2008
October 15, 2008
Current and approaching seasons in Arkansas:
Deer:
Archery – All zones: Oct. 1, 2008 to Feb. 28, 2009.
Modern Gun - Zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11: Nov. 8-30.
Zone 4:Â Nov. 8-9.
Zone 5:Â Nov. 8-9 and Nov. 15-16.
Zone 4A, 5A, 13, 14 and 15:Â Nov. 8-Dec. 7.
Zones 4B and 5B:Â Nov. 8-16.
Zones 9 and 12:Â Nov. 8-Dec. 14.
Zone 16, 16A and 17:Â Nov. 8-Dec. 25.
Muzzleloader - Zones 1, 2, 3, 4A, 5A, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15.
Zones 9, 12, 16, 16A and 17: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 29-31.
Zones 4, 4B, 5 and 5B:Â Closed.
The statewide Christmas holiday modern gun deer hunt will be Dec. 26 to 28 with the special youth modern gun deer hunt in all zones (excludes certain WMAs where a modern gun or muzzleloader permit is required to hunt) scheduled for Nov. 1 to 2.
Duck:
Nov. 22-Dec. 1,
Dec. 6-Dec. 24
Dec. 26-Jan. 25.
The youth waterfowl hunt will be Jan. 31-Feb. 1.
Northwest Canada goose zone season:
Sept. 27-Oct. 6 (bag limit two).
Statewide Canada goose season:
Jan. 10-Feb. 1 (bag limit two).
White-fronted goose season:
Nov. 15-Dec. 1, Dec. 6-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 30 with a bag limit of two.
Snow, blue and Ross’ goose season:
Nov. 8-Dec. 24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 30 with a bag limit of 20.
Snow goose Conservation Order:
Feb. 2-April 25 with no bag limit.
Dove:
Oct. 4-19
Dec. 13, 2008-Jan. 2, 2009
Virginia and Sora Rail:
Sept. 13-Nov. 21
Spotted Skunk, Weasel Hunting:
Closed
Fall Turkey:
Archery: All Zones:Â Oct. 1, 2008-Feb. 28, 2009.
Firearms: Zones 3, 5B, 6, and 17:Â Oct. 11-17.
Zones 1, 1A, 2, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 9A and 10:Â Closed.
Bear:
Archery: Zone 1: Oct. 1-Nov. 30
Zone 2: Sept. 15-Nov. 30
Zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7: Closed
Muzzleloader: Zones 1 and 2: Oct 18-26
Zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7: Closed
Modern Gun: Zones 1 and 2: Nov 3-30
Zone 5: Dec 6-14
Zone 5A: Nov 29-Dec 14
Zones 3, 4, 6 and 7: closed
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Zones 1 and 2 (does not include WMAs requiring a deer permit to harvest a bear): Nov. 1-2
Zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7: Closed
Trapping (other than coyote, beaver, muskrat, nutria): sunrise, Nov. 15-sunset, Feb. 22.
Coyote trapping: sunrise, Aug. 1-sunset, March 31.
Beaver, muskrat, nutria trapping: sunrise, Nov. 15-sunset, March 31.
Gray fox, mink, opossum, red fox, striped skunk hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1-sunset, Feb 28.
Raccoon day or night hunting: sunrise, Sept 1-sunset, March 31.
Raccoon night hunting: sunset, July 1-sunrise, Aug. 31.
Bobcat hunting: sunrise, Oct. 1-sunset, Feb. 28 and from the first day of spring turkey season through June 8.
Coyote hunting: sunrise, July 1-sunset, Feb. 28 and from the first day of spring turkey season through June 14.
River otter hunting: sunrise, Nov. 15-sunset, Feb. 28.
Muskrat, nutria, beaver hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1-sunset, March 31.
Badger, spotted skunk and weasel hunting: Closed.
Elk:
Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, A and B: Dec. 8-12.
Statewide: Nov. 1-Feb. 8.
Statewide: Sept. 1-Feb. 28.
Statewide: Sept. 6, 2008-Feb. 28, 2009 and May 16-June 14, 2009.
Statewide: Sept. 6-Feb. 23.
Projected opening dates for the 2009-2010 deer hunting season.
Oct. 1, 2009
Oct. 17, 2009
Nov. 14, 2009
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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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Connecticut DEP Announces Opening Days of Upcoming Fall Firearms Hunting Seasons
October 6, 2008
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection has announced the Opening Days of upcoming fall firearms hunting seasons. Peak hunting occurs during early morning and late afternoon, primarily during the period from mid-October through mid-December.
The fall firearms turkey season opens statewide on Saturday, October 4 and will continue through October 31. The regular waterfowl season opens statewide on Wednesday, October 15 in both the north and south hunting zones. Small game hunting season opens at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 for pheasant, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, chukar partridge, crow and cottontail rabbit. Statewide firearms deer hunting season begins Wednesday, November 19. The 2008 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide and the 2008-2009 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide, which contain additional information on laws, regulations, and season dates, can be obtained at any town clerk or Wildlife Division office, or they can be found on the DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep. Maps denoting many state-owned hunting areas and most permit-required hunting areas may be obtained, free-of-charge, from the DEP Wildlife Division’s office at the DEP Headquarters, located at 79 Elm Street in Hartford. Maps can also be found on the DEP website.
Small Game Season and Permit-required Information
With the exception of opening day (October 18,) small game hunting is allowed for most species from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. Waterfowl hunting is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.
In addition to most state forests and wildlife management areas, small game hunting will be available on a number of areas established under the permit-required hunting program. Permit-required areas are open to public hunting via a daily permit system and are made available through the cooperation of private landowners and local sportsmen’s clubs. Hunting access to some state-owned properties also is controlled on a daily basis through the permit-required program. A designated number of daily permits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for each day of the season. Permits may be requested up to two days in advance of the day that you wish to hunt. A special “seasonal” access permit for Junior Hunters, aged 12-15, will continue to be available for selected areas. The permit allows access during any day of the season for a Junior Hunter and accompanying adult licensed hunter without the need to obtain daily hunting permits. Further details and permit forms are available from the DEP website or designated permit agents.
Sportsmen wishing to hunt any designated permit-required hunting area should consult the 2008 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide for locations of vendors issuing daily permits. Changes in permit vendor locations include the following:
Hebron Area - DEP Eastern District HQ, 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough
East Windsor/Enfield - Riverview Sales, 4 Prospect Hill Road, East Windsor
NU-Kings Island - Riverview Sales, 4 Prospect Hill Road, East Windsor
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Permit Restrictions Removed for Some Permit-required Areas
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In an effort to increase opportunities for more sportsmen on quality hunting areas, daily permit restrictions have been removed on five areas under DEP ownership. Continuing this fall, daily permits are not required for small game hunting on Babcock Pond WMA (Colchester), Bear Hill WMA (Bozrah), Goshen WMA (Goshen), Higganum Meadows WMA (Haddam), and Nathan Hale State Forest (Coventry). This change is reflected in the 2008 Hunting Guide.Pheasant Prospects Remain Good; Tags Now Available for Sale
The DEP will purchase 14,742 adult ring-necked pheasants for the upcoming fall season; a decrease of 1,115 birds from the previous year’s purchase. Most stocking areas will receive adjustments in allocations as a result of the decrease in the number of birds purchased. In addition to adult pheasants, 844 eight-week-old pheasants were purchased and delivered to Norwich Fish and Game and Sprague Rod and Gun Clubs for eventual release on permit-required hunting areas.
Revenue collected from pheasant hunters in the previous year determines the annual budget for purchasing pheasants. The 2008 stocking program was directly affected by a decrease of approximately $4,000 in the net revenue collected from pheasant hunters in 2007, combined with a substantial annual increase in average pheasant costs. Rising fuel and grain costs continue to impact commercial growers.
Despite the reduction in the number of pheasants stocked, sportsmen should recognize that the ratio of pheasants stocked per hunter has actually increased over the years and the prospects for pheasant hunting are as good as they have been in several years.
Stocking Areas Maintained - Limited Stocking During Deer Season Opener
A total of 44 major public hunting areas will be stocked with pheasants during the 2008 fall season. A number of lower quality/lower public use areas were removed from the stocking list in 2007 in an effort to maintain sufficient allocations on the higher quality sites. The Natchaug State Forest in Eastford, Nye Holman State Forest in Ellington, Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford, and the Tanney Hill Block of Nehantic State Forest in Lyme will not be stocked in 2008.
A limited number of pheasants and areas will be stocked during the week of November 17, which includes opening day (November 19) of the statewide firearms deer hunting season. Stocking will occur two to three times per week during the other six weekly distribution periods. Pheasants will be nearly evenly distributed with one-half of the allocations released in October and one-half during November. All stocking will conclude by Thanksgiving Day.
To provide opportunities for weekend/family and youth hunters, volunteers for the DEP will release pheasants on Friday evenings and variable Saturdays on selected sites.
Cooperative sportsmen’s clubs that provide public hunting access to permit-required hunting areas will continue to stock state-purchased birds on several areas.
For additional details, such as area allocations and an updated listing of all major stocking areas, visit the DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep. Sportsmen are reminded that, in addition to their firearms hunting license, a Pheasant Harvest Tag Series ($14 for 10 tags) is required to hunt pheasants on public lands. Tags have been available since September and can be purchased at town halls and some license agents. Tags may also be ordered through the DEP’s on-line licensing system www.ct.gov/dep/sportsmenlicensing, but hunters should allow at least one week for the tags to be mailed to them.