Contact: Tom Whittendale, Wildlife, phone: (302) 653-2883
or Greg Moore, Wildlife Administrator, phone: (302) 739-9914

Division of Fish and Wildlife Says Outlook for Upcoming Waterfowl Season 'Fairly Good'

Based on breeding waterfowl numbers, Delaware hunters can expect about the average number of ducks this fall. However, the number of ducks an individual hunter sees is largely dependent upon local conditions such as weather and water levels.
Preseason scouting is necessary to know local conditions and increases the quality of the hunting experience, according to Division of Fish and Wildlife waterfowl biologist Tom Whittendale.
"The outlook for the 2005-2006 duck season is fairly good," Whittendale said. "Breeding duck numbers were similar to last year but five percent below the long term average. Breeding habitat conditions were good to excellent in the eastern U.S. and Canada, but drier in the central U.S. and Canadian provinces. The fall flight is predicted to be similar to that of 2004."
The conditions in the breeding areas determine the season framework that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service applies to Delaware and the other Atlantic Flyway states.

ATLANIC BRANT

The January estimate of brant in the Atlantic flyway is 123,200 (5 percent below 2004, and below the population goal of 125,000). Spring breakup of ice and snow on the breeding grounds was delayed this year and production should be less than in 2004. A reduced fall flight is expected.

GREATER SNOW GEESE

The 2005 spring photographic survey in Canada's St. Laurence Valley prior to the breeding season was 814,600 (15 percent below last year). Heavy winter snow fall contributed to a delayed nesting season, and clutch size was slightly lower than last year. A fall flight similar to or slightly below 2004 is expected.

CANADA GEESE

The 2005 breeding population index for the Atlantic population of migratory Canada geese was 162,400 pairs (down 7 percent from last year) with a total population of 1,140,800(up 12 percent from last year). Good nesting conditions and good nesting success in 2005 resulted in increased reproduction. A fall flight larger than last year is expected.



MIGRATORY BIRD SEASONS 2005 - 2006

Dove Sept. 1 – Sept. 30 Noon to sunset
12 bird daily limit Dec. 6 – Jan. 14 ½ before sunrise to sunset

Resident Canada Goose Sept. 1 – Sept. 15
8 bird daily limit

Early Teal Sept. 17 – Sept. 27
4 bird daily limit Geographic limitations in coastal zone only,
½ hour before sunrise to 10:00 am.

Youth Hunt Oct. 22
Standard limits apply including (1 canvasback & 2 Canada geese)

Ducks Oct. 24- Nov. 5
6 bird daily limit Nov. 21 – Dec. 3
Dec. 12 – Jan. 21

Canvasback Dec. 19, 2005 – Jan. 21, 2006

Six duck basic bag including no more than: 4 mallards (2 hens), 2 scaup, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 black duck, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 4 scoters, and 1 canvasback. Harlequin closed.

Snow Goose Oct. 10 – Nov. 8
15 bird daily limit Nov. 21 – Jan. 21
Jan. 23 – Mar. 10 (Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat. Only)
Alternate season for Bombay Hook: Oct. 10 – Jan. 20 & Feb. 6 – March 8

Brant Dec. 28 - Jan. 31
2 bird daily limit

Migrant Canada Goose Nov. 21 – Dec. 3
Dec. 15 – Jan. 21
(2 bird daily limit)

Coots & Mergansers Same season dates as ducks
15 coots & 5 mergansers daily limit (1 hooded merganser)

Possession limit is twice the daily bag, except no possession limit for snow geese.
Shooting hours are ½ hour before sunrise to sunset, except for the teal season.

King & Clapper Rails Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
10 bird daily limit

Sora & Virginia Rails Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
25 bird daily limit

Woodcock Nov. 21 – Dec. 10
3 bird daily limit Dec. 22 – Dec. 31

Common Snipe Nov. 21 – Jan. 31
8 bird daily limit

Gallinules Sept. 1 – Nov. 9
15 bird daily limit

Crows June 23 – March 25
No limit

Sea Ducks Sept. 17 – Jan. 19
7 bird daily limit (including only 4 scoters)


 

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