RALEIGH, N.C. (Aug. 29, 2005) The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has established season dates, bag limits and other waterfowl hunting regulations for 2005-2006.
Duck hunters received a full 60-day season, and goose hunters in the states northeastern counties can enjoy the areas first Atlantic population Canada goose season since 1991.
Working within frameworks established by federal wildlife authorities, the state Wildlife Commission set the following season dates:
 | ducks, coots and mergansers Oct. 5-8, Nov. 12-Dec. 3 and Dec. 17-Jan. 28. (Black and mottled duck seasons closed until Dec. 1; season closed on harlequin ducks.) |
| canvasbacks Dec. 26-Jan. 28. |
| sea ducks Oct. 5-Jan. 28. |
| brants Dec. 26-Jan. 28. |
| tundra swans Nov. 5-Jan. 31, permit only, 5,000 permits to be issued. |
| light geese (snow, blue and Ross geese) Oct 19-29 and Nov. 12-March 4. |
Seasons for dark geese (Canada and white-fronted) vary by population zone. [See Goose Zones map here (pdf -opens to new window)]. Goose season dates by zone include:
| Resident Population Zone Oct. 5-8, Nov. 12-Dec. 3 and Dec. 17-Jan. 28. |
| Southern James Bay Population Zone Oct. 5-15 and Nov. 12-Dec. 31. (Gaddy Goose Refuge closed during late season.) |
| Northeast Hunt Zone Jan. 14-31. |
The Northeast Hunt Zone, comprising all or parts of 11 northeastern counties, will be a permit-only hunt with a season limit of one bird per hunter. The hunt has been approved for three years during which feathers of all geese harvested will be collected for DNA analysis to determine whether they are residential or migratory. At the end of the first year if participation or harvests are low, the number of permits can be increased.
Other bag limits include (possession limit of twice the daily limit, except where noted):
| ducks six with no more than: one black or mottled duck, four mallards (no more than two hen mallards), two wood ducks, two redheads, two scaup, four scoters, one canvasback, one fulvous tree duck and one pintail. |
| sea ducks seven in the special sea duck areas. In other areas, sea ducks are part of the regular duck bag limit. |
| coots 15. |
| mergansers five, with no more than one hooded merganser. |
| snow geese 15, no possession limit. |
| brant two. |
Bag limits for Canada and white-fronted geese vary by date and by population zone:
| September, statewide except Dare County special zone five. |
| September, Dare County special zone two. |
| Resident Population Zone (regular season after Sept. 30) five. |
| Southern James Bay Population Zone (regular season after Sept. 30) two. |
| Northeast Hunt Zone (regular season after Sept. 30) one per season with permit. |
Shooting hours will be from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunters can report bands by calling toll-free (800) 327-BAND.
The Commission also set Feb. 4 as Youth Waterfowl Day for hunters age 15 or younger. Participants must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older, who is not allowed to hunt.
For more information about waterfowl hunting practices and regulations in North Carolina, see hunting regulations page or call the Division of Wildlife Management at (919) 733-7291.
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