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The
Natural Resources Commission approved the 2006 waterfowl regulations at
its August meeting in Manistique. Changes from 2005 include hunting
season dates, an increase to 50 days in the MVP Canada goose zones,
60-day seasons for both northern pintail and canvasbacks, and a two-bird
bag limit for hooded mergansers.
CANADA GEESE
 | The 2006 dates for the regular Canada goose season are:
Upper Peninsula MVP Zone - Sept. 18 to Nov. 6
Lower Peninsula MVP Zone - Sept. 30 to Oct. 29 and Nov. 23 to Dec. 12
Southern James Bay Zone - Oct. 7 to Oct. 16 and Nov.23 to Dec. 12 |
| The early Canada goose season is:
Sept.1 to 10 in Zone 1 and Huron, Tuscola, and Saginaw counties;
Sept. 1 to 15 in the remainder of Zones 2 and 3. |
| Allegan County Goose Management Unit (GMU) - Nov. 24 to Dec. 3 and
Dec. 23, 2006 to Jan. 31, 2007 (or 3,000 birds) |
| Muskegon Wastewater GMU - Oct. 17 to Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 to Dec. 21
(or 1,000 birds) |
| Saginaw County GMU - Oct. 7 to Nov. 25 (or 2,000 birds) |
| Tuscola County GMU - Oct. 7 to Nov. 25 (or 750 birds) |
| The late season is Dec. 31, 2006 to Jan. 29, 2007 in the South
Zone. |
| The early and late seasons will have daily Canada goose bag limits
of three birds to maintain numbers of Michigan-nesting giant Canada
geese within the desired spring population goal of 175,000 to 225,000
birds. |
DUCKS
| The 60-day duck season dates are:
North Zone - Sept. 30 to Nov. 28, 2006
Middle Zone - Sept. 30 to Nov. 26 and Dec. 2 to Dec. 3, 2006
South Zone - Oct.7 to Dec.3, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2006 to Jan. 1, 2007
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| Canvasback season was increased to 60 days. |
| The daily limit of six ducks may include no more than four
mallards (only one female mallard), two wood ducks, two redheads, one
black duck, one pintail, two scaup and one canvasback. |
| The daily limit of five mergansers may include no more than two
hooded mergansers. |
| A two-day special federal waterfowl hunt for youth is scheduled
for Sept. 16-17, 2006. In addition, there will be special
youth-preference drawings at managed waterfowl areas during the
season. For additional information about youth waterfowl hunting
opportunities, see the 2006 waterfowl guide, which will be available
in early September. |
The director of natural resources has been given the authority to
make adjustments regarding the taking of migratory game birds to keep
the harvest within federal regulations.
Additional information on these regulations is available on the DNR
Web site at
www.michigan.gov/dnr/hunting.
The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use
and enjoyment of the state's natural resources
for current and future generations.
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