Frankfort, KY –The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission set the 2006-2007 waterfowl seasons at its quarterly meeting on August 25.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission recommends all hunting, fishing and boating regulations for approval by the General Assembly and approves all expenditures by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission must place waterfowl seasons in the framework mandated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because all migratory game birds are under federal control.

Ducks, Coots and Mergansers:

Dates for the goose hunting seasons are as follows:

Canada Geese:

White-fronted Geese:

Snow Geese:

Youth Waterfowl Season:

In other waterfowl related business, the Commission approved removing the reporting requirements for Canada goose hunters in the Western Goose Zone. This includes the Ballard and Henderson-Union reporting areas. They also removed the preseason reservation draw at Boatwright Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Ballard County. All hunters will now have a daily draw for blind sites.

The Commission also voted to lengthen the waterfowl hunting day at Ballard WMA from noon to 2 p.m., the same as Boatwright and Sloughs WMAs. Hunters may now hunt beyond noon, but must be off the area by 2 p.m.

The Commission also recommended moving the southern boundary line for the waterfowl refuge at Lake Barkley WMA near Taylor Bay to the TVA transmission line that crosses Lake Barkley at river mile 55.5. This opens up 600 more acres to waterfowl hunting and uses a permanent landmark for a boundary, replacing the buoy system formerly used to mark the boundary.

The Commission also recommended banning the feeding of wildlife in rural areas from March 1 through July 31. The ban would not apply to municipal areas and rural residents could still feed wildlife within the curtilage (the enclosed land surrounding a home or dwelling) of their property. The regulation improves turkey law enforcement and also reduces the spread of disease and exposure to aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a mold toxic to birds and other wildlife that grows on grains exposed to the elements.

The Commission changed the elk hunt application period to December 1 through April 30 in order to give drawn hunters more time to plan their elk hunt. Previously, the application period ran from December 1 through July 31.

Kentucky is now part of the Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact as permitted by SB 132 that passed the General Assembly on March 30, 2006. The Interstate Violators Compact includes a reciprocal agreement that makes any suspension of hunting and fishing rights stemming from a violation in a member state apply to all of the states included in the compact.

In fisheries related business, the Commission recommended allowing bow anglers within 200 yards of a dam, except by boat in areas where boating is restricted. They also recommended that anglers cease snagging once they attain the two fish daily creel limit for paddlefish. Snagging anglers cannot release or cull any snagged paddlefish.

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission elected officers to serve until August, 2007. First District Commission member Charles Martin was elected chairman and Seventh District Commission member Doug Hensley was elected vice-chairman. Fifth District Commission member Dr. James Rich was elected secretary.

The next Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be held at 8 a.m., Friday, December 8, 2006 at #1 Sportsman’s Lane off U.S. 60 in Frankfort. Persons interested in addressing the Commission must notify the KDFWR Commissioner’s office in writing at least 30 days in advance to be considered for placement on the meeting agenda. People who are hearing impaired and plan to attend the meeting should contact the KDFWR at least 10 days in advance and the agency will provide a translator. To request to address the commission, write to KDFWR, Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601.