8/17/2007

Conservation Commission sets duck, goose seasons

Substantial population gains in nearly all species mean another year of liberal harvest regulations.

JEFFERSON CITY-Missouri duck and goose hunters can mark their calendars. The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved another set of liberal waterfowl hunting seasons for 2007-08.

This year's federal waterfowl hunting guidelines are based on surveys that showed the third consecutive year of improved wetland conditions on northern breeding grounds. Breeding bird surveys showed the fifth-highest estimated total number of ducks since 1955. This year's total - 41.2 million - is up 14 percent from 2006 and 24 percent above the long-term average. Numbers of breeding ducks in eastern North Dakota and South Dakota were up 52 percent from last year and are now 86 percent above the long-term average.

Mallards were estimated at 8 million, a 10 percent increase from last year and 7 percent above the long-term average. The fall flight of mallards is projected to be 11.4 million, similar to last year's projection of 9.8 million.

Pintail numbers were down 19 percent from the long-term average. However, breeding population estimates for the other nine out of 10 duck species in the traditional survey area showed an increase from 2006.

Breeding bird numbers of three species - canvasbacks, redheads and northern shovelers - were at all-time records. Other species showing gains compared to 2006 included widgeons (+29 percent, gadwalls (+19) blue-winged teal (+14 percent) and green-winged teal (+13 percent).

The Commission approved a 60-day duck season with the following dates.

DUCK SEASON
North Zone - Oct. 27-Dec. 25
Middle Zone - Nov. 3 -Jan. 1
South Zone - Nov. 23-Jan. 21

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The daily limit on ducks is six, including no more than:
--Mallards, 4 (no more than 2 females)
--Scaup, 2
--Redheads, 2
--Wood ducks, 2
--Hooded mergansers, 2
--Black ducks, 1
--Pintails, 1
--Canvasbacks, 2

Other species may be taken in any number up to the daily limit of six ducks. The possession limit is twice the daily limit (12 total, varies by species).

YOUTH DUCK HUNT North Zone - Oct. 20-21 Middle Zone - Oct. 27-28 South Zone - Nov. 17-18

Bag limits for ducks and geese are the same as during the regular waterfowl season (including two Canada geese daily and four in possession).

COOT SEASON: Concurrent with duck seasons in the respective zones with a daily bag limit of 15 and a possession limit of 30.

CANADA GEESE & BRANT:
Statewide - Sept. 29-Oct. 8 Nov. 23-Jan. 30

WHITE-FRONTED GEESE:
Statewide - Nov. 23-Jan. 30

BLUE/SNOW/ROSS'S GEESE:
Statewide - Oct. 27-Jan. 30

Bag limits include:
--Twenty blue, snow or Ross's geese daily (no possession limit)
--One brant daily (two in possession)
--Two white-fronted goose, daily (four in possession)
--Three Canada geese daily (six in possession) Sept. 29-Oct. 8 and two Canada geese daily (four in possession) thereafter

FALCONRY SEASON FOR DUCKS, COOTS AND MERGANSERS: Falconry is open during the teal and regular gun duck season, including the youth season, in the respective zones. General hunting regulations, including seasons and hunting hours, apply to falconry. Regular season bag and possession limits do not apply to falconry. The falconry bag limit is not in addition to gun limits. In addition to the regular falconry season, the Conservation Commission approved extended falconry days of Feb. 11 through March 10 statewide. Bag limits: three birds daily and six in possession.

LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION ORDER: People must only possess a valid migratory bird permit to take blue, snow and Ross's geese from Jan 31 through April 30, 2008. Methods for the taking of blue, snow and Ross's geese during the Conservation Order includes using shotguns capable of holding more than three shells, and with the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electrically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds. Hunters may shoot from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. A daily bag limit will not be in effect during the Conservation Order.

The Commission set teal season dates and bag limits earlier this summer. That season will run from Sept. 8 through 23 statewide. The daily limit is four blue-winged and green-winged teal in the aggregate, with a possession limit of eight. Shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset.

-Jim Low-