2007-08 WATERFOWL SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS SELECTED;
GAME COMMISSION POSTS AVIAN INFLUENZA INFORMATION ON WEBSITE;
HUNTERS ENCOURAGED TO REPORT BANDED BIRDS;
WATERFOWL HUNTERS CAUTIONED ABOUT EATING MERGANSERS;
GOOSE BLIND DEADLINES FOR CONTROLLED HUNTING AREAS;
WEAR A LIFE JACKET IF HUNTING FROM A BOAT;
2007-08 WATERFOWL SEASONS

2007-08 WATERFOWL SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS SELECTED

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Game Commission has made its selections for the 2007-08 waterfowl hunting seasons and bag limits and will forward those selections to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service next week, according to Carl G. Roe, agency executive director. Annual waterfowl seasons are selected by states from a framework established by the USFWS. Game Commission selections were made after reviewing last year's season results, waterfowl survey data, and input gathered from waterfowl hunters and the public. Final approval from the USFWS is expected by late September.

In addition to releasing waterfowl seasons, Roe also noted that the Game Commission again has posted the waterfowl seasons brochure and maps on its website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). The agency currently is mass-producing brochures to be distributed to U.S. Post Offices within the next two weeks.

"Many hunters already have purchased their hunting licenses and federal waterfowl stamps in anticipation of the season," Roe said. "For their convenience, in addition to being able to pick up the waterfowl brochure and maps at post offices and license issuing agents, hunters can obtain this important information from the Game Commission's website."

John Dunn, Game Commission Game Bird Section supervisor, said the federal frameworks are again allowing for a 60-day season with a six-duck daily bag limit, with the usual species restrictions and bag limits except for canvasbacks, where the bag limit has been increased from one daily to two daily. He also noted that Canada goose seasons are similar to last year, except for the Resident Population Zone, where the season has been increased to 80 days with the bag limit remaining at five daily.

"We tried to maximize the overlap between duck and goose seasons as requested by many of our hunters," Dunn said. "For example, in the Southern James Bay Population Zone, we moved days to provide for maximum overlap with duck, but this will necessitate reducing the number of days with a five-bird bag to 14 days during the Jan. 15-30 late season period."

As announced on July 20 (see News Release #89-07), the early statewide season for resident Canada geese is Sept. 1-25. Bag limits are the same as last year's early goose season, eight daily and 16 in possession statewide, with exceptions for Pymatuning and Middle Creek areas.

Dunn noted that, although hunting hours have been extended to one-half hour after sunset for big game (except spring gobbler) and small game, federal regulations prevail for waterfowl and migratory game birds and shooting hours for these species will continue to close at sunset. The only exception to this is during the early September Canada goose season, in which the USFWS has permitted states to extend the hunting hours to one-half hour after sunset.

Also, legal shooting hours begin at one-half hour before sunrise for all migratory game bird seasons, except, of course, for the first split of the dove season (Sept. 1-29), when hunting will start at noon and continue through sunset daily.

While the Pymatuning Zone, which includes the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area in Crawford County, remains closed during the early season, hunters may take geese on Pymatuning State Park Reservoir and an area extending 100 yards inland from the shoreline of the reservoir, excluding the area east of SR 3011 (Hartstown Road). Inside this area, bag limits are eight daily and 16 in possession.

"Working with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, we are providing hunters with the opportunity to take Canada geese within this portion of the park to address problems being caused by the resident goose population," Dunn said.

Dunn also noted that the controlled hunting areas at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lebanon-Lancaster counties have been modified to address the decline in the resident Canada goose flock. In the area of Lancaster and Lebanon counties north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, east of SR 501 to SR 419, south of SR 419 to Lebanon-Berks county line, west of Lebanon-Berks county line and Lancaster-Berks county line to SR 1053 (also known as Peartown Road and Greenville Road), west of SR 1053 to Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, the daily bag limit is one goose, possession limit two geese; except on State Game Land 46 (Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area) where the season is closed.

Excluding the two areas identified, the early season in the remainder of the state retains a daily bag limit of eight and possession limit of 16.

"For the fifth year, there will not be a September goose hunting season anywhere on State Game Land 46, " Dunn said. "The goose harvest and hunter success rates have declined by roughly 50 percent over the past 11 years in the controlled goose hunting area of Middle Creek. To give the local resident Canada goose population a chance to increase to provide improved hunting opportunities at Middle Creek, we again are closing the September season for this year."

Also, for the regular goose seasons (Nov. 15-24, and Dec. 13-Jan. 23), the bag limits for Canada geese on all of State Game Land 46 will remain at one daily and two in possession.

"Although most species of waterfowl are above their long-term population averages, we continue to be very concerned about the status of greater and lesser scaup," Dunn said. "The 2007 breeding population estimate for scaup was 3.5 million, up 6 percent from last year, but still 33 percent below the long-term average and the third lowest on record. Declining age ratios in the harvest also point to an underlying problem with recruitment.

"Regardless of the reason for this decline, as the population gets smaller its ability to support the same level of harvest decreases. The USFWS and Flyway Councils are working together to have a scaup harvest strategy in place for the 2008-09 season setting process in the event some types of harvest restrictions are needed in the future."

Once again, young Pennsylvania hunters will be provided with a special day of waterfowl hunting on Saturday, Sept. 22. The Youth Waterfowl Day will be open to those 12-15 years of age who hold a junior hunting license. To participate, a youngster must be accompanied by an adult, who may assist the youth in calling, duck identification and other aspects of the hunt. During this special day-long hunt, youth can harvest ducks, mergansers, coots and moorhens.

In addition, because the Youth Waterfowl Day and the early Canada goose season overlap this year, youth and the adults accompanying them may harvest Canada geese. The daily limit for the Youth Waterfowl Day for Canada geese is the same as the daily limit for adults in the area being hunted, with one exception. In the Pymatuning Zone, youth can take two geese. In the Pymatuning State Park Reservoir and an area extending 100 yards inland from the shoreline of the reservoir, excluding the area east of SR 3011 (Hartstown Road), youth can take the same daily bag limit as adults, eight Canada geese.

Youth Waterfowl Day bag limits for ducks, mergansers and coots will be consistent with the limit for the regular season.

Also, this agency again will hold a special youth-only waterfowl hunting day at the controlled hunting blinds at both Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area. The youth day for Middle Creek will be Nov. 17, and for Pymatuning it will be Nov. 24. A special drawing of applications submitted by junior license holders will be held immediately before the regular drawing for goose blinds. Interested youth should use the same application on page 29 of the 2007-08 Digest. Only one application will be accepted per junior hunter.

In addition to a regular Pennsylvania hunting license, persons 16 and older must have a Federal Migratory Bird and Conservation Stamp, commonly referred to as a "Duck Stamp," signed in ink across its face. All waterfowl hunters, regardless of age, must have a Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License to hunt waterfowl and other migratory birds, including doves, woodcock, coots, moorhens, rails and snipe. All migratory game bird hunters in the United States are required to complete a Harvest Information Program survey when they purchase a state migratory game bird license. The survey information is then forwarded to the USFWS.

"By answering the questions on the survey card, hunters will improve survey efficiency and the quality of information used to track the harvest of migratory birds for management purposes," Dunn said.

Hunters must use non-toxic shot while hunting ducks, geese or coots in Pennsylvania. The use of decoys powered or operated by batteries or any other source of electricity is unlawful in Pennsylvania. Also, the use of any sort of artificial substance or product as bait or an attractant is prohibited.

Created in 1895 as an independent state agency, the Game Commission is responsible for conserving and managing all wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth, establishing hunting seasons and bag limits, enforcing hunting and trapping laws, and managing habitat on the 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands it has purchased over the years with hunting and furtaking license dollars to safeguard wildlife habitat. The agency also conducts numerous wildlife conservation programs for schools, civic organizations and sportsmen's clubs.

The Game Commission does not receive any general state taxpayer dollars for its annual operating budget. The agency is funded by license sales revenues; the state's share of the federal Pittman-Robertson program, which is an excise tax collected through the sale of sporting arms and ammunition; and monies from the sale of oil, gas, coal, timber and minerals derived from State Game Lands.

As hunters prepare for waterfowl and migratory game bird seasons, the Pennsylvania Game Commission urges hunters to review information posted on its website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) about avian influenza and wild birds. The information can be accessed by selecting "Avian Influenza" in the "Quick Clicks" box in the upper right corner of the agency's homepage.

"We have compiled a list of important facts, answers to common questions and links to more detailed information on our website," said Dr. Walt Cottrell, Game Commission wildlife veterinarian. "Migratory birds - typically waterfowl and shorebirds - are considered the natural reservoir for Avian Influenza viruses. But, these are the low-pathogenic strains of the disease, a far cry from the virus that is causing so much trouble in domestic poultry elsewhere in the world."

Dr. Cottrell noted that avian influenza viruses are classified as having low pathogenicity or high pathogenicity based on the severity of the illness they cause in poultry, and most are not considered a public health threat. Indeed, the impact of highly pathogenic H5N1 on migratory bird populations and the role that wild birds play in the spread of H5N1 is unclear.

"Scientists are uncertain if wild birds were the source of the HP5N1 virus, or if they acquired it from poultry," Dr. Cottrell said. "The worry is that, once infected, wild birds could transport the virus to a new location, but these relatively few infected wild birds are rarely able to travel far."

The highly pathogenic H5N1 (HPH5N1) strain of avian influenza has not been detected in North America, in spite of testing more than 100,000 samples. However, HPH5N1 has caused the largest and most severe outbreaks in poultry on record in Asia, Africa and Europe. At present, the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus does not easily infect people and only very rarely spreads from person to person. In cases where the HPH5N1 strain has infected humans, it is a serious disease; while only about 240 people are known to have contracted the disease, about half of them have died. Most human cases of HPAIH5N1 have been as a result of very close contact with infected birds or consumption of raw or undercooked poultry. Even as serious as it is, it has not attained the capability to cause a human pandemic.

Since its discovery in China 12 years ago, the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain has spread to Asia, Europe and Africa, where it has primarily affected domestic poultry. Legal and illegal movement of infected birds, poultry products, contaminated materials, equipment and vehicles, as well as wild bird migration, are some of the ways that HPH5N1 can be spread.

Dr. Cottrell noted that if the highly pathogenic H5N1 is detected in wild birds in the United States, it does not necessarily pose a threat to the general public. Even though the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza has been detected in a number of wild bird species, the actual number of wild birds infected with H5N1 has been relatively very low. There currently is no scientific basis for controlling highly pathogenic H5N1 by management of wild birds beyond physically segregating poultry from exposure to wild birds.

"For prevention's sake, hunters should follow routine precautions when handling game birds," Dr. Cottrell said. "Do not kill, handle or eat sick game. Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves while handling and cleaning game, wash hands and thoroughly clean knives, equipment and surfaces that come in contact with game. Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling animals. All game and poultry products should be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit."

Cottrell pointed out that a certain level of mortality in wild birds is normal, and that wild bird mortality can occur as a result of trauma, ingestion of pesticides, infections and accidents of nature, most of which pose no threat to the health of domestic animals or people. However, incidents of five or more ill or dead birds (not including pigeons) in the same geographic area over a one- or two-day period may indicate significant mortality and should be reported during regular business hours to the Game Commission Region Office that serves the area.

"Bag and refrigerate - but do not freeze - the birds in a cooler with ice until arrangements for pickup or disposal can be made," Cottrell said. "Even in cases involving five or more birds, the cause of death can often be determined without laboratory testing. Game Commission staff may make arrangements to acquire dead birds or recommend disposing of them in a plastic bag in household trash that ends up at a regulated landfill."

The Game Commission's wild bird mortality investigations are part of a larger operation in cooperation with USDA Wildlife Services. In addition to following up on citizen reports of dead birds, Game Commission biologists are sampling mallards and other dabbling ducks statewide, as well as scaup (a species of diving duck) taken by hunters on Lake Erie, to test for avian influenza. Environmental samples also will be taken from areas where waterfowl congregate and tested for avian influenza.

Created in 1895 as an independent state agency, the Game Commission is responsible for conserving and managing all wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth, establishing hunting seasons and bag limits, enforcing hunting and trapping laws, and managing habitat on the 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands it has purchased over the years with hunting and furtaking license dollars to safeguard wildlife habitat. The agency also conducts numerous wildlife conservation programs for schools, civic organizations and sportsmen's clubs.

The Game Commission does not receive any general state taxpayer dollars for its annual operating budget. The agency is funded by license sales revenues; the state's share of the federal Pittman-Robertson program, which is an excise tax collected through the sale of sporting arms and ammunition; and monies from the sale of oil, gas, coal, timber and minerals derived from State Game Lands.

Waterfowl hunters are encouraged to use a toll-free number - 1-800-327-BAND - to report banded ducks, geese and doves they harvest. Callers will be requested to provide information on where, when and what species of waterfowl were taken, in addition to the band number. This information is crucial to the successful management of waterfowl. Hunters also may report banded birds via the U.S. Geological Survey's website (www.reportband.gov/).

John Dunn, Game Commission waterfowl biologist, also stressed that reporting leg-bands helps the Game Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service learn more about waterfowl movements, and survival and harvest rates that are critical to population management and setting of hunting regulations. Each year, nearly 380,000 ducks and geese and 30,000 mourning doves are banded across the United States and Canada.

"Information provided by hunters is essential in our efforts to properly manage this resource," Dunn said. "By reporting your recovery of a leg-band, hunters not only assist in managing the resource, but also have an opportunity to learn interesting facts about the bird they harvested."

Dunn noted that the toll-free reporting program is beginning to pay big dividends. Under the old reporting system, less than one-third of the birds banded were reported by hunters. Now, with the new toll-free system in place, band reporting rates are estimated to have stabilized at 60 to 70 percent. This increase allows more information to be obtained from the program and can reduce costs associated with banding waterfowl.

Created in 1895 as an independent state agency, the Game Commission is responsible for conserving and managing all wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth, establishing hunting seasons and bag limits, enforcing hunting and trapping laws, and managing habitat on the 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands it has purchased over the years with hunting and furtaking license dollars to safeguard wildlife habitat. The agency also conducts numerous wildlife conservation programs for schools, civic organizations and sportsmen's clubs.

The Game Commission does not receive any general state taxpayer dollars for its annual operating budget. The agency is funded by license sales revenues; the state's share of the federal Pittman-Robertson program, which is an excise tax collected through the sale of sporting arms and ammunition; and monies from the sale of oil, gas, coal, timber and minerals derived from State Game Lands.

WATERFOWL HUNTERS CAUTIONED ABOUT EATING MERGANSERS

To minimize potential health impacts, it's suggested that hunters don't eat merganser ducks, especially those harvested in the Lake Erie and northwestern Pennsylvania hunting zones.

Studies conducted over the past two decades on Pennsylvania and New York mergansers, especially common and red-breasted mergansers in the Lake Erie region, have concluded they may have varying levels of contaminants, including PCBs.

Mergansers consume fish and other aquatic organisms that may cause a concentration of contaminants in body tissue. Health officials have issued similar consumption advisories for certain species of fish found in these same waters.

For this reason, hunters are cautioned to not consume any mergansers. Other waterfowl should be skinned and the fat removed before cooking. Stuffing should be discarded after cooking and should not be consumed.

Created in 1895 as an independent state agency, the Game Commission is responsible for conserving and managing all wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth, establishing hunting seasons and bag limits, enforcing hunting and trapping laws, and managing habitat on the 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands it has purchased over the years with hunting and furtaking license dollars to safeguard wildlife habitat. The agency also conducts numerous wildlife conservation programs for schools, civic organizations and sportsmen's clubs.

The Game Commission does not receive any general state taxpayer dollars for its annual operating budget. The agency is funded by license sales revenues; the state's share of the federal Pittman-Robertson program, which is an excise tax collected through the sale of sporting arms and ammunition; and monies from the sale of oil, gas, coal, timber and minerals derived from State Game Lands.

Application deadlines are fast approaching for waterfowl hunters interested in being selected for the limited number of goose blinds at the controlled hunting areas at the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Pymatuning or Middle Creek wildlife management areas during the regular Canada goose season. A goose blind application must be submitted on the form that is found on page 29 of the 2007-08 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations.

Hunters may apply to only one area per year and may submit only one application, which must include the individual's 2007-08 hunting license (back tag) number.

The Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area will accept applications through the mail until Sept. 11, at: PGC Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, P.O. Box 110, Kleinfeltersville, PA 17039-0110. A public drawing will be held at 10 a.m., Sept. 12.

Applications for the Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area will be accepted through the mail until Sept. 8, at: PGC Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area, 9552 Hartstown Rd., Hartstown, PA 16131. A public drawing will be held at 10 a.m., Sept. 15.

Blinds at Middle Creek and Pymatuning will not be operational during the September season. Shooting days at Middle Creek during the regular season are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Shooting days at Pymatuning are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from Oct. 27-Nov. 24 and Dec. 10-Jan. 5 for goose hunters, and Oct. 27-Nov. 24 and Dec. 10-Jan. 4 for duck hunters.

A separate drawing is held for blinds that accommodate hunters with disabilities. Applicants must submit a current copy of their Disabled Person Permit (to hunt from a vehicle) issued by the Game Commission.

Also, this agency again will hold a special youth-only waterfowl hunting day at the controlled hunting blinds at both Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area. The youth day for Middle Creek will be Nov. 17, and for Pymatuning it will be Nov. 24. A special drawing of applications submitted by junior license holders will be held immediately before the regular drawing for goose blinds. Interested youth should use the same application on page 29 of the 2007-08 Digest. Only one application will be accepted per junior hunter.

Successful applicants will be mailed a hunting reservation entitling them to be accompanied by up to three guests. On hunting days, hunters also may apply, in person, for a chance at any blinds unclaimed by a reservation holder.

Created in 1895 as an independent state agency, the Game Commission is responsible for conserving and managing all wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth, establishing hunting seasons and bag limits, enforcing hunting and trapping laws, and managing habitat on the 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands it has purchased over the years with hunting and furtaking license dollars to safeguard wildlife habitat. The agency also conducts numerous wildlife conservation programs for schools, civic organizations and sportsmen's clubs.

The Game Commission does not receive any general state taxpayer dollars for its annual operating budget. The agency is funded by license sales revenues; the state's share of the federal Pittman-Robertson program, which is an excise tax collected through the sale of sporting arms and ammunition; and monies from the sale of oil, gas, coal, timber and minerals derived from State Game Lands.

Duck hunters hunting from a boat in Pennsylvania are urged to wear a properly-fitted personal flotation device (PFD) while on the water, counseled John Dunn, Pennsylvania Game Commission waterfowl biologist.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, every year several hunters die from drowning and hypothermia. Many waterfowlers do not consider themselves boaters, Dunn said, so they often look past the preventive measures.

"Many hunters have a mindset that life jackets are uncomfortable and too bulky, therefore they get in the way," Dunn said. "But today's life jackets are comfortable. In fact, the Coast Guard approved manual inflatable life jackets offer great freedom of movement. Float coats are another good alternative. Available in hunting colors and patterns, they double as both outerwear and a flotation device."

Trouble often can start before the boat even leaves the shore, Dunn mentioned, because the watercraft's weight capacity is exceeded. To avoid overloading, hunters should check the hull for the capacity plate to gauge how much gear and/or how many people can be carried safely.

"When you have a crew of hunters, with decoys and equipment, and dogs, a boat can easily become unbalanced," Dunn said, "especially if the wind comes up."

According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, not only is it unsafe to overload a boat, exceeding the limits posted on the capacity plate is also illegal.

The Fish and Boat Commission noted that sudden immersion into cold water is one of the leading causes of boating fatalities in the Commonwealth. Sudden immersion into cold water places a severe strain on bodily systems that can lead to hypothermia or, worse, cardiac arrest. Survivors of cold-water accidents have reported their breath driven from them on contact with the water. Anyone falling into cold water should immediately ensure that their and any companions' PFDs are intact, and work to find a way to exit the water or right the watercraft. Cover your mouth and nose - if possible - to prevent inhaling water.

If you can't get out of the water immediately and the shore is too far, the Fish and Boat Commission recommends raising your knees and wrapping your arms across your chest to help reduce heat loss through the body's core.

"Most important," Dunn suggests, "get into the routine of making the life jacket part of your hunting equipment, and wear it."

Created in 1895 as an independent state agency, the Game Commission is responsible for conserving and managing all wild birds and mammals in the Commonwealth, establishing hunting seasons and bag limits, enforcing hunting and trapping laws, and managing habitat on the 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands it has purchased over the years with hunting and furtaking license dollars to safeguard wildlife habitat. The agency also conducts numerous wildlife conservation programs for schools, civic organizations and sportsmen's clubs.

The Game Commission does not receive any general state taxpayer dollars for its annual operating budget. The agency is funded by license sales revenues; the state's share of the federal Pittman-Robertson program, which is an excise tax collected through the sale of sporting arms and ammunition; and monies from the sale of oil, gas, coal, timber and minerals derived from State Game Lands.

DUCKS:

Lake Erie Zone: All ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 29-Jan. 5.

North Zone: All ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 13-27 and Nov. 8-Jan. 1.

Northwest Zone: All ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 13-Nov. 24 and Dec. 10-Jan. 4.

South Zone: All ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 13-20 and Nov. 15-Jan. 15.

REGULAR CANADA GOOSE SEASON & BAG LIMITS (including WHITE-FRONTED GEESE): All of Pennsylvania will have a regular Canada goose season. However, season lengths and bag limits will vary by area as follows:

Resident Canada Goose Zone (RP): All of Pennsylvania except for Crawford, Erie, and Mercer counties and the area east of SR 97 from Maryland state line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey state line. The season is Nov. 15-Feb. 15, with a 5 goose daily bag limit.

Southern James Bay Population Zone (SJBP): Erie, Mercer and Crawford counties except for the Pymatuning Zone (the area south of SR 198 from the Ohio state line to intersection of SR 18, SR 18 south to SR 618, SR 618 south to US Route 6, US Route 6 east to US Route 322/SR 18, US Route 322/SR 18 west to intersection of SR 3013, SR 3013 south to the Crawford/Mercer County line). The season is Oct. 27-Nov. 24, Dec. 10-Jan. 14, with a two goose daily limit; and Jan. 15-30, with a 5 goose daily bag limit.

Pymatuning Zone: The area south of SR 198 from the Ohio state line to intersection of SR 18, SR 18 south to SR 618, SR 618 south to US Route 6, US Route 6 east to US Route 322/SR 18, US Route 322/SR 18 west to intersection of SR 3013, SR 3013 south to the Crawford/Mercer County line. The season is Oct. 27-Nov. 24 and Dec 10-Jan. 5, with a 2 goose daily bag limit.

Atlantic Population Zone (AP): The area east of SR 97 from Maryland state line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey state line. The season is Nov. 15-24 and Dec. 13-Jan. 23, with a 3 goose daily limit.

EARLY CANADA GOOSE SEASON (Statewide) - Sept. 1-25 (8 daily, 16 in possession) Statewide except: No September goose season in the Pymatuning Zone, except Canada geese may be taken on Pymatuning State Park Reservoir and an area to extend 100 yards inland from the shoreline of the reservoir, excluding the area east of SR 3011 (Hartstown Road). No September Canada goose season will be held on SGL 46, including the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area; both the controlled and public areas of SGL 46 are closed for the early season. Also, in the area of Lancaster and Lebanon counties north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, east of SR 501 to SR 419, south of SR 419 to Lebanon-Berks county line, west of Lebanon-Berks county line and Lancaster-Berks county line to SR 1053 (also known as Peartown Road and Greenville Road), west of SR 1053 to Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, the daily bag limit is one goose, possession limit two geese.

ATLANTIC BRANT (All Zones): Oct. 13-Dec. 11, 2 daily, 4 in possession.

SNOW GEESE (All Zones): Nov. 6-March 9, 15 daily, no possession limit.

Ducks: 6 daily, 12 in possession; daily limit may not include more than 4 mallards, including 2 hen mallards; 1 black duck; 1 pintail; 1 mottled duck; 1 fulvous tree duck; 2 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 2 canvasback; 4 scoters; and 2 scaup. Possession limit may not include more than 8 mallards, including 4 hens; 2 black ducks; 2 pintails; 2 mottled ducks; 2 fulvous tree ducks; 4 wood ducks; 4 redheads; 4 canvasbacks; 8 scoters; and 4 scaup.

Mergansers: 5 daily, 10 in possession (not more than 2 hooded merganser daily, 4 hooded in possession).

Coots: 15 daily, 30 in possession.

HARLEQUIN DUCKS, and TUNDRA and TRUMPETER SWANS: No open season.

Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area: shooting days are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, one-half hour before sunrise to 12:30 p.m. Ducks: Oct. 27-Nov. 24, Dec. 10-Jan. 4. Geese: Oct. 27-Nov. 24, Dec. 10-Jan. 5. Youth-only day: Nov. 24.

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area: shooting days are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1:30 p.m. Geese and ducks: Nov. 15, 17 (youth-only day), 20, 22 and 24; and Dec. 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 27 and 29; Jan. 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 and 15. Geese only: Jan. 17, 19 and 22.

YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNTING DAY (Statewide): Saturday, Sept. 22. Open to licensed junior hunters ages 12-15, when properly accompanied, for ducks, mergansers, moorhens and coots, and Canada goose as permitted. Same daily bag limits as regular season. NOTE: During the Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day, participating youth are permitted to take up to two Canada geese in the Pymatuning Zone, which is closed to all other Canada goose hunters during the early season.

YOUTH-ONLY DAY AT CONTROLLED HUNTING AREAS: Middle Creek is Nov. 17, and Pymatuning is Nov. 24.

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