Illinois Duck Hunting Seasons for 2008-09

Duck Hunting season for Illinois
The USFWS is again allowing a 60-day duck season with a daily bag limit of six ducks. This marks the 12th consecutive year in which hunters in Illinois have been offered a 60-day duck season.


The Illinois duck hunting season dates are as follows:

North Zone - Saturday, Oct. 18 - Tuesday, Dec. 16
Central Zone - Saturday, Oct. 25 - Tuesday, Dec. 23
South Zone - Thursday, Nov. 27 - Sunday, Jan. 25

The daily limit of six ducks may include no more than four mallards (two hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, one black duck, and one pintail.

Canvasback season is closed statewide for 2008-09.

The daily limit for scaup in each zone will vary during the season (limit of one for 40 days and two for 20 days) as follows:

North Zone scaup limits - Oct. 18-Nov. 3 and Nov. 24-Dec. 16 - daily limit of one
Nov. 4-Nov. 23 - daily limit of two
Central Zone scaup limits - Oct. 25-Nov. 10 and Dec. 1-Dec. 23 - daily limit of one
Nov. 11-Nov. 30 - daily limit of two
South Zone scaup limits - Nov. 27-Dec. 16 - daily limit of two
Dec. 17-Jan. 25 - daily limit of one

The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.

Possession limits are twice the daily bag limits.

The USFWS annual survey of key nesting areas indicated 37.3 million breeding ducks, 9 percent lower than last year's 41.2 million birds, and 11 percent above the 1955-2007 long-term average. In 2006 there were 32.6 million ducks and in 2005 there were 31.7 million ducks. More details on specific duck species are below:

• Mallards - The mid-continent mallard fall flight forecast is 9.2 million. The fall flight index predicts 1.3 million young mallards will fly south this year compared to two million last year. Young mallards are generally twice as vulnerable to hunting as adults.

• Pintails - The northern pintail population of 2.6 million was 22 percent lower than last year. Pintails remain 36 percent below their long-term average, but the population this year was above the threshold of 2.5 million, again justifying a full season length according to the USFWS interim pintail harvest strategy.

• Canvasbacks - The canvasback population dropped 44 percent from last year's record population to 489,000 and was 14 percent below the long-term average. Based upon this population estimate, the canvasback harvest strategy does not allow a nationwide canvasback season this year. As a result, the USFWS has closed the season on canvasbacks. Based on the harvest estimate from last year's seasons, it is clear that harvest alone is not responsible for the drop. Canvasback estimates typically have higher variation than for many other species. Although it is possible that the large change in the population estimate is the result of normal sampling variation, the USFWS has no data to suggest this year's population estimate is not accurate.

• Scaup - Scaup population estimates of 3.74 million increased 8 percent over last year, but are still 27 percent below the long-term average. There is no strong evidence indicating that hunting is the primary cause of scaup declines and many agencies continue to conduct research to understand reasons for the population decline. This year, the USFWS offered the Mississippi Flyway three options which would result in a reduction of scaup harvest. In the Flyway and Illinois, a decision has been made to allow two scaup to be taken daily during 20 consecutive days of the 60-day season. During the remaining 40 days, one scaup will be allowed daily. Illinois seasons were set to allow two scaup daily during the 20 days when past aerial survey data indicated that the most scaup would likely be present in Illinois in each zone.

• Wood Ducks - The USFWS has worked with the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways during the past decade to assess harvest potential of wood ducks in eastern North America. A model-based approach was used to predict population responses to increased harvest. Results indicate that wood ducks can support more harvest pressure and the two eastern Flyways are being allowed to increase the wood duck bag limit from two to three birds daily this year. The USFWS and Flyway Councils will monitor wood duck harvest rates to ensure that bag limits remain in line with the harvest level that the population can support.

The preliminary 2007-08 Illinois duck harvest estimate of 464,366 was 8 percent lower than in 2006 (507,464) and was the sixth highest harvest since state estimates began in 1981. The harvest was 33 percent above the long term average (348,654). The North Zone harvested an estimated 81,338 ducks, while the Central took 224,200 and the South took 153,404 last year. Preliminary mallard harvest was 265,369, the sixth highest since 1981. According to federal estimates, Illinois hunters took more scaup (14,416) than any other state in the Mississippi Flyway last season. Harvest of teal during the 2007 September season was 29,800 compared to 28,016 in 2006.

The quality of habitat for breeding waterfowl in the U.S. and Canada was not as good as last year due to drought in parts of the traditional surveyed area. The estimate of May ponds for the northern U.S. and Prairie Canada was 4.4 million, which is 37 percent less than last year and 10 percent below the long term average. In Prairie Canada, there were 3.1 million ponds compared to 5 million last year. Green-winged teal are the third most harvested duck in Illinois after mallards and gadwalls. Green-winged teal populations again increased to the second highest level since 1955. Blue-winged teal were at their fourth highest level recorded. Redheads again reached a record population. Gadwalls decreased 19 percent from last year but were still 56 percent above the long term average. American wigeon populations decreased 11 percent and were 5 percent below the long term average. Experienced duck hunters know that individual hunter success is much more dependent on the weather during migration and on local water and food conditions at refuges and hunting areas. Many Illinois waterfowl areas along the Illinois River and at Lake Shelbyville and Carlyle Lake had high summer water levels which will likely cause poor duck food production. This could hurt hunting success on these areas this season. Rend Lake water levels have declined, which may result in decent moist-soil production.

September Teal Season for 2008

The statewide 16-day teal season is Sept. 6-21 from sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit is four teal with a possession limit of eight

Michigan Duck Hunting Season Set

Waterfowl hunters will have 60 days of duck hunting and at least 45 days of goose hunting statewide this fall as a result of Natural Resources Commission action on waterfowl season regulations at its Aug. 14 meeting in Lansing.

A big change this year is a new three-zone system for goose hunting with goose zones being the same as current duck hunting zones. The traditional North, Middle and South duck zones now apply to Canada goose hunting as well.

"This simplifies waterfowl hunting regulations and increases goose hunting opportunity across the state," said DNR waterfowl specialist Barb Avers. "It also provides duck and goose hunting opportunities at the same time, something hunters say is one of their top priorities."

Canada goose regular seasons are:


North Zone Sept. 22 - Nov. 5
Middle Zone Oct. 4 - Nov. 10, and Nov. 27 - Dec.3
South Zone Oct. 11 - Nov. 13, and Nov. 27 - Dec.7
The Tuscola/Huron and Saginaw goose management units (GMU) have the same goose season dates as the South zone. There will still be different seasons for the two special goose management zones in southwestern Michigan. The season at the Allegan County GMU is Nov. 8-10 and Dec. 20 - Jan. 30. The season at Muskegon Waste Water GMU is Oct. 14 - Nov. 13 and Dec. 2-15. The daily bag limit is two for all GMUs.

The late goose season will be Jan. 3 to Feb. 1, 2009 in all of the South Zone, except the Allegan County and Muskegon Waste Water GMUs. The daily bag limit during the late season will be five geese, except in GMUs where it is two.

In the Middle and South zones, the goose season opener corresponds to the duck season openers.

Duck seasons are:

North Zone Oct. 4 - Dec. 2
Middle Zone Oct. 4 - Nov. 30 and Dec. 6-7
South Zone Oct. 11 - Dec. 7 and Jan. 3-4
The federal framework does not allow a season for canvasback ducks this year.

An unusual aspect to the upcoming duck season is a federal framework that allows hunters a two-bird daily bag limit for scaup (bluebills) for only 20 days of the 60-day duck season and just one scaup daily during the remaining 40 days. The 20-day, two-bird seasons for Michigan are Oct. 11-30 in the North Zone; Oct. 18-Nov. 6 in the Middle Zone; Oct. 25 - Nov. 13 in the South Zone. The 20-day seasons were set to correspond to the peak of scaup migration.

The daily bag limit is six ducks. Hunters will be allowed to take three wood ducks a day this year, up from two last year. All other daily bag limits for individual species - four mallards, no more than one hen; two redheads; one pintail and one black duck, are the same as last year. In addition, hunters may take up to five mergansers, no more than two of which may be hooded mergansers. The possession limit for waterfowl is twice the daily bag limit.

Michigan will once again have a youth waterfowl hunting weekend for all properly licensed youths 10 to 15 years of age. This season is Sept. 20-21. Youths must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or someone 18 years of age or older, designated by their parent or guardian. The adult is not allowed to hunt waterfowl. Regulations and species restrictions are the same as for the regular waterfowl seasons

Arkansas Duck Hunting Season and Bag Limits for 2008 and 2009

Arkansas is known as "The duck hunting capital of the world." More than 70,000 duck stamps are sold in Arkansas every year, and more mallards are harvested in the state than in the rest of the Mississippi flyway. Listed below is the Arkansas duck hunting season dates and bag limits and other Arkansas waterfowl seasons for 2008 and 2009.

Arkansas Duck Hunting Season Dates:

• 
  Nov. 22, 2008 - Dec. 1, 2008
  
  Dec. 6, 2008 - Dec. 24, 2008
  
  Dec. 26, 2008 - Jan. 25, 2009
  

Duck Hunting Limits:

Daily limit of six (6) ducks which may include no more than four (4) mallards (no more than two (2) of which may be females), one (1) pintail, three (3) mottled ducks, one (1) scaup, three (3) wood ducks, two (2) redheads and one (1) black duck. Daily limit of five (5) mergansers, which may include no more than two (2) hooded mergansers.


Arkansas Statewide Canada Goose Season for 2008 and 2009:

December 26, 2008-January 30, 2009

Limit 2



Ducks & Migratory Birds

Tennessee Duck Hunting Season Set

Tennessee’s 2008-09 waterfowl hunting seasons including the Tennessee duck hunting season and the Tennessee goose hunting season were established by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission during its August meeting at Pickwick Landing State Park on Thursday.

The TWRC serves as the governing body for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. TWRC sets the state’s waterfowl seasons each year within the framework determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Tennessee duck hunting season dates and bag limits:

Tennessee has selected the option of a 59-day duck season in the Statewide Zone for 2008-09. The Reelfoot Duck Zone will have a 60-day season.

The statewide duck season will be:

Nov. 28 through Jan. 25, 2009.

There will be no split in the Statewide Zone.

In the Reelfoot Duck Hunting Zone, the dates for 2008-09 are:

Nov. 15-16 and Nov. 29-Jan. 25.

The Tennessee youth waterfowl season will also be similar to last year, with only a calendar shift. For youth ages 6-15, the Statewide Zone is:

Jan. 31-Feb 1, 2009.

The Reelfoot Zone will be Feb. 7-8, 2009.

The Tennessee duck hunting daily bag limit will be six ducks that may include no more than four mallards (no more than one female), three wood ducks, two redheads and one black duck, pintail and scaup.

The daily bag limit of merganser is five, only two of which can be hooded mergansers.

The major changes in duck hunting bag limits from last year include:

The wood duck bag limit has increased from two to three ducks per day; scaup bag limits have been reduced to one per day; the hen mallard bag limit has been reduced to one per day; and canvasback season will be closed this year.

Tennessee Goose Hunting regulations:

Federal frameworks for Canada goose season were extended in the Kentucky Lake Canada Goose Zone and will allow 72 days of hunting across the state.

Tennessee will effectively have only two functional Canada goose hunting zones in the Statewide Zone and the Northwest Zone.

The Statewide Zone dates for Canada goose are:

Oct. 4-Oct. 11 and Nov. 28-Jan. 30.

The Northwest Zone dates are:

Nov. 15-16 and Nov. 29-Feb. 8.

Season dates and bag limits for light geese (snow, blue, Ross) are similar to last season with a shift for the calendar. The standard season will run:

Nov. 24 through Feb. 8.

Federal Conservations Order provisions allow the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns for the Feb. 9 through March 10, 2009, portion of the season.

Washington Duck Hunting Season Openings





Waterfowl hunting opportunities will be similar to last year under seasons adopted by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at a meeting here Aug. 8-9.



Washingtion Duck Hunting Season.

Under the 2008 waterfowl seasons, the statewide duck hunting season will be open from Oct. 11-15 and Oct. 18-Jan. 25. A special youth hunting weekend also is scheduled for Sept. 20-21.

As part of the hunting package, the commission closed the canvasback season this year and delayed the start of the scaup season until Nov. 1 to address population declines for those species. Special limits for hen mallard, pintail, redhead, harlequin, scoter and long-tailed duck will remain the same.

Washington Goose Hunting Season Dates.

Goose hunting seasons vary by management areas across the state, but most open Oct. 11 and run into January 2009.

The goose and duck hunting seasons approved by the commission, which sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), are based on state and federal waterfowl population estimates and guidelines.

Florida Duck Hunting Season Dates and Limits

Florida Duck Hunting Season Dates and Limits

Duck hunting season in Florida is approaching rapidly. Here is the information you will need to make your duck hunting plans in Florida.

Duck hunting season in Florida -

Open Season: First Phase: Nov. 22–30, 2008.
Second Phase: Dec. 6, 2008 – Jan. 25, 2009.
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Bag Limit:

Duck – The daily bag limit of ducks is six. The six-duck limit shall consist of no more than one black duck; one mottled duck (Florida duck); one fulvous whistling-duck; one pintail; two redheads; three wood ducks; one scaup*; four scoters; and four mallards (no more than two of which may be females). All other species of duck (except canvasbacks and harlequin ducks) may be taken up to the six-duck daily limit. The possession limit is two days’ bag limit.
*the scaup daily bag limit increases from one to two during the last 20 days of the season (Jan. 6– 25, 2009).
Taking or attempting to take canvasbacks or harlequin
ducks is prohibited.
Coot – The daily bag/possession limit is 15/30.
Merganser – The daily bag/possession limit is 5/10, only 2/4 of which may be hooded mergansers.

Notice -
Major changes for the 2008-2009 season The daily bag limit for wood ducks has been increased from two to three.
The daily bag limit for scaup is as follows: One bird from Nov. 22-30, 2008 and
Dec. 6, 2008 – Jan. 5, 2009 Two birds from Jan. 6 – Jan. 25, 2009
Canvasback season is closed during the 2008-2009 hunting season.
Canada goose season is now statewide.
Internal combustion motors up to 10 h.p. may now be used on Lake Miccosukee in Leon and Jefferson counties.

Florida Canada Goose season dates -

Open Season: First Phase: Nov. 22–30, 2008.

Second Phase: Dec. 1, 2008–Jan. 30, 2009.

Florida Canadian Geese Bag/Possesion Limits -

Bag Limit: The daily bag limit/possession limit is 5/10 Canada geese; Taking or attempting to take brant or geese is prohibited.

Light geese – (snow, including blue, and Ross) - Daily limit 15; there is no possession limit.

Florida Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days:

Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009. Children under the age of 16, supervised by an adult 18 years of age or older, may hunt waterfowl, coots and common moorhens. The daily bag and possession limits for waterfowl, light and Canada geese are the same as during the regular season. The daily bag/possession limit for scaup during Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days is 2/4. Only children under 16 may hunt. Adult supervisors are prohibited from hunting while accompanying youths during the Florida Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days.

Florida Waterfowl defined -

Migratory game bird hunting Migratory game birds are all wild species of ducks, geese, brant, coots, gallinules, rails, snipe, woodcock, and mourning and white-winged doves. There is no open season in Florida on brant, purple gallinule or harlequin duck. Other migratory game birds only may be taken during seasons specified in this digest or the brochure Migratory Bird Regulations For Dove, Snipe, Woodcock, Rail, Moorhen, Crow and Early Waterfowl Seasons.

Click Here For More Florida Waterfowl Huning Information

Texas Duck Hunting Season Openers - Proposed

If you like duck hunting in Texas, click on the text link below and read this article. Also, get out your duck hunting gear and start making plans. Tenative dates for the upcoming season are listed below.

Texas duck hunters can thank the Hunter’s Choice bag limit experiment for saving them from seeing two considerable changes in duck regulations this coming season.

TEXAS’ PROPOSED 2008-09 WATERFOWL SEASONS
Season dates and bag limits Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials are proposing for the 2008-09 late-season migratory game bird-hunting seasons:

Ducks

• North Zone regular season: Nov. 1-30 and Dec. 13-Jan. 25; youth-only Oct. 25-26.

• South Zone regular season: Nov. 1-30 and Dec. 13-Jan. 25; youth-only Oct. 25-26.

• High Plains regular season: Oct. 25-26 and Oct. 31-Jan. 25; youth-only Oct. 18-19.

• Bag limit: Five ducks per day, to include no more than two scaup, two redheads, two wood ducks and one from the following group of ducks — mallard hen, canvasback, pintail, “dusky” (mottled, black, Mexican-like).

Geese

• Eastern Zone season: Light (snow, blue, Ross) geese, Nov. 1- Jan. 25; white-fronted geese, Nov. 1-Jan. 11; Canada geese, Nov. 1-Jan. 25.

• Bag limit: Light geese, 20 per day; Canada geese, three per day; whitefronts, two per day.

• Light Goose conservation season: Jan. 26-March 9.

• Western Zone season: Light (snow, blue, Ross) and dark (Canada, white-fronted), Nov. 8-Feb. 8.

• Bag limit: Light geese, 20 per day, Canada geese, four per day; whitefronts, one per day.

• Light Goose conservation season: Feb. 9-March 29.

Sandhill cranes

• Zone A season: Nov. 8-Feb. 8.

• Zone B season: Nov. 28-Feb. 8.

• Zone C season: Dec. 20-Jan. 25.

• Bag limits: Three per day for Zones A and B; two per day for Zone C.

Minnesota Duck Hunting Season 2008 Dates and Bag Limits

These are the 2008 Minnesota waterfowl season regulations at the time of printing.
If changes are made there will be an announcement, and the changes will
be available on the DNR Web site:www.mndnr.gov






Minnesota's Duck Hunting Season Dates:

Oct. 4th through Dec. 2nd 2008.

Duck Hunting Bag Limits:

6 ducks daily; may not include more than any combination of the following:

4 mallards (only 1 hen mallard), 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 black duck, 1 pintail. If not listed up to 6 ducks of a species may be taken. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Scaup bag limit: One scaup daily except from Oct. 25-Nov. 13 when two scaup may be taken daily.

Canvasback closed: No canvasback may be taken.
Coot and moorhen (gallinule) bag limits: Daily bag limit is 15. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Merganser bag limits: Daily bag limit is five, no more than 2 of which may be a hooded merganser. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Minnesota Goose Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits:

Snow Blue and Ross Geese - Oct. 4 - Dec. 22. Bag Limit 20 combined and possession, 40 combined.
White-Fronted Geese - Oct. 4 - Dec. 22. Bag Limit 1 combined and possession, 2 combined.
Brant Geese - Oct. 4 - Dec. 22. Bag Limit 1 combined and possession, 2 combined.
CANADA GEESE
West-Central zone Oct. 16 - Oct. 19th, Oct. 25 - Nov. 30 bag limit 2 possession limit 4

West zone Oct. 4 - Dec. 2 bag limit 2 possession limit 4
Remainder of state (includes Metro & SE zone) Oct. 4 - Dec. 12 bag limit 2 possession limit 4

SEPTEMBER (EARLY) CANADA GOOSE HUNT Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset Southeast zone (map, page 22) Sept. 6 - 22 2 bag limit, 4 possession limit.
Remainder of state (includes all Sept. 6 - 22 5 bag limit, 10 possession limit.
zones not listed above including the northwest goose zone which has been merged with the remainder of the state.)
(The controlled hunting zone at Lac Qui Parle is closed to goose hunting during the September goose season.)

DECEMBER (LATE) Canada Goose Hunt Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset.
West central zone (map, page 22) No late goose season
Southeast zone (map, page 22) Dec. 13 - 22 2 4
Remainder of state (includes all Dec. 13 - 22 5 10

Youth Hunt:

On Sept. 20, 2008, waterfowl hunters age 15 and younger, when accompanied by
a non-hunting adult (age 18 and older, no license required) may take ducks, Canada geese, mergansers, coots and moorhens from one-half hour before sunrise to 4 p.m. Motorized decoy restrictions are in effect. Bag limits are the same as the regular duck season. Five Canada geese may be taken, except in the Metro, southeast and northwest goose zones, and Carlos Avery WMA and Swan Lake area (map, page 22-23), where the limit is one. There are no license requirements, except hunters ages 13 to 15 must have a firearms safety certificate in their possession. All other
migratory bird hunting regulations apply.

Special Falconry Season

Dates:

Ducks, coots and moorhens may be taken by falconry from Oct. 4, 2008 to
Jan. 17, 2009.

Geese may be taken by falconry during any open goose season. Woodcock,
rails and snipe may be taken by falconry from Sept. 1 to Dec. 16.
Bag limits and hours:

Three daily combined and six in possession combined.

Falconry hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, except after Oct.
4, when they are the same as the waterfowl shooting hours.
DUCKS, COOTS, MERGANSERS, MOORHENS (GALLINULES) Oct. 4 - Dec. 2

Shooting Hours:

Shooting hours for ducks and geese are one-half hour before sunrise (except
9 a.m. on Oct. 4) to 4 p.m. through Saturday Oct. 11, and until sunset
thereafter. See youth hunt and early goose season for additional hours.

Colorado Duck Hunting

About 50% of Colorado’s annual statewide duck harvest occurs in 5 counties (Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Washington and Weld) along the lower South Platte River corridor in northeastern Colorado. Over 60% of Colorado duck hunters hunt in this area, and a majority of these hunters hunt exclusively or regularly on public lands.

Duck hunting is a major activity which requires management emphasis on 26 State Wildlife Areas (SWAs) and several State Trust Lands (STLs) located in the South Platte corridor from Greeley to the state line. The Colorado Division of Wildlife historically has managed to provide a range of duck hunting opportunities on SWAs along the South Platte corridor.

Some properties have few or no restrictions on hunting beyond the statewide regulations, and the management emphasis is on maximizing hunting opportunity, including Nakagawa SWA, Greasewood Lake STL, Weldon Valley STL, Cottonwood SWA, Messex SWA, Dune Ridge SWA, Knudson SWA, Ford Bridge STL, Duck Creek SWA, Red Lion STL, Sedgwick Bar SWA, Julesburg SWA and Pony Express SWA.

Helpful Information

Below is a collection of helpful information for the Colorado duck hunter:

License Year Change: Beginning April 1, 2009, all annual fishing licenses, senior fishing licenses, small game licenses, furbearer licenses, combination fishing and small game licenses, Colorado waterfowl stamps, habitat stamps and walk-in access permits will be valid from April 1, 2009, through March 31 of the following year. If you bought one of these licenses in 2008, it is valid through March 31, 2009. If you buy one of these licenses after Jan. 1, 2009, it will be valid from the date of purchase through March 31, 2010.

Pacific Flyway Ducks: The canvasback season is closed in this flyway.

The Scaup bag limit has changed. The daily bag limit for ducks and mergansers is 7 in the aggregate. Of these, no more than 2 can be female mallards, 1 pintail, 2 redheads and 2 scaup. No scaup can be taken after Janurary 6.

Light Geese: The daily bag limit is now 10 in the Pacific Flyway.

Ducks
Regular Seasons
Central Flyway – Eastern Plains Zone		Pacific Flyway
1st split	2nd split	1st split	2nd split
10/4/08 – 11/30/08	11/8/08 – 1/25/09	9/27/08 – 10/12/08	10/29/08 – 1/25/09
Central Flyway – Mountain/Foothills Zone
1st Split	2nd Split
10/4/08 – 11/30/08	12/19/08 – 1/25/09
Youth Days
Central Flyway – Eastern Plans	Central Flyway – Mountain/Foothills	Pacific Flyway
9/27/08 & 9/28/08	9/27/08 & 9/28/08	10/18/08 & 10/19/08

2008 Fees

---

	Resident	Non-Resident
Small Game	21.00	56.00
Small Game (One Day)	11.00	11.00
Combination Small Game and Fishing	41.00	-
Military with 60% or more disability	Free	-
Youth Small Game (Under 16)	1.00	1.00
Colorado Waterfowl Stamp	5.00	5.00
Federal Waterfowl Stamp	15.00	15.00
Costs include 25-cent search and rescue fee, and a 75-cent surcharge for the Wildlife Management Public Education Fund.

In the map below, the Pacific Flyway is west of the Continental Divide, and the Central Flyway is east of it.

Iowa Duck Hunting Season Dates and Regulations For 2008-09

Iowa duck hunting season dates and regulations are listed here. Also provided are special seasons and notes to the regulations.

Iowa Waterfowl Season Dates:

Duck Hunting season dates:

Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
Sept. 20 - 24 and Oct. 18 - Dec. 11

Goose Hunting Dates

Canada Geese and Brant

Sept. 27 - Oct. 5, Oct. 18 - Dec. 21, and Dec. 27 - Jan. 11, 2009

White-fronted Geese

Sept. 27 - Dec. 7

Light Geese
Sept. 27 - Jan. 11, 2009 (white and blue phase snow geese and Ross’ geese)

Light Goose Conservation Order
Jan. 12 - April 15, 2009 (white and blue phase snow geese and (additional regulations apply) Ross’ geese)

Woodcock
Oct. 4 - Nov. 17

Snipe
Sept. 6 - Nov. 30

Rails (Sora and Virginia)
Sept. 6 - Nov. 14

Note About Duck and Goose Zones

In contrast to recent years, this year the duck and goose season
dates are not listed by zones. This is because the season dates are
the same in each zone. This happened because of how the 2008
calendar dates aligned with weekends and holidays. The DNR has
not abandoned the duck and goose zones. If it is advantageous to
set the season dates by zones next year, the zones will once again
be used.

Iowa waterfowl regulations:

Shooting Hours: 1/2-hour before sunrise to sunset for all migratory
game bird species except woodcock, which is sunrise to sunset.

Bag Limits

Ducks: Daily limit is 6, including no more than 4 mallards (of
which no more than 2 may be female), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads,
1 black duck, 1 pintail and 1 scaup, except during November 1-20,
when the daily bag limit for scaup is 2. The canvasbacks season is
closed this year.

Mergansers: Daily limit is 5, including no more than 2 hooded
mergansers.

Coots: Daily limit is 15.

Geese: Daily limit is 2 Canada, 2 white-fronted geese, 1 brant and
20 snow geese, except during the Special September Canada
goose season in the Des Moines, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, and
Cedar Falls/Waterloo Zones when the daily bag limit is 5 Canada
geese.

Woodcock: Daily limit is 3.
Snipe: Daily limit is 8.
Rails (Sora and Virginia): Daily limit is 12.

Possession Limits
Twice the daily bag limit for all the above species except for light
geese for which there is no possession limit.

For further informations, Click Here!

A Diversity of Ducks

Duck hunting is as popular as ever, and as a result the duck is one of North America’s most commonly hunted species. In the US, the most common duck breeds are the mallard, teal, gadwall, and widgeon. Other ducks often hunted across the continent include the northern shoveler, the wood duck, the bufflehead, the ringneck and the bluebill.

The mallard is, according to scientists, the daddy of them all. His striking coloring and distinctive style makes him a favorite for trophy seekers as well. Mallards are omnivorous, eating everything from grains and insects to aquatic plants depending on what’s available. They make their homes near ponds, lakes and marshes as well as in ditches and urban water features.

The bluebill is also frequently the subject of duck hunting envy. Personally, it's my favorite bird. Given how exotic the bird's blue beak is, it's another potentially special duck hunting trophy. The bluebills themselves are quite rare, being most commonly found near Alaska's Aleutian Islands.

Whatever the duck hunter's target, though, the birds' behaviors are bound to be similar. So, the best advice is to practice your calling techniques, dust off your decoys and find the best blind location you can. Be patient, think safe and take care of your bird dog while you’re waiting - the rewards are there for the taking.

For those duck hunters who might not be as experienced with the less common species of duck, the bluebill, ringneck, and bufflehead are pictured below (in that order).

North Dakota Duck Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits

North Dakota waterfowl hunting guide regulations offer the various duck hunting season dates and rules. We have also listed other North Dakota waterfowl season information for various species.

North Dakota Duck Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits

Ducks:
Low Plains Unit
Opens: September 27 (residents only), October 4 (nonresidents)
Closes: December 7
High Plains Unit
Opens: September 27 (residents only), October 4 (nonresidents)
Closes: December 7
Opens: December 13
Closes: January 4
Daily Limit: 5 (see Ducks and Mergansers restrictions below)
Possession Limit: 10
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset

Mergansers
Low Plains Unit
Opens: September 27 (residents only), October 4 (nonresidents)
Closes: December 7
High Plains Unit
Opens: September 27 (residents only), October 4 (nonresidents)
Closes: December 7
Opens: December 13
Closes: January 4
Daily Limit: 5 (See Ducks and Mergansers restrictions below)
Possession Limit: 10
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset

Ducks and Mergansers: Species/Sex Restrictions:
The daily bag limit on ducks is 5 with species and sex restrictions as follows: 2 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 wood ducks, only 1 from the following group: 1 hen mallard, or 1pintail, or 1 canvasback. The daily limit of 5 mergansers may include no more than 2 hooded mergansers. The possession limit on these restricted ducks and the hooded merganser is twice the daily limit.

Coots
Low Plains Unit
Opens: September 27 (residents only), October 4 (nonresidents)
Closes: December 7
High Plains Unit
Opens: September 27 (residents only), October 4 (nonresidents)
Closes: December 7
Opens: December 13
Closes: January 4
Daily Limit: 15
Possession Limit: 30
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset



North Dakota Goose hunting season regulations:

Light Geese
Open Area: Statewide
Opens: September 27 (residents only), October 4 (nonresidents)
Closes: January 2
Daily Limit: 20
Possession Limit: No Limit
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to: 1 pm CDT September 27 through November 1; 2 pm CST November 2 through end of season.
Exception: Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays from September 27 through November 29; and on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from December 3 through end of season.

Canada Geese
Open Area: Statewide
Opens: September 27 (residents only), October 4 (nonresidents)
Closes: December 25 (Exception – Missouri River Zone closes January 2)
Daily Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 6
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to: 1 pm CDT September 27 through November 1; 2 pm CST November 2 through end of season.
Exception: Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays from September 27 through November 29; and on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from December 3 through end of season.

The Missouri River Canada Goose Zone is bordered by state, federal and county highways. The northwest boundary is the section line between section 8 and 9 of T146N R87 W (off of Mercer County 21), and the southern shoreline of Lake Sakakawea (including Mallard Island) to U.S. Highway 83.

White-fronted Geese
Open Area: Statewide
Opens: September 27 (residents only), October 4 (nonresidents)
Closes: December 7
Daily Limit: 2
Possession Limit: 4
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to: 1 pm CDT September 27 through November 1; 2 pm CST November 2 through end of season.
Exception: Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset on Saturdays and Wednesdays from September 27 through November 29; and on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from December 3 through end of season.

Special Youth Waterfowl Season

In addition to the regular North Dakota waterfowl hunting season, there is a special youth season. The dates and rules are as follows:

Open Area: Statewide
Opens: September 20
Closes: September 21
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset
Legally licensed residents and nonresidents 15 years of age or younger may hunt ducks, mergansers, coots or geese. An adult of at least 18 years of age must accompany the youth hunter into the field. The adult may not hunt ducks, mergansers, coots or geese. The daily bag limit, including species restrictions, and all other regulations that apply to the regular duck and goose hunting seasons apply to this special season.

For more information on North Dakota duck hunting seasons and regulations, go to North Dakota waterfowl regulations through this link>

Idaho Duck Hunting Seasons Set By Fish And Game Department

The Idaho waterfowl season has been set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission for duck hunting, goose hunting and other waterfowl and sage grouse seasons for the Idaho 2008 waterfowl fall season.

Idaho Duck Season:

The duck hunting season will be 107 days, running from Oct. 4 to Jan. 16, in northern and eastern Idaho and the Fort Hall Reservation; and from Oct. 11 to Jan. 23 in the southwestern part of the state.

The Idaho duck bag limit will be seven ducks. The season will be closed on canvasbacks.

A shorter scaup season will run Oct. 25 to Jan. 16, in the northern and eastern parts of the state, and from Nov. 1 to Jan. 23 in southwest Idaho.

Commissioners also set the seasons for sage-grouse hunting, which will open Sept. 20 in the following areas:

- Southwestern Owyhee County, 23-day season, two-bird bag limit.

- Northwestern Owyhee County, seven-day- season, one-bird limit.

- Eastern Owyhee County, closed.

- Magic Valley, seven-day season, one-bird limit.

- Parts of Power, Oneida and Cassia counties, seven-day season, one-bird limit.

- Most of the Upper Snake Region as well as Lemhi and part of Custer counties, 23-day season, two-bird limit.

- Big Desert area west of I-15 and south of U.S. 20, seven-day season, one-bird limit.

- Southeastern part of the state, east of I-15 and south of U.S. 26, closed.

Idaho Goose Season:

The 107-day goose season, unchanged from last year, will run from Oct. 4 to Jan. 16 in northern and eastern Idaho and the Fort Hall Reservation; and from Oct. 11 to Jan. 23 in the southwestern part of the state.

The Idaho goose hunting bag limit will be four geese.

More information will be available in the 2008 Waterfowl Seasons and Rules brochure and a pamphlet on sage grouse hunting rules, which will be available later this month from Fish and Game.

Oregon Duck Hunting Season Outlined

Oregon's duck hunting season has been set for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted 2008-09 regulations for birds hunted in Oregon including migratory birds (duck, goose, mourning dove, band-tailed pigeon, coot, snipe) upland birds (pheasant, forest grouse, chukar, pheasant, California quail, mountain quail, sage grouse, turkey) and crows.




Duck Hunting Season:

The Commission approved another liberal 107-day duck hunting season with a daily bag limit of seven ducks with no more than one pintail, two scaup (86-day season), two hen mallard, and two redheads. Canvasback hunting is closed.

Due to calendar shifts, both Zone 1 and Zone 2 will open on Oct. 11 this year. Season dates are Oct. 11-26 and Oct. 29-Jan. 25 in Zone 1 and Oct. 11-Nov. 30 and Dec. 3-Jan. 25 in Zone 2. The scaup season is Nov. 1-Jan. 25 in Zone 1 and Oct. 11-Nov. 30 and Dec. 3-Jan. 6 in Zone 2.

While the duck season will remain liberal overall, canvasback hunting is closed, a conservation measure in response to drought conditions on important duck breeding grounds. The scaup bag limit will be reduced from three to two and the season length will only be 86 days.


Goose Hunting Season:

Most zones continue a 100-day Oregon gooses hunting season with a liberal daily bag limit of four dark geese and six white geese (up from four last year). Openings are concurrent with duck openers in most areas. The Tillamook County goose season, introduced last year after a 20-year closure, will be lengthened by two weeks.

In the NW Oregon Permit Zone, hunters that do not check out their geese will not only lose their hunting privileges for the remainder of the season, but for the following season. “Checking out geese is fundamental and critical to keeping this season open,” explained Brad Bales, ODFW Migratory Bird Program Coordinator. Goose hunting in the NW Permit Zone is carefully regulated due to concerns about the population status of Dusky Canada geese.

The Commission made permanent a rule allowing the destruction of resident Canada goose nests and eggs where the birds are causing property damage or threatening public health or safety. The rule brings Oregon in compliance with federal regulations adopted last year.

Duck Hunting 365 Welcome

Waterfowl hunting, the stalking and killing of birds, has been an American tradition since the Ice Age. Waterfowl hunting (a.k.a. Duck Hunting ) is the practice of hunting ducks, geese, or other water living creatures for food or sport. There are numerous species of waterfowl that live in the country, each with its distinct habits and living area. As birds have finished raising their young, and are starting to migrate south for the winter, the duck hunter starts to get excited. Fall and winter are the typical time of year for hunting throughout the country.

Wild waterfowl are great for food, feathers, trophy or down. With the rise and advancement of the shotgun, duck hunting has become more exciting. Modern shotguns are more reliable at further ranges and shoot more rounds faster.

This site will offer duck hunting news, feature stories, tips and videos on duck hunting; here are some of the basic duck hunting elements we will be referring to on a regular basis.

Decoys
An artificial game placed to draw waterfowl out of hiding into the open.

Guns and Shells
Every hunter needs a gun, most commonly a 12 gauge shotgun. Most hunters will use a number 5,4,3, or 2 shot gun for hunting ducks. Illegal in many areas, bow and crossbow hunting is the most difficult, due to the moving target. Rifle hunting is illegal too, due to the excessive firepower and inherent danger of over shooting and hitting another hunter who is hidden.

Duck Calls
A duck call used to be a basic woodwind instrument, with a barrel, sound board, and a reed. Today’s improvements have lead to more species specific sounds and easier use. An example is the mallard, who has a “quack” call, other species make different sounds. Even inside each species there are different calls, the male makes a much different call than the female.

Blinds“Blinds” is a generic term that refers to a permanent or temporary structure that is used to hide a hunter and conceal their movements. Some hunters choose to make a natural blind out of the natural surroundings, such as tall weeds, vegetation, or a tree. Permanent structures are often also hidden in the natural surroundings to ensure it is completely hidden.

Clothing
Waterproof clothing is most commonly used during duck hunting season, due to the fact duck season takes place in the fall and winter. Waders are also common when hunting duck in the water, they help ensure you stay dry and warm.

Dogs
Retrieving dogs are often used to retrieve the duck after it has been shot. The use of a dog allows the hunter to not have to enter cold water to retrieve the prize. Often the prey is not completely killed, the retriever can use its keen sense of smell to track down the prey. This ensures little waist and a higher percentage of birds ending up on the table.

Make sure to come back regularly or become an email subscriber of this site to keep up with the newest content.

Enjoy the duck hunting. We look forward to seeing you often.