Oregon Goose Hunting Season Set

Oregon's goose 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.


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 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.

California Goose Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits by Zone

The Goose hunting season in California is broken up in five (5) zones. Here is a listing of the California goose hunting season by zone. We have also listed the complete California waterfowl season including the duck hunting season as well as the American Coot and the Common Moorhen. Lastly, we have included the special California youth hunting season dates by zone.



California Goose Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits by Zone:

Northeastern California Zone:

Geese From the second Saturday in October extending for 100 days. (Oct 11 – Jan 18)

Daily bag limit: 8
Daily bag limit may include:

6 white geese.
4 white-fronted geese.
2 Large Canada geese (see definitions: 502(a)).
1 Small Canada goose (see definitions: 502(a)).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit

Ducks (including Mergansers - From second Saturday in October extending 105 days. (Oct 11 – Jan 23). Canvasback Season Closed. Scaup: From the second Saturday in October extending for 86 days. (Oct 11 – Jan 4)

Daily bag limit: 7
Daily bag limit may include:

7 mallards, but not more than 1 female.
1 pintail (either sex).
2 redheads (either sex).
2 scaup (either sex).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit

Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone

Geese - From the third Saturday in October extending for 100 days. (Oct 18 – Jan 25)
Daily bag limit: 8
Daily bag limit may include:

6 white geese.
4 white-fronted geese.
4 Large Canada geese. (see definitions: 502(a)).
6 Small Canada geese (see definitions: 502(a)).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit.

Ducks (including Mergansers) - A split season from the first Saturday in October extending for a period of 23 days (Oct 4 – Oct 26) and from the second Saturday in November extending for a period of 79 days. (Nov 8 – Jan 25)
Canvasback Season Closed.

Scaup: From the second Saturday in November extending for 79 days. (Nov 8 – Jan 25)

Daily bag limit: 7
Daily bag limit may include:

7 mallards, but not more than 1 female.
1 pintail (either sex).
2 redheads (either sex).
2 scaup (either sex).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit.



Southern California Zone

Geese From the third Saturday in October extending for 100 days. (Oct 18 – Jan 25)
Daily bag limit: 8
Daily bag limit may include:

6 white geese.
3 dark geese (see definitions: 502(a)).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit.

Ducks (including Mergansers) From the third Saturday in October extending for 100 days. (Oct 18 – Jan 25)
Canvasback Season Closed.

Scaup: From the first Saturday in November extending for 86 days. (Nov 1 – Jan 25)
Daily bag limit: 7
Daily bag limit may include:

7 mallards, but not more than 1 female.
1 pintail (either sex).
2 redheads (either sex).
2 scaup (either sex).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit.

Colorado River Zone

Geese From October 17 extending 101 days. (Oct 17 – Jan 25)

Daily bag limit: 6
Daily bag limit may include:

6 white geese.
3 dark geese (see definitions: 502(a)).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit.

Ducks (including Mergansers). From the Friday after the second Sunday in October extending for 101 days. (Oct 17 – Jan 25)
Canvasback Season Closed.

Scaup: From the first Saturday in November extending for 86 days. (Nov 1 – Jan 25)
Daily bag limit: 7
Daily bag limit may include:

7 mallards, but not more than 2 females or Mexican-like ducks.
1 pintail (either sex).
2 redheads (either sex).
2 scaup (either sex).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit.

Balance of State Zone

Geese From the third Saturday in October extending for 100 days (Oct 18 – Jan 25) EXCEPT in the Sacramento Valley (West) Special Management Area where the white-fronted goose season will be open from the last Saturday in October through December 14. (Oct 25 – Dec 14)

Daily bag limit: 8
Daily bag limit may include:

6 white geese.
4 white-fronted geese. EXCEPT in the Sacramento Valley (West) Special Management Area where only 2 may be taken.
4 Large Canada geese (see definitions: 502(a)).
6 Small Canada geese (see definitions: 502(a)).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit.

Ducks (including Mergansers). From the third Saturday in October extending for 100 days. (Oct 18 – Jan 25)
Canvasback Season Closed.

Scaup: From the first Saturday in November extending for 86 days. (Nov 1 – Jan 25)
Daily bag limit: 7
Daily bag limit may include:

7 mallards, but not more than 1 female.
1 pintail (either sex).
2 redheads (either sex).
2 scaup (either sex).
Possession limit: double the daily bag limit.

Youth Hunting Days Regulations

(NOTE: To participate in these Youth hunts, federal regulations require that hunters must be 15 years of age or younger and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years of age or older.)

Ducks (including Mergansers), American Coot, Common Moorhen, Black Brant, Geese
1. Northeastern California Zone: The Saturday fourteen days before the opening of waterfowl season extending for 2 days. (Sept 27 – Sept 28)

2. Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone: The Saturday following the closing of waterfowl season extending for 2 days. (Jan 31 – Feb 1)

3. Southern California Zone: The Saturday following the closing of waterfowl season extending for 2 days. (Jan 31 – Feb 1)

4. Colorado River Zone: The Saturday following the closing of waterfowl season extending for 2 days. (Jan 31 – Feb 1)

5. Balance of State Zone: The Saturday following the closing of waterfowl season extending for 2 days. (Jan 31 – Feb 1)

Bag Limit same as above zones.

For more information click here

South Dakota finalizes state goose hunting seasons

The South Dakota goose hunting seasons was finalized by the South Dakota state Game, Fish and Parks Commission amid reports that goose populations remain robust.

With geese arriving on the Missouri River later each year, the start of the 2008 season will begin on Nov. 1 in Unit 2. That unit is largely those counties along the Missouri River and portions of Custer and Fall River Counties. In order to take advantage of later-arriving geese, hunters in Perkins County have asked that their county also be included in Unit 2.

The goose hunting season dates include: Light geese and white-fronted geese, statewide, Sept. 27 through Dec. 21; Canada geese, Unit 1, Sept. 27 through Dec. 21; Canada geese, Unit 2, Nov. 1 through Feb. 13; and Canada geese, Unit 3, Jan. 10-18.

The daily limit is three Canada geese, 20 light geese and one white-fronted goose. Possession limits are unlimited for light geese which include snows, blues and Ross' geese and twice the daily limit for all other geese.

Tennessee Goose Hunting Season Set

The Tennessee's Goose Hunting Season and Regulations are 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 Goose Hunting season and 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.

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.

North Dakota Goose Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits

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

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.

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

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>

Goose Hunting Regulations for New York

The New York Goose Hunting season has been set.


New York Canada Goose Season Dates and Geese bag limits per zone.

Shooting Hours: one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Non-toxic shot: required

Other: All hunters must register for HIP.

NOTE: Canada goose hunting area boundaries have been changed. Please see map and review the boundary descriptions below before going afield.

2007- 08 Canada goose seasons and bag limits. Goose Hunting Area Season Dates Bag Limit
Northeast Oct 27 - Dec 10 3/day

East Central Oct 27 - Nov 16
Nov 24 - Dec 17 3/day

South Oct 27 - Dec 16
Dec 26 - Jan 13
Mar 1 - Mar 10 5/day

West Central Nov 3 - Dec 2
Dec 29 - Jan 12 3/day

Hudson Valley Oct 27 - Nov 16
Dec 15 - Jan 7 3/day

Lake Champlain Oct 20 - Dec 3 3/day

Western LI Nov 29 - Feb 6 3/day

Eastern LI Nov 29 - Jan 27 2/day

For more Goose hunting in New York information and a detailed map of area zones, click dec.ny.gov/outdoor

Minnesota Goose Hunting Season 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 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

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.

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.

Michigan Goose 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

Washington Goose 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.





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.

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.

Idaho Goose Hunting Season Set By Fish and Game

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission today set waterfowl and sage grouse seasons for the 2008 fall season.

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

The bag limit will be four geese.

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

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

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

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.

West Virginia Early Goose Hunting Season Coming Up

West Virginia’s 2008-09 waterfowl seasons will begin statewide on September 1, with the opening of the early Canada goose season, according to Curtis I. Taylor, Chief of the Division of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Section.

The early season will end on September 20. Shooting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset. All other general waterfowl hunting regulations apply to the September season.

Hunters must possess a federal waterfowl stamp and a free Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program registration card in addition to their regular hunting license. HIP registration is free and available from DNR offices and all hunting license outlets.

“There are huntable numbers of Canada geese throughout West Virginia,” says Taylor. “Canada geese are very mobile and will respond quickly to crop harvesting and hunting pressure, so hunters must scout regularly and adjust their tactics to be consistently successful.”

Most goose hunting is found on private lands, so it is important for hunters to maintain good relationships with landowners. Goose hunting is also available on some wildlife management areas and hunters should contact the appropriate district office for information about specific areas.

Waterfowl hunters are reminded of two important toll free numbers. Federal waterfowl stamps may be purchased with a credit card by calling 1-800-782-6724. Also, hunters who harvest a banded bird may call 1-800-327-2263 to report the bird and find out when and where it was banded.

Hunting Guide Wins Michigan State Goose Calling Event

Standing in the rain outside of the family charter fishing company, Hunter Engel lets loose with a blistering rendition of the 90-second goose calling routine that made him the state champion last weekend.
The 22-year-old hunting guide from Saugatuck and competitive goose caller won the Michigan Goose Calling Championship at the Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival. He took the Grand Champion title in the Masters division. Winning the pro division is a dream come true.
"I've won the Michigan state juniors twice and the novice division before taking a second and third in the pro division," he said. "I finally got that monkey off my back and won it."
Engel has also won or placed well in other contests, including a win at the Chicagoland Open Goose calling contest, and a second in the U.S. Open Goose Calling Contest. Engel proudly sports a neckband full of duck and goose bands he calls, "my life's work." The bands are from the ducks and geese he has killed over the years.
His skill as a caller has evolved over time with coaching from Shawn Stahl, an Allegan caller who won the 2000 world goose calling championship. "He's straightened me out a lot," said Engel. "He told me I needed to improve and update my routine."
Competitors at the Michigan championship had 90 seconds to execute a series of lifelike goose calls that simulate those a hunter would use in a field hunting scenario. The routine consists of "hail" calls to get attention and "come back" calls to get get geese to return if they lose interest. "Aggressive calls" are used to keep their attention and "laydown work" simulates the sound of geese on the ground, or landing.
A new routine also keeps the judges interested, said Engel, who plans to compete in the World Goose Calling Competition in Easton Maryland in November. Having a new call also helped. Engel blows a Foiles Migrator, made by Jeff Foiles, of Pittsfield Ill., his sponsor. "It's got a shorter barrel and is not only easier to blow, it is more powerful. You get more goosey sounds out of it," Engel said.
Hunter's father, Dave Engel, a three-time winner of the Great Lakes Goose Calling Championship, was proud of his son's performance. "We all blow flutes," he said, referring to goose calls. "It helps our hunting business when we can all be out there mixing it up."

Pennsylvania Early Canada Goose Hunting Seasons to Begin Sept. 1

Pennsylvania Goose Hunting Early Season Rules

The early season for Canada geese runs Sept. 1-25 and will again feature a daily bag limit of eight birds across most of the state, including the Lehigh Valley.
The September goose season, first implemented in 1992, is specifically designed to target resident flocks that are considered a nuisance in many areas because of the damage they do to farmers' fields and the feces they deposit at public parks, swimming areas and golf courses.
The bag limit for the September season was expanded to eight statewide in 2004 -- the same year the resident goose population peaked at an estimated 299,000 birds.
Since then, Dunn noted, there is evidence the early hunt, along with other goose-control efforts such as egg oiling, is helping get the birds' population under control. This year, the commission estimated the resident goose population at 246,500, which is down 4 percent from 256,000 last year and nearly 14 percent lower than the five-year average of 285,250.
In 2006, the most recent statistics available, the commission estimates 67,410 Canada geese were killed during the September season, representing 42 percent of the annual total. In 2005, hunters killed an estimated 70,590 birds in September, or 39 percent of the total.
Tracking the early-season goose kill is one of the best ways to monitor resident bird mortality, since separate populations of migratory Canada geese don't show up in Pennsylvania until after the September season is over.
''Hunting remains the most effective and efficient way to manage resident Canada geese, provided hunters can gain access to geese in problem areas,'' said John Dunn.
Unlike their migratory cousins, which travel to arctic Canada to breed each spring, resident geese are born here and generally die here, moving only when forced out by extreme weather or human intervention.
Dunn said the number of resident Canada geese tripled between the late 1980s and early 2000s, an increase he attributes largely to suburban development with manicured lawns and detention ponds. In the process, humans unwittingly created lots of excellent goose habitat.

Here is some specific goose hunting information for managed areas you should be aware of:

As in recent years, there will be no September goose season within the commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lebanon and Lancaster counties to address the ongoing decline in resident goose numbers there. Also, the daily bag limit for the September season is one bird in areas around the management area

The early statewide season for resident Canada geese will open Sept. 1, and continue through Sept. 25. There have been changes to bag limits and zone boundaries this year. The Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) zone boundaries have been changed, and the bag limit has been reduced to three geese daily, and six in possession. The SJBP zone is defined as: the area north of Interstate 80 and west of Interstate 79, including in the city of Erie west of Bay Front Parkway to the Lake Erie Duck zone, which includes Lake Erie, Presque Isle and the area within 150 yards of the Lake Erie shoreline.

Also, this year, hunters can take one Canada goose in the Pymatuning zone, while hunters may take up to three 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). However, in the Pymatuning zone, all of State Game Land 214, which is comprised of nearly 5,400 acres in Crawford County, is closed for the early Canada goose season.

Dunn also noted that the controlled hunting areas at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lebanon-Lancaster counties will remain closed 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. The early season is closed on State Game Land 46 (Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area).

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

Dunn noted that recent liberalizations in Canada goose hunting opportunities, along with control programs being implemented by many municipalities and public and private landowners, finally might be stabilizing the growth of the state's resident Canada goose population. The 2008 Pennsylvania resident Canada goose population was estimated at 246,500, which is similar to the recent five-year average of 285,250.

"Hunting remains the most effective and efficient way to manage resident Canada geese, provided hunters can gain access to geese in problem areas," Dunn said.

For further goose hunting information: Season dates and bag limits for the remaining 2008-09 waterfowl seasons will be finalized later this month and posted on the Game Commission's Web site, http://www.pgc.state.pa.us

Goose Hunting 365 Welcome

Welcome to the new Goose Hunting 365 blog site. We look forward to providing you with news, information, tips and videos to enjoy and learn more about hunting geese. Please come back. If you would like to subscribe to this site, just enter your email address below or subscribe to your favorite feed burner.