Illinois
Pheasant Hunting Prospects
Results of 1995-96 Hunting Season
During the 1995 hunting season, 86,000 hunters harvested 337,000 pheasants in Illinois, a 15 percent increase from the 1994-95 season. This was 5 percent below the average for the last 10 years. Fewer hunters went afield in 1995 than in the previous year but hunter trips and daily harvest increased by 4 percent and 19 percent respectively.
Pheasant Breeding Population Index
Pheasant call counts, conducted from late April through mid May, were 37 percent below those conducted in 1995. This was 32 percent below the average of the previous 5 years and 17 percent below the 1975 to 1996 average. The decline appeared uniform throughout the range dropping 33 percent in northern Illinois and 38 percent in central Illinois.
While winter weather may have slightly reduced the breeding population, the decline is more likely the result of poorer than normal reproduction in the summer of 1995. Last year the number of broods observed per 100 miles driven declined 32 percent from 1994. Production, appeared to be negatively affected by the cool wet ing and hot dry summer weather.
Pheasant Production Index
Pheasant brood counts, conducted in August, provide an index to annual reproductive success. The number of broods observed in 1996 was 50 percent below last year and 49 percent below the average of the 5 last years. The decline was similar in magnitude throughout the pheasant range. The number of chicks per brood was near normal suggesting that poor nest success rather than low chick survival was responsible for the decline. The cool, wet spring probably reduced pheasant nest success.
1996 Season outlook
It appears that pheasant numbers will be considerably below last year's levels for the 1996 season. However, hunter success is also affected by weather and cover conditions. The cold, snowy weather last year seemed to increase hunter success though hunter effort was slightly reduced. Crops were also harvested well in advance of the season so pheasants were accessible to hunters. In 1996, crops were planted late; therefore, harvest may be later than normal. If large acreages of corn and soybeans are still in the field during hunting season, hunting will be negatively affected.
Best Areas
The most productive areas for pheasant hunting continue to be in east central and northern Illinois. Based on the annual average harvest from 1989 through 1993, some of the top counties are: Livingston, McLean, Ford, Champaign and LaSalle counties. Bag Limits: 2 cock pheasants per day, 6 in possession after the third day. Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Quail Hunting Prospects
Results of 1995-96 Hunting Season
During the 1995-96 hunting season, 72,000 hunters harvested 705,000 quail in Illinois, a 16 percent decrease from the 1994-95 season. This was 16 below the average for the last 10 years. Fewer hunters went afield in 1995 than in the previous year and hunter trips and daily harvest declined 1 percent and 11 percent respectively.
Winter Weather 1995-96
The winter of 1995-96 was not severe; however, it was colder and more, snowy than those we have experienced recently. Weather service data indicate that temperatures averaged slightly below normal during November, December and January. During November, two snow storms, each producing 3 to 4 inches of snow, occurred in the northern two-thirds of Illinois. December precipitation was below normal but Jan. snows were 10 to 60 percent above normal from northern to south central Illinois. Several deep snows occurred in south central Illinois. Temperatures remained below freezing in the region so that snow cover remained for two to three weeks.
Quail Breeding Population Index
Quail whistle counts, conducted in June, were 27 percent below those conducted in 1995. This was 24 percent below the average of the previous 5 years and 21 percent below the 1975 to 1996 average. The decline was most pronounced in south central Illinois dropping 39 percent from 1995, only slight declines were noted in west central and far southern Illinois, 9 percent and 1 percent respectively.
Winter weather appears to have significantly reduced the quail breeding population in south central Illinois. Declines in far southern and west central Illinois appear to be slight. Quail numbers in 1995, as evidenced by hunter success in a survey conducted by the Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory at Southern Illinois University, were near the average for the previous 10 years in south central Illinois but 17 percent below that average in far southern Illinois and 9 percent below 1994 in west central Illinois. This suggests that quail production was near average during the summer of 1995 except for far southern Illinois.
1996 Season Outlook
It appears that quail numbers will be somewhat below last year's levels in south central Illinois. Far southern Illinois and west central Illinois were largely unaffected by last winter but the cool wet spring may have negatively impacted quail production. Hunter success is also affected by weather and cover conditions. Last year's cold snowy weather may have reduced quail hunter success. Crops were harvested well in advance of the hunting season so quail were accessible to hunters. In 1996, crops were planted late; therefore, harvest may be later than normal. If large acreages of crops are still in the field during the hunting season, hunting will be negatively affected.
Best Areas
The most productive areas for quail hunting continue to be south central and west central Illinois. Based on annual average harvest from 1989 through 1993, some of the top counties are: Adams, Hancock, Brown, Wayne, Franklin and Marion. Bag limits: 8 quail per day, 20 in possession after third day.
IOWA
Pheasant Numbers Remain Strong
Iowa pheasant hunters can look forward to another great year, according to DNR survey results. August roadside counts show ringneck populations are very similar to last year, indicating Iowa should retain its position as the number one pheasant hunting state in the nation. Last year, approximately 200,00 hunters harvested 1.44 million roosters in Iowa, while second place went to South Dakota with a bag of 1.29 million birds.
Pheasant numbers have fluctuated in different parts of Iowa, according to DNR wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz, but statewide the counts show a minor drop of around seven percent. Only the westcentral, southwest and southeast areas reported significant declines. The upper third of the state experienced the most favorable weather the past spring, and the northwest region had some of its highest counts on record. Compared to last year, northcentral region counts were unchanged and the area should offer good bird numbers again. Counts in the northeast region were also unchanged.
In the central region, covering the middle third of lowa, pheasant numbers were about the same as last year. The east central area reported the second highest counts in the nine regions surveyed. Some counties in the westcentral area experienced considerable turnover of CRP acres this year, and while this may affect pheasant production in the next year or two, it could be of major importance to hunters selecting a spot to hunt this fall.
The southern region, covering the lower third of the state, showed a significant decline of 36 percent in the southwest and southeast areas compared to last year. Heavy rains in May and June, more than five inches above normal, hurt reproduction in all three areas. Southeast and southcentral areas received the heaviest rainfall amounts last spring, and this likely influenced nesting in the southern half of Iowa. Most broods reported in the survey this year contained younger chicks than reported in 1995. Some of the better counts in the southern region came from Adair, Union, Keokuk, and Washington counties.
Quail numbers statewide are down 66 percent, following a 17 percent decrease last year. Most of the statewide decline is due to the 88 percent decline in the south central area. Prolonged periods of deep snow and extremely cold temperatures last winter reduced the number of birds going into spring, and wet conditions this spring also hampered reproduction. Few counties reported good counts, though good quail numbers may be found in "pockets."
Gray partridge numbers statewide remained virtually identical to last year, but there may be areas of improvement in some of the north central counties. Partridge numbers had been increasing since 1983, peaking at an all-time record high in 1988. The birds appear to rely heavily on road ditches for nesting sites and can be susceptible to flooding in wet springs. Best partridge numbers occur in the northcentral portion of the state. Gray partridge originated in the arid, steppe region of southeastern Europe and northern Asia, and research shows they only reproduce well during dry or drought years in North America. The relatively dry spring in northern Iowa this year does create some optimism.
The DNR's annual survey of upland game in Iowa, known as the August Roadside Counts, is run over 208, 30 mile routes in nine regions of the state, during the first half of August. Counts conducted on cool mornings with heavy dew, the sun shining and no wind yield the most consistent results. Weather conditions for the 1996 counts were excellent.
MINNESOTA
Pheasant population takes a dip
If anyone remembers the winter of 96 it's Al Berner. Berner, who leads the DNR Madelia Farmland Wildlife and Populations Research Station, clearly recalls those harsh months of frigid cold and deep snow as the reports the bad news of Minnesota's pheasant population, which is down significantly from 1995.
"That ice storm Jan. 17 -19 started things off badly for pheasants, and it went downhill from there," Berner said.
Recently completed August roadside counts indicate an approximate 38 percent decrease in the pheasant population as compared with last year. Some counties saw populations cut to a third of the 1995 DNR numbers.
Wildlife workers conduct the surveys by counting the number of pheasants they see along roadsides when driving established routes.
Despite the decline, Berner estimates that the fall harvest will be around 350,000 birds below last year's harvest of 400,000, but still above the harvests of 1993 and 1994, which were 332,000 and 320,000 respectively.
"The population is down but not out," Berner said. "If not for CRP [the federal Conservation Reserve Program] grasslands we'd be sunk." Berner explained that several hundred thousand acres of thick habitat created by the federal conservation program protected many pheasants from the bitter cold and deep snow of last winter.
In addition to the harsh winter, Berner said a cold, wet spring made nesting tough on hens. "They didn't get a decent break until early May," he said. Another blow came from the combination of record high grain prices and the expiration of CRP contracts, which meant that many farmers converted grasslands to cropfields. "Pheasants and other birds need those CRP grasslands, and we lost a lot of them this spring," said Berrier. Particularly hard hit were populations in the central (-58.9 percent) and southeast (51.4 percent) portions of the pheasant range. Other declines were in the south-central (36.2 percent), southwest (-36.8 percent), and east-central (-8.6 percent) regions. The only increase was in the west-central region (+4.3 percent).
On average, hunting prospects are better in counties reporting the most pheasants per square mile. This year those counties are primarily in the southern and southwestern part of the state, with some significant exceptions. Berner noted that the counts are only a general guide to what hunters might expect to find and that there will be some poor hunting in the "good" areas, and vice versa, depending on local habitat and weather variations. He said that even the areas indicated as "good" on the map experienced significant declines from last year and hunting will generally not be as good as 1995.
Berner pointed out that, as in any year, an individual pheasant hunters' success on a given day depends on many factors besides the population changes and densities. Hunting pressure, access to hunting areas, weather conditions, crop harvest, and perhaps most important whether hunters have dogs or not, determine as much as pheasant densities whether hunters see birds or not.
"My biggest concern is not about this fall, but about how the decrease in CRP acreage could affect pheasant numbers next year and down the road," said Berner. "If a significant proportion of the million acres of CRP contracts expiring this fall are converted to cropland, this could be the last decent year of pheasant hunting we see in a long time."
Other species surveyed in the August roadside counts were gray partridge (-33 percent statewide), and mourning doves (+19 percent).
1996 Minnesota waterfowl seasons finalized
"The duck season is similar to last year, and some goose hunting regulations have changed," said Tim Bremicker, chief of the DNR Section of Wildlife. "Changes to the goose season include a later opening date in the West Central and Lac qui Parle goose zones, modification in the West Goose Zone boundary, a longer Canada goose season in the "Remainder of the State Zone," and separate bag limits for snow, blue and Ross' geese and other geese.
The regular season opening for ducks, geese, and coots was at noon on Saturday, Sept. 28, except for geese in the West Central and Lac qui Parle zones, which opened the next Saturday, Oct. 5. "The delay in these two zones was implemented to better time the 30-day goose season to when migrant geese are present in the zone," noted Bremicker.
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is predicting one of the larger fall flights of ducks since monitoring began in the mid-1950s," noted Bremicker. "These are good times for ducks and duck hunters. As long as there is good nesting cover and ample precipitation falls on the major duck producing areas in the prairies, duck populations should remain at high levels." The only change in duck regulations from last year is an increase in the redhead daily bag limit from one to two, Bremicker said.
"1996 was the second year of setting duck seasons based upon a new process, called Adaptive Harvest Management," said Bremicker. "This new process may not be evident to duck hunters in the short-term, but it provides a more predictable, objective and consistent way of setting duck hunting regulations. It will also improve the ability to understand how environmental conditions and hunting influence the duck populations, and thus improve our ability to properly manage this important resource over the long term."
Goose seasons remain the same in much of the state. Other than the delayed opening date mentioned above, seasons are the same as last year in the western goose zones, including Lac qui Parle, West Central, West and Northwest, where seasons are set based upon status of the migrant Eastern Prairie Population of Canada geese. In the remainder of the state, season length was increased to 70 days, the same as the Southeast Goose Zone last year, to take advantage of increasing populations of giant Canada geese that nest in Minnesota. Daily limits for snow, blue and Ross' geese were separated from Canada and other geese this year. "This change will have little impact on Minnesota goose hunters, but it does help to simplify the regulations," said Bremicker. "In most recent years, 99 percent of Minnesota's goose harvest is Canada geese."
Goose zones will be the same as in recent years, except the West Goose Zone boundary south of Windom near the Iowa border was moved from U.S. Highway 71 to State Highway 60.
December Canada goose hunts will be held in the Twin Cities Metro, Olmsted County, and Fergus Falls/Alexandria goose zones this year. "The DNR completed the experimental season in the Fergus Falls/Alexandria zone and received U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval to make that hunt operational this year," said Bremicker. "Therefore, a special permit is not required for this hunt. The Hunting Handbook notes that the September season permit will be good for the December Fergus Falls/Alexandria hunt; however, the handbook went to press prior to final approval of the late season and the decision not to require the permit."
"Hunters should remember the new personal flotation device law, too," Bremicker said. "All watercraft must carry and have readily accessible a U.S. Coast Guard Approved wearable life preserver for each person on board. If the boat is 16 feet or longer, it must also have at least one throwable boat cushion or ring buoy."
The 1996 duck and goose season dates, limits and shooting hours are summarized below.
For a complete summary of waterfowl regulations, DNR officials said hunters should consult the "1996 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations," available now from license agents and DNR offices, and the "1996 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Supplement."
1996 Duck Season
Dates and times for the 1996 Minnesota duck hunting season are from noon Saturday, Sept. 28, through sunset, Saturday, Nov. 16. Shooting hours for all waterfowl will be from one-half hour before sunrise to 4 p.m. daily through Oct. 18, and from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset beginning Saturday, Oct. 19 through the close of the season.
The daily bag limit of ducks is five, and may include no more than four mallards (only one of which may be a female), two wood ducks, one black duck, one pintail, two redheads, or one canvasback. Possession limits are double the daily bag limits. North Heron Lake and nearby basins in Jackson County will remain closed to canvasback hunting in 1996.
1996 Goose Season
In the Lac qui Parle and West Central zones, the 30-day season will open one-week later than the rest of the state, and will be split into two segments (Oct. 5-Oct. 13 and Oct. 17-Nov. 6). The quota in the Lac qui Parle Goose Zone will be 16,000, the same as last year. In the West and Northwest goose zones the season will be 40 days, from Sept. 28-Nov. 6. The daily bag limit will be one Canada goose in these zones. Goose possession limits are double the daily bag limits.
In the remainder of the state, the goose season will be 70 days, from Sept. 28-Dec. 6. The daily bag limit will be two Canada geese.
The December goose hunts in the Twin Cities Metro, Olmsted County, and Fergus Falls/ Alexandria goose zones will be Dec. 14-Dec. 23.
Seasons for snow, blue and Ross' geese will be Sept. 28-Dec. 16. The daily limit will be seven snow, blue and Ross' geese combined.
NEBRASKA
1996 Nebraska Goose Hunting Seasons
Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset
Dark Geese : (Canada and white-fronted geese, brant and other species of geese not included as Light). Daily Bag Limit: Two dark geese no more than one of which can be a white-fronted goose statewide and throughout the season. This is a liberalization from previous years in all units.
North Unit Oct. 26 - Jan.19
East Unit Oct. 5 - Dec. 27
Central (West) Unit Oct. 19 - Jan. 12
Panhandle Unit Nov.9 -Jan.12
The special area along the Platte River in this Unit where more restrictive hunting regulations have been in place for the last 10 years was eliminated.
Lake McConaughy is now included in the Central Unit - it had been in the Panhandle Unit.
Permit required but season dates and bag limits are as set in respective East and Central units. This is a change from previous years when separate and more restrictive hunting regulations have been in effect in the Sandhills Area.
Light Geese: (Snow, blue and Ross)
Statewide: Oct. 5 - Dec. 13 and late seasons in: Zone 1 RWB counties Feb. 1 - 16. in Zone 1.
Zone 2 : Feb. 2 - Mar. 10
Daily Bag Limit: 10 - Possession Limit: 40. The possession limit has been doubled from last year.
NORTH DAKOTA
Waterfowl Season Details
The 1996 waterfowl season began Sept. 28, the earliest opener since 1984. With lots of ducks and geese, hunting ought to be exceptional -- provided the weather treats us better than last year -- when an early November storm drove most waterfowl out of the state sooner than expected, reports Mike Johnson, waterfowl biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
According to Johnson, there are several new developments for waterfowl hunters this year: · The daily limits for redhead and wood duck was increased from one to two.· Light goose season was extended by three weeks and possession limit increased from 20 to 40. · Dark goose season was extended one week statewide.
Duck season will run statewide from Sept. 28 - Nov. 24 and Nov. 30 - Dec. 1. Additionally, a High Plains Unit in the western part of the state will open Dec. 7 -29. Daily and possession limits for ducks are five and 10. The daily bag of five may include no more than one female mallard, one pintail, one canvasback, two redheads, or two wood ducks.
Goose seasons also began Sept. 28. Season lengths and limits are different for light geese and dark geese. Dark geese are Canada geese, white-fronted geese, and black brant. Light geese are snow geese, blue geese, and Ross' geese.
Light goose season is set to run Sept. 28 - Dec. 22. The daily limit is 10 and possession limit is 40 (up from 20 last year).
Dark goose regular season is scheduled statewide Sept. 28 - Nov. 17. A late season runs Nov. 18 - Dec. 1, and may be extended for no more than three 7-day intervals beginning December 2. Starting November 29 hunters may call 328-3697 for a dark goose season update. Dark goose daily and possession limits are two and four.
This fall's waterfowl flight is very promising for all species, according to Johnson. North Dakota's flight of ducks is expected to be 25 percent above last year's record and a larger flight is anticipated out of the Canadian prairies because of this year's improved water conditions. Snow goose numbers should be high as a result of continuing population growth -- there should be lots of young birds, making it easier to decoy them. Western Prairie and Tall-Grass Prairie Canada geese that migrate through the state are doing well. Additionally, North Dakota's resident giant Canada geese also appear to have had good spring production.
"In general the whole state has good water, although the southwest has been very dry this summer. As always, abundance of birds throughout the fall will depend on the weather and the timing of migrations. Last fall's waterfowl season was cut short by the weather. On November first there were a million snow geese but a blizzard two days later pushed them out of the state," Johnson said.
Consult the "1996 North Dakota Waterfowl Hunting Guide" for additional details on seasons, limits, and open hunting areas.
Hunters: Remember to Leave Identification on Birds
Hunters are reminded to leave identification on waterfowl and upland game birds when they are transporting them from field to home, reminds chief game warden Ray Goetz of the ND G&F Dept.
At a check station located north of Jamestown last weekend, game wardens checked 40 vehicles and wrote 15 violations for failure to leave identification on waterfowl, reports Richard Knapp, district warden supervisor, Jamestown.
State and federal law requires that one fully feathered wing or the fully feathered head of all waterfowl, snipe, dove, woodcock, or crane and one leg and foot or the fully feathered head or wing of pheasant, Hungarian partridge, and all grouse remain attached to such game during transportation or shipment to final place of storage.
The purpose of this law is so game wardens can identify birds taken by hunters to ensure compliance with daily bag limits.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Pheasant Numbers
The 1996 South Dakota pheasant season should be another good one, according to the Game, Fish and Parks Department.
Steve Riley, pheasant biologist, said the 1996 data indicate that South Dakota's pheasant population hasn't changed much in the past year, "if you liked the hunting you had in 1995, you'll probably be happy with 1996 as well. Overall, pheasant numbers are about the same on a region by region basis as last year."
Although there were a number of reports about winter storm losses, the state's ringnecks survived to nest in adequate numbers. With the continued availability of quality nesting cover in CRP, the 1996 pheasant crop is in good shape.
One thing the brood routes showed, especially in the eastern portion of the pheasant range, is that excellent nesting conditions produced an increase in the size of pheasant broods. Riley said, "The conservation officers who make the counts didn't see quite as many broods as last year, but with an increase in the size of broods, the total number of birds is about the same."
The counties that have been excellent for hunting over the years will be good again this year. But hunters headed for Brule, Charles Mix, Gregory, Tripp and Lyman counties need to remember that hunting pressure in that area matches the traditionally high bird numbers, and obtaining access to private land can be difficult.
In extreme northeastern South Dakota, where pheasant numbers declined significantly during the past two or three years, 1996 won't show any improvement.
Although western South Dakota is not thought of as pheasant country, there is some excellent pheasant habitat west of the Missouri River. In 1996, as in recent seasons, hunters will be able to find scattered spots with huntable pheasant numbers on the western prairies.
The good news, Riley said, is that ringneck survival over the winter was fairly good in most areas, considering the tough conditions we saw last winter.
Hunters should be able to find birds in most areas of the state. Riley said, "Even in the areas with lower numbers, if you can locate the birds that are there, lower hunting pressure may mean hunting will actually be better."
A large part of the credit for the relatively high pheasant population in the 1990s has to go to the Conservation Reserve Program, Riley said. "Hunters and wildlife managers are all thankful that CRP has provided South Dakota with lots of quality nesting habitat. Even poor years with CRP are better than good years without CRP," he said. "In general, if you find a good CRP field, you'll find birds."
Unlike the last few years, the row crop harvest in 1996 should be on schedule. If most of the crops are harvested before hunting season begins, it should make for good success, especially in the early part of the season.
"Finding pheasant habitat that produces birds is the key no matter where you hunt," Riley said. "For a number of years, we've advised hunters that the best person to talk to about the pheasant hatch is the owner of the land where you'll be hunting. Give them a call when you are making plans for the season.
"You won't just learn first-hand about the pheasants, you'll maintain the important friendship between hunters and landowners."
Pheasant Season Opens
October 19 is one of the biggest days of the year for South Dakota sportsmen. It's the first day of pheasant season.
According to the Steve Riley, pheasant biologist, the 1996 data indicate that South Dakota's pheasant population hasn't changed much in the past year. "Anyone who liked the hunting in 1995 will probably be happy with 1996 as well. Overall, pheasant numbers are about the same on a region by region basis as last year."
Those counties that have been excellent for hunting over the years will be good again this year. But hunters headed for Brule, Charles Mix, Gregory, Tripp and Lyman counties need to remember that hunting pressure in that area matches the traditionally high bird numbers, and obtaining access to private land can be difficult.
The one dark spot in the 1996 pheasant outlook is northeastern South Dakota. Assistant regional supervisor Will Morlock said, "Until you go 30 to 40 miles south or west of Watertown, you just don't see many pheasants. Because of high water and generally tough weather, we've seen steady declines in pheasant numbers in this area since 1993."
In western South Dakota, pheasants have done well, thanks to CRP. Riley said excellent pheasant habitat exists in a number of places west of the Missouri River. Again this year, hunters will be able to find spots with huntable pheasant numbers on the western prairies.
Although there were reports of losses of birds in some areas, Riley said, the good news is that ringneck survival over the winter was fairly good in most areas.
Grouse Opener
South Dakota's first big upland bird season is open and wildlife officials say hunting has been fairly good in most of the grouse range.
The prairie grouse season opened Sept. 21 in the main range. In Grant County and a portion of Codington County, the season opened Oct. 19. The combined sharptail and prairie chicken limit is three birds daily and 15 in possession.
The recent trend of grouse numbers in the 1990s is another benefit of the Conservation Reserve Program in South Dakota," said wildlife management supervisor Ron Fowler. The grouse population began the 1990s on a low, after a couple of extremely dry years. But better rainfall and the quality nesting cover provided by CRP have helped the grouse and prairie chickens make a strong comeback."
Spring dancing ground surveys conducted by conservation officers showed significant increases through 1994, and steady numbers since then. Although the counts don't measure the success of this year's hatch, grouse should have done well under the conditions this spring. Hunting is expected to be good.
Early Goose Season Success
The opening of South Dakota's early September Canada goose season turned out to be a good hunt, but a tough one, according to wildlife officials.
Although some critics of the season suggested that hunting the resident giant Canadas was going to be too easy, resulting in a high harvest, it didn't happen that way.
Conservation officer Mike Kintigh of Madison reported that there were good numbers of hunters out during the first few days. He said, "It's been a pretty good harvest, perhaps as many as half the hunters got their birds on the first two days of the season."
According to Kintigh, hunters who took the time to get out and scout did the best. By contacting farmers and getting access to the limited small grain areas in Lake County, they had the opportunity to field hunt over decoys.
The next best strategy was to set up on the water. The area open during the September season has abundant public hunting on marshes. These areas proved to be a good choice.
Kintigh said the hunters who just drove up the morning hoping to find a place to pass shoot didn't do well at all.
Duck Season Approved
The 1996 duck season has been approved by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission with no changes from the proposal made last month. In western South Dakota, the High Plains unit will be open from Oct. 5 through Dec. 3 and Dec. 7 through Dec. 29.
In the east, there are three Low Plains units, all with 60-day seasons:
North zone - Sept. 28 through Nov. 26
Middle zone - Oct. 5 through Dec. 3
South zone - Oct. 12 through Dec. 10
The daily bag limit is 5 ducks, which may include no more than 1 hen mallard, 1 pintail, 2 wood ducks, 1 canvasback, 2 redheads or 1 hooded merganser.
It should be a good year for duck hunters, according to officials. Continued favorable habitat conditions for waterfowl nesting have resulted in a fall flight projection of 83 million ducks , up 8 percent over last year.
Goose Season Set
The 1996 goose hunting season was approved by the Game, Fish and Parks commission. For dark geese there will be three hunting units in 1996:
· Unit 1: Sept. 28 - Dec. 22 (most of the state outside of Missouri River corridor)
· Unit 2: Oct. 12 - Jan. 5 (counties adjacent to Missouri River, including the east half of Carson, all of Dewey, Stanley, Lyman, Brule, Buffalo, Hyde, Potter, Sully, Hughes, Walworth and Campbell)
· Unit 3: Oct. 19 - Jan. 12 (Gregory and Charles Mix counties)
As in the past, there will be half-day hunting (noon closure) in McPherson, Marshall, Day, Edmunds, Roberts, Grant, Clark, Codington, Hamlin, Deuel, Kingsbury, Brookings, Miner, Moody and Lake counties.
For light geese the season will be Sept. 28 through Dec. 22 (86 days) statewide.
The daily limits are: light geese -10, dark geese - 2 Canadas, or 1 Canada and 1 whitefront or 1 brant.
WISCONSIN
1996 Wisconsin Duck Season Set at 50 Days
Wisconsin will have a 50-day duck season in 1996 with a split season in the south and a continuous season in the north, following action by the state Natural Resources Board.
The daily bag limit will be five ducks, which may not include more than four mallards - of which only one may be a hen - one canvasback, one black duck, one pintail, two redheads and two wood ducks.
The season in the northern duck zone began at noon on Saturday, Sept. 28 and run through Saturday, Nov. 16. The season in the southern duck zone opened Saturday, Oct. 12 and run through Thursday, Nov. 21. Shooting hours for the duck seasons will be one half hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunters should check the 1996 Wisconsin Waterfowl Hunting regulations for zone boundaries, which were recently changed.
The split in the southern zone was supported by most people who attended public hearings held around the state in August for input on waterfowl season dates, says Jon Bergquist, wetland waterfowl ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources.
1996 Wis Goose Seasons Set
Wisconsin's 1996 goose season could run as long as 79 days in the Exterior Zone, but the season will close early under an emergency rule if hunters reach the zone's Canada goose quota earlier, under a season framework approved this week by the state Natural Resources Board.
"We hope the season would close no earlier than the beginning of November," says Jon Bergquist, wetland waterfowl ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources. "Compared to last year, our allowable harvest in Wisconsin has declined by about 40 percent." The daily bag limit in all zones will be one Canada goose per day, with a possession limit of two.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reduced the goose quotas for Wisconsin and other states because of a substantial drop in the spring population of Mississippi Valley Canada geese, Bergquist says. The Exterior Zone season opened in the northern part at noon on Saturday Sept. 28 and run through Dec. 15, unless closed earlier by emergency rule.
The season in the southern part of the zone opened at noon on Sept. 28, ran though Oct. 6, then close for five days and reopened on Oct. 12 and will run through Dec. 20, unless closed early be emergency rule.
"We will have to close the season in the Exterior Zone when hunters reach the harvest quota of 26,900," Bergquist says. The Canada goose seasons in the Horicon and Collins zones will again be divided into four time periods.
For the Horicon Zone: the second period runs Sept. 30 through Nov. 3; the third period runs Oct. 12 through Nov. 15; and the fourth period runs Nov. 2 through Dec. 15.
For the Collins Zone: the third period runs Oct. 16 through Nov. 1; and the fourth period runs Nov. 2 through 22, then closes and reopens for Dec. 2 and 3.
"If hunter participation is similar to last year for the Horicon and Collins zones, most hunters should receive two permits, though some hunters in the Horicon Zone may receive three permits." Bergquist says.
Exterior Zone hunters should report their daily harvest this year only by phone by calling the toll-free number: 1-800-99GOOSE (1-800-994-6673).
Ruffed Grouse, Woodcock Seasons
Despite a severe winter, the ruffed grouse population in northern Wisconsin showed signs of a slight increase, which should mean fair to good hunting opportunities since the ruffed grouse season opened Sept. 14.
"This spring's drumming surveys indicate that grouse populations continued to show signs of increase," reports Sam Moore, ruffed grouse specialist with the Department of Natural Resources at Hayward. "The rate of increase is less than last year. But considering the severity of this past winter, a slowing or smoothing in the rate of growth is not surprising."
Habitat is the most critical factor in sustaining ruffed grouse populations, Moore says. "Grouse are generally most abundant in young aspen forests or older aspen forests with a well-developed shrub understory. Clearcutting to regenerate aspen forests has been widespread across the north in the past 15 to 20 years and has provided a considerable amount of good grouse habitat."
"Grouse numbers in the central portion of the state do not fluctuate as widely as they do in the north," Moore said. Drumming counts in this region were up slightly over last year's, he notes, but the wet, cold spring may have also taken a toll on the survival of grouse hatched this year.
Ruffed grouse drumming counts were also up slightly in the western part of the state. "The wooded hill country of the Western Farmlands can produce some excellent grouse hunting opportunities for those who know the area and seek out the better hunting spots," Moore says. The best areas in this part of the state include brushy edges of oak-dominated woodlands and wooded patches with dense understories of hazel and prickly ash.
The southeastern portion of the state do not support large numbers of ruffed grouse. This areas of the state have a shorter season and reduced bag limit effect for the eastern portion of this region to protect that fragmented population from overharvest. "The population appears to be about the same as it was last year," reports Moore.
Hunters should check the 1996 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations for a map of ruffed grouse zones and bag limits.
Moore also cautions hunters that the sharptail grouse may be found in the same cover as ruffed grouse, especially near open edges, during the early part of the season. The sharp-tailed grouse season is closed statewide this year. The DNR is establishing a new hunting season framework for sharptails that will include hunting zones and harvest quotas based on the results of spring surveys. The projected new sharptailed grouse hunt is scheduled for Fall of 1997. Sharp-tailed grouse can be distinguished from the ruffed grouse in flight by longer central tail feather edges with white on both sides.
Woodcock Opportunities Good Despite Declining Population
Woodcock populations have been declining over the past 25 years in the northern forest region of the state as the young forest they prefer continue to mature, thus providing less habitat for the species, according to Carl Mcliquham, DNR wildlife biologist at Antigo.
"However," Mcliquham adds, "local production of birds is still more than adequate to provide excellent hunting opportunity." Hunters should seek out dense stands of alder, willow or small diameter aspen for the best hunting opportunities, he says.
"Woodcock hunting should be most productive early in the season when local birds are still present and then again after the first of October when migrating birds can provide locally heavy concentrations of birds," he says.
Good numbers of adult woodcock were also present throughout central Wisconsin during the spring breeding season, through a late, cold and wet spring may have taken a toll on young birds.
"The fall flight of woodcock usually occurs during the first two weeks of October. Birds usually depart after the first hard frost. Hunters should expect to find the birds in tag alder and aspen stands along stream courses," he says.
SOUTHCENTRAL STATES
ARKANSAS
Duck hunting to be open every weekend this season
Duck hunting in Arkansas this season will be open every weekend from before Thanksgiving until deep into January. The duck and goose hunting dates and bag limits were set by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at its August monthly meeting.
The duck hunting dates: Nov. 23-Dec. 8, Dec. 14-22 and Dec. 26-Jan. 19. The structure of 50 days of hunting and a maximum of five ducks per day is the same as last season. Only change in the bag limit is hunters may take two redhead ducks a day; last year, just one redhead was allowed. Four mallards can be taken per day, but only one can be a female.
Goose hunting dates continued to be liberalized by the Commission in accordance with guidelines handed down by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Snow geese have multiplied rapidly over the North American continent, and many more are wintering in Arkansas than in past years.
Snow goose hunting season in Arkansas this year will be 107 days, and 10 snow geese per day can be taken in addition to the limits on Canada geese and white-fronted (specklebelly) geese.
The goose hunting dates: Snow geese, Nov. 23 -March 9; bag limit 10 a day; possession limit 30, up from last year's 20. Canada geese, East Arkansas Zone, Jan. 18-Feb. 9; bag limit two a day. Canada geese, West Arkansas Zone, Jan. 25-Feb. 2 and Feb. 5-9; bag limit one a day. White-fronted geese: Nov. 23 -Jan. 31; bag limit two a day.
Tim Moser, waterfowl biologist with the Commission, said, "All indications are for another really good year in numbers of ducks. Last year, for the first time, Arkansas hunters took over one million ducks. Arkansas was first in the nation in the number of mallards taken by hunters, third in the nation in total number of ducks taken and third in the nation in the number of ducks taken per hunter."
The statistics are compiled by the Fish and Wildlife Service from surveys of hunters. Current estimations of North American duck populations are 89 million, Moser said.
Survey shows another high level for duck populations
The numbers are looking good again for North America's ducks and geese, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists said after studying survey statistics from northern breeding grounds.
The bright midsummer outlook follows encouraging trends of 1994 and 1995, when duck numbers rebounded dramatically from years of drought-fueled declines. The comeback, boosted by increased rain and snow in the north coupled with projects of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, resulted in expanded hunting seasons.
The 50-and-5 arrangement is the maximum proposed this year under the federal agency's Adaptive Harvest Management policy.
Tim Moser, waterfowl biologist with the Commission, said fall flight forecasts showed an increase of 8 percent this year over 1995 in total duck populations. Mallard numbers are up 3 percent over last year. Mallards are up by 10 percent over the long-term average, and mallard breeding populations are 7.9 million, close to the North American Plan's goal of 8.1 million.
Major increases were noted in the numbers of blue-winged teal, green-winged teal and shovelers. Canvasbacks, troubled for years by dropping populations, were 56 percent ahead of the long-term average (since 1955), and redheads were up by 42 percent. Wigeons, scaup and pintails, though, showed decreases.
More significant statistics for Arkansans interested in waterfowl are that mallard numbers in southern Saskatchewan, where most mallards wintering in Arkansas breed, were up by 18 percent this year from 1995. More mallards are bagged by hunters in Arkansas most years than in any other state. The Fish and Wildlife Service estimated 584,200 mallards were taken in Arkansas in 1995-96, nearly one-fourth more than the previous year and third only behind 1975 and 1980 in modern duck season.
Arkansas's total duck take in 1995-96 was just over one million, the F&WS said, an all time high since these statistics were first gathered in 1961. Of this total, 58 percent were mallards, 16 percent gadwall, 8 percent green-winged teal, 6 percent wood ducks and the remainder other species. Moser said, "Dry conditions and lower availability of flooded timber areas for much of last hunting season probably explained the lower than normal proportion of mallards and wood ducks in the harvest for 1995-96."
KANSAS
1996 Upland Bird Hunting Outlook
School has started, and summer is officially over. With these beginnings and endings comes The anticipation many Kansas hunters have for the upland bird season. To help hunters prepare, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks prepares an outlook of bird populations for the year. Based on surveys of birds seen by rural mail carriers and department biologists' brood count surveys, the outlook provides a fair measure of what hunters might encounter once bird season opens.
Of course, no survey of wildlife populations can be completely accurate. Habitat conditions and weather patterns may skew results one way or another. And severe weather between now and the season opener may also affect what hunters encounter. Still, the following information should provide hunters a good basis for planning fall hunts.
The Kansas pheasant season runs Nov. 9-Jan. 31, with a daily bag limit of four roosters. Quail season runs Nov. 9 through Jan. 31 in the Eastern Zone and Nov. 16-Jan. 31 in the Western Zone, with a daily bag limit of eight. The prairie chicken season is divided into three areas of the state. In that area east still below potential.
Prairie Chicken: Kansas greater prairie chicken populations were very low this spring. It is difficult to monitor prairie chicken production during summer, but even if reproduction proved to be good, it is likely that prairie chicken numbers will continue well below average. The Flint Hills constitute the core of Kansas' greater prairie chicken range. Lesser prairie chickens are found mainly on sand prairies in southwestern Kansas and their numbers were very low this spring. Drought conditions that persisted through spring in southwestern Kansas may have further impacted lessers. Season lengths and bag limits for lessers are more restrictive than for greater prairie chickens.
Northwest
Prospects for pheasant hunting in this region are generally no better than in 1995. Spotty distribution has produced a few reposes of improved prospects, but these have generally been outnumbered by reports on the down side. Quail are not abundant in most of the northwest, but fair to locally good numbers occur in Phillips, Rooks, Norton, and Graham counties. Quail numbers appear to be improved over 1995 and remain above average for this region. Exceptional summer rains have produced rapid vegetative growth and cover is heavy, where not tilled or sprayed.
Northcentral
Pheasant numbers are down from 1995 in all but the extreme eastern portion of this region where numbers appear to have generally increased. For most of the region, hunters will find noticeably fewer pheasants and hunting will be below average with a few exceptions. Quail numbers will be similar to last year, remaining above average for this region. Quail numbers generally increase from west to east. Cover conditions are heavy throughout the northcentral region.
Northeast
Pheasant populations appear to be significantly improved over 1995 and hunting prospects are probably above average for this region. This region's overall pheasant density, however, is typically lower than that which occurs further west. The northernmost counties provide the best pheasant opportunities in this region. Quail numbers appear to be modestly improved over last year and should provide for good hunting this season. Cover conditions range from good in the east to heavy in the western counties.
Southwest
Extended drought this spring pushed southwestern Kansas pheasant numbers to levels even lower than in 1995. Most reports coming from this area estimate pheasant populations to be the lowest in memory. Significant quail populations are found mainly in the southern and eastern tiers of counties in this region, especially in the Red Hills. Quail numbers appear to have increased over last year and should provide relatively good hunting in the areas noted above. Cover conditions in cropland areas are unusually heavy, where not tilled or sprayed. Rangeland cover is also heavy.
Southcentral
Pheasant populations remain at low levels in this region, similar to or slightly lower than those of 1995. This will be the least productive region within the Kansas pheasant range this year. Quail numbers appear to be substantially improved over 1995 and should be back to about average levels. A few areas in the region may not have shared in this overall quail increase. Cover conditions range from good to heavy.
Southeast
Quail populations appear to be at least modestly improved in the southeast region. Reports on quail, however, have varied widely from "little change" over 1995 to "substantial improvement." There is some indication in the information available that quail production may have been better than what, at this point, can be confirmed. Hunters should continue to monitor the situation in the southeast as the season draws nearer. Cover looks good, but is not exceptional.
This should provide for good hunting this season. Cover conditions range from good in the east to heavy will the western counties.
LOUISIANA
Dec 7 is Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day
Adult hunters looking for an opportunity to introduce youngsters to outdoor sports, ethics and they should take advantage of youth waterfowl hunting day, slated for Dec. 7, 1996, in Louisiana. This day, set under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines, is designed to provide young people 15 years of age or younger a day to themselves to experience a day afield.
"It's a great opportunity," said Dave Morrison, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Programs Manager. The Department is the sponsoring agency in charge of the hunts. "We're encouraging adult hunters to take a youth hunting and give them the experience of being out there and participating in a longstanding Louisiana tradition."
Youth hunters must be 15 years of age or younger and must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. The adult may not hunt. "This is strictly a day for the youngsters," said Morrison.
All regular season bag and possession limits apply. Daily bag limits for ducks is five and may include no more than four mallards (no more than one of which may be a female), three mottled ducks, one black duck, two wood ducks, one pintail, one canvasback and two redheads.
Daily bag limit for coots is 15. Daily bag limit for mergansers is five, only one of which may be a hooded merganser. Merganser limits are in addition to the daily bag limit for ducks.
Daily bag limit for blue and snow geese is 10. Daily bag limit for white-fronted (speckleberry) geese is two.
Possession limits for ducks, coots and mergansers are twice the daily bag limit.
Possession limits are 30 for blue and snow geese and four for white-fronted (specklebelly) geese.
Refer to the Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Pamphlet for more information and complete rules on waterfowl hunting.
MISSOURI
North American Waterfowl Continue Recovery
As waterfowl population estimates improve, so do duck and goose hunting prospects.
There's good news for Missouri waterfowl hunters. Most duck and goose populations are higher this year than in recent years. Wildlife researchers credit recovery of breeding habitat, which is largely the result of wet weather, for the rebound in waterfowl numbers.
"Through increased nesting cover and more water we've seen a dramatic increase in duck numbers," said Missouri Department of Conservation Waterfowl Biologist Dale Homburg. "A severe drought in the 1980s saw wetland acreage decline. Now we're in a wet cycle, but just as important is upland nesting cover. We've gained millions of upland acres under the Conservation Reserve Program.
A good habitat sign was the record number of ponds counted in the northern prairie region in 1996. The second highest May pond count on record found 7.5 million ponds this year compared to 6.3 million ponds in 1995. The record of 8.2 million ponds came in 1975.
Wildlife researchers measure duck numbers two ways. Breeding duck surveys estimate the number of adult ducks returning to nesting areas each summer. Fall flight estimates predict the number of ducks that will fly south in autumn after the nesting season.
This year, researchers estimated the total number of breeding ducks was 37.5 million, up 5 percent from 1995 and the highest since 1979. This year's survey showed record numbers of bluewinged teal (6.4 million), gadwalls (three million), shovellers (3.4 million) and canvasbacks (850,000). Surveys also found near-record numbers of green-winged teal (2.5 million) and redheads (800,000).
Breeding duck surveys showed an estimated 7.94 million mallards this year. That is down slightly from the 1995 estimate of 8.27 million, but the 1995-96 figures are the highest since 1973. Pintail numbers remained stable this year, while wigeon and scaup numbers declined slightly.
This year's fall flight estimate for all ducks was 83 million, higher than the 77 million recorded in 1995 and the highest since 1979. The mallard fall flight is estimated at 11.4 million, slightly above the 11. 1 million seen in 1995.
Ducks aren't the only birds on the rise. Snow and white-fronted goose numbers remain at or near-record levels. Nesting was delayed in much of the southern Hudson Bay region, however, so production of some migratory Canada geese will be lower.
"Geese have been migrating later, so the timing of the goose arrival is delayed," Homburg said. "I wouldn't be surprised to see this trend continue. That's why we recommended a later goose hunting season in northern Missouri."
Since 1993, researchers have surveyed giant Canada goose breeding populations in the Mississippi Flyway, which includes Missouri and 13 other states. In April this year, the estimate showed Missouri's population of giant Canada geese at about 38,870 -- an increase of 21 percent from 1995 and highest since the survey began. Throughout the Mississippi Flyway, the number of giant Canada geese has increased to more than a million birds.
Researchers also band geese to track their longevity and migration patterns. In 1996, they captured 7,066 geese. Of those, 3,791 were new captures and 2,892 were recaptures (previously banded).
When waterfowl numbers go up, so do hunter numbers. In Missouri, 27,300 hunters hunted an average 10 days each in 1995, a new record. Statewide, the duck harvest during the first 50-day season in 11 years was 222,500. This was substantially higher than any year since 1984 (245,200). There was a similar trend in the Mississippi Flyway, where hunters harvested six million ducks, the most since 1979.
Mallards comprised 54.9 percent of the statewide duck bag, followed by: green-winged teal, 11 .4 percent; wood ducks, 7.7 percent; gadwalls, 7.2 percent; and blue-winged teal, 6.7 percent. The 1995-96 season harvest included 44,200 Canada geese, which was the highest in 14 years. The effect of the late goose migration was apparent in the fact that 39 percent of the 1995-96 harvest occurred in late December. The snow goose harvest of 13, 100 was lower than the previous season. whitefronted goose harvest was negligible.
The 1996-1997 season will be the first in which waterfowl hunters 16 and older need the new Migratory Bird Hunting permit, which is good for waterfowl, doves, snipe, woodcock, and rails. it costs $4 and replaces the Missouri Waterfowl Stamp and Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program card. Hunters must also have small-game hunting permits and federal duck stamps.
This year's waterfowl hunting seasons and bag limits in Missouri are:
Ducks and Coots
Limits: Five ducks daily, with no more than four mallards (no more than one female), two wood ducks, two redheads, one pintail, one black duck, one hooded merganser or one canvasback. Daily bag for coots is 15.
Seasons:
North Zone, Oct. 26-Dec. 14;
Middle Zone, Nov. 2-Dec. 21;
South Zone, Nov, 23 -Jan. 11.
Geese
Limits: The daily bag limits include no more than 10 blue, snow or Ross' geese; two Canada geese- two brant; and two white-fronted geese.
Seasons: Blue, Snow & Ross Geese:
North & Swan Lake zones, Oct. 26-Jan. 19 and Feb. 17-March 9;
Middle & Schell-Osage zones, Nov. 2-7 and Nov. 29-March 9;
South Zone, Nov. 23-March 9.
White-Fronted Geese & Brant:
North Zone: Oct. 26-Nov. 3 and Nov. 29-Jan. 19
Swan Lake Zone, Oct, 26-Nov. 3 and Nov. 29-Jan. 19
Middle & Schell-Osage zones, Nov. 2-7 and Nov. 29-Jan. 31
South Zone, Nov. 23 -Jan. 31
Canada Geese:
North Zone: Nov. 29-Jan. 19
Swan Lake Zone, Oct. 26-Nov. 3 and Nov, 29-Dec. 29
(Unless a quota of 5,000 geese is reached before Dec. 29.);
Schell-Osage Zone, Nov. 29-Jan. 7
Middle Zone, Nov. 2-7 and Nov. 29-Jan. 31
South zone, Nov. 23 -Jan. 31.
Full details of waterfowl hunting regulations and zone boundaries will be listed in the 1996 Migratory Bird Hunting Digest, to be available from permit vendors and Missouri Department of Conservation offices in early October.
OKLAHOMA
Figures don't reveal total dove picture
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) 1996 report on mourning dove breeding population status shows that dove populations in both Oklahoma and the Central Dove Management Unit, the unit Oklahoma is in, appear to be down for the second year in a row.
"That doesn't necessarily mean that hunters will see fewer dove this season," said Mike O'Meilia, migratory bird biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "Our standardized surveys show breeding dove numbers are down 12 percent this year, but I think that is probably related more to unusual weather during the survey. From what I've seen, I think there has been as good a dove reproductive effort as we have seen in some time."
O'Meilia added that long-term trend data is far more important in gauging population changes. Trend data for doves in the Central Management Unit shows a modest 1.5 percent decline over the most recent 10 years, but no significant population trends are evident over the 30-year period since surveying began in 1966.
Dove population estimates are based on call-counts conducted by personnel with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife. Call-counts are conducted throughout the state and consist of 20 listening stops spaced at one-mile intervals. At each stop, the number of doves heard calling, the number seen, and the level of disturbance which impairs the observer's ability to hear doves are recorded.
Call-counts begin one-half hour before sunrise and continue for about two hours. Routes are run once between May 20 and June 5. Surveys are not conducted when wind velocities exceed 12 miles per hour or when it is raining. Population trends are then calculated based on a comparison of the data from the current and previous years.
"Weather also will play a role in determining the number of birds seen by hunters," said O'Meila. "Day length plays a significant role in triggering dove migration, but weather influences bird movement as well. Cool weather in the Northern Plains will bring birds into Oklahoma, but cool weather here will send the birds further south."
Traditional dove hunting spots include ponds, windmills, waterholes and harvested agricultural crops. Dove feed on exposed grain and seed which means hunters should concentrate on fields with large amounts of crop residue. Wheat stubble can be productive, as can weed and sunflower patches.
Dove hunters, including lifetime license holders, are reminded that they must complete and carry a free Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit while hunting. Hunters under 16 years of age, senior citizens (age 64 or older or those who turn 64 during the calendar year in which they intend to hunt doves or other migratory birds) and landowners hunting only on their own property are exempt from the permit. HIP permits can be obtained from any hunting and fishing license dealer.
Hunters should remember that HIP permits are similar to duck stamps, which are valid for one migratory bird season rather than one calendar year. In Oklahoma, migratory bird hunting opportunities begin with the Sept. 1 dove opener and end in March with the close of the light goose season.
HIP permits are not just required of those hunting in the Sooner State. In fact, they will be required of migratory bird hunters in every state within the next few years. Data obtained from the permits will be used by the USFWS to increase the extent and quality of migratory bird harvest information.
The daily limit for dove is 15, with 30 allowed in possession after the first day. Hunting hours are one half hour before official sunrise to official sunset. Shotguns must be plugged so they are capable of holding no more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
SOUTHEASTERN STATES
FLORIDA
GFC Sets Duck and Dove Season Dates
The Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) recently announced season dates for this year's duck and dove seasons in Florida. The second and third phases are Nov. 16 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 14 - Jan 12. Hunters may take up to 12 birds daily. However, only four birds may be white-winged doves. The possession limit is 24 birds, and only eight may be white-winged doves.
For taking migratory game birds, hunters may use shotguns not larger than 10-gauge, plugged to a three-shell capacity with a one-piece filler which cannot be removed without disassembling the gun. Also, long and compound bows and arrows, falconry, dogs, artificial decoys and manual or mouth-operated bird calls are legal hunting methods for migratory bird hunting.
It is illegal to bait (place feed such as corn, wheat, salt or other feed to constitute a lure or enticement) or hunt on or over any baited areas.
KENTUCKY
Commission Adopts Hunting Laws for Waterfowl Season
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) Commission approved several actions affecting hunting and fishing for the next year.
The 1996-97 waterfowl season was set, pending approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) 1996 federal register. Prospective dates, bag limits and shooting hours are:
Ducks, coots and mergansers
Eastern and Western Duck Zones- Nov. 28 - Dec. 1; Dec. 5 - Jan. 19 The bag limit for ducks is five per day, not more than 4 mallards (one female), 2 wood ducks, 1 pintail, 1 black duck, 2 redhead, and 1 canvasback. The bag limit for coots is 15. The bag limit for mergansers is 5, only one of which may be a hooded merganser.
The possession limit on ducks, coots and mergansers is double the daily bag limit. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.
Canada, snow and white-fronted geese
Western Goose Zone :
Canada geese Dec. 5 - Jan. 31
Snow geese Nov. 28 - Jan. 31; Feb. 15 - March 10
White-fronted geese Nov. 28 - Jan. 31
Pennyroyal/Coalfield Goose Zone: Dec. 16 - Jan. 19 , Nov. 28 - Jan. 31, Nov. 28 - Jan. 31
Canada geese, Snow geese, White-fronted geese
Dec. 13 - Jan. 31, Nov. 28 - Jan. 31, Nov. 28 - Jan. 31.
The bag limit is a combined daily limit of 10 geese, with no more than 2 Canada geese, 2 white-fronted geese and 2 brant. The possession limit on geese is double the daily bag limit. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
TENNESSEE
Tennessee Duck Hunters Will Have 1996-97 Season Designed Much Like Previous Year
Tennessee waterfowl hunters will have fifty days to hunt ducks during the 1996-97 hunting season, a scenario much like last year and one that indicates an overall healthy assessment of North American duck populations.
A long drought, combined with habitat loss, is believed to have caused the duck population to dip so low as to necessitate reduced seasons and bag limits in recent years.
With the drought long over and more land being purchased by wildlife agencies with waterfowl management in mind, the duck population has risen to nearly 90 million birds in North America versus less than 70 million in the late 1980s.
One again, the Wildlife Commission established two duck hunting areas in Tennessee the Reelfoot Zone, and, the "remainder of the state." Hunters in the Reelfoot Zone will have a split season, with sportsmen being allowed to take ducks on a short and early Nov. 16-17 hunt, followed by a Dec. 3 -Jan. 19 hunt.
In the remainder of the state, hunters will also have a split season, although only split by a one-day break for Christmas. The season is set for Nov. 30-Dec. 24, and then Dec. 26-Jan. 19.
Only steel or bismuth shot may be used to hunt waterfowl and the bag limit for the 1996-97 season is five ducks per day. The bag may include four mallards (no more than one of which may be a female), one black duck, two wood ducks, one pintail, two redheads, and/or one canvasback.
In addition, hunters may also have a daily bag limit of five mergansers, only one of which may be a hooded merganser. The season dates and bag limits, as has been tradition, are different depending on what part of the state the birds are being hunted in. Hunters in Middle Tennessee, for example, will have a Nov. 30-Jan. 29 hunt.
The first segment was created to encourage hunters to harvest birds from the state's resident goose flock before migrating geese arrive in Tennessee, while the second hunt was designed for sportsmen to take birds from both resident and migrating birds.
Tennessee has six Canada goose hunting zones that includes Middle Tennessee Zone, Northwest Zone, Southwest MVP Zone, Kentucky/Barkley Lake Zone, Cumberland Plateau Zone, and East Tennessee Zone. Each of those zones have set quotas that if reached would call for an early closure of the season in that particular area.
In Middle Tennessee, the quota is 4,000 birds, Counties included in the midstate area are, east of Highway 13, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Perry, and Wayne. Counties open in full are Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Coffee, Davidson, Dickson, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson.
In the Middle Tennessee Zone, hunters will be allowed to harvest two Canada geese per day and must take all harvested birds to the nearest checking station. A list of stations will be included in the the hunting guide. In addition, waterfowl hunters must be in possession of the free Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit, also available at many sporting good stores and departments.
The free permit is an addition to the permits and licenses needed by hunters, not a substitute. The Fish & Wildlife Service plans to survey hunters after each waterfowl season to create a better data base on migratory birds.
VIRGINIA
American Woodcock Forecast
Populations of American woodcock are declining steadily. Since 1968 the population has declined at an rate of 2.5 percent per year in the Eastern Region. Breeding populations in Virginia are also showing a significant long-term decline. Loss of habitat is considered to be the primary cause of the population decline. Concern of the long-term status of woodcock led the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to reduce the hunting season in 1985 from 60 to 45 days and daily bag limit from five to three. The woodcock falls under the jurisdiction of the Fish and Wildlife Service because it is a migratory game bird. Authority for its management was established by the Migratory Game Bird Treaty Act. The continued decline in woodcock population indices is likely to lead to a further hunting season reductions next year according to officials with the USFWS. Woodcock migrate through the Mountain Region in late October and early November. Piedmont region migration peaks in early to mid-November. Tidewater migration normally peaks in mid to late December.
Hunting Forecast District 1
Quail: Hunters are beginning to show optimism about quail in this part of the state. There is an unprecedented effort underway by VDGIF to restore quail populations. Last year sportsmen had a slightly improved quail season after hitting rock bottom the previous year. This year, field sightings and population data are slightly better than the last couple of years. Quail call counts conducted on the eastern shore this summer suggested a surprisingly high number of birds in Accomack and Northampton counties. Quail initiated nesting several weeks later this year than last and this may affect winter populations.
Waterfowl: Waterfowl hunters should get their decoys painted and waders patched because we are in for another good season. After the historic lows of the 80's, duck populations are still on the rebound. Some species such as canvasbacks are at or near all time highs. In this district, four major tidal rivers provide outstanding big-water gunning for cans, bufflehead, ruddy ducks, goldeneye and scaup. Puddle duck opportunities should be good this year in the extensive marshes found in this part of the state. Most wildlife management areas in this district support good populations of migrating waterfowl. Abundant rainfall this summer has kept beaver ponds full. This is good news for early season hunters as wood ducks, and a fair number of Canada geese, rely on beaver ponds to hatch and raise their young.
Goose hunters should concentrate on the growing resident Canada goose flock if they want a chance at a gander this fall. Unfortunately, Virginia will again be about a migratory Canada goose season due to a continuing population decline. However, geese are becoming more widespread throughout the district. Tidewater hunters are finding that gaining permission to hunt private lands these birds are utilizing is relatively easy, as landowners attempt to cope with these flocks. Last year snow geese were a big attraction for eastern shore hunters. Harsh weather pushed flocks down to the shore from up north and waterfowlers were happy to extend their seasons into Feburaury to chase these cagey birds.
District 2
Quail: The number of quail being seen and heard in the district this summer is very encouraging. The availability of good quail habitat continues to be a limiting factor, but quail are being found in places you might not expect to find them. Don't overlook the cut-overs and rough areas. Quail hunters who are willing to "rough it" will fair much better than those who stick to the field edges.
Woodcock: There are mixed signals as to what success woodcock hunters may have this season. The spring singing ground surveys for the eastern region indicate a long term decrease in breeding woodcock populations. Hunter success as well as recruitment of young birds into last year's population were well below the long term averages. Hunting in advance of impending storm fronts and knowledge of where to find good bottomland coverts will greatly increase hunting success. Based on results of our annual hunter survey, we find that hunter success within the district is at its best during the first and fourth week of the season. Therefore, woodcock hunters in this region should concentrate their effort during November. This year's split season should also provide good hunting during the latter part of December.
Quail: Quail hunting success for the 1996 season is difficult to predict. There was continued disappointment in quail hunter success last year in the western Piedmont and we still have relatively poor hunting success in the district. On average a quail hunter will harvest only two quail during a full day hunt. This summer we have had some encouraging reports of quail being found in areas which have been unpopulated in recent years. Also, the number of singing males heard locally appears to be on the rise. These reports however are only anecdotal. Quail populations are known to rebound dramatically if conditions cooperate. Serious quail hunters should focus their effort during the November portion of the hunting season as our research shows this month to be the most productive for hunting success.
Grouse: Results of this summers brood reports are yet to be compiled, but we had several sightings of grouse broods by early July. Rainfall for the spring and early summer have been above normal but is not thought to be a problem for chicks. Although we experienced some rough winter weather, the carryover of breeding birds should have been good.
We had a fair moist crop last fall and the ruffed grouse rarely finds a lack of other food sources, therefore local populations should have had a good carryover to the spring breeding season. The best grouse hunting in the district is found in the mountainous areas of the Blue Ridge and the foothills. Older clearcuts as well as sites defoliated by the gypsy moth often provide productive coverts for man and dog.
Waterfowl: Local resident geese populations have continued to increase to a point where they are becoming a nuisance to many property owners. The size of the resident geese hunting zone has expanded to include the entire state. Duck hunting in the southwest Piedmont should be somewhat better than last year. The mid-winter waterfowl count was higher than the recent five year average. Locally, duck hunters should have their best success late in the duck season. As always, hunting success is directly related to weather conditions. Cold weather with freeze over to the north will push tremendous numbers of waterfowl into our area.
NORTHEAST STATES
MAINE
New Trespass Law
This fall hunters should familiarize themselves with major changes in the state trespass law. A number of changes in the state's trespass laws were enacted this year by the Maine Legislature. Under the new law, landowners will be permitted to post against a specific activity, as opposed to simply posting "No Trespassing." The hope is that, given this new latitude, landowners may refrain from so-called blanket posting of their property against all recreational activity. Additionally, "nailless posting" with horizontal silver point marks will be permitted and will serve as legal posting against trespass. The law states that there must be visible two horizontal silver paint marks, which must be between 3 and 6 feet off the ground. The paint marks or the signs can be no farther apart than 100 feet.
NEW JERSEY
Division To Stock Quail on WMA'S With Dog Training Sites
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife will stock a total of 800 quail on wildlife management areas (WMAs) with dog training sites prior to the November 9 opening of the small game season. The following WMAs will be stocked with quail for dog training purposes on October 5, 12, 19 and 26: Whittingham, Black River, Clinton, Assunpink, Manasquan, Colliers Mills, Stafford Forge, Glassboro, Millville and Tuckahoe.
NEW YORK
1996-97 Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Set
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulations for 1996-97 waterfowl hunting seasons in New York were announced today by DEC Commissioner Michael D. Zagata.
Hunting regulations for most species are similar to last year, including 50-day duck seasons and continued closure of the traditional Canada goose hunting season.
"Duck hunting opportunities will be the best we've had in more than a decade, as duck populations and habitat conditions across North America are in excellent shape," Commissioner Zagata said. "This should be a great year for experienced hunters to introduce young people to waterfowl hunting by participating in the special Youth Hunt Days."
The season dates were set after a team of DEC wildlife biologists reviewed population levels, migratory data and other waterfowl information. DEC also gathered extensive public comment through meetings, correspondence and discussions with sportsmen.
This season's daily bag limit for ducks is five a day in all zones. The daily bag can include no more than 1 hen mallard, 1 black duck, 1 pintail, 1 canvasback, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, and 4 scooters. Harlequin ducks may not be hunted at all. 2 black ducks may be taken from Oct, 21 to Nov, 17 in the Western Zone, from Nov, 16 to 28 in the Northeastern Zone, or from Nov, 9 to 17 in the Southeastern Zone. The black duck hunting season must be shorter than the regular 50-day season to protect black duck populations. Midwinter counts of black ducks have stabilized since restrictions began in 1983, but in most years, duck seasons were only 30 or 40 days long.
The daily bag limit for snow geese has been increased to eight a day this year in response to concerns that overabundance of these birds is causing long-term habitat damage in breeding, migration and wintering areas. The bag limit for brant is unchanged from last year, but the season was reduced from 50 to 30 days because of low midwinter counts of this species.
Traditional Canada goose hunting remains closed this year but surveys conducted in June indicate that the migratory population in northern Quebec increased from an all-time low of 29,000 pairs in 1995 to 46,000 pairs in 1996. Flyway biologists have indicated that a limited harvest of this population may be allowed when there are at least 60,000 pairs in the survey area.
Shooting hours for all migratory waterfowl hunting again will be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset throughout the season in all hunting zones. A previous exception in the Lake Champlain Zone was discontinued this year.
Nontoxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting in New York State. In addition to steel shot, bismuth/tin has again been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and DEC for waterfowl hunting in New York during the 1996-97 season.
DEC Announces Hunting Opportunities Provided by State Pheasant Propagation Programs
Adult pheasants raised on state game farms are ready to be released, according to Michael Murphy, pheasant specialist in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Wildlife Services Team.
Pheasants 16 to 18 weeks old are released statewide on lands open to public hunting just prior to and during the fall pheasant hunting season. About 27,300 adult pheasants raised at state game farms in Basom, Genesee County, and Ithaca, Tompkins County, are slated for release. The majority will be released in state wildlife management and cooperative hunting areas.
Two popular cooperative pheasant-rearing and release programs, the Day-old Pheasant Chick Program and the Young Pheasant Release Program, provide additional hunting opportunities for ardent pheasant hunters. Birds from these programs are released before the season opens and they disperse widely, presenting a greater challenge for experienced hunters.
The Day-Old Chick Program, developed in the early 1900s, provides day-old pheasant chicks to cooperating 4-H youth groups and sportsmen. The chicks are distributed to successful applicants in May and June, and the hosts incur all costs of rearing the birds, which include feed, water, utilities and facility construction. This year, 63,217 pheasant chicks were distributed to qualifying sportsmen and 4-H youths.
The Young Pheasant Release Program was developed in 1992 with assistance from organized sportsmen. It provides a more quality hunting experience because the birds become wild upon release, and also gives sportsmen a chance to make a significant contribution to improving pheasant hunting. Pheasants five to eight weeks old are distributed to cooperating sportsmen and landowners for release at pre-approved sites in June and July. The cooperators provide a release pen and make food and water available for two weeks following release. The pheasants become acclimated to their new surroundings during this period. In 1996, 289 sportsmen and landowners released 15,400 young pheasants.
For those wishing to pursue these pheasants when the hunting season begins, a list of Young Pheasant Release Program release sites is available from the nearest DEC regional wildlife office. Hunters are asked to provide the following information about any pheasants wearing leg bands: band number, cause of death, date harvested or found, sex, and location.
More than 100,000 pheasants were hatched by state game farms in the past year. Program guidelines require that all birds be released on land open to public hunting. Sportsmen are encouraged to participate in cooperative programs and take full advantage of the hunting opportunities provided by these sportsmen-funded programs. Hunters who plan to use private lands should ask landowners for permission to hunt. Hunters also are encouraged to hunt with a trained bird dog to improve their chances of finding pheasants and locating downed game. Contact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office for more specifics about those programs and local hunting opportunities.
Pheasant season began October 1 in parts of New York. Check DEC's Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which is available from license issuing agents, to determine regional pheasant season dates and regulations.
OUNTAIN STATES
COLORADO
Emergency Regulation Changes Waterfowl Dates
The Wildlife Commission passed an emergency regulation today that changed season dates for the duck season in the Central Flyway and the youth waterfowl hunting day in the Central Flyway.
The second split of the duck season in the Central Flyway was changed to Nov. 2-30. It was originally set for Oct. 26 through Nov. 24.
"When originally proposing the dates for the second split, we missed the important fact that Oct. 26 was the same day as the plains rifle deer season opener," said Regulations Manager John Smeltzer. "This would have created the situation where duck hunters are concentrated on river, pond and lake banks, while another concentration of rifle deer hunters attempt to kill a deer in this same relatively small area. We were concerned this opening day crowding could pose an unacceptable safety risk."
As a result of the changes in the Central Flyway's second split for ducks, the youth waterfowl hunting day originally set for Nov. 30 has changed to Oct. 19. The Pacific Flyway youth hunting day remains Nov. 30.
The third split in the duck season in the Central Flyway remains the same and all dates for the Pacific Flyway are the same. The Commissioners approved the changes via conference call Wednesday.
"We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our hunters," Smeltzer said. "We feel we needed to put safety first in this situation and needed to make these changes."
MONTANA
Waterfowl Hunters Primed For "Very Good" Hunting
Waterfowl, waterfowl everywhere and many places to hunt. That should be the chant this year for Montana duck and goose hunters. "It should be a very good year," says Jeff Herbert, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, statewide waterfowl coordinator.
Nationally, waterfowl experts are predicting a fall flight of nearly 90 million ducks. That's the largest number of migrating ducks since the early 1970s; before drought and changes in farming practices led to a precipitous decline in duck populations and subsequent smaller bag limits for hunters.
In this decade, rain and the federal Conservation Reserve Program have helped reverse the sliding bird numbers. "We had good production of young last year," Herbert says, "so the base population has continued to increase. Herbert says some bird numbers are at or near all-time highs. "Gadwalls and green-winged teal are near record highs," he says. "Canvasbacks and redheads have very high numbers."
One result for hunters is a larger daily bag limit -- seven ducks in the Pacific Flyway and five in the Central. The season for ducks and geese opened statewide on Saturday, September 28. For specific information on the bag limits and season dates, consult Montana's 1996 migratory bird hunting regulations.
In north-central Montana, two public areas are popular with waterfowl hunters: Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area, west of Great Falls between the town of Choteau and Fairfield, and Benton Lake National Refuge north of the Electric City. Freezout is state owned, while Benton Lake is federally owned.
Benton Lake officials have reported trouble with their pumps, meaning less water availability for ducks and hunters than in the past.
That is not so at Freezout. "We've got plenty of water at Freezout," reports FWP wildlife biologist Quentin Kujala. As usual, Freezout had lots of hunters on opening day. That initial hunter effort will soon diminish later in October. "During a weekday in early season you can almost have the place to yourself," Kujala says. Freezout contains approximately 10,000 acres open for hunting.
By the third week of October, tundra swans and snow geese show up and so do the majority of the season's hunters. "From then until freeze up there's a constant flow of birds and hunters," Kujala says. "We'll handle a lot of people the opening day of waterfowl season, but they are mostly local. Then with the snow geese, we start to see people from west of the [Continental] Divide."
With the right weather conditions, tens of thousands of snow geese and thousands of tundra swans may be found at Freezout in late October. Hunting swans is by permit only, but snow geese hunting is open to anyone with the required state and federal migratory bird stamps.
In addition to Freezout, several adjacent landowners have enrolled in FWPI s Block Management Program, allowing hunters access to private property to hunt. That's good news, especially for goose hunting, both for snows and Canadas.
To find out which landowners near Freezout are allowing hunters access, contact the FWP regional office in Great Falls (telephone 406-454-5840) There is an FWP office at Freezout, but no office staff. That means the work crew stationed there could be out in the field, leaving no one at the WMA to answer questions from callers.
UTAH
Upland Counts
Chukar partridge populations are closely tied to spring precipitation received during April and May. An abundance of rain fell in Utah's desert areas in central and northern Utah this past spring, resulting in improved reproduction. Drought conditions in southern and southeastern Utah have diminished chukar reproduction in those areas. Reproduction in the Uinta Basin was fair. Chukars are found on nearly all of Utah's west desert mountain ranges. The Green River corridor and Southern Book Cliffs in eastern Utah also are ideal chukar habitat, but hunting should be only fair.
The best hunting strategy for chukars is to begin at the top of a mountain range and hunt down on the birds. Listening for the chukar's well-defined call is an excellent way to locate bird coveys. If you bring a dog with you, make sure the dog is in good physical condition and take plenty of water along, not only for yourself, but the dog as well. Because chukar habitat in Utah is comprised of much shale and lava rock, it may be wise to purchase leather or rubber booties to protect the pads on your dog's feet!
Sage grouse populations throughout the state, and throughout western North America, are at all-time lows. Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation are major causes for the population decline. As a result, hunting has been closed for fragmented and isolated populations of sage grouse throughout Utah.
In 1996, hunting will be confined to "core" sage grouse areas: Western Box Elder County and Rich County in northern Utah, the Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah, and Parker Mountain in southern Utah. Sage grouse reproduction for populations in northern and northeastern Utah was good. Reproduction on the Parker Mountain has only been fair. Bag and possession limits have been reduced to one and two, respectively. The Parker Mountain and Rich County are open for only seven days. Sage grouse hunters should check the Upland Game Proclamation for changes in season lengths and bag limits.
Blue and ruffed grouse (forest grouse) population reports for this fall are good for the southern, central and northern regions of Utah. Fair hunting is expected in the northeastern and southeastern regions. A conducive spring provided for ideal nesting conditions and chick survival in the southern, central and northern regions of Utah.
Remember that forest grouse populations can vary greatly between mountain ranges. Look for birds in areas of mixed mountain brush offering berries. Ruffed grouse prefer areas along stream and watercourses. Blue grouse are usually found a little higher on the mountain, in the Douglas fir/aspen zone. If you hunt with a dog, take along a pair of pliers in case the dog encounters a porcupine. Quills are extremely difficult to remove from a dog's muzzle by hand.
Hunters desiring a trip into the highest of Utah's alpine country may hunt for the white-tailed ptarmigan. In 1976, ptarmigan were transplanted from Colorado to the Gunsight Pass/Painter Basin area of the Uinta Mountains. Since their release in Utah, ptarmigan have increased their distribution to many drainages of the Uintas. A free permit is required to hunt these birds and may be obtained, along with an information packet about where to find ptarmigan, from any Division office. The permit allows biologists to contact hunters, to determine harvest rates and other important biological information used to manage ptarmigan.
California quail populations are sporadically scattered throughout Utah. Main concentrations are found within urban areas along the Wasatch Front, east into the Uinta Basin, and southeast into the Carbon and Emery County areas. If hunting adjacent to urban areas, hunters should contact local authorities to determine regulations governing the discharge of firearms. Gambel's quail are found in the southwestern corner of the state (in the Mohave Desert habitat of Washington County) and along Utah's southern border. Because of drought conditions in this part of Utah, Gambel's quail reproduction this year has been fair at best. Listening for calls is an effective way to locate quail coveys.
Hungarian partridge populations continue to rebound from the devastating winter of 1992-93. Significant wildfires in Box Elder County in 1994 and 1995 have negatively impacted Hungarian partridge populations but reproductive efforts this past spring have been good. Birds will be scattered throughout existing habitat and hunters should expect to work for them. Success should be the same as last year. The hunt in eastern Box Elder County, for both Huns and chukar, closes Nov. 30.
Utah's most popular bird hunt is for ring-necked pheasants. Spring reproductive efforts were slightly above average for pheasants in Utah, except in the southeastern part of the state, where hunting will be very spotty. Hunters should concentrate on areas with remaining suitable habitat. Most of Utah's pheasant hunters participate during the opening weekend only. Those with persistence and who hunt during weekdays are usually successful in harvesting birds.
Do not expect the 1996 pheasant hunt to compare with the heyday of pheasant hunting in Utah; too much habitat has been lost. Division biologists are anxious to work with landowners desiring to improve and enhance pheasant habitat on private property. Funds are available through the Wildlife Habitat Authorization Fund program for habitat and public access payments to interested landowners. Please contact the Division Regional Habitat Manager in your area for more details. A brochure describing the program is available through all Division offices.
Small Game Posted Hunting Units have been in existence in Utah for more than 50 years. PHUs are areas where landowners have formed associations and open their private property to upland game and waterfowl hunting, for a reasonable fee.
In 1995, 14 PHUs in Utah were open to public hunting. Some PHUs open with mourning dove seasons in September. To allow for late season partridge hunting, some stay open through the end of January. A list of PHUs, which includes information about permit sales, date, times and PHU operator information, is available from all Division offices.
Waterfowl Hunting
Duck numbers in the Pacific flyway are up and so are the number of ducks Utah waterfowl hunters may harvest during the 1996 season.
Hunters may have a total of seven ducks in their daily bag, with no more than one hen mallard, two pintails, two redheads or one canvasback. The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit."Habitat conditions, this year for ducks, were excellent," Tom Aldrich, Division waterfowl program coordinator, told the board.
The breeding population of four species - canvasback, Northern shoveler, blue-winged teal and gadwall - is the highest in 40 years. Redhead and greenwinged teal breeding population numbers are the second highest on record.
The state will remain divided into two duck hunting zones. Counties in the zones will remain the same as last year with the exceptions of Uintah, Daggett and Duchesne counties, which have been added to Zone 1 this year. This change was made as a result of a Northeastern RAC request.
The duck hunting season in Zone 1 runs Oct. 5 - Jan. 5. The season begins at 8 a. m., Oct. 5.
The duck hunting season for Zone 2 runs Oct. 12 - Jan. 12 and begins one half hour before sunrise.
The general goose season runs Oct. 5 - Jan. 12 statewide and begins at 8 a.m., Oct. 5, in Zone 1, and one-half hour before sunrise, Oct. 5, in Zone 2.
Allowing the goose season to begin one-half hour before sunrise, on Oct. 5 in Zone 2, will allow goose hunters an opportunity to hunt them as they come into fields early in the morning.
The Northeast Region RAC asked the board to change the beginning time in Zone 1 to one-half hour before sunrise but the board did not approve this request, citing concerns that the thousands of hunters in the zone for the opening would not have sufficient daylight, to properly identify ducks, that early in the morning.
There are two areas of Utah where goose hunting will not begin until later in the season. In Washington County the season runs Oct. 12 - Jan. 19, and at the Desert Lake Wildlife Management Area the season runs Oct. 19 - Jan. 12.
The daily bag limit will be two dark and three white geese. Aldrich reported Canada geese in the Pacific flyway are doing great. "We had close to a record number of Canada geese counted this year," he said. Swan are doing well too, with 98,000 tundra swan counted in the flyway, the second highest number ever, he said.
Utah's swan season runs Oct. 5 - Dec. 1 and 2,750 permits will be available. In a related item, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will limit swan hunters to 10 shotshells each day, when hunting at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Other new rules at the refuge this year include:
* All guns in vehicles must be cased or dismantled.
* No shooting within 100 yards of the refuge's tour route.
* The refuge will close two hours after sunset.
* Parking will be allowed in parking lots only.
M
U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Waterfowlers Reminded of Regulations
The year 1996 promises the best waterfowl hunting in more than two decades. But hunters should keep in mind that this year's season and bag limits must be observed for the long-term benefit of the resource. Fish and Wildlife Service migratory bird management experts estimate that this year's fall flight of ducks could approach, or even exceed, 90 million birds.
"It could be a bonanza," notes the wildlife agency's Regional Director Ralph Morgenweck, "and dedicated waterfowlers have shown extraordinary patience waiting for a season like this to arrive. But rules are rules. And for the sake of the ducks and for the long-term best interests of the sport of waterfowling, we're urging hunters to be especially mindful of the regulations that apply in their state."
While the overall framework for seasons and bag limits for migratory birds is established by the Federal government, State wildlife agencies are responsible for establishing the specific rules for season length and allowable harvest in each state.
"Waterfowl season is an important time for us every year," according to Terry Grosz, the Service's Assistant Regional Director for Law Enforcement. "Most waterfowlers cherish their sport and follow all the rules and regulations. Inevitably, though, there are a few bad apples who think they can stretch the bag limit or shooting hours just to meet their needs."
"All my officers and federally deputized State conservation officers will be out in force--same as every year--to see that those few bad apples don't tarnish the sport and deplete the resource for the law-abiding waterfowler or others who enjoy the birds."
Grosz advises that all waterfowlers should thoroughly familiarize themselves with all pertinent State and Federal waterfowling regulations and waterfowl identification manuals before they go afield.
"Five minutes before sunrise in a duck blind," said Grosz, "is no time for a crash course on waterfowl identification, let alone rules on the daily bag. If you care about the sport and care about the resource, you'll make that necessary effort well in advance. By doing so, the sport will become what it was meant to be."
Contact your local game and fish office for a complete brochure on waterfowl regulations for the State within which you wish to hunt.
Service Approves Bismuth Shot For '96-97 Hunting Season
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today granted temporary approval of bismuth-tin shot for the 1996-97 waterfowl hunting season and issued a formal proposal to permanently approve it as an alternative to steel shot. The announcement means that hunters can use bismuth-tin for the upcoming waterfowl seasons.
Bismuth-tin and steel are the only types of shot currently approved for waterfowl hunting. Lead shot was phased out for waterfowl hunting in 1991 because it is toxic to birds that ingest it while feeding.
The Bismuth Cartridge Company petitioned the Service to legalize the use of bismuth-tin shot. The petition acknowledged the company's responsibility to Cotbree studies to determine the effects of ingested bismuth-tin shot on waterfowl.
The Service gave temporary approval for the use of bismuth-tin shot for the latter part of the 1994-95 season and for the 1995-96 season after the company submitted data for an initial, short-term test which showed no toxicity. Since then, the company has completed all required toxicity studies. None has shown any evidence of a toxicity problem.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages 508 national wildlife refuges encompassing 92 million acres, as well as 72 national fish hatcheries.
The agency also enforces Federal wildlife laws, manages migratory bird populations, stocks recreational fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, administers the Endangered Species Act, and assists foreign governments in their conservation efforts. It oversees the Federal Aid program that funnels Federal excise taxes on angling and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies. This program is a cornerstone of the Nation's wildlife management efforts, funding fish and wildlife restoration, boating access, hunter education, shooting ranges, and related projects across America.
Report Migratory Bird Bands on Toll-Free Number
Hunters who take a banded duck, goose, or other migratory bird can now call a toll free number to report the band number. This information provided by hunters assists biologists with management of migratory species.
Hunters may call 1-800-327-BAND anytime day or night to report band numbers. Operators will be available from 7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (eastern time), Monday - Friday. After hours callers will get a recorded message requesting their name and daytime phone number for a call back.
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Glory days are here: Best Fall Flight on Record
The largest fall flight of ducks in more than 25 years offers hunters a rare opportunity to introduce family, friends, and neighbors to the great sporting tradition of waterfowling, say officials of Ducks Unlimited, the world's largest non-profit wetlands, waterfowl, and wildlife conservation organization.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) estimates this year's fall flight of ducks will be 89.5 million, 16 percent greater than last year's 77 million fall flight. In a partnership spanning North America, the USFWS, Ducks Unlimited, and numerous government agencies, private organizations, and individuals are striving to restore the continent's fall flight to 100 million ducks in years of average environmental conditions.
"This will be the highest recorded fall flight since the USFWS began calculating the size of duck populations in 1970," says Dr. Alan Wentz, group manager of conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited. "This marks the third consecutive season in which duck numbers have rebounded from the drought of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Thanks to generous rains that filled the potholes across western Canada and the Dakotas, an abundance of nesting cover provided by the Conservation Reserve Program, and more than 7.4 million acres of Ducks Unlimited projects across North America, duck numbers have responded dramatically. It's a testimony to the resilience of these birds."
"This is a wonderful opportunity for duck hunters to share their favorite haunt with a son, daughter, or friend who has never experienced the dawn of a new day on a marsh with a sky filled with the whistling of duck wings," says Matthew B. Connolly, Jr., executive vice president of Ducks Unlimited. "Few waterfowlers today will have ever seen more ducks than will be viewed this fall. These are truly the glory days for waterfowlers."
| Airedales | ||||
| Send us a message |
