Wildlife Resources Commission Sets
Waterfowl Seasons
RALEIGH,
N.C. (Aug. 30, 2006) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources
Commission today established season dates, bag limits and other waterfowl
regulations for 2006-2007.
Working within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
the Commission set the following season dates:
- ducks, coots and
mergansers – Oct.
4-7; Nov. 11-Dec. 2; and Dec. 16-Jan. 27.
- special sea ducks – in
special sea duck area only, Oct. 4-Jan. 27.
- brant – Dec.
25-Jan. 27.
- light geese (snow,
blue and Ross’ geese) – Oct. 18-28;
and Nov. 11-March 3.
- tundra swan – Nov.
4-Jan. 31. By permit only; 5,000 permits will be issued.
Seasons for dark geese (Canada and white-fronted) vary by population
zone. Goose season dates by zone include:
- Resident Population Zone, Nov. 11-Dec. 2; and Dec. 16-Jan. 27
- Southern James Bay Zone, Oct. 4-14; and Nov. 11-Dec. 30 (Gaddy Goose
Refuge closed after Sept. 30);
- Northeast Hunt Zone, Dec. 25-Jan. 27.
The Northeast Hunt Zone, comprising all or parts
of 11 northeastern counties, is a permit-only hunt with a season limit
of one bird per hunter; 1,000 permits will be issued.
Compensatory days are allowed for Sundays.
Daily bag limits under the federal frameworks (possession limit is twice
the daily limit, unless otherwise noted) include:
- ducks – six
ducks with no more than: one black duck or one mottled duck (black
duck/mottled duck season is closed until Dec. 1); four mallards with
no more than two hen mallards; four scoters; two wood ducks; two
redheads; two scaup; one canvasback; one pintail; and one fulvous
tree duck. The season on harlequin ducks is closed.
- light geese (includes
snow, blue, and Ross’ geese) – 15
with no possession limit.
- brant – two.
- coots – 15.
- mergansers – five;
only two of which can be hooded mergansers.
- sea ducks – seven in special sea duck area only. In other areas,
sea ducks are part of the regular bag limit. No more than 4 scoters
per day can be taken in either the regular duck season or special sea
duck season.
Bag limits for Canada and white-fronted geese (in aggregate) vary by
time and zone:
- Statewide (except
Dare County special zone), September – eight.
- Dare County special
zone, September – two.
- Resident Zone,
regular season after Sept. 30 – five.
- Southern James
Bay Zone, regular season after Sept. 30 – two.
- Northeast Hunt
Zone, permit only – one per season with permit.
See
the goose hunt zones map (pdf).
The Commission also set Feb. 3 as Youth Waterfowl Day for hunters age
15 or younger. Species include ducks, geese, mergansers and coots. Participants
must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older, who is not allowed to
hunt.
Shooting hours will
be from one half-hour before sunrise to sunset. For more information
about waterfowl hunting regulations in North Carolina, see
the hunting regulations page or call the Division of Wildlife
Management at (919) 707-0050.
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