Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Proposed

[Rick]

PIERRE, SD – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission has proposed several changes for the fall duck and goose hunting seasons this fall.

Proposed changes to the 2013 duck season include increasing the daily limit for scaup from four to six; and increasing the possession limit for ducks, coots and mergansers from two times the daily limit to three times the daily limit.

The daily limit for ducks would be six and may be comprised of no more than five mallards (including no more than two hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two pintails and one canvasback.

The duck season would be divided into four separate zones, as it has been during the past several years. Season dates within these zones would be:

• High Plains – Oct. 12 through Jan. 16

• Low Plains North – Sept. 28 through Dec. 10

• Low Plains Middle – Sept. 28 through Dec. 10

• Low Plains South – Oct. 12 through Dec. 24

Proposed changes for the goose season include increasing the daily bag limit for Canada geese from three to five; increasing the daily bag limit for white-fronted geese from one to two; modifying the white-fronted goose season from 86 to 72 consecutive days beginning the last Saturday in September; and increasing the possession limit for geese from two times the daily limit to three times the daily limit.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s framework for the white-fronted goose season provides the option of having an 86-day season with a one goose daily limit or a 72-day season with a two goose daily limit. GFP staff have received comments from hunters indicating that this recommended change would provide additional harvest opportunity for hunters and establish a season that overlaps with the peak migration of white-fronted geese through South Dakota.

The season for light geese would run from Sept. 28 through Dec. 22; the season for white-fronted geese from Sept. 28 through Dec. 8; Unit 1 Canada geese Oct. 1 through Dec. 16; Unit 2 Canada geese Nov. 2 through Feb. 14; and Unit 3 Canada geese Jan. 11-19.

The waterfowl season proposals will be finalized at the Aug. 1-2 GFP Commission meeting, which will be at the Event Center in Watertown.

To comment on any of the proposals, send a letter to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501; or email [email protected]. Comments on proposal will be taken until 5 p.m. CDT on July 31. To be included in the public record, please include your full name and city of residence.

To comment in person on these proposed rule changes, the GFP Commission will host a public hearing beginning at 2 p.m. CDT as part of their meeting on Thursday, Aug. 1.