Off the WI DNR website
MADISON — The Natural Resources Board has set the 2005 Waterfowl Hunting season dates and bag limits. Duck hunters will have a 60-day duck season with a split in the Southern Duck Zone and a six-duck bag limit. Canada goose hunters will have a 92-day, or until the quota is reached, Exterior Zone Canada goose season starting with a one-bird bag and switching to two; a four-period 92-day Horicon and a three-period 65-day Collins zone Canada goose seasons with a two-bird bag.
“Given all the season and bag variables allowed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and requested by state conservation groups, the public and everyone’s wish to protect and maintain a healthy waterfowl population, this framework, we feel, is the best all-around compromise possible,” said Kent VanHorn, DNR migratory waterfowl ecologist.
Duck seasons
Northern Zone – Sept. 24 at noon – Nov. 22 (with exception noted below) Daily Bag Limit: Six ducks including no more than 4 mallards, of which only one may be a hen; 1 black duck; 1 pintail; 1 canvasback; 2 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 2 scaup; and five mergansers to include not more than one hooded merganser. NOTE – Canvasbacks may only be taken from Oct. 15 – Nov. 13.
Southern Zone – Oct. 1 at noon – Oct. 9; Oct. 15 – Dec. 4 (with exception noted below). Six ducks including no more than 4 mallards, of which only one may be a hen; 1 black duck; 1 pintail; 1 canvasback; 2 wood ducks; 2 redheads; 2 scaup; and five mergansers to include not more than one hooded merganser. NOTE – Canvasbacks may only be taken from Oct. 15 – Nov. 13.
“Based on the public comments we received on this season framework, northern zone hunters do not want a split,” says VanHorn. “Southern zone hunters we’ve heard from have a wide range of desires with regard to a season split. Some want no split, some a later split and some a longer split. The five-day split presented to the NRB is a compromise that takes into account expected field conditions at that time of year and requests from waterfowl and field hunters across the zone.
“Although the Fish and Wildlife Service framework allowed a daily bag limit of 2 hen mallards, we proposed and the board approved, a 1-hen bag for the entire season to protect the breeding potential of Wisconsin mallards.”
Canada goose seasons
Exterior Zones (including Brown and Rock Prairie subzones)
North Zone: Sept. 17 at noon- Dec. 17. Daily Bag Limit: 1 Canada goose from Sept. 17 – Oct. 2 and 2 Canada geese from Oct. 3 – Dec. 17
South Zone: Sept. 11 at noon – Dec. 17. Daily Bag Limit: 1 Canada goose from Sept. 11 – Oct. 2 and 2 Canada geese from Oct. 3 – Dec. 17.
Mississippi River Subzone: Oct. 1 at noon – Oct. 9 and Oct. 15 – Dec. 14 (500 bird quota). Daily Bag Limit: 1 Canada goose Oct. 1-2 and 2 Canada geese from Oct. 3-9 and Oct. 15 – Dec. 14
“We continue to structure our Exterior Zone regular Canada goose season with the early opening date in September because it focuses more of our harvest on WI born giant Canada geese rather than the migrant geese from Ontario,” says Van Horn. “This helps achieve our in-state goose management goals as well as increase our long term overall harvest quota allowed by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
“With a moderate quota level in 2005 there is potential for the Exterior Zone season closing before December 17 if the harvest is high in the early part of the season. Following concerns expressed during public hearings on the season proposals, the Natural Resources Board limited the Canada goose bag limit to one goose per day for the first 16 days of the season. This should allow the Exterior Zone goose season to run the full 92 days, however, hunters should continue to check for possible early season closure by calling 1-877-833-2837 during the season.”
Burnette County Subzone: Closed
Horicon/Collins Time Periods
Hunters with Horicon and Collins Zone permits will be issued up to 4 tags for the time period that they are awarded.
Horicon Zone Daily Bag Limit: 2 geese with a possession limit of 3
Period 1 Sept. 16 – 30 and Oct. 1 at noon – Oct. 16
Period 2 Sept. 24 – 30 and Oc.t 1 at noon – Oct 28
Period 3 Oct. 15 – Nov. 18
Period 4 Oct. 31 – Dec. 16
Collins Zone Daily Bag Limit: 2 geese with a possession limit of 3
Period 1 Sept. 16 – 30 and Oct. 1 at noon – Oct. 2;
Period 2 Oct. 3 – Oct. 23
Period 3 Oct. 24– Nov. 18
Rock Prairie subzone Sept. 17 – 30 and Oct. 1 at noon – Dec. 17
Other geese
Brant and white-fronts. Seasons are the same as for the Canada goose zones and subzones.Daily Bag Limit: 1 brant and 1 white-fronted goose
Light geese (Snow, Blue and Ross). Seasons are the same as for the Canada goose zones and subzones. Daily Bag Limit: 10 (Wisconsin hunters only harvest a few hundred of these geese each year but they are overabundant in the US)
“Over the past several years we’ve asked the Fish and Wildlife Service for permission to open the exterior zone goose seasons ( Sept 17 in 2005) before the duck season,” says VanHorn. “The reason for the request is to shift more of the harvest onto our resident giant Canada geese in proportion to the migrants which generally just begin arriving in the third week of September. The earlier opener has helped shift our harvest toward the in-state population and increase our statewide quota.
“Changing bag limits from one to two for Canada geese during the season is intended to provide the maximum number of goose hunting days while keeping harvest within the allowable quota. It’s important to keep in mind that the exterior zone could close early if the quota is reached.”
Falconry
Falconry dates would be all the days ducks are open to gun hunting in the respective zones and Jan 14- Feb 27.
Reporting Requirements
Hunters must report each Canada goose harvested within 48 hours by calling 1-800-99-GOOSE (1-800-994-6673). Hunters can monitor the Exterior Zone harvest progress by calling 1-877-833-2837.
Youth Waterfowl Hunt
The youth hunt will be Sept 17-18. Youth may harvest Canada geese in all zones during these 2 days. The bag limit and tag requirements apply for the respective zone. These days overlap with open goose season in most zones so adults will also be able to shoot geese but not duck during the youth hunt.
“I want to wish everyone a safe and successful fall hunt,” says VanHorn. “Anyone hunting waterfowl knows the special feeling of watching dawn break over the marsh on a crisp fall morning with a quivering retriever at their side – and the heart pounding excitement of a flight coming in. I hope hunters who have the opportunity will consider taking a youth out hunting this year and do their part to pass along the heritage we all treasure…good luck, be safe, and have a great time.”
-30-
