2010-11 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS AND BAG LIMITS SELECTEDHARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that the agency has made its selections for the 2010-11 migratory game bird hunting seasons and bag limits.
Annual waterfowl seasons are selected by states from a framework established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Game Commission selections were made after reviewing last year’s season results, waterfowl survey data, and input gathered from waterfowl hunters and the public. Final approval from the USFWS is expected by late September.
Roe also noted that the Game Commission again has posted the waterfowl season brochure and maps on its website (
www.pgc.state.pa.us). The agency currently is mass-producing brochures to be distributed to U.S. Post Offices within the next two weeks.
“Many hunters already have purchased their hunting licenses and federal waterfowl stamps in anticipation of the season,” Roe said. “For their convenience, in addition to being able to pick up the waterfowl brochure and maps at post offices and license issuing agents, hunters can obtain this important information from the Game Commission’s website.”
Kevin Jacobs, Game Commission waterfowl biologist, said the federal frameworks are again allowing for a 60-day duck season, with a six bird daily limit. The same species restrictions and bag limits that were in place for the 2009-10 season will continue, with the exception of a two-bird daily limit for pintail throughout the 60-day season.
“In reviewing public input, we have heard that hunters would prefer that we not close the duck season in the Northwest Duck Zone during the two-week firearms deer season (Nov. 29-Dec. 11),” Jacobs said. “We have incorporated this request into the season dates for the 2010 duck seasons, which will run from Oct. 9-23, and from Nov. 6-Dec. 30.”
Jacobs also noted that hunters will be able to harvest 25 snow geese daily in both the regular snow goose season (Nov. 6-Feb. 19) and Snow Goose Conservation Hunts, which was extended by one additional week (Feb. 21-April 16). To participate, hunters will need to obtain a free conservation hunt permit and file a mandatory report of harvest/participation in addition to their other required licenses. Specifics on how to obtain a permit for the Snow Goose Conservation Hunt will be announced later this hunting season.
Once again, young Pennsylvania hunters will be provided with a special day of waterfowl hunting on Saturday, Sept. 18. The Youth Waterfowl Day will be open to those 12- to 15-years-old who hold a junior hunting license. To participate, a youngster must be accompanied by an adult, who may assist the youth in calling, duck identification and other aspects of the hunt. During this special day-long hunt, youth can harvest Canada geese, ducks, mergansers, coots and moorhens. The daily bag limit for youth participating in the Youth Waterfowl Day for is the same as the regular season daily limit in the area being hunted. The only exception is that when September Canada goose daily bag limits exceed the regular season limit for the area being hunted, youth can take the September daily limit.
Also, this agency again will hold a special youth-only waterfowl hunting day at the controlled hunting blinds at both Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area. The youth day for Middle Creek is Nov. 20, for Pymatuning, Nov. 27. A special drawing of applications submitted by junior license holders will be held immediately before the regular drawing for goose blinds. Interested youth should use the same application on page 28 of the 2010-11 Digest. Only one application will be accepted per junior hunter.
In addition to a regular Pennsylvania hunting license, persons 16 and older must have a Federal Migratory Bird and Conservation Stamp, commonly referred to as a “Duck Stamp,” signed in ink across its face. All waterfowl hunters, regardless of age, must have a Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird License to hunt waterfowl and other migratory birds, including doves, woodcock, coots, moorhens, rails and snipe. All migratory game bird hunters in the United States are required to complete a Harvest Information Program survey when they purchase a state migratory game bird license. The survey information is then forwarded to the USFWS.
“By answering the questions on the survey card, hunters will improve survey efficiency and the quality of information used to track the harvest of migratory birds for management purposes,” Jacobs said.
Hunters must use non-toxic shot while hunting ducks, geese or coots in Pennsylvania. The use of decoys powered or operated by batteries or any other source of electricity is unlawful in Pennsylvania. Also, the use of any sort of artificial substance or product as bait or an attractant is prohibited.
Jacobs noted that, although hunting hours have been extended to one-half hour after sunset for big game (except spring gobbler), as well as small game and furbearers, federal regulations prevail for waterfowl and migratory game birds, so shooting hours for these species will continue to close at sunset. The only exceptions are during the early September Canada goose season (Sept. 1-25) and the Snow Goose Conservation Season (Feb. 21-April 16), in which the USFWS has permitted states to extend the hunting hours to one-half hour after sunset. Also, during the first part of the dove season (Sept. 1-28), hunting hours are from noon through sunset.
For complete early Canada goose season information, as well as webless migratory game bird seasons, please see News Release #78-10, which the agency issued on July 29.
