Few Changes for Waterfowl Hunters

Idaho waterfowl hunters will see almost no changes in their season structure this fall but they will not see a strong northern flight either. The Fish and Game Commission will act on department recommendations for waterfowl hunting at the meeting in Driggs August 8-10. The department is recommending an end to the Hells Canyon goose closure because it is not needed and complicates regulations. A total closure on the taking of canvasbacks, if ordered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because of continuing low canvasback production, is also recommended. Otherwise, the daily bag limit will be the same as last year: seven ducks in the bag, no more than two female mallards, one pintail, two redheads or four scaup. The possession limit is double the daily bag. Goose limits are also the same at four of any kind (only three light geese or two white-fronted geese) in Areas 1 and 3 with limits in Area 2 of three of any kind (only two white-fronted geese). A two-day youth hunt, September 22-23 is proposed. A general duck season of October 6 through October 17, then a two-day split with the second portion of the season running October 20 through January 20 is recommended for the entire state except for the Fort Hall zone where the season will run straight through from October 6ÑJanuary 18. The total for ducks is 93 days. The proposed goose season is 86 days beginning October 6 through October 17, then a nine-day split and continuing October 27 through January 20. The Fort Hall zone goose hunt will run October 6 through January 11 with no split. Total numbers of ducks in North America is off from the record highs of recent years but still well above the long-term average. The count of nesting ducks was notably high in the eastern Dakotas this spring. The bad news for Idaho waterfowlers is that the drought continued and worsened in southern Alberta, the source of most of the northern flight for Idaho in most years. The blow may be cushioned somewhat by excellent water conditions in the northern part of the province. Some ducks that could not find desirable nesting conditions in southern Alberta probably overflew and nested further north. Local duck production conditions in Idaho were also below average this spring because of low water.