F&G Commission Sets Waterfowl Seasons

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission during its meeting, Monday, August 17, approved waterfowl seasons for 2009, including a new spring light goose hunt in parts of the state. The season will open for the maximum number of days allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A season on canvasbacks re-opens, the bag limit is increased on pintails and season restrictions for greater and lesser scaup continue. Waterfowl experts predict a good season for Idaho hunters. Most of the birds harvested in Idaho are produced in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Habitat conditions in these breeding areas were characterized as above-average in 2009. The pond index increased 45 percent from 4.4 million in 2008 to 6.4 million in 2009. The estimated mallard abundance increased 10 percent from 2008 levels to 8.5 million in 2009. This year, a 107-day fall season will open for Canada and greater white-fronted geese with a four-goose daily limit. In addition a two-part season for snow and Ross' geese opens in the Southwest, Magic Valley and part of the Southeast regions, with a 10-goose daily limit. Waterfowl seasons include:

• A 107-day season for Canada and white-fronted geese runs from October 3 through January 15, 2010, in northern and eastern Idaho; and runs from October 10 through January 22, 2010, in the southwestern part of the state. - The daily bag limit is four geese and a possession limit of eight after the first day of the season.
• In northern and eastern Idaho the snow and Ross's geese runs from October 3 through January 15, 2010.
• A two-part season for snow and Ross' geese runs from October 22 through January 15 and February 20 through March 10 in a small portion of the Southeast Region; from October 29 through January 22 and from February 20 through March 10, 2010, in the Southwest and the majority of the Magic Valley regions. - The daily bag limit is 10 geese, and a possession limit of 20 after the first day.
• For most ducks, the season is 107 days, running from October 3 through January 15, 2010, in northern and eastern Idaho; and from October 10 through January 22, 2009, in the southwestern part of the state.
• For scaup, the shorter season runs from October 24 through January 15 in northern and eastern Idaho; and from October 31 through January 22, 2009, in the southwestern part of the state.
• The season re-opens for canvasbacks in 2009.
• The daily bag limit is seven ducks; but no more than two female mallards, two redheads, three scaup, two pintails and one canvasback. The possession limit is twice the daily limit.
• The youth waterfowl hunt is September 26 and 27, for those licensed youth age 15 and under.

Hunters must have a valid 2009 Idaho hunting license, and any person 16 or older who hunts migratory game birds, such as ducks, geese or brant, must have in their possession a federal migratory bird stamp, at $17.75 and good from July 1 through June 30 of the following year; and a federal migratory game bird harvest information program validation, at $1.75, or $4.75 for nonresidents, and good from January 1 through December 31 of each year. Only nontoxic shot may be used to hunt waterfowl. For additional details contact Idaho Fish and Game, the 2009 waterfowl brochure or visit the Web site at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/.