Public Comment on Waterfowl Seasons Opened

Waterfowl hunters can look forward to the latest seasons since 1964 and another good year for geese. The downside for duck hunters is the expectation of another below average fall flight. Hunters are looking at a 107-day season, but Fish and Game is proposing two different opening and closing dates without a mid-season closure. The department is gathering comments on the two proposals. "We want folks to tell us if they would rather hunt early or late," says Fish and Game's state waterfowl manager, Tom Hemker. The federal framework for duck seasons is one week later than in 2001, which allows the possibility of the latest duck season ever. Hunters also are being asked whether the daily bag limit for geese in southwest Idaho should be increased from three to four. Currently, hunters can harvest four geese a day in northern and southeastern parts of the state. "The increased bag limit in the southwest is being considered because of stable populations overall," says Hemker "as well as increasing populations in urban areas, city parks, and golf courses." Waterfowl managers hope sportsmen and women will comment on these two questions over the course of the next five days. They can comment by logging onto the Fish and Game website, www.state.id.us/fishgame, calling their local Fish and Game office, or attending regional open houses. The Fish and Game Commission will set waterfowl seasons at their meeting on August 16. Despite normal season lengths and bag limits, duck numbers in the Pacific flyway are down this year. Hemker says, "Parts of Alberta, Canada, where a lot of ducks in Idaho come from, was particularly dry this year. This made for poor nesting conditions and hurt the production of ducks. Shorter seasons were considered but good survival of ducks last winter and low harvest rates allowed the season length to remain at 107 days. The number of ducks migrating through Idaho in the next few years is going to be determined by how much water is in Alberta, not how long the 2002 duck season is." Goose numbers remain strong in Alberta and most of Idaho. Wild geese can use habitat for nesting and rearing broods that is different from habitat used by dabbling ducks. Goose habitat has generally remained in better shape in recent years than duck habitat has.