Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Open in Early October

Waterfowl seasons begin in Idaho in three different zones. Waterfowl hunting activity starts and ends sooner in northern and eastern Idaho where winter comes earlier than in the south central and southwest areas of the state. Area boundaries, seasons and limits for 2004-2005 are: Area 1 - Includes all parts of the state not included in Areas 2 and 3. The regular season runs October 2, 2004 through January 14, 2005 with pintail and canvasback season October 2, 2004 through November 30, 2004 Area 2 - Includes the following counties or portions of counties: Ada; Boise; Canyon; Cassia except the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Elmore; Gem; Gooding; Lincoln; Minidoka; Owyhee; Payette; Power west of State Highways 37 and 39 except the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge; Twin Falls; and Washington Counties. The regular season is October 9, 2004 through January 21, 2005 with pintail and canvasback season: October 9, 2004 through December 7, 2004. Limits for Areas 1 and 2 for ducks including mergansers are: daily bag limit: five of any kind which shall not include more than the following: one canvasback, one female mallard, one pintail, two redheads, four scaup. Possession limit after the first day of the season is 10 of any kind but shall not include more than the following: two canvasback, two female mallard, two pintail, four redheads, eight scaup. Goose season runs concurrently with duck season. The daily bag limit is four with eight in possession after the first day. Only three light geese or two white-fronted geese are included in the daily bag limit; possession limits are double the daily limits. Area 3 - Includes the following counties or portions of counties: Bannock; Bingham except that portion within Blackfoot Reservoir drainage: Power east of State Highways 37 and 39; and all lands, including private holdings within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. Regular season is October 2, 2004 through January 14, 2005 with pintail and canvasback season running October 2, 2004 through November 30, 2004 Limits for Area 3 for ducks are include a daily bag limit of seven of any kind but shall not include more than the following: one canvasback, two female mallard, one pintail, two redheads, four scaup, with a possession limit after the first day fourteen of any kind but shall not include more than the following: two canvasback, four female mallard, two pintail, four redheads, eight scaup. The goose daily bag limit is four with only two white-fronted geese. The possession limits after the first day are double the daily limits. In all areas the daily limit for coots is 25 with a possession limit of 25. For common snipe, the limits are eight and 16. The new waterfowl proclamation pamphlet should be available at license vendors as well as Fish and Game offices in the week before the season begins. The pamphlet is online at fishandgame.idaho.gov. The publication shows the boundaries of duck and goose zones. The zones are not the same for ducks as for geese. Hunters need a hunting license, a $1.50 validation on the license for federal harvest information, and the $15 "duck" stamp for hunters 16 and older. Nontoxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting. Hunters can be cited for possession of lead shot shells if they are hunting waterfowl. Nontoxic shot includes steel shot but several alternative materials have been approved by federal and Idaho authorities in recent years.