Waterfowl Season Opens Saturday

The waterfowl season opens Saturday October 10 in southwestern Idaho and the Magic Valley. The season opened October 3 in northern and eastern Idaho. 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 Southeast regions, with a 10-goose daily limit. Waterfowl seasons are:

• 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.
• A two-part season for snow and Ross' geese runs from October 23 through January 15 and February 20 through March 10 in the Southeast Region and a portion of the Magic Valley Region; from October 30 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 23, 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.

For the spring light goose season, some areas may be closed because of conflicts with wintering trumpeter swans and nesting Canada geese. Closures would be announced before the seasons open. 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. All waterfowl hunters also need 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/.