Skip to main content
idfg-badge

Idaho Fish and Game

Idaho Fish and Game is seeking comments on its 2023-2024 Migratory Game Bird Season proposals.

Review the draft proposal below and submit comments by 5 p.m., March 22, 2023.

In recent years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed liberal (107 days) Canada goose seasons. Those 107 days can occur between September 23, 2023, and January 31, 2024; early Canada goose seasons can be selected between September 1-20.

Idaho sets waterfowl seasons by zones. These zones balance hunting seasons with biological opportunity, environmental conditions, and social desires. The number of zones a state can have is set within the Federal Framework. Currently, Idaho has six Canada goose zones.

Most recently, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission has adopted 105-day seasons and a 2-day youth/military hunt.

Over the past year, some hunters in north Idaho have expressed dissatisfaction with the season structure during the 2022-2023 season and a desire to hunt Canada geese through January 31. Results from previous survey efforts suggest duck hunters prefer seasons that start and end early. Furthermore, Canada goose hunters prefer seasons that start and end as late as possible but occur at the same time as duck seasons. It is difficult to satisfy these desires with the season structure proposed in recent years. In an attempt to better satisfy hunter preferences for late season Canada goose hunting opportunity, the Department is proposing 2 options for public consideration for the Canada goose season in Zone 6.

The proposed season structure for Canada geese is:

(Please reference zone map below)

  • Zone 1: October 7, 2023 – January 19, 2024
  • Zone 2: October 19, 2023 – January 31, 2024
  • Zone 3: October 19, 2023 – January 31, 2024
  • Zone 4: September 1, 2023 – September 15, 2023 & October 7, 2023 – January 4, 2024
  • Zone 5: October 7, 2023 – January 19, 2024
     
  • Zone 6: October 7, 2023 – January 19, 2024
                  OR
                  October 7, 2023 – October 22, 2023 & November 4, 2023 – January 31, 2024
     

Proposed daily bag limit would be 5 Canada geese. Possession limit would be three times the daily bag limit.