Waterfowl regulations set
August 25th, 2005 by Administrator
Waterfowl regulations set
The 60-day duck season set by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has a has a few new twists. The dates are Oct. 6-10; Nov. 19-Dec. 3 and Dec. 10-Jan. 28. There will be a youth waterfowl hunting day on Oct. 22.
The daily bag limit of ducks will be five, with restrictions on some species. Federal officials allowed a six-per-day limit, but DGIF officials say Virginia hunters appear to prefer the more restrictive limit.
The general Canada goose season includes a western and Atlantic season. The Atlantic zone encompasses a section along the coast where migratory geese are most likely to be found. That season is set for Nov. 19-Dec. 3 and Dec. 23-Jan. 28. There will be a two-per day limit.
The larger, western zone will have a three way split goose season: Nov. 19-Dec. 3; Dec. 15-Jan. 14 and Jan. 16-Feb. 15. The limit during the first two portions is two per day. It will be five per day during the last portion.
A Sept. 1-24 Canada goose season with a five-per-day limit already is in place.
Here are some of the new features of the waterfowl season:
>For the first time in 16 years, Back Bay will have a Canada goose season. It will be Jan. 12-28 with a one-per-day limit.
>The merganser bag limit of five daily, only one of which may be a hooded merganser, will not be part of the duck bag limit; however, hunting dates will coincide with the general duck season.
>The scaup limit has been reduced from three to two birds daily.
>The 30-day restriction on pintail hunting has been lifted, but the limit remains one-per-day.
>The bag limit for Canada geese in the Eastern Zone has been increased from one to two throughout the season.
>A new three-way-split season for snow geese gets the season underway sooner than in the past. The hunting dates are Oct. 26-Dec. 3; Dec. 10-Jan. 28 and Feb. 4-March 10. The limit is 15 daily.
By Bill Cochran
ROANOKE.COM COLUMNIST