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EnCon Police · 08-30-2007, 01:37 PM

P R E S S R E L E A S E

MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING SEASON DATES SET
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the dates for the 2007-2008 migratory bird hunting seasons, which include seasons for hunting ducks, geese, woodcock, snipe, and rails. Specific details on season dates, bag limits, regulations, and other reminders are published in the 2007-2008 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide, which will be available from DEP and town clerk offices by early September. The guide also may be found on the DEP’s website: www.ct.gov/dep.
September Canada Goose Season
The special September Canada goose season will be held in the North Zone (portion of the state north of Interstate 95) from September 4 to September 29, 2007. The South Zone (portion of the state south of Interstate 95) season will run from September 15 to September 29, 2007. The daily bag limit remains at 15 geese.
The September goose season provides the opportunity to harvest resident Canada geese that breed and spend the majority of their lives in Connecticut. The season is timed such that most migrant geese have not yet entered the state. Connecticut’s growing resident goose population continues to cause substantial nuisance problems. The September season affords the opportunity for harvest of these birds.
"While the September goose season helps address a growing management need, hunters should recognize that some citizens will not be aware of the early season. The DEP urges hunters to be judicious in selecting hunting sites and to be respectful to others who will be outdoors during this season," said Dale W. May, Director of the DEP Wildlife Division.
Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots
One change to the duck bag limit for 2007-2008 is an increase in the canvasback bag limit from 1 to 2. During recent surveys, canvasbacks were estimated at levels 50% higher than the long-term average. The scaup bag limit remains at 2, the same as last year. The breeding population estimate for scaup in 2006 was the lowest ever recorded, and hunting season restrictions are likely in store for the 2008-2009 season.
The North Zone early duck season opens October 17 and runs through October 27, 2007. The South Zone early season opens October 17 and runs through October 24, 2007. The late North Zone season will be November 14, 2007, through January 10, 2008. The late South Zone season will be November 20, 2007, through January 19, 2008.
The sea duck season in the sea duck zone (coastal areas and streams seaward of the first upstream bridge) has been set for September 19, 2007 to January 19, 2008. Due to continued concern over the status of sea duck populations and increasing hunting pressure, the total sea duck bag limit remains at 5. The Migratory Gamebird Program is soliciting scaup and mergansers for avian influenza testing. Hunters that are willing to donate fresh (within 24 hours of harvest) birds should contact the Migratory Gamebird Program at 860-642-7239 during business hours (Mon.-Fri., from 8:30 AM-4: 30 PM). Birds can be dropped off at the Wildlife Division’s Franklin WMA or a DEP employee can meet with the donating hunter within 24 hours of harvest.
Legal shooting hours for all waterfowl hunting are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Regular and Late Canada Goose Seasons
In 2002-2003, the existing North Atlantic Population (NAP) hunt zone for Canada geese was split into two zones, the NAP L-Unit and the NAP H-Unit. These zones were created to exert more harvest pressure on resident geese in those areas where there continues to be persistent nuisance problems. The boundaries of these zones were modified in 2007-2008 to account for changes in distribution of migrant and resident Canada geese. The two zones are defined as:
NAP L-Unit—is that portion of Fairfield County north of Interstate 95 and that portion of New Haven County starting at the I-95 bridge on the Housatonic River; north of Interstate 95; west of Route 10 to the intersection of Interstate 691; west along Interstate 691 to Interstate 84; west and south on Interstate 84 to the Naugatuck River; north on the Naugatuck River to the Litchfield County line, then extending west along the Litchfield County line to the intersection of the Litchfield and Fairfield County lines.
NAP H-Unit--is the rest of the existing NAP hunt zone (Fairfield County south of I-95, the rest of New Haven County not included in the NAP L-Unit, that portion of Hartford County not in the AP zone, Middlesex, New London, Windham, and Tolland Counties).
In the NAP L-Unit, the regular goose season will run from October 1 to October 31, 2007, and then from November 22, 2007, to January 10, 2008. The daily bag limit will be 3 geese. In the NAP H-Unit, the regular goose season will run, in both the North and South Zones, from October 1 to October 19, 2007, and then from November 22, 2007, to January 10, 2008. The daily bag limit will be 2 geese in the NAP H-Unit.
AP Unit--The Atlantic Population (AP) Unit includes Litchfield County and Hartford County west of the Connecticut River.
The season in the AP Unit will remain at 45 days, running from October 27 to November 3, 2007, and then from November 22, 2007, to January 4, 2008. The daily bag limit will be 3 geese. The Atlantic Population of Canada geese continues to recover. Breeding pair estimates were 196,000. Production for the AP looks to be poor in 2007; however, a fall flight in excess of one million birds is expected.
Sportsmen also will have the opportunity to harvest resident Canada geese during the special late season (in the South Zone only) from January 15 through February 15, 2008. The bag limit during the late season is 5 geese, and no special permit is required for this season.
Snow Geese
The DEP has split the snow goose season for 2007-2008. This will allow for more opportunities to hunt for this over-abundant species. The dates for the snow goose season in the North Zone are October 9, 2007, to January 10, 2008, and from February 16, 2008, to March 8, 2008. In the South Zone, the snow goose season will run from October 9, 2007, to November 30, 2007, and then from January 1, 2008, to March 8, 2008.
Youth Waterfowl Hunter Training Days
Connecticut will hold two Youth Waterfowl Hunter Training Days, on Saturday, October 6, 2007, and Monday, October 8, 2007. Participants must be 15 years of age or younger, possess a valid junior small game hunting license and a HIP permit, and be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. Adults must possess a valid hunting license; however, they are not allowed to hunt waterfowl. Ducks, geese, mergansers, and coots may be hunted. Bag limits and shooting hours are the same as for the regular duck and goose hunting seasons.
Woodcock, Snipe, and Rail Seasons
The opening day for woodcock and snipe hunting will be October 26 and the season will run until November 24, 2007. The rail season will be from September 4 to November 10, 2007.
A Few Reminders
All waterfowl hunters are reminded that, in addition to obtaining a hunting license, they are required to obtain an annual Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit. Waterfowl hunters 16 years of age or older also are required to purchase a federal Duck Stamp and a Connecticut Duck Stamp. Federal Duck Stamps are available from local post offices for $15.00. State Duck Stamps ($10.00) and HIP permits ($2.00) can be purchased at all Connecticut town clerks’ offices. A HIP permit also is required to hunt woodcock, snipe, coot, and rails. Hunters are reminded to please report waterfowl bands. Band return information provides vital information for the continued sound management of the waterfowl resource.