The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission recently adopted the 2002-2003 regulations for waterfowl.
Changes in the upcoming seasons include an additional week of dark goose (Canada geese) hunting in the Pacific Flyway, the closure of the canvasback season in both the Pacific and the Central flyways, and a shortened season for pintails in the Pacific and Central flyways.
Under the federal framework approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the season is closed on canvasbacks, and shortened for pintails, because both are well below population objectives. Prospects for production of these two species are also poor this year due to drought conditions in nesting areas in Prairie Canada and the north central U.S. Canada geese numbers in the Pacific Flyway continue to increase, so more days have been added to the hunting season.
Here’s a summary of the waterfowl season regulations:
Special Two-Day Youth Waterfowl Season
September 21 – 22 – Statewide
Pacific Flyway
Ducks: Sept. 28 – Jan. 10, 2003. The daily bag limit is seven ducks and mergansers, except that the daily bag may contain no more than two female mallards, one pintail, two redheads, and four scaup. Possession limit may not exceed twice the daily bag limit of any species and sex. Canvasbacks: Closed Pintails: Open during two-day youth waterfowl season (Sept. 21 – 22), thereafter, season will be open Sept. 28 – Nov. 26. Coots: Concurrent with duck season. The daily bag and possession limit is 25. Geese: Sept. 28 – Jan. 10, 2003. The daily bag limit is three light geese and four dark geese. Possession limit is twice the daily bag. Common snipe: Sept. 1 – Dec. 16. The bag limit is eight daily and 16 in possession. Swan: Oct. 12 – Dec. 1 (Hunting by permit only. Permits must be received in Helena or postmarked by Sept. 6.). Central Flyway
Ducks: Sept. 28 – Jan. 2, 2003. The daily bag limit is six ducks containing no more than five mallards, and no more than two female mallards; two wood ducks, two redheads, one pintail, and three scaup. The daily merganser bag limit is five mergansers, containing no more than one hooded merganser. Canvasbacks: Closed Pintails: Open during two-day youth waterfowl season (Sept. 21 – 22), thereafter, season will be open Sept. 28 – Nov. 5 Coots: Concurrent with duck season. The daily bag limit is 15 and 30 in possession. Geese: Sept. 28 – Jan. 10, 2003. The daily bag limit is five light geese and four dark geese. Possession limit is twice the daily bag Sandhill crane: Sept. 28 – Nov. 24 (Free, unlimited permits are available from National Wildlife Refuges and FWP regional offices in Glasgow, Billings, Miles City or FWP in Helena). Sept 7-15 (By limited permit only in Wheatland County, and that part of Sweetgrass County north of I-90). Common (Wilson’s) snipe: Sept. 1 – Dec. 16. The bag limit is eight daily and 16 in possession. · Tundra Swan: Sept. 28 – Jan. 2, 2003 (Hunting by permit only. Applications must be received in Helena or postmarked by Sept. 6. Inquire at FWP Helena Headquarters, FWP regional headquarters or Bowdoin and Medicine Lake NWR after Sept. 20 as to the availability of surplus swan permits for the Central Flyway.)
Falconry Season
Pacific Flyway
Ducks and Coots: Sept. 28 – Jan 10, 2003
Central Flyway
Ducks and Coots: Sept. 18 – Jan. 2, 2003 Statewide
Geese: Sept. 28 – Jan. 10, 2003 The falconry bag limit is two daily and six in possession for all permitted migratory birds.
Residents and nonresidents 16 years and older must have a Montana migratory bird license, a federal migratory bird stamp and a valid Montana conservation license. There are exceptions for youth, seniors and those with disabilities. Additional definitions, exceptions and closures are listed in the 2002 Montana Migratory Birds Hunting Regulations, which will be available from FWP and license providers in mid September.
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