2009 Wisconsin waterfowl hunting seasons set

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HAYWARD – The Natural Resources Board today approved the 2009 fall Wisconsin waterfowl season framework at its meeting in Hayward.

Highlights include a one-bird bag on canvasback ducks and a full 60-day two bag limit on scaup, both increases over 2008.

Season Structure

• 60-day season, the overall daily bag limit for ducks is six, no more than four mallards of which only one can be a hen, three wood ducks, two redheads, one black duck, one pintail, two scaup and one canvasback. In addition, five mergansers to include not more than two hooded mergansers. Coot daily bag of 15.
• Northern Zone – Sept. 26 at 9 a.m. – Nov. 24.
• Southern Zone – Oct. 3 at 9 a.m. – Oct. 11, and Oct. 17 – Dec. 6.

Youth Waterfowl Hunt – Sept. 19-20

Youth may harvest Canada geese in all zones during these two days; however, the bag limit and/or tag requirement applies for the respective zones. These days overlap with open goose seasons in most areas so adults will also be able to shoot geese but not ducks during the youth hunt.

Canada geese

The state is apportioned into three goose hunting zones: Horicon, Collins and Exterior. Other goose management subzones within the Exterior Zone include Brown County, Burnett County, Rock Prairie and the Mississippi River.

Exterior Zone (including Brown and Rock Prairie subzones)

• Daily bag of two geese.
• North Zone – Sept. 19-25 and Sept. 26, (9 a.m.) – Dec. 12.
• South Zone – Sept. 19 - 0ct. 2, Oct. 3 (9 a.m.) – Oct. 11 and Oct. 17 – Dec. 17
• Mississippi River Subzone – Oct. 3 (9 a.m.) – Oct. 11 and Oct. 17 – Dec. 31.
• Burnett County Subzone - closed

Horicon/Collins

Hunters with Horicon and Collins zone permits will be issued six tags for the time period that they are awarded. The daily bag limit will be two geese with a possession limit of six.

• Horicon - Period 1, Sept. 16-Nov. 1; Period 2, Nov. 2 – Dec. 16
• Collins – Period 1, Sept. 16 – Oct. 4; Period 2, Oct. 5-25; Period 3, Oct. 26 – Nov. 20

“Overall the picture on the 2009 waterfowl seasons looks very good,” said DNR waterfowl biologist Kent Van Horn. “State waterfowl hunters who put in the preseason legwork seeking out good habitat and securing permissions should have a good season.

“And don’t forget the Youth Waterfowl Hunt Sept 19-20,” added Van Horn, “this is a great opportunity to bring youngsters into the sport we all love. Think about giving something back and doing for someone what someone once did for you.”

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