Steve
10-12-2005, 07:08 AM
October 11, 2005
WATERFOWL AND COOT
SEASON DATES SET
Contact: Mark Trainor (850) 488-4676
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has officially set dates for this year’s waterfowl and coot season, goose seasons and youth waterfowl hunting days.
There are two new rule changes for this season. Pintail ducks may be taken for the entire waterfowl season, and the daily bag limit for scaup has been reduced from three to two.
The first phase of waterfowl season is Nov. 19-27 with the second phase running Dec. 10 – Jan. 29. Canvasback season is Nov. 19-27 and Dec. 10-30 only. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
The daily bag limit for waterfowl is six. This six-duck limit may consist of no more than one black duck, one mottled duck (Florida duck), one fulvous whistling-duck, one pintail, one canvasback (only during canvasback season), two redheads, two wood ducks, two scaup, four scoters and four mallards (only two of which may be female). The daily bag limit for coot is 15 and for merganser, five (only one of which may be a hooded merganser).
In Leon County and on Lake Miccosukee (Leon and Jefferson counties), waterfowl hunting is allowed only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the open season and on Nov. 24-25, Dec. 26, Jan. 2 and Jan. 16. Lake Talquin (Gadsden and Leon counties) and the Ochlockonee River may be hunted every day during the open season.
On Lake Iamonia and Carr Lake (Leon County), the use of internal combustion engines is prohibited any time during the waterfowl and coot season. Additionally, on Lake Miccosukee the use of internal combustion engines of more than five horsepower is prohibited.
Florida also is offering a light goose (snow, blue and Ross’) and Canada goose season. The first phase of the light goose season is Nov. 19-27 with the second phase running Dec. 10 – Jan. 29. Light geese may be taken only north and west of the Suwannee River. The daily bag limit for each is 15, and the shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
The Canada goose season is Nov. 19-27 with the second phase running Dec. 1 – Jan. 30. Canada geese may only be taken on Lake Seminole within Florida waters in Jackson County which are south of S.R. 2, north of the Jim Woodruff Dam and east of C.R. 271. The daily bag limit is five and shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
The FWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have designated Feb. 4-5 as youth waterfowl hunting days. During this period, only children under 16 years of age may hunt waterfowl, coots and common moorhens while supervised by an adult (18 years of age or older). Shooting hours, daily bag limits and species restrictions are the same as for the regular waterfowl, coot and common moorhen seasons.
Hunters taking migratory game birds in Florida are required to have a no-cost migratory bird permit either checked or attached to their Florida hunting license. In order to receive this permit, hunters have to fill out a short questionnaire when they purchase their hunting license. The information they provide helps the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service get a better assessment on how many birds are harvested each year.
The FWC suggests hunters peruse the “2005-06 Florida Hunting Regulations Handbook” and the “2005-06 Migratory Game Bird Regulations for Waterfowl and Coot Seasons” brochure at MyFWC.com/hunting. These publications also are available from county tax collectors’ offices and licensed vendors.
WATERFOWL AND COOT
SEASON DATES SET
Contact: Mark Trainor (850) 488-4676
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has officially set dates for this year’s waterfowl and coot season, goose seasons and youth waterfowl hunting days.
There are two new rule changes for this season. Pintail ducks may be taken for the entire waterfowl season, and the daily bag limit for scaup has been reduced from three to two.
The first phase of waterfowl season is Nov. 19-27 with the second phase running Dec. 10 – Jan. 29. Canvasback season is Nov. 19-27 and Dec. 10-30 only. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
The daily bag limit for waterfowl is six. This six-duck limit may consist of no more than one black duck, one mottled duck (Florida duck), one fulvous whistling-duck, one pintail, one canvasback (only during canvasback season), two redheads, two wood ducks, two scaup, four scoters and four mallards (only two of which may be female). The daily bag limit for coot is 15 and for merganser, five (only one of which may be a hooded merganser).
In Leon County and on Lake Miccosukee (Leon and Jefferson counties), waterfowl hunting is allowed only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the open season and on Nov. 24-25, Dec. 26, Jan. 2 and Jan. 16. Lake Talquin (Gadsden and Leon counties) and the Ochlockonee River may be hunted every day during the open season.
On Lake Iamonia and Carr Lake (Leon County), the use of internal combustion engines is prohibited any time during the waterfowl and coot season. Additionally, on Lake Miccosukee the use of internal combustion engines of more than five horsepower is prohibited.
Florida also is offering a light goose (snow, blue and Ross’) and Canada goose season. The first phase of the light goose season is Nov. 19-27 with the second phase running Dec. 10 – Jan. 29. Light geese may be taken only north and west of the Suwannee River. The daily bag limit for each is 15, and the shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
The Canada goose season is Nov. 19-27 with the second phase running Dec. 1 – Jan. 30. Canada geese may only be taken on Lake Seminole within Florida waters in Jackson County which are south of S.R. 2, north of the Jim Woodruff Dam and east of C.R. 271. The daily bag limit is five and shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
The FWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have designated Feb. 4-5 as youth waterfowl hunting days. During this period, only children under 16 years of age may hunt waterfowl, coots and common moorhens while supervised by an adult (18 years of age or older). Shooting hours, daily bag limits and species restrictions are the same as for the regular waterfowl, coot and common moorhen seasons.
Hunters taking migratory game birds in Florida are required to have a no-cost migratory bird permit either checked or attached to their Florida hunting license. In order to receive this permit, hunters have to fill out a short questionnaire when they purchase their hunting license. The information they provide helps the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service get a better assessment on how many birds are harvested each year.
The FWC suggests hunters peruse the “2005-06 Florida Hunting Regulations Handbook” and the “2005-06 Migratory Game Bird Regulations for Waterfowl and Coot Seasons” brochure at MyFWC.com/hunting. These publications also are available from county tax collectors’ offices and licensed vendors.