North Carolina Approves 2012-13 Waterfowl Seasons, Bag Limits

RALEIGH, NC - The N.C Wildlife Resources Commission has set season dates, bag limits and applicable regulations for the 2012-13 waterfowl and extended falconry seasons.

Beginning Sept. 1, sportsmen can apply for permit waterfowl hunts online or by visiting a Wildlife Service Agent, or calling 888-248-6834, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Application deadline for the majority of waterfowl permit hunts is Oct. 1.

Information on all late-season waterfowl permit hunting opportunities, including locations, dates and quotas, is now available on the agency's website, www.ncwildlife.org. Click on 2012-13 Permit Hunting Opportunities.

Of particular note this year is the increase in bag limit for scaup, which doubled from 2 last year to 4 this year to accommodate an increase in the breeding population.

The following are the 2012-13 bag limits, shooting hours and season dates for waterfowl seasons occurring after Sept. 30. Possession limits are twice the daily bag unless otherwise noted.


a) Conventional bag: 6 ducks with no more than 4 scoters, 4 scaup, 4 mallards with no more than 2 hen mallards, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 black or mottled duck (season closed until Nov. 17), 1 canvasback, or 1 fulvous whistling duck. The season on harlequin ducks is closed.

b) Other limits: 25 light geese (includes snow, blue and Ross' geese), no possession limit; 2 brant; 5 mergansers (2 hooded mergansers); 7 sea ducks (in special sea duck area only). In other areas, sea ducks are part of the regular duck bag limit. Includes scoters, eiders and long-tailed ducks. No more than 4 scoters per day may be taken in either season; 15 coots; 5 dark geese (includes Canada geese and white-fronted geese) in the Resident Hunt Zone, 5 in the Southern James Bay Zone and 1 in the Northeast Hunt Zone.


HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
Oct. 3-6,
Nov. 10 - Dec. 1 and
Dec. 15 - Jan. 26 [Black and mottled ducks closed until Nov. 17]
Sea Ducks (In special sea duck area only)
Oct. 1 - Jan. 31
Dark Geese (Includes Canada geese and
white-fronted geese) To view a map of the goose hunt zones, refer to the Regulations Digest or www.ncwildlife.org
Resident Population Hunt Zone: Oct. 3-13, Nov. 10 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 - Feb. 9
Southern James Bay Hunt Zone (Gaddy Goose Refuge closed after Sept. 30): Oct. 3 - Oct. 31 and Nov. 10 - Dec. 31.
Northeast Hunt Zone: Jan. 19 - Jan. 26 (By permit only)
Light Geese (Includes snow and blue geese, and Ross' geese)
Oct. 17 - Oct. 20
Nov. 10 - March 9
Electronic calls and unplugged guns are allowed from Feb. 11 - March 9
Brant
Nov. 17 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 - Jan. 26
Tundra Swan
Nov. 10 - Jan. 31
(1 per season by permit only; 5,000 will be issued.)
Youth Waterfowl Days (Includes ducks, geese, brant, mergansers, coots and tundra swans.) The youth must have a valid permit to harvest a tundra swan or a Canada goose (NE Hunt Zone only).
Feb. 2 and Feb. 9
Youth must be 15 years of age or younger and accompanied by a properly licensed adult. The adult cannot duck hunt but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special youth day.


Extended falconry seasons and bag limits are as follows. The webless species' seasons were previously approved by the Commission

SPECIES

OPEN DATES

DAILY BAG

POSSESSION

Dove

Oct. 13 - Nov. 17

3

6

King, Clapper, Sora and Virginia Rails

Nov. 17 - Dec. 22

3

6

Gallinule and Moorhens

Nov. 17 - Dec. 22

3

6

Woodcock

Nov. 5 - Dec. 8 &

Feb. 1 - Feb. 28

3

6

Ducks, mergansers and coots 1

Oct. 22 - Nov. 3 &

Jan. 28 - Feb. 16

3

6



1 The taking of harlequin ducks is prohibited.


** Falconers may also hunt during the applicable gun seasons. Daily bag and possession limits of 3 and 6, respectively, also apply while hunting during the gun season.
** Falconry hours for all species are from ½ hour before sunrise until sunset.
** Falconry is not allowed on Sunday.
** Daily bag and possession limits are for all species singly or in the aggregate. For example, if the applicable season(s) are open, a daily bag may consist of 3 doves or 1 dove, 1 duck and 1 woodcock for a total of 3 migratory game birds.

About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state's fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

Contact:
Carolyn Rickard 919-707-0124 or carolyn.rickard@ncwildlife.org