News From Outdoors Forum - Eastern Goose Reopened

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A reopening of the fall Canada goose hunting season in eastern Pennsylvania along with a continuation of liberal duck hunting seasons and bag limits throughout the state highlight a package of 1999-2000 waterfowl seasons and bag limits selected by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The seasons were forwarded to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service this week after a thorough review by PGC Executive Director Vern Ross and commissioners. Annual waterfowl seasons are selected by states from a framework established by the USFWS. In addition to releasing waterfowl seasons, Ross also noted that this year the Game Commission will provide its waterfowl seasons brochure and maps on the Commission^s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). The information will be posted on the website by 5 p.m., Friday, Aug. 20. "Many hunters already have purchased their hunting licenses and waterfowl stamps in anticipation of the season," Ross said. "This year, in addition to being able to pick up the waterfowl brochure and maps at post offices and license agents, hunters will be able to obtain this important information at their convenience from the Game Commission^s website." In what has been termed as an "introductory season" by PGC waterfowl biologist, John Dunn, hunters throughout eastern Pennsylvania will have a 15-day season for Atlantic Population Canada geese. This will mark a return to traditional hunting of migratory Canada geese in this area of the state for the first time since 1994. The season will be Nov. 20-27 and Dec. 31-Jan 8, with a one-goose daily limit. "The trigger allowing this season on Atlantic Population geese is a minimum of 60,000 breeding pairs of migratory geese, and we exceeded that this year," said Dunn. "In addition, AP geese had an excellent breeding season. This is where good population estimates and the reporting of band information by hunters becomes so critical." Waterfowl hunters in northwestern Pennsylvania will find later goose hunting seasons in Butler, Crawford and Mercer counties this year. In addition, the waterfowl season package once again includes expanded hunting opportunities for resident Canada geese in early and late seasons. The 1999-2000 duck seasons include 60 hunting days and a daily limit of six birds, an increase of one. "Breeding populations of most ducks are at record highs," said Dunn. "Liberal seasons reflect those good times." Mallards and wood ducks account for about 90 percent of the total harvest by Pennsylvania^s 42,000 waterfowl hunters. This year^s population of mallard breeding pairs increased by 12 percent over 1998. Wood duck breeding pairs are up five percent. Dunn did add a cautionary note regarding current drought conditions in Pennsylvania and other Middle Atlantic states. "If these conditions become more severe heading into fall and winter months, fewer wetlands will be available to waterfowl, forcing migrating birds to bypass our state." While the daily bag limit of ducks has been increased to six, waterfowlers are advised that the daily limit on scaup has been reduced from four to three and that season and bag limit restrictions remain in place for black ducks. REPORT BANDED BIRDS Waterfowl hunters can use a toll-free number, 1-800-327-BAND to report banded ducks and geese they harvest. Callers will be requested to provide information on where, when and what species of waterfowl were killed in addition to the band number. This information is crucial to the successful management of waterfowl. LICENSES REQUIRED: In addition to a regular Pennsylvania hunting license, persons 16 and older must have a Federal Duck Stamp signed in ink across its face and a Migratory Game Bird License; persons 12 through 15 must have a Migratory Game Bird License. 1999-2000 WATERFOWL SEASONS ALL DUCKS: Lake Erie Zone, Oct. 18-30 & Nov. 8-Jan. 1 Northwest Zone, black ducks, Oct. 9-23 & Nov. 6-12 & Nov. 29-Dec. 30; all other ducks, Oct. 9-23 & Nov. 6-Dec. 30 North Zone, black ducks, Oct. 9-Nov. 12 & Dec. 21-Jan. 8; all other ducks, Oct. 9-Nov. 27 & Dec. 21-Jan. 8 South Zone, black ducks, Oct. 9-16 & Nov. 9-Dec. 24; all other ducks, Oct. 9-16 & Nov. 9-Jan. 8. REGULAR CANADA GOOSE SEASON & BAG LIMITS: All of Pennsylvania will have a regular Canada goose season. However, season lengths and bag limits will vary by area as follows: In that portion of Pennsylvania east of Interstate-83 from the Maryland line to intersection of US Rt. 30, to intersection of SR 441 to intersection of I-283, east of I-283 to I-83, east of I-83 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of US Rt. 322, east of US Rt. 322 to intersection of SR 147, east of SR 147 to intersection of I-180, east of I-180 to intersection of US Rt. 220, east of US Rt. 220 to the New York line, The season: Nov. 20 - 27 & Dec. 31 - Jan. 8 with a 1 goose daily limit, 2 in possession. In the remainder of the state (note exception) the regular goose season will be Nov. 15 - Dec. 30, with a limit of 2 geese per day, 4 in possession. In that area in Crawford County south of SR 198 from the Ohio line to intersection of SR 18, to intersection of US Rt. 322/SR18, to intersection of SR 3013, south to the Crawford/Mercer County line, the season is Nov. 15 - Dec. 24 with a limit of 1 goose per day, 2 in possession. EARLY CANADA GOOSE SEASON (Statewide) - Sept. 1-25 (3 daily, possession 6) Exceptions: No September goose season in Crawford County south of Rt. 6 from the Ohio line to its intersection with US Rt. 322 in the town of Conneaut Lake and north of Rt. 322 west to the Ohio line. However, geese may be taken on the Pymatuning State Park Reservoir and the area extending 100 yards inland from the shoreline, excluding the reservoir area east of SR 3011. In southeastern Pennsylvania, the daily limit is 5 Canada geese, possession limit 10, in the area east of I-83 from the Maryland line to intersection of US Rt. 30, to intersection of SR 441, east of SR 441 to intersection of I-283, east of I-283 to I-83, east of I-83 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, and south of I-80 to the New Jersey line. LATE CANADA GOOSE SEASON (Statewide) Jan 15 - Feb. 15 (5 daily, possession 10) Exceptions: Closed in Crawford County in the area south of SR 198 from the Ohio line to intersection of SR 18 to intersection of US Rt. 322/SR18, to intersection of SR 3013, south to the Crawford/Mercer line. Closed in the area east of I-83 from Maryland line to intersection of US Rt. 30, to intersection of SR 441, to intersection of I-283, east of I-283 to I-83, east of I-83 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, and south of I-80 to New Jersey line. ATLANTIC BRANT (All Zones): Oct. 9-Dec. 6, 2 daily, 4 in possession. SNOW GEESE (All Zones): Nov. 5-March 10, 15 daily, no possession limit. 1999-2000 BAG LIMITS – SPECIES OTHER THAN CANADA GEESE ALL DUCKS: 6 daily, 12 in possession; daily limit may not include more than 4 mallards including 2 hens, 1 black duck, 1 pintail, 1 canvasback, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous tree duck, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads and 3 scaup. Possession limit may not include more than 8 mallards including 4 hens, 2 black ducks, 2 pintails, 2 canvasbacks, 2 mottled ducks, 2 fulvous tree ducks, 4 wood ducks, 4 redheads and 6 scaup. HARLEQUIN DUCKS, SWANS: No open season. MERGANSERS: 5 daily, 10 in possession; not more than 1 hooded merganser daily, 2 in possession. COOTS: 15 daily, 30 in possession. Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area shooting days- Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, one-half hour before sunrise to 12:30 p.m. Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area Early Season: Blinds will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Sept. 1-25 with the exception of Saturday, Sept. 18, when the area is closed to hunting. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1:30 p.m. YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNTING DAY: Saturday, Sept. 25. Open to licensed junior hunters ages 12-15, when properly accompanied, for ducks, mergansers, moorhens, coots and Canada geese. Same daily duck bag limits as regular season and same early season goose limits.

Uploaded: 8/21/1999