The U.S. Fish and Wildlife announced the proposed waterfowl season frameworks with a liberal season framework for all four Flyways and a nation wide daily bag limit of two pintail, as well as a full season on canvasback with a daily bag limit of one. While the great news will offer little relief from the above average temperatures across the nation, the dog days of summer will end with a bang in the coming weeks as northern states kick off their early resident goose seasons.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
The count down to back-to-school and the opening day of early waterfowl seasons continue, with the pace of the clock seeming to quicken each day. For many hunters in the north the goose decoys are about to come out of storage and be prepared for another season. It should come of no surprise to readers that we consider the early-season goose hunter an odd species themselves. Really, who else would venture into the field on a hot, humid summer morning in shorts to break a severe sweat setting out decoys, only to stuff their sweaty body into a mosquito infested, sauna-cooking layout blind for a liberal crack at the one of waterfowl’s most majestic species?
Before you answer, let us remind you that these are the same individuals who, a few short months from now, will tote the same gear in sub-zero temperatures into a snow covered field at o-dark-thirty, line the layout blind with a down sleeping bag for chance at less than half the same daily bag limit of the early goose season – not forgetting that each time a shot rings out, the ping of the frozen barrel sings a favorite melody to those willing to weather extreme hunting conditions.
Yes, goose hunters are an odd lot of folks. Their addiction to the sport knows both the extreme conditions and the comfort of the perfect autumn day. How do we know this? As the saying goes, “it takes one to know one.”
As the Waterfowler.com staff prepares for our first early season hunts, we remind our readers to check their state regulations for early season dates and bag limits, as well as approved general waterfowl season information. A number of states working to improve hunting opportunity have restructured waterfowl zones and adjusted season dates to account for changes in climate and migration trends. Minnesota state officials announced this past week that their general waterfowl season will begin one week earlier this year, to allow hunters a chance to harvest species that would normally migrate south before the season opened. With blue-winged teal numbers up 41% over 2010, the change could offer some excellent harvest opportunity.
Beginning September first, Waterfowler.com’s weekly migration reports will resume. As we enter our 14th season of migration tracking and reporting we remind our readers that Waterfowler.com is a reader and advertiser supported service. Please join, renew or extend your membership today.
