TWRA Approves 2009-10 Waterfowl Seasons at August Meeting
Friday, August 21, 2009 | 08:45am
BUCHANAN --- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission has passed a 60-day season for 2009-10 duck hunting, with one split similar to past years, that will end Jan. 31, 2010 and have a 6-duck bag limit. The approval was made during the August meeting of the TWRC which was held at Paris Landing State Park.
The recommendations for the waterfowl seasons were made by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The season will also include the maximum number of days allowed for goose hunting seasons.
The TWRC approved the Statewide Zone duck hunting seasons to be held Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 5-Jan. 31 while the Reelfoot Zone will be held Nov. 14-15 and Dec. 5-Jan. 31. The approval maximizes the number of weekends open to duck hunting and will end on the latest date allowed (Sunday, Jan. 31).
Habitat conditions in the Prairie Pothole region of the United States and Canada were greatly improved over last year and duck populations are also improved. These conditions allow Tennessee to have the option to select a 60-day duck season.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has offered a full season with no closed or partial seasons. TWRA recommends the maximum USFWS frameworks regarding duck bag limits. A daily bag limit of 6 ducks may include no more than: 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be a hen), 3 wood ducks (during the late waterfowl season only), 2 scaup, 2 redheads, 1 pintail, 1 canvasback, and 1 black duck. The daily bag limit of merganser would be 5, only 2 which may be hooded mergansers.
Goose seasons are set as late as Federal frameworks allow in order to take advantage of any migratory geese that may be available in late winter. Season dates for Canada geese are Oct. 3-Oct. 9 and Nov. 28-Jan. 31 in the Statewide Zone. In the Northwest Zone, the dates are Dec. 5-Feb. 14. The daily bag limit is 2 per person.
The white-fronted goose season runs statewide from Dec. 5-Feb. 14. The daily bag limit is 2 per person.
Season dates and bag limits for light geese (snow, blue, Ross) are similar to last season with a shift for the calendar. The standard season will run from Nov. 25 through Feb. 14. Federal Conservation Order provisions allow the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns for the Feb. 15 through March 10, 2009 portion of the season. The daily bag limit of light geese is 20 per person.
The youth waterfowl season is similar to last year. For youth ages 6-15, the Statewide Zone dates are Feb. 6-7 while the Reelfoot Zone would be Feb. 13-14.
The September meeting of the TWRC will be held Sept. 17-18 in Clarksville.
---TWRA---