DWR proposes longer waterfowl fall hunt, higher bag limit

DWR proposes longer waterfowl fall hunt, higher bag limit

(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)


4 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are proposing a longer waterfowl hunt this fall and a higher bag limit and are asking for the public’s feedback.

Many of the duck and geese populations have been booming in Utah and as a result, DWR biologists are recommending a 107-day duck and goose hunting season for the fall. They are also recommending a higher daily bag limit of seven ducks and four Canada geese, DWR said.

DWR migratory game bird coordinator Blair Stringham said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists will complete their annual survey of duck breeding pairs by June.

“Our recommendations will be approved before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the final results from its surveys,” Stringham said. “Duck and goose populations have done really well for several years, though. I think Utah hunters can expect a long season this fall.”

Stringham said the bag limits are calculated using guidelines from species management plans and based on how the population is doing. He said the maximum season length that can occur for any migratory waterfowl is 107 days, and the shortest season is zero days.

“When the populations are doing well, we have a 107-day season,” he said. “As the population begins to decline, the season length is reduced to 86 days, then 60 days, then zero days. The bag limit is based on the same type of structured decision-making process.”

DWR biologists are still unsure about the number of pintail, canvasback and scaup ducks the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will allow hunters to have in their daily duck bag limit. While most of the duck species in North America are doing really well, the pintails, canvasbacks and scaup populations haven’t grown as much, DWR said.

“There will probably be some restrictions on the number of pintails, canvasbacks and scaup (that) hunters can take,” Stringham said. “After the USFWS completes their surveys, we’ll know for sure.”

The public is invited to give feedback about the proposals by attending a Regional Advisory Council meeting or by emailing their Regional Advisory Council members.

While the majority of the fall waterfowl hunts don’t begin until October, Utah’s general statewide turkey hunt starts May 1 for those who will be 17 years of age or younger on July 31. On May 4, the hunt will open to hunters of all ages.

Photos

Related links

Related stories

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

UtahOutdoors
Faith Heaton Jolley

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast