Attention waterfowl hunters. The DNR is looking for input from the public in regards to the structure of the waterfowl hunting season. There were a few proposed changes including North Zone duck season opening on Sept. 29, which is a week later than previous seasons, a regular reason Canada Goose Season bag limit increase to 3 geese per day ,and eliminating the Horicon Canada Goose Hunting Zone. There will be several public hearings held around the state. The closest to Manitowoc County is in Appleton, and will be at the Agricultural Services Center, 3369 West Brewster St , in main conference room on March 15th. Here are the rest of the proposed changes.
Proposed Early Migratory Bird Seasons:
* Early Teal – Sept. 1 – 7 (6 bird/day) ;
* Early Goose – Sept. 1 – 15 (5 bird/day);
* Mourning Dove – Sept. 1 – Nov. 29 (15 bird/day); and
* Woodcock – Sept. 22 – Nov. 5 (3 bird/day).
Proposed Opening Day Shooting Hours: Opening day shooting hours will begin one-half hour before sunrise for all regular waterfowl hunting seasons.
* Youth Hunt – Sept. 15-16;
* North Zone – Sept. 29 to Nov. 27;
* South Zone – Sept. 29 to Oct. 7 and Oct. 13 to Dec. 2 (five-day split); and
* Mississippi Zone – Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 and Oct. 13 to Dec. 4 (seven-day split, closed Oct. 6-12).
The proposed daily bag limit statewide would be six ducks, including no more than:
* four mallards, of which only one may be a hen;
* one black duck;
* two canvasbacks;
* three wood ducks;
* two pintails;
* three scaup; and
* two redheads.
Five mergansers may be harvested daily, of which no more than two may be hooded; 15 coot may be harvested daily.
Proposed Canada goose regular season structure and daily bag limits:
* Three geese each in the Exterior zone.
Exterior Zone (92 days total):
* North – Sept. 16 to Dec. 16;
* South -Sept. 16 to Oct. 7 and Oct. 13 to Dec. 21 or Sept. 16 to Oct. 7 and Oct. 13 to Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 to Jan. 3
* Mississippi – Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 and Oct. 13 to Jan. 3.
Proposed structure includes the elimination of the Horicon Zone to create a statewide Exterior Zone.
Snow/Blue Geese, Ross’ Geese, Brant, White-fronted Geese and other geese proposed daily bag limits:
* 20 white geese (snow/blue geese and ross’ geese);
* one brant; and
* one Greater White-Fronted Geese.
Exterior Zone (92 days total):
* North – Sept. 16 to Dec. 16;
* South – Sept. 16 to Oct. 7 and Oct. 13 to Dec. 21 or Sept. 16 to Oct. 7 and Oct. 13 to Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 to Jan. 3
* Miss. – Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 and Oct. 13 to Jan. 3.
Coot, moorhen, rail, and snipe season structure and daily bag limits Season structure for coot, moorhen, rail, and snipe will be the same as wild ducks in the zone in which you hunt.
Proposed Daily Bag Limits:
* 15 coot and moorhen;
* 25 sora and Virginia rail; and
* eight snipe.