Waterfowl Season Regulations Approved by Georgia DNR Board

Waterfowl hunters can now confirm their hunting plans. The Board of Natural Resources recently approved the 2012-2013 waterfowl hunting regulations.

“Georgia’s waterfowl regulations maximize the hunting opportunity within the frameworks set by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service,” said Greg Balkcom, state waterfowl biologist for the Wildlife Resources Division. “We have another 60-day season, and the only change is an increase in daily bag limit for scaup from two to four.”

The September Canada goose season runs from Sept. 1-30 and the September teal season runs from Sept. 8-23. Hunting season for ducks is Nov. 17 – 25, 2012 and Dec. 8 – Jan. 27, 2013. A summary of migratory bird hunting season dates and bag limits is online at
www.gohuntgeorgia.com/node/2752 .

Youth Waterfowl Days are Nov. 10-11, 2012. On these two days, youth age 15 or younger may hunt specific migratory birds, such as ducks, Canada geese and mergansers, as long as they are accompanied by an adult of at least 18 years of age (only the youth may hunt).

In order to hunt waterfowl, hunters must have a hunting license, federal duck stamp, Georgia waterfowl conservation license and a HIP permit. If hunting on a wildlife management area (WMA), a WMA license is required. Hunters may purchase licenses online at www.georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes, by phone at 1-800-366-2661 or at more than 800 license agent locations (list of agents available online).

State license fees help support wildlife conservation in Georgia. The state receives federal funds from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program, based on a number of factors, including the number of paid sporting licenses. In Georgia, these funds are approximately $14 million a year and have helped restore habitat and improve wildlife populations, among other conservation efforts.

For more information, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com/hunting/regulations.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is comprised of six divisions which carryout DNR’s mission to sustain, enhance, protect and conserve Georgia’s natural, historic and cultural resources. As one of six divisions within DNR, the Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) is charged with conserving, enhancing and promoting Georgia’s wildlife resources, including game and nongame animals, fish and protected plants. WRD is comprised of four sections – Game Management, Fisheries Management, Law Enforcement and Nongame Conservation, which regulate hunting, fishing and boat operation, protect nongame and endangered wildlife, provide conservation education and enforce laws for the protection and use of Georgia’s natural resources.