More Idaho Waterfowl Seasons Open Saturday October 13
Idaho Department of Fish and Game 10.09.12
The waterfowl season opens Saturday, October 13, in Area 2, and runs through January 25.
Area 2 includes all of the state not included in Area 1, which opened October 6.
Area 1 includes all of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, including private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham County, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; Caribou County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39.
The daily bag limit is seven ducks; but no more than two female mallards, two redheads, two pintails and one canvasback. The possession limit is twice the daily limit. The bag limit for Wilson’s snipe is 8, and 16 after the first day of the season; the limit for coots is 25.
The season for dark geese – Canada and white-fronted – is the same as the duck season. The daily bag limit is four dark geese, and 10 light geese – blue, snow and Ross’s. Possession limits after the first day of the season are eight dark geese and 20 light geese. (See map on Page 10 in rules brochure, http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/rules/?getPage=66.)
Seasons for light – blue, snow and Ross’s – geese:
- In Area 1, runs from October 6 through January 18. Area 1 includes the Fort Hall Indian Reservation and private in-holdings; Bannock County; Bingham County east of the west bank of the Snake River and the American Falls Reservoir bluff, except that portion within the Blackfoot Reservoir drainage; Caribou County within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation; and Power County east of State Highway 37 and State Highway 39. (See map on Page 11 in rules brochure.
- In Area 2, runs from October 29 through January 18 and from February 16 through March 10, 2013. Area 2 includes Bingham County west of the west bank of the Snake River and the American Falls Reservoir bluff; Power County north of Interstate 86 and west of the west bank of the Snake River and the American Falls Reservoir bluff.
- In Area 3, runs from November 5 through January 25 and from February 16 through March 10, 2013. Area 3 includes Ada, Boise, Canyon, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, and Owyhee, Payette, Twin Falls and Washington counties. During the spring 2013 season, closed areas include the Fort Boise and Payette River WMAs and that portion of the Roswell Marsh Wildlife Habitat Area south of State Highway 18, and the Snake River Islands Unit of the Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge.
- In Area 4, runs from October 13 through January 25, 2013. Fremont and Teton counties are closed, which was omitted from the 2012 Waterfowl Seasons and Rules brochure. Hunters are asked to make note of this error. Area 4 includes all parts of the state not included in Areas 1, 2 and 3.
Hunters must have a valid 2012 Idaho hunting license, and any person 16 or older who hunts migratory game birds, such as ducks or geese, must have in their possession a federal migratory bird stamp, which costs $15 and is valid from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. All waterfowl hunters also need a federal migratory game bird harvest information program validation, which is $1.75 for residents, or $4.75 for nonresidents, and is valid from January 1 through December 31 of each year.
Only approved nontoxic shot may be used to hunt waterfowl. For a list go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/nontoxic.htm, or at the local Fish and Game office.
Hunters are encouraged to check the new rules brochure available online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/rules/?getPage=66, and at license vendors and Fish and Game offices.
