North Carolina Wildlife Commission Sets Migratory Game Bird Seasons
OutdoorHub 07.15.13
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has approved the season dates for dove and other webless migratory game birds, as well as September seasons for Canada geese and teal.
Hunters should note several important changes to this year’s seasons and regulations:
- Dove season opening day is Sept. 2, a Monday.
- Seasons for rails, gallinules and moorhens have been split into two segments. There is a closed period for rail hunting in late September/early October.
- The daily bag limit for teal in the September teal season has been increased from four teal to six teal.
- Possession limits for all species are now 3 times the daily bag limit. Previously, it had been 2 times the daily bag.
Shooting hours for all species are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset unless otherwise noted. Dove hunters should note that shooting hours for the entire season, including opening day, begin at ½ hour before sunrise. The change to opening day shooting hours for doves was implemented last year.
Each year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides frameworks from which to choose the seasons and the Commission selects the actual dates within these guidelines. The Commission allowed public input on the seasons throughout June on its website, www.ncwildlife.org.
For more information, visit Waterfowl and Migratory Game Birds in North Carolina.
