Email Update: Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 8) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has approved the season dates for dove and other webless migratory 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.

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.

The 2010–11 seasons for webless migratory game birds and waterfowl early seasons are:

• Mourning and white-winged dove: Sept. 4 – Oct 9; Nov. 22 – Nov. 27; and Dec. 18 – Jan. 14; daily bag of 15 and possession limit of 30
• King and clapper rails: Sept. 4 – Nov. 12; daily bag of 15 and possession limit of 30
• Sora and Virginia rails: Sept. 4 – Nov. 12; daily bag of 25 and possession limit of 25
• Gallinule and moorhens: Sept. 4 – Nov. 12; daily bag of 15 and possession limit of 30
• Woodcock: Dec 31 – Jan. 29; daily bag of three and possession limit of six
• Common snipe: Nov. 12 – Feb. 26; daily bag of eight and possession limit of 16
• Canada goose: Sept. 1 – 30 (statewide); daily bag of 15 and possession limit of 30
• September teal season:  Sept. 11 – 29 (East of U.S. 17 only); daily bag of four and possession limit of eight. Species include green-winged, blue-winged and cinnamon teal.

With several exceptions, shooting hours for all species are from a half hour before sunrise until sunset. For doves, shooting hours are from noon until sunset on Sept. 4 only and from a half hour before sunrise until sunset thereafter. For Canada geese, only during the month of September and only in that area west of U.S. Hwy. 17, shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. In addition to the extended shooting hours for Canada geese, unplugged guns and electronic calls will be allowed for Canada geese in that area west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and only during the month of September.

The Commission also approved 2010–11 extended falconry season dates for webless species, which are:

• Dove: Oct. 16 – Nov. 20
• King, clapper, sora and Virginia rails: Nov. 20 – Dec. 25
• Gallinule and moorhens: Nov. 20 – Dec. 25
• Woodcock: Nov. 13 – Dec. 30 and Jan. 31 – Feb. 26.

Falconry hours for all species are from a half hour before sunrise until sunset, except doves on Sept. 4, when falconry hours run from noon until sunset. Falconers are permitted to take a daily bag of three migratory game birds and may also hunt during the applicable gun seasons.

In late August, the Commission will establish regular waterfowl seasons for ducks, geese and swans.