07-17-2004, 07:08 PM
[size 2]PIERRE, S.D. - The Game, Fish and Parks Commission has proposed South Dakota’s 2004 fall goose and duck hunting seasons with a few changes from last year.[/size]
[size 2]"Most of South Dakota’s regular waterfowl seasons will likely open on Sept. 25," said state Waterfowl Biologist Spencer Vaa of Brookings. "Changes proposed are meant to conform to the federal framework, which will be submitted to the states in early August." [/size]
[size 2]Duck season dates would include:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]High Plains season[/size][size 2]: Sept. 25 through Dec. 7 and Dec. 11 through Jan. 2, 2005, except canvasback and pintail season would be Sept. 25 through Nov. 2. [/size] [li][size 2]Low Plains Season North Zone[/size][size 2]: Sept. 25 through Dec. 7, except canvasback and pintail season would be Sept. 25 through Nov. 2. [/size] [li][size 2]Low Plains Middle Zone[/size][size 2]: Sept. 25 through Dec. 7, except canvasback and pintail season would be Sept. 25 through Nov. 2. [/size] [li][size 2]Low Plains South Zone[/size][size 2]: Oct. 9 through Dec. 21, except canvasback and pintail season would be Oct. 9 through Nov. 16. Vaa noted that if the federal frameworks allow for a full season on canvasback and pintail South Dakota will likely select the full framework rather than a partial season.[/size] [/li][/ul]
[size 2]South Dakota’s one change to daily duck limits would decrease the daily scaup limit from three to two. [/size]
[size 2]The overall daily bag limit would remain at six, which may include no more than five mallards, two of which may be hens, two wood ducks, two redheads, one pintail and one canvasback. [/size]
[size 2]For mergansers, the daily limit would remain at 5, and may include no more than 1 hooded merganser. The coot daily bag would remain at 15. [/size]
[size 2]Shooting hours would be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.[/size]
[size 2]A couple counties would switch units for the fall goose hunting proposal. Bon Homme County in Canada goose unit 1 would move to Canada goose unit 2. Potter County east of U.S. Highway 83 and Hyde County north of U.S. Highway 14 would move from Canada goose unit 2 to unit 1.[/size]
[size 2]Season units and dates for South Dakota’s fall goose seasons would include:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]Unit 1: Sept. 25 through Dec. 24,[/size] [li][size 2]Unit 2: Oct. 23 through Jan. 25, 2005,[/size] [li][size 2]Unit 3: Sept. 25 through Dec. 12[/size] [li][size 2]Unit 4: Jan. 8-16, 2005[/size] [/li][/ul]
[size 2]White-fronted geese and light geese could be hunted statewide from Sept. 25 through Dec. 19.[/size]
[size 2]Daily goose limits would include:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]Three Canada geese, or any goose species other than light and white-fronted geese, except daily limits in portions of Grant and Roberts counties is two starting Dec. 1.[/size] [li][size 2]Two white-fronted geese.[/size] [li][size 2]20 light geese.[/size] [/li][/ul]
[size 2]Possession limits are unlimited for light geese and twice the daily limit for Canada geese, white-fronted geese and brant.[/size]
[size 2]Individuals can submit comment by attending the public hearing at 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 5, at the Cornerstone in Freeman. Send written comments to Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol, Pierre, S.D. 57501, or send e-mail to [/size][font "Arial"][#0000ff][size 2]wildinfo@state.sd.us. [/size][/#0000ff][/font][font "Arial"][size 2]Comments must include full name and address.[/size][/font]
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[size 2]"Most of South Dakota’s regular waterfowl seasons will likely open on Sept. 25," said state Waterfowl Biologist Spencer Vaa of Brookings. "Changes proposed are meant to conform to the federal framework, which will be submitted to the states in early August." [/size]
[size 2]Duck season dates would include:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]High Plains season[/size][size 2]: Sept. 25 through Dec. 7 and Dec. 11 through Jan. 2, 2005, except canvasback and pintail season would be Sept. 25 through Nov. 2. [/size] [li][size 2]Low Plains Season North Zone[/size][size 2]: Sept. 25 through Dec. 7, except canvasback and pintail season would be Sept. 25 through Nov. 2. [/size] [li][size 2]Low Plains Middle Zone[/size][size 2]: Sept. 25 through Dec. 7, except canvasback and pintail season would be Sept. 25 through Nov. 2. [/size] [li][size 2]Low Plains South Zone[/size][size 2]: Oct. 9 through Dec. 21, except canvasback and pintail season would be Oct. 9 through Nov. 16. Vaa noted that if the federal frameworks allow for a full season on canvasback and pintail South Dakota will likely select the full framework rather than a partial season.[/size] [/li][/ul]
[size 2]South Dakota’s one change to daily duck limits would decrease the daily scaup limit from three to two. [/size]
[size 2]The overall daily bag limit would remain at six, which may include no more than five mallards, two of which may be hens, two wood ducks, two redheads, one pintail and one canvasback. [/size]
[size 2]For mergansers, the daily limit would remain at 5, and may include no more than 1 hooded merganser. The coot daily bag would remain at 15. [/size]
[size 2]Shooting hours would be one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.[/size]
[size 2]A couple counties would switch units for the fall goose hunting proposal. Bon Homme County in Canada goose unit 1 would move to Canada goose unit 2. Potter County east of U.S. Highway 83 and Hyde County north of U.S. Highway 14 would move from Canada goose unit 2 to unit 1.[/size]
[size 2]Season units and dates for South Dakota’s fall goose seasons would include:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]Unit 1: Sept. 25 through Dec. 24,[/size] [li][size 2]Unit 2: Oct. 23 through Jan. 25, 2005,[/size] [li][size 2]Unit 3: Sept. 25 through Dec. 12[/size] [li][size 2]Unit 4: Jan. 8-16, 2005[/size] [/li][/ul]
[size 2]White-fronted geese and light geese could be hunted statewide from Sept. 25 through Dec. 19.[/size]
[size 2]Daily goose limits would include:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]Three Canada geese, or any goose species other than light and white-fronted geese, except daily limits in portions of Grant and Roberts counties is two starting Dec. 1.[/size] [li][size 2]Two white-fronted geese.[/size] [li][size 2]20 light geese.[/size] [/li][/ul]
[size 2]Possession limits are unlimited for light geese and twice the daily limit for Canada geese, white-fronted geese and brant.[/size]
[size 2]Individuals can submit comment by attending the public hearing at 2 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 5, at the Cornerstone in Freeman. Send written comments to Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol, Pierre, S.D. 57501, or send e-mail to [/size][font "Arial"][#0000ff][size 2]wildinfo@state.sd.us. [/size][/#0000ff][/font][font "Arial"][size 2]Comments must include full name and address.[/size][/font]
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