AUGUSTA - The commissioner's Advisory Council approved season dates and bag limits for ducks, geese and other migratory game birds in their monthly meeting yesterday at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife headquarters in Augusta. The season is based on a framework provided by the US Department of Fish and Wildlife. The special early season for Canada Geese begins Tuesday, September 3. Waterfowlers no longer need to purchase the waterfowl stamp and affix it to their license, instead they must purchase the authority on their check-off license. Waterfowl stamps are still available to collectors at the Augusta office of IFW. The season dates and bag limits are as follows: Ducks (except Black Ducks): Pintail Ducks: Black Duck Season: Daily Limit: 4; Possession Limit: 8 with the following exceptions: a. From October 1-4, NO BLACK DUCKS MAY BE TAKEN.Mergansers and American Coots: SEASON SAME AS DUCKS. Daily limit 5, possession limit 10 with the following exceptions: a. Hooded mergansers: daily limit 1; possession limit 2Canada Geese (Special Early Season): September 3 through September 25, 2002. Daily limit 3; possession limit 6. Regular Goose Season: NORTH ZONE: Oct. 1 through Dec. 9, 2002 SOUTH ZONE: Oct. 1 through Nov. 2 and Nov. 18 through Dec. 23, 2002 Daily limit 2; possession limit 4 Snow Geese: Oct. 1, 2002 - Jan. 31, 2003. Daily limit 15; no possession limit. Brant: October 1 through November 27, 2002. Daily limit 2; possession limit 4. Special Falconry Season: In addition to the regular migratory bird season on ducks, mergansers, American coots: Sea Ducks: (Scoter, Eider, and Long-tailed duck): Oct. 1, 2002 - Jan.
20, 2003. Woodcock: Oct. 1 through October 30, 2002. Daily limit 3; possession limit 6. YOUTH WATERFOWL HUNT: September 21, 2002. Bag limits as above except that youth hunters may take 1 black duck. Special regulations will apply to youth and accompanying adult as follows: Youth must be 10 years of age or older and under 16 years of age, possess a junior hunting license (no stamps required) and be accompanied by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age approved by a parent or guardian who either holds a valid Maine hunting license or has successfully completed a hunter safety course. Legal shooting hours will be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. |