Waterfowl Season on KMOT-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader

Waterfowl Season | Video

Scott Westerberg

9/6/2009

Not much will change for waterfowl hunters when the North Dakota season starts later this month, however as waterfowl biologist Mike Johnson explains, the three year experimental Hunter`s Choice bag limit has come to an end, "Our waterfowl season is essentially the same as it`s been in the past with the exception of our duck regulations. There`s a change in our regulations from the Hunter`s Choice bag limits which we`ve had as an experiment the last three years to a more standard bag limit."

The Hunter`s Choice program started as a potential bag limit system when there are closed or partially closed season on certain duck species. The Hunter`s Choice system could return on a more permanent basis in the future, but this season no special regulations will be required.

"Actually the season this year is more liberal. We have no closed seasons or partially closed seasons and hunters can once again take two hen mallards if they so choose, 1 pintail, 1 canvasback, 2 scaups, that sort of thing," adds Johnson.

Johnson says he expects a good hunting season thanks to improved wetlands and grasslands in much of the state, which is a direct result of all the moisture that fell last winter and spring, "Here in North Dakota our duck populations look pretty good. We had an exceptional breeding population this year. We had good water conditions over much of the state and it looks like production is pretty good all over the state."

Waterfowl season is scheduled to begin for North Dakota residents on September 26th. Non-residents may begin hunting on October 3rd. A special youth waterfowl hunting season is set for September 19th and 20th. Kids 15 years or younger are allowed to hunt as long as they are licensed and follow the same bag limits as the regular adult season.

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