PIERRE, S.D.  - The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission finalized several waterfowl seasons at their March meeting in Pierre.

The Commission decreased the daily bag limit of pintail ducks from two to one for the 2017 South Dakota duck hunting season.  Season dates for the High Plains Zone is open Oct. 14, 2017, through Jan. 18, 2018; the Low Plains North and Low Plains Middle Zone is open Sept. 30 through Dec. 12, 2017, and the Low Plains South Zone is open Oct. 14 through Dec. 26, 2017.

The daily duck limit may be comprised of no more than five mallards (which may include no more than two hens), three wood ducks, three scaup, two redheads, two canvasbacks and one pintail.  A bonus blue-winged teal season, allowing for two more blue-winged teal, would be held the first 16 days of the duck hunting season.

The Commission also proposed to lengthen the upcoming light goose season to the maximum days allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The season for light geese will run from Sept. 30, 2017, through Jan. 12, 2018.

Hunters will also find an increase in the number of resident and nonresident tundra swan licenses available to 1,425 and 250, respectively.  The tundra swan season will run from Sept. 30, 2017, through the end of the light goose hunting season and would be open in all counties east of the Missouri River except Charles Mix, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay, Union, Lincoln, Turner, Hutchinson and Douglas counties.

The Canada and Brant goose hunting season dates for Unit 1 are Oct. 1 through Dec. 17, 2017; Unit 2 are Nov. 6, 2017, through Feb. 18, 2018, and Unit 3 are Jan. 13 through 21, 2018.

South Dakota’s white-fronted goose season will run from Sept. 30 through Dec 24, 2017.

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GFP Mission: The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks provides sustainable outdoor recreational opportunities through responsible management of our state’s parks, fisheries and wildlife by fostering partnerships, cultivating stewardship and safely connecting people with the outdoors.