Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2002
For more information:  George Vandel, 773-4192

FALL DUCK AND GOOSE SEASONS SET

PIERRE – Restrictive changes for South Dakota’s fall duck and goose seasons were not finalized by the Game, Fish and Parks Commission, so hunters will have liberal fall waterfowl seasons similar to last year 

"Despite decreases in habitat conditions, breeding populations of most duck and goose species remain at long-term objectives, allowing for liberal seasons this fall," said Assistant Wildlife Director George Vandel. "However, some populations, such as canvasbacks and pintails, will have additional restrictions. The 2002 canvasback season is closed and pintails will have a restricted, 39-day season." 

Despite dry conditions over much of the breeding range, Vandel noted that mallard populations remain strong and are at levels established for the North American Waterfowl Management Plan goals, allowing for liberal harvest opportunities. Although the long season and liberal mallard bag limit, hunters are again encouraged to avoid shooting hen mallards.

High Plains season will start Sept. 28 and continue straight through Jan. 2, 2003. 

The Low Plains season will again have three zones. The north zone will be open for 74 consecutive days, Sept. 21 through Dec. 3. The middle zone will be open Sept. 28 through Dec. 10 and the south zone will be open Oct. 12 through Dec. 24.

The daily duck limit is six, and may include no more than five mallards, of which two can be hens. In addition to the six ducks allowed daily, five more may be mergansers, but no more than one of the five may be a hooded merganser.

Daily duck limits may also include no more than two wood ducks, two redheads, three scaup or one pintail. The possession limit is twice the daily limit.

Because both pintail and canvasback populations have declined, season exceptions were set for both species. Canvasbacks may not be hunted this fall. Pintail numbers in 2002 are the lowest recorded since population surveys began in 1955, resulting in limited season dates for harvesting that bird.

Pintail season dates include:

• Sept. 28 – Nov. 5 during the High Plains season.  
• Sept. 21 – Oct. 29 in the Low Plains north zone.  
• Sept. 28 – Nov. 5 in the Low Plains middle zone.  
• Oct. 12 – Nov. 19 in the Low Plains south zone.

For the regular goose season, the commission has changed the opening date for Canada goose Unit 2 from the third Saturday in October to the fourth Saturday and changed the opening date for Canada goose Unit 4 from Jan. 4 to Jan. 11. 

Most of the state (Units 1 and 3) will open Sept. 28. In central South Dakota along the Missouri River (Unit 2), the season will open Oct. 26 and run through Jan. 28, 2003. This later opening allows hunters to take advantage of late migrating Canada geese.

White-fronted geese may be hunted Sept. 28 - Dec. 22, statewide, with a daily limit of two.

The light goose season - which includes all geese except Canada geese, brant, and white-fronted geese – will be open Sept. 28 through Dec. 22.

Other daily goose limits for hunters during the regular season include 20 light geese and three Canada geese (or any goose species other than light geese and white-fronted geese).

Goose and duck shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, statewide. Nontoxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting.

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