Waterfowl Seasons Established at August TWRC Meeting

KINGSPORT, Tenn.  --- The 2011-12 waterfowl hunting seasons were established by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission at its August meeting, held at the Meadowview Conference Center.

 

The TWRC approved the proposals made by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The seasons reflect only calendar date changes from recent years. There will again be a 60-day season for 2011-12 duck hunting, with one split. The season will end Jan. 29, 2012 and a 6-duck bag limit. The maximum number of days allowed for goose hunting seasons under the federal framework will also be utilized.

 

The Statewide Zone duck hunting seasons to be held are Nov. 26-27 and Dec.3-Jan. 29 while the Reelfoot Zone will be held Nov. 12-13 and Dec. 3-Jan. 29. The seasons will maximize the number of weekends open to duck hunting and will end on the latest date allowed (the last Sunday in January).

 

TWRA waterfowl coordinator Tim White said officials report that habitat conditions in the Prairie Pothole region of the United States and Canada are reported to have been observed as the second wettest ever seen by officials. Based on these conditions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has offered a full season with no closed or partial seasons on any species. The TWRA recommendations follow the maximum USFWS frameworks regarding duck bag limits. A daily bag limit of 6 ducks may include no more than: 4 mallards (no more than 2 of which may be a hen), 3 wood ducks (during the late waterfowl season only), 2 scaup, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, and 1 black duck. The daily bag limit of merganser would be 5, only 2 which may be hooded mergansers.

 

  The maximum number of days allowed within in the federal framework for goose hunting seasons will be in effect. Goose seasons are set as late as federal frameworks allow in order to take advantage of any migratory geese that may be available in late winter.

 

Season dates for Canada geese are Oct. 8-Oct. 19, Nov. 26-27, and Dec. 3-Jan. 29, 2012 in the Statewide Zone. In the Northwest Zone, the dates are Dec. 3-Feb. 12. The daily bag limit is 2 per person.

           

The white-fronted goose season runs statewide from Dec. 3-Feb. 12. The daily bag limit is 2 per person.

 

Season dates and bag limits for light geese (snow, blue, Ross) are similar to last season with a shift for the calendar. The standard season will run from Nov. 25 through Feb. 12, 2012 (standard regulations apply). Federal Conservation Order provisions allow the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns for the Feb. 13 through March 10, 2012 portion of the season. The daily bag limit of light geese is 20 per person, per day during the conservation season.

 

The youth waterfowl season would indicate only a calendar shift from last year. For youth ages 6-15, the Statewide Zone dates are Feb. 4-5 while the Reelfoot Zone would be Feb. 11-12.

 

On Wednesday, the committee meetings included information concerning wild hog management. TWRA Forestry and Wildlife Division Chief Daryl Ratajczak and Assistant Chief Gray Anderson updated members on the progress made toward the goal of controlling the state’s nuisance wild hog population. The commission heard from members of the audience who support a bigger role for hunters in this effort. All were in agreement that the new tools afforded landowners were a positive step toward better cooperation between the agricultural and wildlife communities. Some hunters expressed an interest in returning to the hunting regulations in place last season. The commission encouraged future dialog and continued discussion on the matter. Also in attendance were state representatives Jim Cobb, Jeremy Faison, John Forgety.

 

TWRA Executive Director, Ed Carter, presented the proposed budget for fiscal year 2012-13. He said the budget reflected virtually zero growth from the previous year and is well within the agency’s projected revenue. The commission approved the proposal following the presentation.

 

Bobby Wilson, Fisheries Division Chief, gave a preview of the 2012-13 sport fishing regulations which features only slight changes. The complete proposals for next year will be outlined in a release early next week. Sport fishing regulations are usually established during the October meeting of the TWRC.

 

The TWRC will next meet in Jackson, Sept. 15-16. The location of the meeting will be announced at a later date.