Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Sarah Taylor-Rogers has announced the selected dates and bag limits for the 1999-2000 waterfowl hunting seasons, which fall within the frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and have been submitted for final approval. While the USFWS guidelines permitted the opening of a limited Atlantic Population (AP) Canada goose season, Maryland will continue a closed season.

"We asked hunters what they thought about a limited season, and a strong majority of hunters who responded were opposed to opening a season which would allow fewer than half of Maryland's waterfowl hunters to participate," Secretary Taylor-Rogers said. "In addition, many hunters said they thought waiting to open the season would enable a more rapid recovery of this valuable species."

There are about 25,000 waterfowl hunters in Maryland, and in order to regulate a harvest of only 12,200 birds, strict control measures would have been adopted including a lottery to issue permits, and a tagging system to prevent overharvest. Most hunters' comments indicated strong disapproval of a such a lottery system, and expressed their willingness to wait until greater migrant Canada goose flock numbers would allow more liberal bag limits at some point in the future.

During the last decade, Maryland has led the effort to halt the decline of AP Canada geese. In addition to being the first state to take voluntary action to restrict harvest in the late 1980's, Maryland has invested significant resources to ensure that breeding ground surveys are now in place to monitor the status of AP Canada geese.

There is substantial evidence of sustained population growth of AP geese, evidenced by an upward trend in the breeding pair index in the Ungava Region of northern Quebec, from a low of 29,000 in 1995, to 77,500 in 1999. In addition there have been three successive years of good gosling production. Population modeling suggests that the AP goose flock will continue to experience population growth, increasing rapidly after 2002.

The 1999-2000 waterfowl hunting season will include 60 days of duck hunting, with a five-duck limit. In addition to the regular five-duck bag limit, hunters may take one additional teal during the duck season.

Secretary Taylor-Rogers also approved a 107-day snow goose season that will be extended to the closing framework date of March 10, to increase hunting pressure on this goose population and to minimize agricultural and ecological damage caused by snow geese. The first two segments of the snow goose season will run from Oct. 16 to Nov. 26, and from Dec. 6 to Jan. 31. The third segment of the season will start Feb. 2 and continue through March 10. However, snow goose hunting will be allowed only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday during the third segment.

This spreads the 107 days allowed for snow goose hunting across the fall and winter period when snow geese pose a significant threat to agricultural crops, pastures and coastal wetlands. Both Delaware and Maryland were given last minute approval by the USFWS to use the multiple splits during the snow goose hunting season to address the increasing damage caused by snow goose depredation.

To hunt waterfowl in Maryland, hunters must possess a valid Maryland hunting license. In addition to a hunting license, every hunter must have in his or her possession a Maryland HIP (Harvest Information Program) Permit, federal duck stamp, and Maryland waterfowl stamp. Possession of a HIP Permit is required of all hunters that hunt migratory birds in Maryland, including those who are exempt from possessing an annual hunting license (i.e., landowners and lifetime hunting licensees).

The Maryland waterfowl stamp and free HIP permit are available at Maryland sport license agents and DNR Regional Service Centers. Hunters may obtain federal duck stamps at U. S. Post Offices and National Wildlife Refuges.

Hunters are reminded that nontoxic shot is required while hunting waterfowl and coots. The possession of lead shot while waterfowl hunting is prohibited. Federally-approved nontoxic shot includes, steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten polymer, tungsten matrix, and tin. No nontoxic shot larger than No. T may be used for waterfowl hunting.

Waterfowl hunters are encouraged to reported banded waterfowl and can now use a toll-free number, 1-800-327-BAND (3261), to report banded birds they harvest. Information gathered from banded ducks and geese plays a critical role in management of waterfowl in North America.

For more information on hunting in Maryland consult the free booklet Hunting and Trapping in Maryland 1999-2000. This booklet can be obtained locally from sport license agents at retail stores and DNR Wildlife and Heritage Division offices. Additional information on migratory game bird hunting seasons is also available on the DNR Web site at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/.

Click here for dates and bag limits selected for Maryland's 1999-2000 late waterfowl seasons.

Posted 9/1/99