The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the 2001-2002 early migratory game bird seasons.
The dove season and seasons for other migratory game birds, including a statewide early resident Canada goose season, were contained in a package of Maryland selections forwarded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Seasons and bag limits, in addition to other specifications are listed below.
In addition, Maryland and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have designated a Junior Waterfowl Hunting Day for Saturday, Sept. 29 for junior hunters accompanied by an unarmed adult. Junior license holders can participate, and can take one Canada goose in addition to the five-duck daily bag limit. An adult who possesses a valid Maryland hunting license or is license exempt, must accompany junior hunters. The person accompanying the junior hunter may assist in calling, waterfowl identification, and other aspects of the hunt, but may not be in possession of a firearm or other hunting device.
The dove season, which marks the traditional start of hunting activity each year in Maryland, will open Saturday, Sept. 1 and continue through Oct. 21. The second and third split seasons will be Nov. 13-18, and Dec. 18-30.
The state's woodcock season will open Oct. 20 and continue through Nov. 10, and will reopen Jan. 12-19 allowing hunters to take advantage of the late migration of woodcock that takes place along the coast.
The rail bird hunting season opens Sept. 1 and continues through Nov. 9.
The early resident Canada goose season will open Sept. 1 and continue statewide through Sept. 15. In the western zone, the season will continue through Sept. 25. The daily bag limit is 5 geese per day.
All migratory game bird hunters, including those not required to have a hunting license, are required to obtain and carry a HIP (Harvest Information Program) permit. All waterfowl hunters, over 16 years of age, including landowners who are exempt when hunting on their own property are also required to carry a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. All waterfowl hunters who are required to purchase a hunting license, except state residents over 64 years old, must have a Maryland Migratory Waterfowl Stamp.
HIP permits and Maryland Waterfowl Stamps are available at Maryland DNR sport license agents and DNR Regional Service Centers. Hunters may obtain federal duck stamps at U.S. Post Offices, National Wildlife Refuges, and certain Maryland DNR sport license agents.
Hunters are reminded that nontoxic shot is required for hunting waterfowl and coots. Approved nontoxic shot includes steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-iron, and tungsten matrix. Hunters may not possess or use nontoxic shot larger than size No. "T" or use or possess any lead shot while waterfowl hunting.
Shooting hours for migratory game birds are one half-hour before sunrise to sunset, except for: (1) mourning dove during the first season segment, when shooting hours are from noon to sunset; and (2) teal during the Sept. Teal Season when shooting hours are from sunrise to sunset.
Hunters are encouraged to report banded migratory game birds by calling toll-free 1-800-327-BAND (2263).
A listing of DNR wildlife management areas can be found at www.dnr.state.md.us/wmamap.html. General information about hunting in Maryland can be found at www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/hntgp.html, and the 2001-2002 Hunting and Trapping Guide can be found at www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/.
JUNIOR WATERFOWL HUNTING DAY:
junior hunters may take 1 Canada goose, ducks, coots, and mergansers (see Duck Daily Bag Limit). Hunters 15 and under must be accompanied by a licensed (or exempt from license requirement), unarmed adult age 21 or older.
DUCK DAILY BAG LIMITS FOR JUNIOR WATERFOWL HUNTING DAY:
5 ducks per day, including no more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 4 scoters, 3 scaup, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck, and 1 black duck. Merganser Limit: 5 mergansers per day, which may not include more than 1 hooded merganser. Coot Limit: 15 coots per day SHOOTING HOURS: Official hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for all migratory game bird hunting EXCEPT for: (1) mourning dove during the first season segment, when shooting hours are from noon to sunset; and (2) teal during the September teal season when shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.
Posted: 8-23-2001
