NC Wildlife Commission Sets Waterfowl Seasons

For more information visit the NC Wildlife Commission Website at http://www.ncwildlife.org.

2006-2007 Seasons, Bag limits and
Shooting Hours for Waterfowl Seasons Occurring After October 1

BAG LIMITS

Possession limit is twice the daily limit, except where noted:

a) Conventional bag: 6 ducks with no more than 1 black or mottled duck (no black or mottled duck shall be taken until Dec. 1.), 4 mallards with no more than 2 hen mallards, 2 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 4 scoters, 1 fulvous tree duck, 1 pintail or 1 canvasback. The season on harlequin ducks is closed.

b) Other limits:

*15 light geese (Includes snow & blue geese & Ross’ geese), no possession limit
*2 brant
* 5 mergansers (only 2 can be hooded mergansers)
*7 sea ducks (in special sea duck areas only). In other areas sea ducks are part of the regular duck bag limit. No more than 4 scoters per day may be taken in either season.
*15 coots
* 5 dark geese (Includes Canada geese & white-fronted geese) in the Resident Hunt Zone, 2 in the Southern James Bay Zone, 2 in the Dare County Special Zone and 1 per season (permit holders only - apply at your local wildlife service agent) in the Northeast Hunt Zone.

SEASONS

Ducks, mergansers and coots

October 4 - 7,
November 11 - December 2 and
December 16 - January 27

[No black or mottled duck shall be taken until Dec. 1.]
Sea Ducks October 4 - January 27

Dark Geese
(Includes Canada Geese & White-fronted Geese)

See Goose Zones Map (pdf - opens to new window)

Resident Population Zone:
November 11 - December 2 and
December 16 - January 27

Southern James Bay Hunt Zone (Gaddy Goose refuge closed during late season): Oct. 4 – 14 and Nov. 11 – Dec. 30

Northeast Hunt Zone: Dec. 25 – Jan. 27
(By permit only -- 1,000 will be issued)

Light Geese
(Includes Snow and Blue Geese & Ross’ Geese) October 18 - 28 and
November 11 - March 3

Brant December 25 - January 27

Tundra Swan November 4 - January 31
(By permit only -- 5,000 will be issued)

Youth Waterfowl Day

(Species include ducks, geese, mergansers, and coots. Does not include tundra swans.) The accompanying adult may not hunt these species.

February 3
Youth must be 15 years of age or younger and accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age.

For more information about waterfowl hunting practices and regulations in North Carolina, see hunting regulations page or call the Division of Wildlife Management at (919) 733-7291.