Illinois waterfowl hunting seasons announced

July 28, 2006

September Canada goose, Teal seasons set;

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considering regular duck and goose hunting seasons

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) proposals for a 60-day duck hunting season statewide, along with 79-day Canada goose seasons in the North and Central zones and a 57-day Canada goose season in the South Zone for the 2006-2007 waterfowl season, have been forwarded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for concurrence later this summer. The proposals were endorsed this week by the USFWS Service Regulations Committee.

The proposals include an end to Canada goose hunting harvest quotas in Illinois beginning this fall. As a result, waterfowl hunters will no longer receive Canada goose permits when they purchase their annual state waterfowl stamps. With Illinois eliminating Canada goose quota zones, hunters will no longer be required to phone in their Canada goose harvest as they have in the past. The elimination of goose quotas is part of a five-year experiment that other Mississippi Valley states will join in 2007. Illinois was approved to begin the experiment this season. It is subject to annual review, and harvest and population conditions may require that quotas be reestablished if a significant decline in the Mississippi Valley Population (MVP) of Canada geese occurs.

"We are very pleased with the response from waterfowl hunters to our plan to experiment with eliminating goose quotas and quota zones," said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood. "Hunters buying Illinois waterfowl stamps will no longer receive goose permits, since marking those permits and calling in their goose harvest are no longer required. Hunters who have already purchased waterfowl stamps with goose permits won’t need to mark them this hunting season."
Hunters are still required to register with the federal Harvest Information Program (HIP). The program is designed to produce more accurate federal waterfowl harvest estimates. Hunters should receive their HIP certification when they purchase their hunting license or sportsmen’s combination license. Hunters can also register for HIP online at www.wetland.net or by phone toll-free at 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648). Registration each year with HIP is mandatory.

Illinois Duck Season Recommendations for 2006-07

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this year is allowing a 60-day duck season with a daily bag limit of six ducks. This marks the tenth consecutive year in which hunters in Illinois have been offered a 60-day duck season. Federal regulations will allow pintails and canvasbacks to be hunted during the regular 60-day duck seasons.
The proposed Illinois duck season dates are as follows:
North Zone - Saturday, Oct. 21 - Tuesday, Dec. 19
Central Zone - Saturday, Oct. 28 - Tuesday, Dec. 26
South Zone - Thursday, Nov. 23 - Sunday, Jan. 21

The daily limit is six ducks, which may include no more than four mallards (two hens), two wood ducks, two redheads, two scaup, one pintail, one canvasback and one black duck. In addition, hunters may harvest up to five mergansers per day, of which two can be hooded mergansers. Possession limits are twice the daily bag limit.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service annual survey of key nesting areas indicated a total population of 36.2 million breeding ducks, an increase of 14 percent compared with last year and up 9 percent compared with the 1956-2005 long-term average. The mid-continent mallard fall flight forecast is 9.8 million, compared to 9.3 million last year.

Teal Season for 2006

The statewide nine-day teal season is Sept. 9-24 from sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit is four teal with a possession limit of eight.

Illinois Goose Season Recommendations for 2006-07

The proposed Canada goose season dates in Illinois are:

North Zone (79 days) – Saturday, Oct. 21 - Sunday, Nov. 12 and Monday, Nov. 20 - Sunday, Jan. 14

Central Zone (79 days) – Saturday, Oct. 28 - Sunday, Nov. 5 and Thursday, Nov. 23 - Wednesday, Jan. 31

South Zone (57 days) – Thursday, Nov. 23 - Sunday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 10 - Wednesday, Jan. 31

The Mississippi Valley Population (MVP) of Canada geese spring population estimate was 704,954, a 9 percent increase compared with the 1989-2006 average. Early spring conditions in MVP breeding grounds should have resulted in an excellent production year for MVP geese.
During the regular Canada goose season in Illinois, the statewide daily bag limit will be two geese with a possession limit of four geese. Because Illinois is eliminating quota zones and Canada goose harvest quotas, Illinois must adhere to the federally mandated daily Canada goose harvest possession limit of twice the daily bag limit for geese.

September Canada goose season for 2006

The statewide September Canada goose season in all zones will be Sept. 1-15. During the September season only, Illinois will retain a Northeast Illinois Canada Goose Zone. That zone includes Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. During the September season only, the daily harvest bag limit for the Northeast Zone will be five geese (possession limit is 10 for the Northeast Zone only), with a daily bag limit of two geese (possession limit of four geese) for the North, Central and South zones.

White-fronted Goose Season – 2006-07

(Bag limit is one in the North and Central zones and two in the South Zone. By Federal rules, zones that are open more than 72 days must reduce the bag limit to one. Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit)
North Zone – Saturday, Oct. 21 - Sunday, Jan. 14
Central Zone – Saturday, Oct. 28 - Sunday, Nov. 5 and Thursday, Nov. 23 - Wednesday, Jan. 31
South Zone – Thursday, Nov. 23 - Wednesday, Jan. 31

Snow Goose and Brant Season – 2006-07

(Bag limit 20 snow geese with no possession limit; one brant in all zones, possession limit is two)
North Zone – Saturday, Oct. 21 - Sunday, Jan. 14
Central Zone – Saturday, Oct. 28 - Wednesday, Jan. 31
South Zone – Thursday, Nov. 23 - Wednesday, Jan. 31

Conservation Order Snow Goose Season - 2007

(No bag limit, unplugged guns, hunting until one-half hour after sunset, electronic calls allowed)
North Zone – Monday, Jan. 15 - Saturday, March 31
Central Zone – Thursday, Feb. 1 - Saturday, March 31
South Zone – Thursday, Feb. 1 - Saturday, March 31

Illinois Youth Hunt Recommendations for 2006

The Youth Waterfowl Hunt seasons for 2006 are listed below for each zone.
(Bag limits are the same as during regular seasons for all species of waterfowl and coots)
North Zone – Saturday, Oct. 14 - Sunday, Oct. 15
Central Zone – Saturday, Oct. 21 - Sunday, Oct. 22
South Zone – Saturday, Nov. 11 - Sunday, Nov. 12

Hunters in Illinois are encouraged to take a qualifying young person hunting during the Youth Hunt as well as during the regular waterfowl seasons.

Waterfowl Hunting Zones in Illinois for 2006-2010

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires that states select duck hunting zones as part of their regulatory framework every five years. Illinois has submitted changes in the existing boundary lines for its three zones that include moving farther south segments of both the dividing lines between the North and Central zones and the Central and South zones. It also adjusts farther north the existing Central-South zone line near the Mississippi River in southwest Illinois (see description and map below).

Illinois Duck and Goose Zone Line Description for 2006 – 2010 Seasons

North Zone - That portion of the state north of a line from the Indiana border continuing west along Peotone-Beecher Road to Illinois Route 50, south along Illinois Route 50 to Wilmington-Peotone Road, west along Wilmington-Peotone Road to Illinois Route 53, north along Illinois Route 53 to New River Road, northwest along New River Road to U.S. Interstate 55, south along U.S. Interstate 55 to Pine Bluff-Lorenzo Road, west along Pine Bluff - Lorenzo Road to Illinois Route 47, north along Illinois Route 47 to U.S. Interstate 80, west along U.S. Interstate 80 to U.S. Interstate 39, south along U.S. Interstate 39 to Illinois Route 18, west along Illinois Route 18 to Illinois Route 29, south along Illinois Route 29 to Illinois Route 17, west along Illinois Route 17 to the Mississippi River, and due south across the Mississippi River to the Iowa border.
Central Zone - That portion of the state south of the North Zone boundary to a line beginning at the Indiana border and continuing west along U.S. Interstate 70 to Illinois Route 4, south along Illinois Route 4 to Illinois Route 161, west along Illinois Route 161 to Illinois Route 158, south and west along Illinois Route 158 to Illinois Route 159, south along Illinois Route 159 to Illinois Route 156, west along Illinois Route 156 to A Road, north and west on A Road to Levee Road, north on Levee Road to the south shore of New Fountain Creek, west along the south shore of New Fountain Creek to the Mississippi River, and due west across the Mississippi River to the Missouri border.

South Zone – The south zone extends from the southern boundary of the central zone south to the remainder of the state.

For more information on Illinois waterfowl hunting seasons, prospects, zone line details and other information, pick up a copy of the Illinois Digest of Waterfowl Hunting Regulations available in print or online at http://dnr.state.il.us beginning in September.