Waterfowl Seasons

Illinois hunters will have a 60-day duck hunting season and goose seasons ranging from 48 to 70 days, depending on the zone.

This year's waterfowl hunting seasons will include a 70-day Canada goose hunting season in the north and central zones, a 48-day Canada goose hunting season in the south zone and a statewide 60-day duck hunting season.

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for ducks and geese, with the following exceptions: In the Rend Lake and Southern Illinois Quota Zone, hunting hours for geese end at 3 p.m., except during Jan. 29-31, when hunting hours end at sunset. Hunting hours during the special hunts for light geese (snow, blue and Ross') end one-half hour after sunset.

Geese

The Mississippi Valley Population (MVP) fall flight forecast for Canada geese of 697,142 represents a decrease of 46 percent compared with the estimate of 1,295,385 for 2000. The Illinois statewide harvest allocation for Canada geese is 54,800, compared with 127,000 in 2000.

However, MVP banding crews in Ontario found excellent numbers of goslings this year, where four times as many goslings per adult were found as compared with last year. With a higher percentage of goslings in the fall flight, hunter success may be better, and quotas may be reached more quickly once geese arrive in Illinois.

During the 2000-2001 season, hunters in Illinois harvested a record number of Canada geese. This year's recommendations, developed by the waterfowl hunting advisory committees in each zone, include 70-day Canada goose seasons in the north and central zones and a 48-day season in the south zone, unless the quota is reached prior to the scheduled closing dates.

The proposed Canada goose season dates and daily bag limits for the North, Central and South zones in Illinois are:

North: Oct. 13-Oct. 21 and Nov. 10-Jan. 9, or until the quota is reached in the Northern Illinois Quota Zone, at which time the entire North Zone closes. Hunters are allowed one goose per day.

Central: Oct. 25-Oct. 28 and Nov. 17-Jan. 21, or until the quota is reached in the Central Illinois Quota Zone, at which time the entire Central Zone closes. Hunters are allowed one goose per day through Dec. 23. From Dec. 24 through Jan. 21, hunters are allowed two geese per day.

South: Dec. 15-Jan. 31, or until the quota is reached in the Southern Illinois Quota Zone and the Rend Lake Quota Zone, at which time the entire South Zone closes. Hunters are allowed one goose per day through Dec. 31. From Jan. 1 through Jan. 31, hunters are allowed two geese per day.

Quotas proposed for the regular Canada goose season are: statewide - 54,800; Northern Illinois Quota Zone - 7,250; Central Illinois Quota Zone - 9,250; Southern Illinois Quota Zone - 16,550; Rend Lake Quota Zone - 2,100; remainder of the state - 19,650.

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While duck numbers are expected to be down somewhat, they still should be nearly 10 percent above the long-term average.

This year for the first time in the Southern Illinois Quota Zone, all Canada goose hunters must obtain a Canada Goose Hunting Permit when they buy their state waterfowl stamp. Hunters must mark the date and zone whenever they kill a goose and phone in the harvest information the same calendar day it is taken. The call-in system also remains in place in the Northern and Central Illinois Quota Zones, where it has been used since 1994.

Snow Geese and Brant

North regular season: Oct. 13-Jan. 9, with a bag limit of 20 snow geese and one brant per day. Following the regular season is a special snow goose season from Jan.10-March 31, with relaxed hunting regulations and no bag limit.

Goose hunters in the north and central zones will enjoy a 70-day season, while south zone hunters will have a 48-day season.

Central regular season: Oct. 25-Jan. 21, with a bag limit of 20 snow geese and one brant per day. Following the regular season is a special snow goose season from Jan. 22-March 31, with relaxed hunting regulations and no bag limit.

South regular season: Nov. 8-Jan. 31, with a bag limit of 20 snow geese and one brant per day. Following the regular season is a special snow goose season from Feb.1-March 31, with relaxed hunting regulations and no bag limit.

White-fronted Geese

North: Oct. 13-21 and Nov. 10-Jan. 9, with a bag limit of two per day.

Central: Oct. 25-28 and Nov. 17-Jan. 21, with a bag limit of two per day.

South: Dec. 15-Jan. 31, with a bag limit of two per day.

Snow goose season includes snow, blue and Ross' geese. The hunting season for white-fronted geese and brant will close with Canada goose season if the quota is reached earlier in the zone. In addition, the special order snow goose season will open the day after hunting for Canada geese ends if the Canada goose season closes early due to quotas being reached.

Ducks

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's annual breeding survey of key nesting areas indicated 36.1 million breeding ducks, compared with 41.8 million in 2000. However, total duck numbers are still 9 percent above the long-term average.

Mallard numbers on the traditional surveyed areas, along with Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, decreased 17 percent to 10.5 million, compared with last year's 8.7 million. The number of mallards was similar to the long-term average. Mallard reproduction this year was better, and the total fall flight estimate of 10.5 million birds is just 6 percent lower than last year's 11.2 million. There will be an estimated 1.8 million juvenile mallards this fall, compared to only 800,000 last year.

Green-winged and blue-winged teal had breeding population estimates of 2.5 million and 5.8 million birds, respectively. Blue-winged teal numbers decreased 23 percent, compared with last year, but were still 29 percent above the long-term average. Green-winged teal decreased 21 percent compared with last year, but were still 39 percent above the long-term average.

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OutdoorIllinois

Illinois duck hunters will have a 60-day hunting season in all three zones this year.

Pintail and scaup numbers were still below their long-term averages.

Last year's preliminary federal duck harvest estimate of 493,300 and preliminary state duck harvest estimate of 449,698 were both record numbers.

The proposed 60-day seasons in each of the three Illinois duck hunting zones are: North - Oct. 13-Dec. 11; Central - Oct. 25-Dec. 23; and South - Nov. 8-Jan. 6.

The daily limit for ducks is six, which may include no more than four mallards (two hens), three scaup, two wood ducks, two redheads, one black duck and one pintail. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that hunters may only take canvasback ducks during a 20-day segment within the duck season in each zone. In Illinois, canvasback ducks may be taken only during the following dates in each zone, with a daily limit of one canvasback: North - Nov. 10-Nov. 29; Central - Nov. 17-Dec. 6; and South - Nov. 24-Dec. 13.

For additional information about waterfowl seasons, check the 2001-2002 Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2001-2002 Digest of Waterfowl Hunting Regulations. The free publications are available at license vendors; by writing DNR Clearinghouse, 524 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701; by calling (217) 782-7498; or emailing Clearing@dnrmail.state.il.us.

Duck decoy decision deferred The Department of Natural Resources has received numerous inquiries from waterfowl hunters about motion-wing decoys, but currently has no plans to prohibit their use. Motion-wing decoys have battery-powered rotating wings and are mounted on poles about 3-5 feet above the surface of the water or ground. There are 40 or more manufacturers, and lots of homemade ones. The decoys cost up to $250 each, depending on the manufacturer. "This is a nationwide issue that should be addressed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service," said Waterfowl Program Manager Ray Marshalla. "If these decoys cause harvest rates to increase. Adaptive Harvest Management will protect duck populations by shortening the season and lowering the bag limit to compensate for increased harvest." Marshalla said there is no direct evidence that duck harvest rates have increased as a result of the decoys. "In fact, even though use was more prevalent last season than previously, the duck harvest in the Mississippi Flyway was smaller last year than during any of the previous three years," he said. At the Flyway Council's recent Technical Section meeting, the Dabbling Duck Committee chaired by Marshalla discussed motion-wing decoys and hunter surveys by the states of Illinois, Louisiana and Minnesota. Illinois' 2000 Waterfowl Hunter Survey showed that more than 61 percent of Illinois' duck hunters used the decoys and that 42 percent felt they were effective about half the time. The survey also asked if they would support banning these decoys if their use contributed to increased harvest and caused seasons to be shortened from 60 to 45 or 30 days. Seventy-four percent would support the ban rather than go to 30-day seasons, and 62 percent would support the ban rather than go to 45-day seasons. Fifty-five percent of Louisiana's duck hunters used motion-wing decoys, with 84 percent rating them effective. When asked if they would support banning the decoys if they were found to increase harvest rates and led to shorter seasons and/or bag limits, 72 percent of all duck hunters and 66 percent of hunters who had used them said yes. In Minnesota, only 10 percent of the hunters used motion-wing decoys in 2000. However, 64 percent of those who used them rated them effective. When asked if they would support banning their use if they increased harvest rates and led to shorter seasons and/or bag limits, 65 percent of all hunters said yes, but only 41 percent of the hunters who had used them would support a ban. Marshalla said motion-wing decoys are regulated in only three states—California, Pennsylvania and Washington. Washington recently passed a total ban. California recently passed a partial ban, and Pennsylvania banned all motorized or electronic decoys in the early 1990s. The Washington ban passed despite a survey showing more than two-thirds of duck hunters opposed to it, Marshalla said. —John Allen

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