On Friday, July 28, 2006, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed liberal hunting regulations for the upcoming 2006-2007 late waterfowl seasons due to improved habitat conditions and waterfowl production estimates. Hunting season lengths will be 60 days in both the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, 74 days in the Central Flyway, and 107 days in the Pacific Flyway.
"Based on improved breeding habitat conditions and an improved outlook for production in many breeding areas, the agency adopted the liberal package, " said Service Director H. Dale Hall. "Good to excellent conditions in the northern grasslands and parklands of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and above average precipitation in previously dry portions of Southern Alberta will benefit many prairie-nesting species this year. The exception is in the Dakotas."
When compared to last year, there will be an extra hooded merganser in the daily bag limit in three eastern flyways. The canvasback and pintail daily bag limit will be one for the entire season. Last years reduction in the daily bag limit to two scaup in the Atlantic, Mississippi and Central Flyways and three in the Pacific Flyway will remain unchanged.
"The scaup population has experienced a significant long-term decline and this years estimate is the lowest on record," said Hall. "The Service is proposing to continue the reduction on the daily bag limit it established last year in all flyways. We may need to consider additional restrictions in the future if the trend continues."
Highlights of the proposed frameworks (states select their season from within the frameworks or the outer limits of season length, bag limits and season beginning and ending date) include:
