WATERFOWL SEASON MEETING SET FOR AUGUST 28
CONCORD, N.H. - The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public meeting on proposed season dates and bag limits for the 2007 waterfowl hunting season on Tuesday, August 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Fish and Game headquarters on Hazen Drive in Concord. Comments at the meeting will be considered in finalizing New Hampshire's 2007 waterfowl season dates.
"Across the continental, duck populations had a good year for most species, so liberal seasons will be allowed again this year," said Edward Robinson, a waterfowl biologist with N.H. Fish and Game. "Migrant Canada goose populations continue to do well, but a late spring in the Arctic will result in below-average production, so seasons will stay the same as last year."
Robinson noted that in New Hampshire, Fish and Game's spring surveys showed good numbers of breeding mallards, wood ducks and Canada geese. The breeding number of black ducks was at an all-time low. Waterfowl production is anticipated to be average or slightly below average this year because of heavy rain and cool temperatures that occurred during the hatch, especially in southern areas.
New Hampshire's proposed waterfowl season is very much like last year's. N.H. Fish and Game is proposing a 60-day duck season with a six-bird daily limit for the 2007 season. Fish and Game also recommends continuing split seasons, including both ducks and Canada geese, in both the inland and coastal zones to allow early and late hunting opportunities:
* The Inland Zone season (ducks, mergansers, coots, Canada geese) would open on October 3 and run through November 11; then reopen from November 21 through December 10.
* The Coastal Zone season would open on October 4 and run through October 14; then reopen November 21 through January 8.
* Proposed bag limits will include: mallards - 4; wood ducks - 2; Canada geese - 2; hooded mergansers - 2; black ducks - 1; as well as other species restrictions.
