State waterfowl seasons open Oct. 8 in most areas
By Maureen Angel

2005-2006 Migratory Bird Seasons, Limits and Regulations

Nevada's waterfowl seasons for ducks, coots, moorhens and snipe were set by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners during their Aug. 5 meeting in Reno. Waterfowl hunters will have nearly four months to pursue their sport.

Most migratory bird seasons will open Oct. 8 across the state. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunters are advised to remember that sunrise and sunset are legal times - check the local newspaper for the region where you are hunting. In addition, sunrise/sunset tables for most regions of Nevada can be found on pages 57-62 in NDOW's 2005 Nevada Hunt Book. Copies of the Hunt Book are available at all NDOW offices, authorized license agents and on the web at www.ndow.org.

Ducks and mergansers: In Northern Nevada, the general duck season will run Oct. 8-Jan. 21, in all counties except Lincoln and Clark. Canvasback duck season will be Oct. 8-Dec. 6. The daily/bag limits for ducks are the same as last year, with the daily limit of seven and possession limit of 14. As in the past the combined daily limits have restrictions - including not more than two hen mallards, one pintail, three scaup and two redheads.

A special youth waterfowl hunt day was set for Sept. 24. This hunt is for hunters 15-years-old or younger - residents and non-residents alike. Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18-years-old. Persons 16 years of age or older are not allowed to hunt during this season.

The combined daily limit for the youth hunt on all ducks is seven, including not more than two hen mallards, one pintail, one canvasback, three scaup and two redheads. Limits singly or in the aggregate for coots and moorhens. Limits singly or in the aggregate for Canada, white-fronted geese as well as snow and Ross' geese.

This hunt is the opportune time to introduce youth to the wonderful world of waterfowl hunting.

Coots and common moorhens: Northern Nevada's season will run Oct. 8-Jan. 21, in all counties except Clark and Lincoln. The daily/possession limit is 25/25.

Canada and white-fronted geese season will run from Oct. 22 - Jan. 29, in Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, EIko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe (except Washoe Valley) and White Pine Counties. In Washoe Valley, the season will run Oct. 22-Jan. 8. The daily/possession limit is three/six.

Snow and Ross' geese season will run Oct. 22-Jan. 29, statewide, with season/bag limit of four/eight. Hunting for Snow and Ross' geese is closed in the Ruby Valley area within Elko and White Pine counties.

Swan season will be Oct. 22-Jan. 8, and is open in Churchill, Lyon and Pershing counties only. As in past years, persons possessing a valid Nevada hunting license (nonresident short-term permits not valid) and a current federal migratory game bird hunting stamp, and a current Nevada state duck stamp (when required), may apply for one of the 650 swan tags. Applications for swan must be mailed through a postal service to the address listed on the application, or may be submitted online through the Internet at www.ndow.org, and must be received by 5 p.m. on Sept 16. Draw results will be provided by Oct. 7. Any remaining tags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through the mail, or over the counter during normal business hours Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. at the Wildlife Administrative Services Offices, 185 North Maine St., Fallon.

Any remaining swan tags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through the mail or over the counter during normal business hours (M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) at the Wildlife Administrative Services Office, 185 North Maine St. Fallon. Applications are available at all Department of Wildlife offices and select license agents, or can be downloaded from www.ndow.org.

If a harvest of five trumpeter swans is reached, the swan season is closed for the remainder of the season.

Successful swan hunters are required to have their tag and swan validated within five days of harvest at selected sites. Mandatory validation requirements and validation sites will be provided with swan tags.

Common Snipe: The season will be open Oct. 8- Jan. 21, in Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, EIko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe and White Pine Counties. The daily/possession limit is eight/16.

A Nevada state duck stamp ($10) is required for any person ages 12 and older who hunts migratory birds, except mourning or white-winged dove, snipe, coot or moorhen. A federal migratory game bird hunting stamp ($16 at NDOW offices) is required for any person 16 or older who hunts any migratory waterfowl.

Shotguns must be plugged to limit overall shell capacity to three. Migratory bird hunters 12 years or older who plan to hunt any kind of migratory bird - ducks, geese, swans, coot, dove, snipe, orgallinules - need to obtain a "HIP" (Harvest Information Program) number annually prior to hunting migratory birds. The validation number is free and can be obtained by calling 1-866-703-4605, or on the Internet at www.ndow.org, under the "Hunting, Waterfowl & Migratory Birds," section.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting the nationwide harvest survey to better understand the impact of hunting on these wildlife resources. Some migratory bird hunters may be surveyed to collect harvest information.

Waterfowl regulation brochures will be available at NDOW offices and license agents statewide in September. All migratory game bird seasons are open to nonresidents