Duck hunting regulations are established by a collaborative partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the flyways, and the states. The USFWS provides the framework which outlines the season length and bag limits based on harvest management models. From there the states have the flexibility to develop their seasons within those frameworks and rely heavily on feedback from hunters in creating the seasons and zones, splits, etc.
As it relates to seven days hunting there will be no loss of days. The USFWS will recommend a regular duck season; [60 days in the Atlantic Flyway for 2019-20] the duck season will be 60 days no longer and no shorter. Some folks seem to infer that the compensatory days afforded to states with Sunday closures are additional days, they are not. Under current regulations, 60 days is and will be 60 days.
Also, some folks have expressed concern that seven-day hunting will eliminate late season duck hunting opportunities. I would make the case that it does not. If hunters in a particular zone prefer late season hunting [until Jan 31 for ducks] the state can certainly accommodate that by providing longer splits between seasons, having later opening days, etc.
As is always the case, hunters and the commission will need to work together to find the right season structure for the state’s and the zone’s hunted. But Sunday hunting will not impede the commission and the hunter's ability to have late seasons.
Hope this clarifies a few things…..
////Signed////
Chris R. Williams
Senior Regional Director
Delta Waterfowl Foundation
Read Delta Waterfowl Letter
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