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CONCORD, N.H. - The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department will hold a public meeting on proposed season dates and bag limits for the 2017-2018 waterfowl hunting season on March 22 6 p.m., at the N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive in Concord, N.H.
Comments made at the meeting will be considered in finalizing New Hampshire's 2017-2018 waterfowl season dates. If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to provide comments please email them to comments@wildlife.nh.gov and enter "waterfowl season setting" in the subject line. Written comments will be accepted and considered up until March 29, 2017.
This year waterfowl population levels in New Hampshire and in the Atlantic Flyway remain in good shape, however Mallard populations continue to decline in the Atlantic Flyway, according to N.H. Fish and Game Waterfowl Biologist Jessica Carloni. New Hampshire's proposed waterfowl season dates are very similar to last year's. The overall duck season is 60 days, with a bag limit of 6 birds daily. The Canada goose season length and bag limit remain at 70 days, with the daily bag limit of 3 birds.
The most notable difference in bag limits to New Hampshire hunters is the proposed increase in the American black duck bag limit from 1 bird to 2. Since the 1980s, both eastern Canada and eastern U.S. have experienced a decline in the harvest of black ducks, as well as the number of duck hunters. Since the late 1990s, the combined black duck harvest in the two countries has decreased, however during the same time span the black duck population size has been stable providing an opportunity for an increased bag limit.
Following are the proposed waterfowl seasons:
- The proposed Northern Zone season for ducks, mergansers, and coots would open on October 3 and run through December 1, 2017. The Canada goose season would also open on October 3 and run through December 11, 2017.
- The proposed Inland & Connecticut River Zone season for ducks, mergansers, and coots would open on October 3 and run through November 5; then reopen November 22 through December 17, 2017. The Canada goose season would also open on October 3 and run through November 5; then reopen November 22 through December 27, 2017.
- The proposed Coastal Zone season for ducks, mergansers, and coots would open on October 4 and run through October 15; then reopen November 22 through January 8, 2018. The Canada goose season would also open on October 4 and run through October 15; then reopen November 22, 2017 through January 18, 2018.
- The proposed sea duck season would open on November 15, 2017 and run through January 13, 2018.
A map of the waterfowl zones may be viewed at www.huntnh.com/hunting/waterfowl-zones.html.
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