FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(June 1, 2016) – Waterfowl hunters in Georgia can do something in May that they formerly were not able to – make season hunting plans. Thanks to a new earlier approval process by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, migratory bird season hunting dates and regulations were approved for the 2016-17 season by the Board of Natural Resources.

“The 2016-17 migratory bird hunting season will remain similar to previous years, including an early teal hunting season and special youth hunting days,” said Greg Balkcom, state waterfowl biologist for the Wildlife Resources Division. “There is one noteworthy change this year, and it affects sea duck hunters who hunt offshore. The daily bag limit for sea ducks has been reduced to five and can include no more than four scoters, four eiders, or four long-tailed ducks.”

Some need-to-know dates and details for waterfowl season are the September Canada goose season (Sept. 3-25) and the September teal season (Sept. 10-25). Canada goose hunting has three additional seasons: Oct. 8-23, Nov. 19–27 and Dec. 10 – Jan. 29. Hunting season for ducks is Nov. 19-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29. A complete summary of migratory bird hunting season dates and bag limits is online at www.georgiawildlife.com/hunting/regulations .