spectr17
10-23-2002, 10:38 PM
Jim Matthews Column
10/23/02
KERN WATERFOWL OPENER: The complex waterfowl regulations this year are going to make it difficult to keep track of areas that are open, which are closed, and what species can be taken. The forecast for a poor fall flight is also disheartening. That said there are still a lot of waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway. The opening weekend at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge proves that. There were 92 hunters this past Saturday who shot 384 ducks for a 4.17 average. The bulk of the bag was greenwing teal at 150, but there were also 42 pintail and 30 mallards in the bag.
The season in this area, the Southern San Joaquin Zone, opened this past Saturday for ducks and continues through Nov. 3. Duck season will then close until Nov. 23 and then remain open until Jan. 26. Goose season in this area opens Nov. 2 and runs continuously through Jan. 26. Confused? In the Southern California zone, the goose season opened Saturday, but duck season doesn't open until Nov. 2. For the Colorado River zone, the season for both ducks and geese opened Oct. 18, while the Balance of State Zone opens for ducks on Oct. 26, and the goose opener is Nov. 2. More confused? Don't forget that canvasback can not be taken at all this year, and the pintail seasons are reduced in all zones and do not follow the same framework as general duck seasons.
Waterfowl hunters really need to get copies of the regulations and study them carefully this year. Very carefully.
10/23/02
KERN WATERFOWL OPENER: The complex waterfowl regulations this year are going to make it difficult to keep track of areas that are open, which are closed, and what species can be taken. The forecast for a poor fall flight is also disheartening. That said there are still a lot of waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway. The opening weekend at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge proves that. There were 92 hunters this past Saturday who shot 384 ducks for a 4.17 average. The bulk of the bag was greenwing teal at 150, but there were also 42 pintail and 30 mallards in the bag.
The season in this area, the Southern San Joaquin Zone, opened this past Saturday for ducks and continues through Nov. 3. Duck season will then close until Nov. 23 and then remain open until Jan. 26. Goose season in this area opens Nov. 2 and runs continuously through Jan. 26. Confused? In the Southern California zone, the goose season opened Saturday, but duck season doesn't open until Nov. 2. For the Colorado River zone, the season for both ducks and geese opened Oct. 18, while the Balance of State Zone opens for ducks on Oct. 26, and the goose opener is Nov. 2. More confused? Don't forget that canvasback can not be taken at all this year, and the pintail seasons are reduced in all zones and do not follow the same framework as general duck seasons.
Waterfowl hunters really need to get copies of the regulations and study them carefully this year. Very carefully.