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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Idaho sets migratory bird hunting seasons

A flying flock of teal – bluewing or cinnamon – photographed by Steve Jamsa of Bonners Ferry is the grand prize runner-up in the 2014 Ducks Unlimited photo contest.
A flying flock of teal – bluewing or cinnamon – photographed by Steve Jamsa of Bonners Ferry is the grand prize runner-up in the 2014 Ducks Unlimited photo contest.

HUNTING -- The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has approved seasons and limits for all ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, doves, and crows for 2016.

A new process and schedule, established in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was used this year. It allows all migratory game bird hunting seasons and rules to be set earlier than in the past.

Hunters will have more time to plan their hunts, and hunting seasons and rules for all ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, doves, and crows will be available in the same Idaho brochure.

Following are the seasons and information from the state Fish and Game Department

Ducks and Geese

Waterfowl seasons will be similar to last year, except seasons in northern and eastern Idaho will begin two weeks earlier than last year to allow hunting opportunities prior to wetlands freezing. Overall, hunters will enjoy a 105 day season for ducks and Canada geese with a 2-day youth hunt scheduled statewide on September 24 and 25. 

The daily bag limit will be seven ducks; but not more than two female mallards, three scaup, two redheads, two pintails, or two canvasback. 

The daily bag limit will be four Canada geese, except in a portion of southeast Idaho where the daily limit will be five from September 1 – 15th; 10 white-fronted geese; and 20 for light geese (Snow and Ross’s geese).  The possession limit will be three times the daily bag limit. 

Waterfowl season opening and closing dates vary by different management zones of the state.

Sandhill Crane

Fish and Game increased tag numbers to a total of 465 tags, extended the season length in some hunt areas, and closed a small section of the Jefferson County Hunt Area. The daily limit is two birds for all hunts, and the season limit is two birds for each hunter. Sandhill crane tags will be made available on a first-come first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. (MDT) August 1 at all license vendors.

Dove

The dove season will run September 1 to October 30 statewide, with a daily bag limit of 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate.

Crow

The season for American crows is October 1 to January 31 statewide, with no daily bag limit.   

The 2016-2017 Migratory Game Bird Seasons and Rules brochure, which now includes waterfowl, sandhill crane, dove and crow season information, will be available online by early July and at all license vendors by late July.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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