2018 Season
Jersey just approved their season. Here is a look at what they took, which gives us a glimpse into what we can expect (60/6)...
The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife recently finalized the selection of the state's 2018-19 migratory bird hunting season regulations.
Highlights of the report:
The pintail daily bag limit was increased to 2 birds.
The black duck daily bag limit will remain at 2 birds, similar to last year.
The season for woodcock will be longer than previous years since states like New Jersey with statutory Sunday hunting closures were given compensatory days by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
This year is the third year for the new federal regulatory process where migratory bird season dates are set earlier in the year.
Each year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service develops migratory bird hunting regulations with input and consultation with the Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific Flyway Councils. The Flyway Councils are comprised of representatives from state and provincial wildlife agencies that work with the Service to cooperatively manage North America's migratory bird populations.
During the annual regulatory cycle, biologists gather, analyze, and interpret biological survey data and provide this information through published status and administrative reports.
To determine the appropriate frameworks for each species, biologists consider factors such as population size and trend, geographical distribution, annual breeding effort, the condition of breeding and wintering habitat, the number of hunters, and the anticipated harvest.
Duck hunting
In Atlantic Flyway states including New Jersey, liberal duck hunting season frameworks include a 60-day season with a 6-duck bag limit. New Jersey has had 60-day duck seasons since 1997.
New Jersey is an important migration and wintering area for American black ducks which are often referred to as the "bread and butter" duck of salt marsh hunters.
The 2-bird bag will remain for 2018.
Three developments led to this change:
Both eastern Canada and the eastern U.S. have seen the number of duck hunters decline since the 1980s, as well as the harvest of black ducks.
Due to the implementation of surveys in the 1990s, wildlife managers have much better biological information on black ducks than they had during the first 20 years of restrictive black duck bag limits. These monitoring data suggest the black duck population is stable.
The biological data now available has enabled biologists to construct a black duck population model that is the basis for an International Black Duck Harvest Strategy.
This year, the daily bag limit in New Jersey will be 6 ducks in aggregate and may not include more than 4 mallards (including no more than 2 hens), 4 scoters (in aggregate), 4 long-tailed ducks, 4 eiders, 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, and 2 pintails.
The pintail bag limit was increased due to the improved status of pintails and as directed by the Adaptive Harvest Management Strategy adopted by all 4 flyways for pintail harvest management. The bag limit is 6 ducks for all other duck species. Merganser bag limits will remain at 5 birds per day with no more than 2 hooded mergansers. Merganser bag limits are in addition to regular duck bag limits.
For the second straight year and at the request of sportsmen, the second duck season segment (split) in both the North and South Zones will begin later in November and end later in January this year.
In addition, the second split in the Coastal Zone will open Thanksgiving Day and run to the end of the Federal season date framework (last Sunday in January).
The remaining three days will be held around the Veterans Day holiday. Given New Jersey's zoning alignment, and 2018-19 season selections, duck hunters who are willing to travel across zone boundaries can hunt 80 different days, including 15 different Saturdays, during the 60-day duck season.
Canada geese
The "regular" Canada goose season in New Jersey's North and South Zones is based on the status of Atlantic Population Canada geese, which nest on the Ungava Peninsula of northern Quebec. The breeding population has been stable for the past 10 years so the "regular" Canada goose season will remain the same as the past five years with a 50-day season and three-bird bag limit in the North and South Zones.
Resident population zones can have more liberal goose hunting seasons (80 days with 5-bird bag) than migrant population zones. Resident population canada geese are overabundant throughout most of the United States and cause significant damage problems.
As a result, additional hunting methods including the use of electronic calls, unplugged shotguns, extended hunting hours, and liberal bag limits are allowed during September hunting seasons. September seasons target resident population geese since very few Atlantic Population or migrant geese arrive in New Jersey prior to October.
These special regulations only apply to the September Canada goose season (Sept. 1 to 29). Hunters that choose to use unplugged guns during the September Canada goose season are reminded to reinstall magazine plugs before pursuing other game species.
Given the importance of New Jersey to Atlantic brant ecology, the Division of Fish and Wildlife recently kicked-off a five-year collaborative Atlantic brant study with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Canadian Wildlife Service.
During the next two years, crews will be banding brant with various markers to answer several questions on brant ecology.
Light geese
Greater and lesser snow geese as well as Ross's geese are collectively referred to as "light" geese. Light goose populations remain high and biologists are concerned about the impacts light geese have on fragile Arctic nesting habitats.
Serious damage to Arctic wetlands has already been documented in several key light goose breeding colonies. This damage impacts the light geese themselves, as well as other wildlife dependent on the Arctic ecosystem. Serious damage to agriculture also occurs in migration and wintering areas. Due to this overabundance, the Service is expected to again implement a Conservation Order (CO).
A CO is a special management action, authorized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that is needed to control certain wildlife populations when traditional management programs are unsuccessful in preventing overabundance of that population.
The CO allows an extended time period outside of traditional hunting seasons as well as additional methods for taking light geese without bag limits. The intent of the CO is to reduce and/or stabilize North American light goose populations that are above population objectives.
Due to the current large population size, the hunting season length for light geese will be the maximum allowed under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (107 days) with liberal bag limits of 25 light geese per day with no possession limit.
In addition, a CO implemented in the spring will allow hunters to pursue light geese for the duration of the migration and wintering period. During the CO, special regulations will be allowed including the use of electronic calls, shotguns capable of holding up to 7 shells, extended shooting hours, and no bag limits.
Youth hunting
Since 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have allowed states to hold Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days on non-school days when youths have an opportunity to participate. Youth Days are held when waterfowl seasons are closed to the general hunting public.
The objective of Youth Days is to introduce young hunters to the concepts of ethical use and stewardship of waterfowl, encourage youngsters and adults to experience the outdoors together, and to contribute to the long-term conservation of the migratory bird resource.
Youth Days are a unique educational opportunity, above and beyond the regular season, which helps ensure high-quality learning experiences for youth interested in hunting.
New Jersey will hold two Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days in each zone. Each zone will have a youth day prior to the opening of the first split of the duck season (October or November) as well as an "end-loaded" Youth Day in February. Mentors willing to travel across zones could potentially take youths on five different hunting days.
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Originally Posted by gooseaholic
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