The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed a continued liberal hunting season for the upcoming waterfowl seasons. According to the USFWS’s “Trends in Duck Breeding Populations” report, duck populations remain robust for the upcoming season. Although the report indicates a 6 percent decline in breeding ducks from the previous year, overall numbers remain significantly above historical averages. The USFWS estimates approximately 45.6 million breeding ducks in the surveyed areas of North America, nearly 33 percent higher than the long-term average of 34.3 million. Experts anticipate a favorable hunting season, but local environmental conditions can significantly impact success.

“Given favorable numbers, most would speculate that the fall certainly seems promising,” stated Ducks Unlimited Chief Scientist Dale Humburg. “…With the hunting season a few months away, many factors can influence local hunting opportunities. Weather conditions and timing of hunts can play crucial roles.”

Habitat conditions have shown slight improvement compared to last year, with late spring rains benefiting the nation’s wetlands. The USFWS now estimates pond numbers in the U.S. to be 41 percent higher than in the previous year. Proposed regulations may allow duck and geese possession limits to reach three times the daily bag limit, an increase from the previous two times the daily limit.

Details regarding individual states from the Mississippi Flyway are outlined below:

Mississippi Flyway (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin):

• Ducks: A proposed hunting season of no more than 60 days between September 21, 2013, and January 26, 2014. The proposed daily bag limit is 6 and may include no more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 3 wood ducks, 1 mottled duck, 2 redheads, 3 scaup, 2 pintails, 1 black duck, and 2 canvasbacks. The proposed daily bag limit for mergansers is 5, with only 2 being hooded mergansers. In states that include mergansers in the duck bag limit, the daily limit aligns with the duck bag limit, allowing only 2 hooded mergansers.
• Geese: Canada goose seasons are generally proposed between September 21, 2013, and January 31, 2014, varying in length among states and areas. States may select seasons for light geese not to exceed 107 days with a daily limit of 20 geese between September 21, 2013, and March 10, 2014. For white-fronted geese, the proposed season would not exceed 74 days with a 2-bird daily bag limit or 88 days with a 1-bird daily bag limit between September 21, 2013, and February 16, 2014. For brant, the limit would not exceed 70 days with a 2-bird daily bag limit or 107 days with a 1-bird daily bag limit between September 21, 2013, and January 31, 2014.

Many states are also adopting the 6-bird limit for the early teal season. It is advisable to check state regulations before hunting.