Date: 08/31/09
Contact: Aaron Meier
Phone: (775) 688-1998

COMMISSION APPROVES CHANGES TO MIGRATORY BIRD SEASONS

With migratory bird season just around the corner, hunters are reminded to check the season dates and harvest limits recently set by the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners.

The most important change to take notice of this season is that duck season has been moved from the second Saturday in October to a week later on Saturday, October 17. Season dates for ducks and mergansers will now run from Oct. 17, 2009 – Jan. 30, 2010 in the Northern Zone (all counties except Lincoln and Clark) and Oct. 17, 2009 – Jan. 29, 2010 in the Southern Zone (Lincoln and Clark counties except the Moapa Valley portion of the Overton Wildlife Management Area). The season in the Moapa Valley portion of the Overton WMA is set for Oct. 31, 2009 – Jan. 29, 2010. Scaup season is set for Nov. 7, 2009 – Jan. 30, 2010 in the Northern Region and Nov. 7, 2009 – Jan. 29, 2010 in the Southern Region.

“The sporting public that attended our waterfowl summits in Las Vegas and Stillwater expressed their desire to have the season as late as possible,” said Craig Mortimore, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) game biologist. “The other major change this year is that swan and geese seasons will now open on the same day as duck season in an effort to simplify the regulations. Traditionally they have opened one or two weeks later.”

Swan season is now scheduled to open Oct. 17, 2009 and run through January 3, 2010 in Churchill, Lyon and Pershing counties. The application for a Nevada Swan Permit is available online on the NDOW website at www.ndow.org/hunt/apps.

Common snipe and coots and common moorhen seasons match the duck seasons exactly running Oct. 17, 2009 – Jan. 30, 2010 in the Northern Zone, Oct. 17, 2009 – Jan. 29, 2010 in the Southern Zone, and Oct. 31, 2009 – Jan. 29, 2010 in the Moapa Valley portion of the Overton WMA. Sticking with the duck opener, Canada and white fronted geese, snow and Ross’ geese and the falconry seasons for migratory game birds all run Oct. 17, 2009 – Jan. 30, 2010 in the Northern Zone and Oct. 17, 2009 – Jan. 29, 2010 in the Southern Zone. Mourning and white-wing dove season is set for Sept. 1-30, 2009.

The youth waterfowl hunt seasons will be Oct. 3, 2009 in the Northern Zone and February 13-14, 2010 in the Southern Zone. Hunters must be 15-years-old or younger to participate in the youth hunt and be accompanied by an adult.

All migratory game bird seasons are open to nonresidents and hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.