Transcription
2 0 2 0 -2 021 AL ABAMA WATERFOW LHUNTING GUIDEThe Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) is dedicated to improving waterfowl habitat and huntingopportunities on public and private lands throughout Alabama. WFF biologists strive to provide quality waterfowl huntingopportunities on our waterfowl management areas and science-based technical assistance to interested landowners andother entities regarding many aspects of waterfowl management. Waterfowl stewardship activities of WFF biologists alsoinclude conducting annual aerial waterfowl surveys, wood duck banding, and serving on waterfowl Flyway and other nationalcommittees to represent the interests of Alabama waterfowl hunters.WATERFOWL SEASON& BAG LIMITSDUCK, COOT ANDMERGANSER:November 27 - November 28December 5 - January 31GEESE:SPECIAL TEAL: 6 a day, Shooting Hours: One-half hour before Sunrise to SunsetDUCKS: 6 ducks a day and may include no more than 4 Mallards (no more than 2of which can be female), 3 Wood Ducks, 1 Mottled Duck, 2 Black Ducks, 2 Redhead,1 Pintail, 2 Canvasback and 1 Scaup.ALL GEESE: SEPT. 1-30 - The total bag limit of 5 dark geese (Canada, Whitefronted, Brant) can not include more than 1 Brant. Additionally, a total bag limit of5 light geese (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) may be harvested per day.OCT. 10-24, NOV. 27-28, DEC. 5 - JAN. 31September 1 - September 30DARK GEESE: (Canada, White-fronted, Brant) - 5 a Day. The total bag limit of 5shall not include more than 3 Canada Geese or 1 Brant.October 10 - October 24LIGHT GEESE: (Snow, Blue, Ross’s) - The total bag limit shall be 5 a day.November 27 - November 28MERGANSERS: 5 a day, only 2 may be aHooded Merganser.Scan the QR Code to learnCOOT: 15 a day.more information aboutAlabama’s Waterfowl seasonand bag limitsDecember 5 - January 31SPECIAL TEAL SEASON:September 12 - September 27NOTICE: The material in this document is only a summary of Alabama Laws and Regulations relating to the hunting of Migratory Waterfowl.All land in Alabama is posted by law – Hunting is by landowner permission only. Landowner or agent may impose further restrictions.12020-2021 A LA BA MA WATE R FOWL HUN TING GU IDE
SPECIAL YOUTH, VETERAN, & ACTIVEMILITARY PERSONNEL WATERFOWLHUNTING DAYSHUNTING LICENSESRESIDENTAnnual All Game 28.20Small Game 18.70Nov. 21, 2020 & Feb. 6, 2021. The regular waterfowlseason shooting hours, bag limits, and legal arms andammunitions apply to the special days. Individuals mustfollow the listed rules to participate in the scheduledspecial waterfowl hunts:NON-RESIDENTAnnual All Game 325.90Small Game 106.4010-day Trip All Game 201.2510-day Trip Small Game 64.903-day Trip All Game 142.003-day Trip Small Game 47.051. Up to two (2) youth participants must beaccompanied by an adult supervisor. The adultsupervisor is to remain within arm’s length of theyouth at all times.Federal Duck Stamp 27.50State Duck Stamp 11.00WMA License 18.70H.I.P. FREE2. Youth is defined as those individuals who have notreached their sixteenth birthday.3. Adult is defined as those individuals twenty-oneyears old or older or the parent of the youth who arein possession of all valid state hunting licenses andstate and federal waterfowl stamps that are requiredto hunt waterfowl. Possession of the mandatoryhunting licenses and stamps is required.4. Only one firearm will be allowed per youth. Only theyouth hunters will be permitted to utilize the firearmfor hunting. The adult is expected to review witheach youth the rules of firearm safety and hunterethics and to ensure they are followed.5. Veterans & Active Military Personnel must have inpossession a valid proof of service (Military, VA, orVeteran ID Card, or a Copy of Certificate of Releaseor Discharge from Active Duty Form (DD214)).Possession of the mandatory hunting licenses andstamps is required.LEGAL ARMS AND AMMUNITIONFOR HUNTINGLong Bows; Compound Bows; or Crossbows. Shotgunsof 10 gauge or smaller plugged with one-piece filler,incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, soits total capacity does not exceed three shells and usingT size steel shot or smaller or with other U.S. Fish andWildlife Service approved shot and sizes.THE POSSESSION OF LEAD SHOT WHILEHUNTING WATERFOWL IS ILLEGAL.2HARVEST INFORMATION PROGRAMAll licensed waterfowl hunters are required to completea Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey and will beprovided proof of certification with your license. Thecertification is free but must be available for inspectionwhile hunting.REPORT BANDSTo properly manage migratory birds, biologists mustknow migration patterns, harvest and survival rates, andecological processes. Reporting banded bird recoverieswill help provide the needed information. All bandreports are very important. Visit www.reportband.gov toreport a recovery. Your help will greatlybenefit waterfowl.HUNTING TIMES FOR DUCK, COOT,MERGANSER, AND GOOSEThat area north of Highway 90 (Battleship Parkway), westof Alabama Highway 225, south of CSX Railroad tracks,and east of the west bank of the Mobile River, shootingdays and hours shall be: Monday and Tuesday: Closed to Waterfowl Hunting Wednesday through Sunday: Shooting Hours shall beone-half hour before sunrise to 1:00 P.M.2020-2021 A LA BA MA WATE R FOWL HUN TING GU IDE
Notice: That area of the Mobile-Tensaw Deltaencompassed by Interstate 10 from the intersection ofHighway 90 (Mobile Causeway), East to the westernchannel of the Apalachee River as marked by boundarysigns, North to the intersection of Highway 90 (MobileCauseway), West along Highway 90crippled shall be retrieved, if possible, and retained in thecustody of the hunter in the field.(Mobile Causeway) to the intersection of Interstate 10depicts the Apalachee Refuge boundaries and is closedto hunting and the operation of all gas-powered motorsfrom November 14, 2020 through February 13, 2021.1.The hunter’s signature.2.The hunter’s address.3.The total number of birds involved, by species.That area of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta known as BigBateau Bay and Bay Grass shall be closed to the operationof all gas-powered motors from November 14, 2020through February 13, 2021.4.The dates such birds were killed.Notice: Corp. of Engineers lands and waters in Pickens,Greene, and Sumter: shooting hours as stated onACOE permits.Remainder of the State: Shooting hours shall be fromone-half hour before sunrise to sunset each day. Statelaws and regulations that are the same as Federalrules shown are NOT relisted.SUMMARY OF FEDERAL REGULATIONSRELATING TO THE TAKING OFMIGRATORY BIRDSIn addition to State regulations, the following Federalrules apply to the taking, possession, shipping,transporting, and storing of migratory game birds.Notice: The material below is only a summary. Eachhunter should also consult the actual Code of FederalRegulations (CFR Title 50), which may be accessed at:www.ecfr.govA reader friendly overview of waterfowl hunting andbaiting is available at:www.fws.gov/le/HuntFish/waterfowl baiting.htmShooting or Hawking Hours: No person shall takemigratory game birds except during the dates and hoursopen to shooting or hawking as prescribed.Daily Bag Limit: The number birds of each species thatany person may take or possess in the field during anyone day.Possession Limit: The possession limit is three times thedaily bag limit for all waterfowl species. The possessionlimit is the number of birds that any person may possessin total at home or in storage.Wanton Waste: All migratory game birds killed or3Tagging: No person shall give, put or leave anymigratory game birds at any place or in the custody ofanother person unless the birds are tagged by the hunterwith the following information:No person or business shall receive or have incustody any migratory game birds belonging toanother person unless such birds areproperly tagged.Possession of Live Birds: Wounded birds reduced topossession shall be immediately killed and included in thedaily bag limit.Dressing: No person shall completely field dress anymigratory game bird (except doves and band-tailedpigeons) and then transport the birds from the field. Thehead or one fully feathered wing must remain attachedto all such birds while being transported from the field toone’s home or to a commercial preservation facility.Shipment: No person shall ship migratory game birdsunless the package is marked on the outside with: (a) thename and address of the person sending the birds, (b)the name and address of the person to whom the birdsare being sent, and (c) the number of birds, by species,contained in the package.Harvest Information Program: All licensed waterfowlhunters are required to complete a Harvest InformationProgram (HIP) survey and will be provided proof ofcertification with your license. The certification is free butmust be available for inspection while hunting.Importation: For information regarding the importationof migratory birds killed in another country, huntersshould consult 50 CFR 20.61 through 20.66. One fullyfeathered wing must remain attached to all migratorygame birds being transported between a port of entryand one’s home or to a migratory bird preservationfacility. No person shall import migratory game birdskilled in any foreign country, except Canada, unless suchbirds are dressed (except as required above), drawn, andthe head and feet are removed. No person shall importmigratory game birds belonging toanother person.2020-2021 A LA BA MA WATE R FOWL HUN TING GU IDE
Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp:The law requires that each waterfowl hunter 16 yearsof age and over must carry on his person a valid FederalMigratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or duckstamp, signed in ink across the face.confined within an enclosure which substantiallyreduces the audibility of their calls and totallyconceals such tame birds from the sight ofmigratory waterfowl. Using records or tapes of migratory bird calls orsounds, or electrically amplified limitations ofbird calls. By driving, rallying, or chasing birds with anymotorized conveyance or any sailboat to put them inthe range of the hunters. By the aid of baiting (placing feed such as corn,wheat, salt, or other feed to constitute a lure orenticement) or on or over any baited area. Huntersshould be aware that a baited area is considered tobe baited for 10 days after the removal of the bait,and it is not necessary for the hunter to know anarea is baited to be in violation.Dual Violation: Violation of State migratory birdregulations is also a violation of Federal regulations.CAUTION: More restrictive regulations may apply toNational Wildlife Refuges open to public hunting. Foradditional information on Federal regulations, contactSenior Resident Agent, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,Division of Law Enforcement, 1208 E Main St, Daphne,AL 36526. Telephone: (251) 441-5787. Governmententities who would like to discuss potential boatingaccess projects, partnerships, or eligibility requirementsregarding Alabama’s Boating Access Program should callthe WFF Fisheries Section at 334-242-3471RESTRICTIONS: (NO PERSON SHALL TAKEMIGRATORY GAME BIRDS) With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun,shotgun larger than 10-gauge, punt gun, batterygun, machine gun, fishhook, poison, drug, explosive,or stupefying substance. With a shotgun capable of holding more than threeshells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece fillerwhich is incapable of removal without disassemblingthe gun. From a sink box (a low floating device, havinga depression affording the hunter a means ofconcealment beneath the surface of the water). From or with the aid or use of a car or other motordriven land conveyance, or any aircraft, exceptthat paraplegics and single or double amputeesof the legs may take from any stationary motorvehicle or stationary motor-driven land conveyance.“Paraplegic” means an individual afflicted withparalysis of the lower half of the body withinvolvement of both legs, usually due to disease of orinjury to the spinal cord. From or by means of any motorboat or sailboatunless the motor has been completely shut off and/orthe sail furled, and its progress therefrom has ceased. By the use or aid of live decoys. All live, tame orcaptive ducks and geese shall be removed for aperiod of 10 consecutive days prior to hunting, and4ALABAMA DIVISION OF WILDLIFEAND FRESHWATER FISHERIESThe Department of Conservation and NaturalResources does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion,age, sex, national origin, disability, pregnancy, genetic information orveteran status in its hiring or employment practices nor in admissionto, access to, or operations of its programs,services, or activities.For more information, visit: www.outdooralabama.com2020-2021 A LA BA MA WATE R FOWL HUN TING GU IDE
MOBILE-TENSAW DELTAWATERFOWL MANAGEMENT ZONEBAYGRASSWaterfowl Management Zone*Shooting Days and Hours within the StateRegular Waterfowl Season in this Zone shall be:Monday & Tuesday: ClosedWednesday-Sunday: 30 minutes before sunrise to 1:00pm.* For Special Early Teal & Goose Season shooting days and hoursshall be Mon-Sun, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.Big Bateau Bay & Bay GrassOperation of Gasoline-Powered Motors is Prohibited from the2nd Saturday in November through the 2nd Saturday in February.Shooting times and days as stated for Zone above.Apalachee Refuge “NO HUNTING”Operation of Gasoline-Powered Motors is Prohibited from the2nd Saturday in November through the 2nd Saturday in February.52020-2021 A LA BA MA WATE R FOWL HUN TING GU IDE
certification is free but must be available for inspection while hunting. REPORT BANDS To properly manage migratory birds, biologists must know migration patterns, harvest and survival rates, and ecological processes. Reporting banded bird recoveries will help provide the
