KDFWR Proposes Waterfowl Seasons, Opening Day Change for Spring Turkey Season

Aug 14, 2009


Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission proposed the 2009-2010 waterfowl seasons and elected officers at its quarterly meeting August 14. Commission members also voted to change opening day of the general spring season for turkey.

The Commission recommends all hunting, fishing and boating regulations for approval by the General Assembly and approves all expenditures by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. All recommendations must be approved by legislators before they become law. The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission must place waterfowl seasons within the framework mandated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because all migratory game birds are under federal control.

Waterfowl seasons include:

Ducks, Coots and Mergansers

· Duck season opens November 26, 2009 (Thanksgiving Day) and closes November 29, 2009. The season re-opens December 7, 2009 and closes January 31, 2010.

· The season dates for scaup are now the same as the regular duck season. The daily bag limit for scaup is two birds as part of the six-bird daily duck bag limit.

· Hunters may take one canvasback duck this season daily as part of the six-bird daily duck bag limit.

· Season dates for mergansers and coots are the same as the duck season dates for the 2009-2010 seasons. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, only two of which may be hooded mergansers. The daily limit for coots is 15.



Canada Geese

· Western Goose Zone – November 23, 2009 - January 31, 2010

· Pennyrile-Coalfield Goose Zone (including West-Central Canada Goose subzone) – November 23, 2009 – January 31, 2010

· Eastern Goose Zone – November 23, 2009 – January 31, 2010

· Northeastern Canada Goose Zone – December 26, 2009 - January 3, 2010 and January 19 – 31, 2010

White-fronted Geese
· Statewide – November 23, 2009 – January 31, 2010

Snow Goose

· Regular Season – November 23, 2009 – January 31, 2010

Snow Goose Conservation Order Season

· Eastern Goose Zone: February 1 – March 31, 2010

· Western, Pennyrile-Coalfield and West-Central Goose Zones:

February 1 - 5, 2010; February 8 - March 31, 2010



Youth Waterfowl Season

Eastern Zone:

November 7-8, 2009

Western Zone:

February 6-7, 2010

In other waterfowl-related business, hunters at Sloughs Wildlife Management Area (WMA) may now hunt within 25 yards of designated blinds or blind locations for some full-season draw blinds on the Powell’s Lake, Jenny Hole and Highland Creek tracts. Previously, hunters could only hunt from permanent department blinds.

Beginning with the 2010-2011 waterfowl seasons, waterfowl hunters using the Ohio River Islands WMA in Livingston County must cease hunting and be off the area by 2 p.m.

Mobility-impaired hunters will now be eligible to participate in the mentor waterfowl hunts at Minor Clark Fish Hatchery. They must possess a mobility-impaired access permit obtained from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife prior to the drawing for the hunt and must abide by rules already in place for the mentor waterfowl hunts.

In turkey-related business, the opening of the regular spring turkey season will move to the second Saturday in April. Previously, the regular spring turkey opened on the Saturday closest to April 15. This new opening day will commence for the 2010 spring turkey season. Opening day next year will be April 10. Opening day for the youth turkey season remained unchanged.

In fisheries-related business, the Commission recommended removing the current horsepower restrictions on boat motors on Lake Malone. The 22-foot maximum boat length restriction remains in place. They also established a shoreline use permit for development activities on lakes owned by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. The Commission also modified existing regulations regarding shoreline use at certain department-owned lakes. Existing water access structures and boat docks will be allowed to remain under certain guidelines.

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission also elected officers who will serve until August, 2010. Dale Franklin, 2nd District Commission member, was elected chairman while 9th District Commission Member Taylor Orr was elected vice-chairman. Dr. James Rich, 5th District Commission member, was elected secretary.

The next Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be held at 8 a.m., Friday, December 4, 2009 at #1 Sportsman’s Lane off U.S. 60 in Frankfort. Persons interested in addressing the Commission must notify the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Commissioner’s office in writing at least 30 days in advance to be considered for placement on the meeting agenda. People who are hearing impaired and plan to attend the meeting should contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at least 10 days in advance and the agency will provide a translator. To request to address the commission, write to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601.