Published: September 14, 2006 04:38 pm      

FWC sets dates for dove, duck seasons

Sumbitted — Submitted

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently announced the hunting season dates for dove, snipe, woodcock, crow, early duck, goose, rail and common moorhen.

Hunters may take mourning and white-winged doves during three hunting periods statewide. The first phase runs Oct. 7-30, second phase is Nov. 11-26 and third phase runs Dec. 9-Jan. 7, 2007. Shooting hours for the first phase are noon to sunset. During the second and third phases, shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The daily bag limit on doves is 12.

Snipe season is Nov. 1-Feb. 15, 2007 statewide, and the daily bag limit on snipe is eight. Woodcock are legal to take statewide Dec. 16-Jan. 14, 2007, and the daily bag limit is three.

Crows are legal game statewide on Saturdays and Sundays only through Oct. 29, then every day Nov. 11-Feb. 18, 2007. There are no bag or possession limits on crows.

The special September duck season for wood ducks and teal runs Sept. 23-27 statewide. Hunters may take four ducks per day, only two of which may be wood ducks.

Canada goose, which is already in season in the Florida waters of Lake Seminole in Jackson County, runs through Sept. 27. Hunters may take five Canada geese per day.

Rail and common moorhen hunting, which is already in progress, runs through Nov. 9 statewide.

The daily bag limit is 15 clapper and king rails, 25 sora and Virginia rails and 15 common moorhens. There is no open season for purple gallinules.

Shooting hours for snipe, woodcock, crows, ducks, geese, rails and moorhens are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

In addition to a hunting license, a migratory bird permit also is required when taking migratory game birds in Florida. In order to receive the no-cost permit, hunters must answer a few questions regarding last season when purchasing their hunting license. The compiled information provides the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service a better assessment on how many birds are harvested each year.

The FWC recommends hunters obtain the "2006-2007 Migratory Bird Regulations for Dove, Snipe, Woodcock, Rail, Moorhen, Crow and Early Waterfowl Seasons" brochure and the "2006-2007 Florida Hunting Regulations" handbook at MyFWC.com/hunting. These publications also are available from county tax collectors' offices, license agents or at MyFWC.com/hunting.