August is no longer just about winding down the
fishing season and starting the planning and preparation for upcoming hunting
seasons.
While North Dakota has long had a crow season that got
it’s start in mid-August, it wasn’t until changes several years ago put the
early Canada goose opener into the middle of the month that a significant
season kicked off before Labor Day weekend.
The first early Canada goose season was held in 1999
as a regional effort to help reduce resident Canada goose numbers in North
Dakota. Season dates covered the first few weeks of September, so most of the
harvest took place before other subspecies of Canada geese started to migrate
into the state from Canada.
At first, only
a couple of counties in southeastern North Dakota were part of the early
season, but the open area expanded to the entire state the next year, and the
opening date was moved to mid-August in 2008. The 15
th
of the month has
become somewhat of the standard opener, though lack of harvested crops for
field hunting in some years can limit hunter interest, as can abundant
mosquitoes and late summer heat. But still, the opportunity is there for
hunters who are willing to take on the elements.
2019 Early
Goose Season Details
North Dakota now has three Canada goose hunting zones,
and opening day for early Canada goose is Aug. 15 in all three zones. Closing
dates are Sept. 7 in the Missouri River zone, Sept. 15 in the western zone and
Sept. 20 in the eastern zone.
●Early Canada goose limits are 15 daily and 45 in possession.
●Limits and shooting hours are different from the regular
season, while the zone boundaries remain the same. Shooting hours for early
Canada goose are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset daily.
●Residents need a $5 early Canada goose license and a general
game and habitat license. Also, residents age 16 and older need a small game
license. Nonresidents need only a $50 early Canada goose license, and the
license is valid statewide without counting against the 14-day regular season
license.
●Harvest Information Program certification is required, and
beginning Sept. 1, a federal duck stamp for hunters age 16 and older is also
needed. Those who HIP registered to hunt the spring light goose conservation
order in North Dakota do not have to register with HIP again, as it is required
in each state only once per year.
Waterfowl rest areas, closed to hunting during the
regular season, are open during the early season. Most land in these rest areas
is private, so hunters may need permission to access them.
Hunting of Canada geese in August and early September
is intended to reduce local Canada goose numbers, which remain high. Game and
Fish is attempting to provide additional hunting opportunities that can
increase pressure on locally breeding Canada geese.
For additional
information and regulations
, hunters should refer to the
Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.
