301 KAR 2:221reg. Waterfowl seasons and limits

      Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Dark goose" means a Canada goose, white-fronted goose, or brant.

      (2) "Light Goose" means a snow goose or Ross's goose.

      (3) "Light Goose Conservation Order" is defined by 50 C.F.R. 21.60

      (4) "Waterfowl" is defined by KRS 150.010(40).

 

      Section 2. (1) Except as established in 301 KAR 2:222, 2:225, or 2:226, a person shall not hunt waterfowl except during the seasons established in this administrative regulation.

      (2) Hunting zones, special hunt areas and reporting areas are established in 301 KAR 2:224.

 

      Section 3. Season Dates. (1) The duck, coot, and merganser[. The] season shall:

      (a) Begin on Thanksgiving Day for four (4) consecutive days; and

      (b) Be for fifty-six (56) consecutive days ending on the last Sunday in January of the following year.

      (2) Canada goose.

      (a) In the Eastern, Pennyrile, and Western Goose Zones, the season shall be from[begin on] Thanksgiving Day through February 15[and continue until January 31].

      (b) In the Northeast Goose Zone, the season shall be from[begin on] the third Saturday in December through[and continue until] January 31.

      (3) The white-fronted goose and brant[. The] season shall be from[begin on] Thanksgiving Day through February 15[and continue until January 31].

      (4) The light goose[. The] season shall be from[begin on] Thanksgiving Day through February 15[and continue until January 31].

      (5) The Light Goose Conservation Order season shall be from February 16 through March 31.[(a) In the Western Duck Zone, the season shall be from February 1 through March 31, except:

      1. The season shall be closed during the first full weekend in February; and

      2. Youth hunters may hunt during the first full weekend in February pursuant to 301 KAR 2:226.

      (b) In the Eastern Duck Zone, the season shall be from February 1 through March 31.]

      (6) A person shall not hunt a light or dark goose in:

      (a) The areas of Laurel River Lake as posted by sign; or

      (b) Cave Run Lake and the public land inside the boundary formed by Highways 801, 1274, 36, 211, US 60, and Highway 826.

 

      Section 4. Ballard Zone. (1) In the Ballard Zone that is established in 301 KAR 2:224,[:

      (1)] a person hunting waterfowl shall:

      (a) Hunt from a blind unless hunting in flooded, standing timber;

      (b) Not hunt from or establish a blind:

      1. Within 100 yards of another blind; or

      2. Within fifty (50) yards of a property line; and

      (c) Not possess more than one (1) shotgun while in a blind.

      (2) The requirements of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply if the Light Goose Conservation Order, as established in 301 KAR 2:221, is the only waterfowl season open, excluding falconry seasons.

 

      Section 5. Bag and Possession Limits. (1) Ducks. The daily limit shall be six (6), which shall not include more than:

      (a) Four (4) mallards;

      (b) Two (2) hen mallards;

      (c) Three (3) wood ducks;

      (d) One (1) black duck;

      (e) Two (2) redheads;

      (f) Two (2) pintails;

      (g) Three (3) scaup;

      (h) One (1) mottled duck; or

      (i) Two (2) canvasback.

      (2) Coot. The daily limit shall be fifteen (15).

      (3) Merganser. The daily limit shall be five (5), which shall not include more than two (2) hooded mergansers.

      (4) Dark goose. The daily limit shall be five (5), which shall not include more than:

      (a) Three (3) Canada geese;

      (b) Two (2) white-fronted geese; or

      (c) One (1) brant.

      (5) Light goose. The daily limit shall be twenty (20), except that there shall not be a limit during the Light Goose Conservation Order season.

      (6) The possession limit shall be triple the daily limit, except that there shall not be a light goose possession limit.

 

      Section 6. Shooting Hours. A person shall not hunt waterfowl except from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise until:

      (1) Sunset, except as established in 301 KAR 2:222; or

      (2) One-half (1/2) hour after sunset if hunting light goose during the Light Goose Conservation Order season.

 

      Section 7. Falconry Waterfowl Season and Limits. (1) The light goose season shall be from Thanksgiving Day[November 5] through February 15[January 31].

      (2) The Light Goose Conservation Order season shall be from February 16 through March 31.

      [(a) In the Western Duck Zone, the season shall be from February 1 through March 31, except:

      1. The falconry season shall be closed during the first full weekend in February; and

      2. Youth waterfowl hunters may hunt during the first full weekend in February pursuant to 301 KAR 2:226.

      (b) In the remainder of the state, the season shall be from February 1 through March 31.]

      (3) The season for all other waterfowl shall be from Thanksgiving Day[November 5] through February 15[January 31].

      (4) The daily limit shall be three (3) waterfowl, except that there shall not be a limit on light goose during the Light Goose Conservation Order season.

      (5) The possession limit shall be nine (9) waterfowl, except that there shall not be a possession limit on light goose during the Light Goose Conservation Order season.

 

      Section 8. Permit for the Light Goose Conservation Order season. (1) A person hunting light goose during the Light Goose Conservation Order season shall first obtain a free permit by completing the online Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit process on the department’s Web site at fw.ky.gov.

      (2) A person hunting light goose during the Light Goose Conservation Order season shall submit a Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit Survey to the department by April 10.

 

      Section 9. Incorporation by Reference. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

      (a) "Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit", January 2014; and

      (b) "Snow Goose Conservation Order Permit Survey", January 2014.

      (2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

GREGORY K. JOHNSON, Commissioner

DON PARKINSON, Secretary

      APPROVED BY AGENCY: May 3, 2016

      FILED WITH LRC: May 11, 2016 at 2 p.m.

      CONTACT PERSON: Mark Cramer, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Arnold L. Mitchell Building, #1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, phone [phone], fax [phone], email [e-mail].

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 150.010(40), 150.025(1), 150.305(1), 150.330, 150.340(1), (3), 150.990

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025(1), 150.360, 150.600(1), 50 C.F.R. 20, 21

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations to establish open seasons for the taking of wildlife and to regulate bag limits. KRS 150.360 authorizes the department to restrict methods of taking wildlife. KRS 150.600(1) authorizes the department to regulate the taking of waterfowl on public and private land. This administrative regulation establishes requirements for the taking of waterfowl within reasonable limits and within the frameworks established by 50 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21.