Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Proposes 2011-2012 Waterfowl Seasons
Frankfort, Ky. – The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission proposed the 2011-2012 waterfowl seasons at its quarterly meeting held Aug. 19. Commission members also elected officers and recommended spring turkey hunting regulations for Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area in Meade County. 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 voted upon during the meeting include:
Ducks, Coots and Mergansers
- Duck season: Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving Day) – Nov. 27. The season reopens Dec. 5, 2011, and closes Jan. 29, 2012.
- Season dates for mergansers and coots are the same as the duck season dates for the 2011-2012 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: Nov. 23, 2011 – Jan. 31, 2012
- Pennyrile-Coalfield Goose Zone (including West-Central Canada Goose subzone): Nov. 23, 2011 – Jan. 31, 2012
- Eastern Goose Zone: Nov. 23, 2011 – Jan. 31, 2012
- The Canada goose season in the Northeastern Canada Goose Zone expands by eight days for the upcoming season. The season is Jan. 1-31, 2012.
- White-fronted Geese, Brant
- Statewide: Nov. 23, 2011 – Jan. 31, 2012
Snow Goose
- Regular Season: Nov. 23, 2011 – Jan. 31, 2012
Snow Goose Conservation Order Season
- Eastern Duck Zone: Feb. 1, 2012 – March 31, 2012
- Western Duck Zone: Feb. 1-3, 2012; Feb. 6, 2012 – March 31, 2012
Youth Waterfowl Seasons
Eastern Zone
- Nov. 5-6
Western Zone
- Feb. 4-5, 2012
In other business:
Hunters wishing to participate in the Ballard and Sloughs Wildlife Management Area quota hunts may now apply over the Internet at fw.ky.gov. Hunters will still be able to register for the hunts by telephone.
Otter Creek Park Outdoor Recreation Area will be open to hunting until noon during the three-week spring turkey season, beginning in 2012. After noon, the area will reopen to all other recreational activities.
Commission members elected officers to serve until August 2012. Officers include Stephen Glenn, Frankfort, chairman; Terry Teitloff, Smithland, vice chairman; and Dr. James Rich, Taylor Mill, secretary.
The next Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be held at 8 a.m. Eastern time, Friday, Dec. 2, at #1 Sportsman’s Lane off U.S. 60 in Frankfort. Meetings are open to the public.
Persons interested in addressing the Commission must notify the 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 Jon Gassett, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, is responsible for the conservation of fish and wildlife resources and for boating projects in the state. A commissioner appointed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission heads the department. The commission, which is responsible for department policy, is a nine member bipartisan body appointed by the governor from a list of candidates voted upon by sportsmen's organizations in each of nine districts.
