Jan. 12, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 11

For more information, contact Matt DiBona, Waterfowl Biologist, 302-735-3600, or Joanna C. Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Division of Fish and Wildlife Announces Changes and Expansion of 2008-2009 Snow Goose Hunting Season 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently published new regulations authorizing the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife to allow expanded hunting methods for harvesting snow geese during the 2008-2009 season, as well as creating a Snow Goose Conservation Order that allows hunters to harvest snow geese beyond the established season.  

Snow goose populations have reached levels that are now causing extensive damage to their breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic as well as the wetlands and agricultural areas where they overwinter in the Mid-Atlantic, including Delaware. The USFWS is taking these actions to reduce and stabilize snow goose population by more than 50 percent between now and 2013. 

Beginning Feb. 2, 2009 and continuing through the end of the established snow goose season on March 9, 2009, hunters will be able to pursue snow geese using unplugged shotguns and electronic calls. During this time, all other hunting regulations pertaining to shooting hours, hunting days (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays only), and bag limits remain unchanged and in effect. The use of unplugged shotguns and electronic calls are permitted only during the specified regular season and may be employed only when all other waterfowl seasons except snow goose season are closed.   

From March 10 to April 18, 2009, under the Snow Goose Conservation Order, hunters will be able to pursue snow geese Monday through Saturday using unplugged shotguns and electronic calls. During this time, legal shooting hours have been extended from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset and daily bag and possession limits have been removed.

To avoid conflicts with the spring 2009 wild turkey season, snow goose hunting will be prohibited on public areas after April 10, 2009. Snow goose hunting also will be prohibited at Bombay Hook and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuges during the conservation order. 

Individuals interested in hunting snow geese after March 9 must obtain a free Snow Goose Conservation Order permit number by registering at www.dehip.com after February 1, 2009.

Participants also will be required to have a valid Delaware hunting license (Maryland licenses also acceptable), a 2008-2009 Delaware waterfowl stamp, and a Delaware Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. A federal waterfowl stamp is not required. Once registered, hunters are required to keep this number in their possession while hunting snow geese and to report their hunting activity and success to the Division of Fish and Wildlife by May 31, 2009. 

For more information, please call 302-739-9912 or visit www.fw.delaware.gov