Pennsylvania waterfowl hunting schedules, developed within U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines, call for a 60-day duck season with a six-bird daily bag limit. In most cases, the regulations mirror those of 2009-2010, with a few exceptions. They include a two-bird daily limit on pintails throughout the 60-day season, an extended season and increased harvest limit on snow geese, and changes in season dates in the state's Northwest Duck Zone.

"In reviewing public input, we have heard that hunters would prefer that we not close the duck season in the Northwest Duck Zone during the two-week firearms deer season [Nov. 29-Dec. 11]," said Game Commission waterfowl biologist Kevin Jacobs, in a written statement. "We have incorporated this request into the season dates for the 2010 duck seasons, which will run from Oct. 9-23, and from Nov. 6-Dec. 30."

Jacobs said opening up Canada goose seasons in recent years, and administering public, private and municipal goose control programs, appears to be limiting the growth of the state's resident Canada goose population. The 2010 spring resident Canada goose population was estimated at 231,780, 17 percent below the recent seven-year average of 280,371.

Waterfowl licensing requirements remain complicated. Hunters 16 years and older are required to have a valid Pennsylvania hunting license ($20.70 resident) and a Federal Migratory Bird and Conservation Stamp or duck stamp ($15), signed in ink across its face. All waterfowlers regardless of age are required to have a state Migratory Game Bird License ($3.70 resident), and when purchasing that license must complete a Harvest Information Program survey.

Here's an overview of 2010-2011 waterfowl and migratory seasons and bag limits.

Lake Erie Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 25-Jan. 1.

North Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 9-23 and Nov. 11- Jan. 4.

Northwest Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 9-23 and Nov. 6-Dec. 30.

South Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 9-16 and Nov. 17- Jan. 17.

Total Duck Bag Limits: Six daily, 12 in possession of any species, except for the following restrictions: daily limit may not include more than four mallards including two hen mallards, one black duck, two pintails, one mottled duck, one fulvous tree duck, three wood ducks, two redheads, one canvasback, four scoters and two scaup. Possession limit may not include more than eight mallards including four hens, two black ducks, four pintails, two mottled ducks, two fulvous tree ducks, six wood ducks, four redheads, two canvasbacks, eight scoters and four scaup.

Mergansers: five daily, 10 in possession (not more than two hooded mergansers daily, four hooded in possession).

Coots: 15 daily, 30 in possession.

Regular Canada goose season and bag limits (including white-fronted geese): All of Pennsylvania will have a regular Canada goose season, however, season lengths and bag limits will vary by area as follows:

Resident Canada Goose Zone: All of Pennsylvania except for the Southern James Bay Population and the Atlantic Population zone. The season is Oct. 23-30, Nov. 8-27, Dec.18-Feb. 19, with a five goose daily bag limit.

Southern James Bay Population Zone: The area north of I-80 and west of I-79 including in the city of Erie west of Bay Front Parkway to and including the Lake Erie Duck zone (Lake Erie, Presque Isle and the area within 150 yards of Lake Erie Shoreline). The season is Oct. 23- Nov. 27, Dec. 13-Jan. 26, with a three goose daily limit.

Atlantic Population Zone: The area east of route SR 97 from Maryland State Line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 30, south of US Route 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey state line. The season is Nov. 17-27 and Dec. 21-Jan. 29, with a three goose daily limit. Exception: The controlled hunting areas at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lebanon-Lancaster counties, as well as all of State Game Land 46 (Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area), has a daily bag limit of one, and possession limit of two during the regular Canada goose season.

Atlantic brant (all zones): Oct. 9- Dec. 6, two daily, four in possession.

Snow geese (all zones): Regular season, Nov. 6-Feb. 19, 25 daily, no possession limit. Conservation season, Feb. 21-April 16, 25 daily, no possession limit. To participate hunters must obtain free conservation hunt permit and file a mandatory report of harvest and participation details. Specifics will be announced later this year.

Harlequin ducks, and tundra and trumpeter swans: No open season.

Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area: Shooting days are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, one-half hour before sunrise to 12:30 p.m. Ducks, Oct. 9 through Dec. 29. Geese, Oct. 23 through Jan. 26.

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area: Shooting days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1:30 p.m. Geese and ducks, Nov. 18 through Jan. 15. Nov. 20 youth-only day. Geese only, Jan. 18-29.

Youth waterfowl hunting day (statewide): Saturday, Sept. 18. Open to licensed junior hunters ages 12-15, when properly accompanied, for ducks, mergansers, moorhens and coots, and Canada goose as permitted. Same daily bag limits as regular season.

Youth-only day at controlled hunting areas: Middle Creek is Nov. 20, and Pymatuning is Nov. 27.

Early resident Canada goose: Sept. 1-25, daily bag limit of eight Canada geese and possession limit of 16 (restricted in certain areas).

A limited hunt will be held Sept. 1-25 at Westmoreland County parks. All downed birds must be retrieved, and watercraft and dogs may be used to retrieve game. Electric motors only; all Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission restrictions apply. Camouflaged boats may be used as blinds only at Chestnut Ridge Park and Bridgeport Dam Park.

Twin Lakes Park, Greensburg: Dawn- 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Mammoth Park, Mt. Pleasant: Dawn- 9 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

Northmoreland Park, Apollo: Dawn- 9 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. No hunting Sept. 6.

Chestnut Ridge Park, Bridgeport Dam Park have no day restrictions for hunting.

Mourning dove: Sept. 1-28, Oct. 23-Nov. 27, and Dec. 27-Jan. 1, daily limit 15, possession limit 30

Woodcock: Oct. 16-Nov. 13, daily limit three, possession limit six.

Common snipe: Oct. 16-Nov. 27, daily limit eight, possession limit 16.

Virginia and sora rail: Sept. 1-Nov. 9, bag limits, single or combined, three daily, possession limit six.

King and clapper rails: No open season.

Moorhen and gallinules: Sept. 1- Nov. 9, daily limit three, six in possession.

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