TENTATIVE NEW JERSEY 2015-16 MIGRATORY BIRD SEASON DATES SET
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife
(Division) and Fish and Game Council proposed tentative 2015-16 migratory bird hunting season
dates at their May 12 meeting.
The Division and Fish and Game Council are responsible for adopting migratory bird
seasons within the frameworks prescribed in the Code of Federal Regulations promulgated by
the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (Service).
The status of migratory birds is annually measured through the completion of numerous,
continent-wide population monitoring surveys. Following review of these survey results and
with consultation with the four Flyway Councils, hunting season frameworks for migratory birds
are annually promulgated by the Service. Hunting season frameworks include season length, bag
limits, and outside opening and closing dates for a particular season.
Hunters should note that there is uncertainty at this time whether the 2015-16 Atlantic
brant (brant) season will be closed or 30 days in length. The population status of brant has been
relatively poor in recent years. Over the past 3 winters, the Atlantic Flyway-wide brant count
during the annual Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey has averaged only about 119,000 birds with the
most recent (January 2015) count at only 111,400 birds. The 2015 brant count is only slightly
above the thresh hold in the Atlantic Brant Management Plan for a closed season. These recent
winter surveys are down from an average of 150,000 brant in the five years before 2012. The
poor population status of brant appears to be driven by persistent poor young production on
arctic breeding grounds. Fall field surveys based on plumage characteristics done in New Jersey
and New York indicate that that brant population during autumn has been comprised of less than
10% young during each of the last three years. Although annual brant young production
fluctuates significantly, as it does for all arctic nesting geese, the brant fall flight averages 18%
young and it is unprecedented in the historical data going back to 1976 to have 3 consecutive
years with less than 10% young in the fall flight. The mechanism for the poor young production
is still uncertain, but recent studies on a breeding colony on Southampton Island, Nunavut
conducted collaboratively by the University of Delaware, Canadian Wildlife Service, and other
partners, suggest that competition between brant and other goose species (predominantly
cackling geese and snow geese) may be partially responsible. The final decision on whether there
will be a closed or 30-day season will be made in August following reports of conditions on
arctic breeding grounds and consultations between the Atlantic Flyway Council and US Fish and
Wildlife Service.
TENTATIVE NEW JERSEY 2015-16 MIGRATORY BIRD SEASONS
May 12, 2015
NOTE: Although the following selections are expected to be within the frameworks proposed by the US Fish
and Wildlife Service, they will not be formally finalized through the Federal Register process until the
conclusion of the public comment period in September 2015.
PRIMARY WATERFOWL SEASONS
Ducks: 60 days with 6 bird bag limit (Species restrictions to be determined)
Brant: CLOSED SEASON or 30 days with 2 bird bag limit. Final determination following
August 2015 Atlantic Flyway Council and US Fish and Wildlife Service meetings.
Canada goose: (Regular season): To be determined but presumed to be 50 days with 3 bird bag;
contingent on results of June Ungava survey
Youth days: 2 days with same bag limits as regular seasons
NORTH ZONE
Ducks: Oct. 10 — Oct. 22 Nov. 14 — Jan. 9
Brant: Nov. 14 — Nov. 28 Dec. 22 — Jan. 9 OR CLOSED SEASON
Canada geese: Nov. 14 — Nov. 28 Dec. 12 — Jan. 23
Youth days: Oct. 3 & Oct. 31
SOUTH ZONE
Ducks: Oct. 17 — Oct. 24 Nov. 14 — Jan. 14
Brant: Oct. 17 — Oct. 24 Nov. 14 — Dec. 10 OR CLOSED SEASON
Canada geese: Nov. 14 — Nov. 28 Dec. 12 — Jan. 23
Youth days: Oct. 10 & Nov. 7
COASTAL ZONE
Ducks: Oct. 31 — Nov. 3 Nov. 26 — Jan. 30
Brant: Nov. 26 — Dec. 5 Dec. 19 — Jan. 12 OR CLOSED SEASON
Canada geese: Nov. 26 — Dec. 5 Dec. 15 — Jan. 30
Youth days: Nov. 7 & Feb. 13
Coastal Zone duck hunting dates have changed, 3 shooting days starting on Oct 31, then reopen on Turkey Day till January 30th. Wow.
Look for Brant season to close, maybe for several years.
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2015/15-16mig_seasons-tent.pdf
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife
(Division) and Fish and Game Council proposed tentative 2015-16 migratory bird hunting season
dates at their May 12 meeting.
The Division and Fish and Game Council are responsible for adopting migratory bird
seasons within the frameworks prescribed in the Code of Federal Regulations promulgated by
the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (Service).
The status of migratory birds is annually measured through the completion of numerous,
continent-wide population monitoring surveys. Following review of these survey results and
with consultation with the four Flyway Councils, hunting season frameworks for migratory birds
are annually promulgated by the Service. Hunting season frameworks include season length, bag
limits, and outside opening and closing dates for a particular season.
Hunters should note that there is uncertainty at this time whether the 2015-16 Atlantic
brant (brant) season will be closed or 30 days in length. The population status of brant has been
relatively poor in recent years. Over the past 3 winters, the Atlantic Flyway-wide brant count
during the annual Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey has averaged only about 119,000 birds with the
most recent (January 2015) count at only 111,400 birds. The 2015 brant count is only slightly
above the thresh hold in the Atlantic Brant Management Plan for a closed season. These recent
winter surveys are down from an average of 150,000 brant in the five years before 2012. The
poor population status of brant appears to be driven by persistent poor young production on
arctic breeding grounds. Fall field surveys based on plumage characteristics done in New Jersey
and New York indicate that that brant population during autumn has been comprised of less than
10% young during each of the last three years. Although annual brant young production
fluctuates significantly, as it does for all arctic nesting geese, the brant fall flight averages 18%
young and it is unprecedented in the historical data going back to 1976 to have 3 consecutive
years with less than 10% young in the fall flight. The mechanism for the poor young production
is still uncertain, but recent studies on a breeding colony on Southampton Island, Nunavut
conducted collaboratively by the University of Delaware, Canadian Wildlife Service, and other
partners, suggest that competition between brant and other goose species (predominantly
cackling geese and snow geese) may be partially responsible. The final decision on whether there
will be a closed or 30-day season will be made in August following reports of conditions on
arctic breeding grounds and consultations between the Atlantic Flyway Council and US Fish and
Wildlife Service.
TENTATIVE NEW JERSEY 2015-16 MIGRATORY BIRD SEASONS
May 12, 2015
NOTE: Although the following selections are expected to be within the frameworks proposed by the US Fish
and Wildlife Service, they will not be formally finalized through the Federal Register process until the
conclusion of the public comment period in September 2015.
PRIMARY WATERFOWL SEASONS
Ducks: 60 days with 6 bird bag limit (Species restrictions to be determined)
Brant: CLOSED SEASON or 30 days with 2 bird bag limit. Final determination following
August 2015 Atlantic Flyway Council and US Fish and Wildlife Service meetings.
Canada goose: (Regular season): To be determined but presumed to be 50 days with 3 bird bag;
contingent on results of June Ungava survey
Youth days: 2 days with same bag limits as regular seasons
NORTH ZONE
Ducks: Oct. 10 — Oct. 22 Nov. 14 — Jan. 9
Brant: Nov. 14 — Nov. 28 Dec. 22 — Jan. 9 OR CLOSED SEASON
Canada geese: Nov. 14 — Nov. 28 Dec. 12 — Jan. 23
Youth days: Oct. 3 & Oct. 31
SOUTH ZONE
Ducks: Oct. 17 — Oct. 24 Nov. 14 — Jan. 14
Brant: Oct. 17 — Oct. 24 Nov. 14 — Dec. 10 OR CLOSED SEASON
Canada geese: Nov. 14 — Nov. 28 Dec. 12 — Jan. 23
Youth days: Oct. 10 & Nov. 7
COASTAL ZONE
Ducks: Oct. 31 — Nov. 3 Nov. 26 — Jan. 30
Brant: Nov. 26 — Dec. 5 Dec. 19 — Jan. 12 OR CLOSED SEASON
Canada geese: Nov. 26 — Dec. 5 Dec. 15 — Jan. 30
Youth days: Nov. 7 & Feb. 13
Coastal Zone duck hunting dates have changed, 3 shooting days starting on Oct 31, then reopen on Turkey Day till January 30th. Wow.
Look for Brant season to close, maybe for several years.
http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2015/15-16mig_seasons-tent.pdf
