Strike called on author for lack of fowl report

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With October rapidly approaching – regardless of the contrary evidence your backyard thermometer may be providing – it’s high time to take care of some housekeeping chores.

Chores, for the record, that I’ve been remiss in not pointing out earlier.

A reader e-mailed this week and reminded me that he hadn’t seen any reports on the upcoming waterfowl season, nor posting of the woodcock season.

In past years, that report, including information on migratory birds including woodcock, has been an annual tradition carried out by veteran outdoor writer, artist and waterfowl enthusiast Tom Hennessey.

This year, the first since Tom’s honest-to-goodness, full-fledged retirement, it would stand to reason that the responsibility fell on my shoulders.

And I dropped the ball … until now.

Here then, according to the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Web site, the particulars of this year’s seasons, along with daily and possession limits:

Sea ducks, (scoter or sea coot, eider and long-tailed ducks: Oct. 1-Jan. 31, daily bag limit seven (which shall not include more than four scoters or five eiders, singly or in the aggregate), possession limit 14 (not including more than eight scoters or 10 eiders, collectively or in the aggregate).

Regular ducks, including black ducks, mergansers, canvasbacks, pintails and American coots: North Zone, Oct. 1-Dec. 8, South Zone, Oct. 1-Oct. 27 and Nov. 12-Dec. 22, daily bag limit six, with no more than four of any one species, possession limit 12, with no more than eight of any one species.

Common snipe: Sept. 1-Dec. 15, daily bag limit 8, possession limit 16; rails (Sora and Virginia): Sept. 1-Nov. 9, daily bag limit 25, possession limit 25.

The season on moorehens, gallinules, harlequin ducks and Barrow’s goldeneyes is closed.

Woodcock: Oct. 1-27 and Oct. 29-Oct. 31, daily bag limit three, possession limit 6.

The early season on Canada geese has closed in both zones, but the regular season is upcoming: North Zone, Oct. 1-Dec. 8. In the South Zone, the season runs from Oct. 1-Oct. 27 and from Nov. 12-Dec. 22. In both zones, the daily bag limit is two geese, with a possession limit of four.

Snow geese: Oct. 1-Jan. 31, daily bag limit 15, with no possession limit.

Brant: Nov. 12-Dec. 22, daily bag limit two, possession limit four.

Some exceptions should be noted: Only one black duck may be taken as part of the daily bag limit, possession limit is two;

It is unlawful to take more than two canvasbacks in any one day, or to possess more than four at one time;

Hunters can take five American coots in addition to the daily limit on regular ducks, but cannot possess more than 10 American coots at one time;

It is unlawful to take more than one pintail in a day or to possess more than two at one time;

Hunters can take five mergansers in addition to the daily bag limit on regular ducks, but only two may be hooded mergansers. It is unlawful to possess more than 10 mergansers at one time, only four of which can be hooded mergansers;

Taking more than two redheads in one day or possessing more than four at one time is unlawful;

Within the sea duck hunting area, hunters may take seven sea ducks in addition to the limits on regular ducks, but not more than four scoters or five eiders;

The daily limit on teal – bluewing and greenwing – singly or in aggregate, may not exceed four birds. The possession limit cannot include more than eight teal in aggregate or singly;

More than two wood ducks cannot be taken in one day, and hunters can’t possess more than four at any time;

It is unlawful to take more than two scaup in one day or to possess more than four at any time.

The entire migratory game bird hunting schedule, including information about the ban on non-toxic shot and band recovery reporting, along with definitions of the sea duck hunting area, is available at the DIF&W’s Web site: www.mefishwildlife.com.

Wanted: Hunter breakfast info

So, it may be a bit tough to think about deer season when the temperatures are hovering around 90, but that’s exactly what I’m asking you to do this morning.

Specifically, I’m asking for your help.

Each year, many fish and game clubs and civic organizations stage meals for hunters. Some are on opening morning. Others, throughout the month of November, aren’t … and they run the gamut from breakfasts to bean suppers to wild game meals.

No matter what you’re serving the folks in your area, I’m interested in letting the hungry hunters know where they can go to fuel up before (or after) a day in the woods.

That’s where you come in.

Each year, I talk to plenty of folks who ask me, “Why haven’t you written anything about the (insert town here) hunter’s breakfast? It’s been going on for (insert double-digit number here) years!”

The answer is simple: The organizers of the breakfast (or dinner) didn’t let us know about it.

If you’re involved with a club that plans such a feast this fall, please make a point of talking to your publicity officer (or head chef), and passing the information along to us. Periodically as deer season approaches, I’ll pass that information along to readers.

You can e-mail any notices to the address below, or send them the old fashioned way to me at Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor, 04402-1329.

I thank you in advance for your help … and so does my stomach.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.