By Bill Gaines
At last week’s meeting in Monterey the California Fish and Game Commission adopted the 2022-2023 waterfowl regulations for California.
Below is a breakdown of the 2022/2023 waterfowl seasons and bag limits for all five California hunting zones:
Duck Seasons & Bag Limit:
2022/23 Duck Bag Limit
• 7 Ducks, including no more than:
• 7 Mallard (only 2 hens)
• 1 Pintail
• 2 Canvasback
• 2 Redheads
• 2 Scaup (during an 86-day Season)
2022/2023 Duck Seasons
• Northeastern Zone Season:
▪ Regular Season: October 1 – January 11 (103 days)
▪ Scaup: October 1 – November 27 (58 days)
and December 15 – January 11 (28 days)
• Balance of the State/Southern San Joaquin Valley/Southern California Zones:
▪ Regular Season: October 22 – January 31 (102 days)
▪ Scaup: November 7 – January 31 (86 days)
• Colorado River Zone:
▪ Regular Season: October 23 – January 31 (101 days)
▪ Scaup: November 7 – January 31 (86 days)
(CA Must Match AZ Regulations)
April 21, 2022
2022/2023 Goose Seasons & Bag Limits
• Northeastern Zone Goose Seasons:
▪ Regular Season:
o Canada Geese: October 1 – January 8 (100 days)
o White Geese and Whitefronts Geese: October 1 – November 27 (58 days) and December 31 – January 13 (14 days)
o Late Season: White Geese & Whitefronts: February 6 – March 10 (33 days)
• Northeastern Zone Goose Bag Limits:
▪ 30 Birds Total/Day:
o 20 White Geese
o 10 Dark Geese
o No More Than 2 Large Canada Geese
• Balance of the State Zone Goose Seasons:
▪ Early Canada Goose Season: October 1 – October 3 (3 days)
▪ Regular Season: October 22 – January 29 (100 days)
▪ Late Season: Canada Geese February 18 – 19 (2 days)
White Geese & Whitefronts: February 18 – February 22 (5 days)
• Balance of the State Zone Goose Bag Limits:
▪ 30 Birds Total/Day:
o 20 White Geese
o 10 Dark Geese
• Southern San Joaquin and Southern California Zone Goose Season:
▪ Regular Season: October 22 – January 31 (102 days)
• Southern San Joaquin and Southern California Zone Goose Bag Limits:
▪ 30 Birds Total/Day:
o 20 White Geese
o 10 Dark Geese (Southern San Joaquin Zone)
o 3 Dark Geese (Southern California Zone)
• Colorado River Zone Goose Season:
▪ Regular Season: October 23 – January 31 (101 days)
(CA Must Match AZ Regulations)
• Colorado River Zone Goose Bag Limits:
▪ 20 Birds Total/Day:
o Up to 20 White Geese
o 4 Dark Geese
(CA Must Match AZ Regulations)
• Black Brant
▪ Northern Zone: November 8 – December 14 (37 Days)
▪ Balance of the State Zone: November 9 – December 15 (37 Days)
• Black Brant Bag Limits
▪ 2 Birds/Day
April 21, 2022
Special Management Areas
▪ North Coast
o Regular Season: November 9 – January 31 (84 Days)
o Late Season: February 18 – March 10 (21 Days)
▪ Klamath Basin
o White Geese & Whitefronts: October 1 – January 13 (105 days)
o Canada Geese: October 1 – January 8 (100 Days)
▪ Sacramento Valley
o Regular Season: October 22 – December 21 (61 Days)
▪ Imperial Valley
o Regular Season: November 5 – January 31 (88 Days)
o Late Season: February 1 – 3, 6 – 10, 13 – 21 (17 Days)
Youth Hunt Weekend
▪ Northeastern Zone: September 17 and 18
▪ All Other Zones: February 4 and 5
Veterans and Active Military Personnel (VAMP) Hunt Weekend**
▪ Northeastern Zone: January 14 and 15
▪ All Other Zones: February 11 and 12
▪ Colorado River Zone: None
Falconry-Only*
▪ Northeastern Zone: None
▪ Balance of State Zone, Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone, and Southern California Zone:
February 25 (1 day)
▪ Colorado River Zone: February 1 – 4 (4 days)
* Note that, in addition to the regular duck season in all five zones and the “falconry-only” day, the DFW recommendation will be to also allow falconers to hunt ducks on the following days:
▪ Balance of State Zone, Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone, and Southern California Zone: Youth Hunt Weekend, and February 18 and 19
▪ Colorado River Zone: February 1 – 4
**Note that Veterans (as defined in Section 101 of Title 38, United States Code) and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than training), may participate in the VAMP Days.
Persons participating in this special hunt must possess and present upon demand verification of eligibility to participate in this hunt.
Verification includes Veteran’s ID Card and/or Military ID Card for active duty, or a State issued driver’s license or Identification Card with Veteran Designation.
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