It’s hard to believe it’s September, especially with the first official day of fall not for another three weeks, Sept. 22.
For most kids, September means the start of school, but for outdoorsy folks it marks the beginning of Pennsylvania’s hunting seasons, which started Sept. 1 with the opening of certain migratory birds including our smallest and largest game birds.
On the small side, weighing in at 4.2 ounces is the diminutive mourning dove. On the larger side, tipping the scales at as much as 14 pounds, is the portly Canada goose.
Let’s hope the weather turns more autumnal and comfortable in the weeks ahead for hunters posting by seed crops for doves or huddling in their goose blinds.
When wild bobwhite quail and ringed-necked pheasants disappeared from our woods years ago, wingshooters turned to what have become our area’s most populous and popular feathered targets in doves and geese. It’s safe to say that hunters today burn more shotgun powder in quest of these two migratory species than all others combined.
The two-segment season on mourning doves — classified as webless migratory birds — runs through Nov. 27. An abbreviated second segment opens on Dec. 18 running through Jan. 2. The daily limit on doves is 15 with 45 in possession.
These acrobatic, speedy flyers are challenging targets even for accomplished veterans of the smoothbore, especially those who prefer smaller gauges like .410, .28 and .20, so good luck getting your daily limits.
If you’re one of those hunters who hasn’t picked up the old shootin’ iron since last season, it might be a good idea to shake that rust off with a few sessions of skeet, trap, or sporting clays at your local gun club.
Other more obscure species that became legal game on Sept. 1 include gallinules and Virginia and sora rails with a season that runs through Nov. 20, with a daily limit of three with nine in possession for each species.
Pennsylvania’s hunting season for mourning doves opened on Tuesday, Sept. 1. COURTESY OF TOM TATUM)
The September statewide season for resident Canada geese in the southeastern Atlantic Population Zone also opened Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 25. The September season has a daily bag limit of eight Canada geese with a possession limit of 24.
A second goose season will run from Nov. 21-27 with a third and final season opening on Dec. 4 and running through Jan. 18. Limits in those two later seasons are not as generous with hunters permitted to take just three geese each day with a possession limit of nine.
Legal hunting hours for both segments of the dove season are from a half-hour before sunrise until sunset. Hunting hours during the September Canada goose season are from a half-hour before sunrise until a half-hour after sunset.
Migratory game bird hunters, including those afield for doves and other “webless birds,” are required to obtain and carry a Pennsylvania migratory game bird license, as well as a general hunting, combination or lifetime license. All waterfowl hunters age 16 and older also must possess a federal migratory bird hunting and conservation (duck) stamp.
Hunters are encouraged to report leg-banded migratory game bird recoveries online at www.reportband.gov. Hunters will be requested to provide information on where, when and what species were taken, in addition to the band number. This information is crucial to the successful management of migratory game birds.
If early September finds you afield in pursuit of doves or geese, or both, good luck, shoot straight, hunt safe and always respect the rights of the landowners.
Archery deer season opens Sept. 19
Hard on the heels of our dove and goose season comes Pennsylvania’s regular archery season in Wildlife Management Units 5C and 5D and 2B near Pittsburgh.
That season opens on Sept 19 and runs through Nov. 27 with the statewide season opening on Oct. 3 and running through Nov. 20. That means there’s still ample time to shake the dust off your archery gear, tune that bow, perfect your shots on those 3D targets, scout your favorite deer woods, and locate the buck of your dreams.
Tom Tatum is the outdoors columnist for MediaNews Group. You can reach him at tatumt2@yahoo.com.