Under the new law, hunting of migratory birds on Sundays remains prohibited. The legislation gives the Commission the authority to lift the prohibition after March 1, 2018. The Commission is required to complete a study that includes examining biological and resource management impacts, economic impacts, and social impacts associated with hunting migratory birds on Sundays.
Any potential changes in migratory bird hunting, including the longstanding waterfowl hunting season structure, must be cautiously considered before determining whether changes should be implemented. The Commission will establish a decision process that is collaborative, inclusive, and scientifically sound. It is critical to study all potential impacts comprehensively before deciding whether or not to make any changes to Sunday hunting of migratory birds.
Compensatory Days for Waterfowl Hunting
Compensatory days apply only to waterfowl hunting, but are dependent on Sunday hunting prohibitions that must apply to all migratory bird species.
In 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service worked with the Atlantic Flyway Council to clarify the issue of compensatory days for states that prohibited hunting on Sundays.
States that prohibited Sunday hunting of all migratory bird species by state law prior to 1997 are eligible for compensatory days for waterfowl hunting. In those states, federal rules reflect state laws by prohibiting all take of migratory birds on Sundays. Although waterfowl hunting season days must run consecutively within each segment, Sundays are not counted as hunting days and are replaced by an equal number of compensatory hunting days.
Using the 2016 – 2017 general duck hunting season framework as an example, North Carolina was allocated 60 days to hunt under the following conditions:
The season could not begin before Sept. 29, 2016 and could not end later than Jan. 29, 2017.
Migratory birds could not be hunted on Sundays.
The season could not be broken into more than three segments (two splits). Within each segment, days were counted consecutively except for the closed Sundays which were not included.
The 2016-2017 general duck hunting season was the following:
Season Segment Season Dates Calendar Days Hunting Days Number of Saturdays Number of Sundays
1 10/5 thru 10/8 4 4 1 0
2 11/12 thru 12/3 22 19 4 0
3 12/17 thru 1/28 43 37 7 0
Totals:
69 60 12 0
Here is a hypothetical comparison of what the season may have been if there were no prohibition against hunting migratory birds on Sundays.
Season Segment
Season Dates
Calendar Days
Hunting Days
Number of Saturdays
Number of Sundays
1
10/6 thru 10/9
4
4
1
1
2
11/23 thru 12/4
12*
12
2
2
3
12/16 thru 1/28
44
44
7
7
Totals:
60
60
10
10
*Under this scenario, days are shifted toward the latter part of the framework. Under either scenario, hunters would be allocated the same number of hunting days (60) distributed within three segments (with two splits).
