A hunting season is the designated time in which certain game animals can be killed in certain designated areas. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

, each state determines and sets its own specific dates to hunt the certain game animal, such as California, in which they designate certain zones, in which each have their own separate dates in order to legally hunt. In the United States, each state has primary responsibility and authority over the hunting of

wildlife Wildlife refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous to game: those birds and mammals that were hunted fo ...

that resides within state boundaries. State wildlife agencies that sell hunting licenses are the best source of information regarding hunting seasons, areas open/closed to hunting, etc. Hunting of

migratory bird Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement, often north and south along a flyway, between breeding and wintering grounds. Many species of bird migrate. Migration carries high costs in predation and mortality, including from hunting by ...

s such as ducks and geese is managed cooperatively by state fish and wildlife agencies and the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...

. Migratory waterfowl hunters must possess both a state hunting license and a ( Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp), and each hunter needs a

Harvest Information Program Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-i ...

number for each state in which they hunt migratory birds.

Open season

Open season is the time of the year when a particular wildlife species is allowed to be hunted as per local wildlife conservation law. In the US, for example, each state creates laws and codes governing the season dates and species, established on a complex process including citizen input, a state fish and game agency or department, and often an independent game council. This process updates a game code for each state which outlines all rules and regulations including hunting seasons. In each of the 50 states, abstracts of the larger game code are then presented in the official state hunting regulations for that given year. Season dates are often timed to occur when the population is at its maximum. It avoids the peak breeding period when members of a species are particularly vulnerable, and avoids any disruption to mating, which may affect productivity.When can I hunt, Game Hunting, Recreation and Tourism; The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Government of Victoria, Australia.
, Accessed 4 December 2008. Open seasons are determined by a multitude of factors. Those include migrating seasons, mating seasons, and birthing seasons. For migrating waterfowl, the season is determined by when the waterfowl have migrated into the area. Since waterfowl migrate south, in the United States, the seasons for waterfowl begin earlier in the Northern states and later for the southern states. For other animals such as Elk, the archery hunting season is during their breeding time, making it a little easier for archers to get within ethical shooting range. The non-hunting season for elk is from late winter to early fall. During this non-hunting season the cow elk are giving birth to calves while the bull elk are preparing to grow back a new set of antlers. Although all states control most hunting seasons and regulations, the season for migratory waterfowl is controlled by the federal government. The government provides the states with specific dates and then states have the opportunity to decide whether to use the full season length, make into sections, or overall make the season shorter in that state. Using California as an example again, it decides to use the entire length of the season that has been determined by the federal government.

Closed season

Closed season is the time of the year during which hunting an animal of a given species is contrary to law. Typically, closed seasons are designed to protect a species when it is most vulnerable or, sometimes, to protect animals during their

breeding season Seasonal breeders are animal species that successfully mate only during certain times of the year. These times of year allow for the optimization of survival of young due to factors such as ambient temperature, food and water availability, and cha ...

. The closed season is timed to prevent hunting during times of peak reproductive activity, impaired flying ability during moulting (of

game birds Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl. Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often ...

such as

waterfowl Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which i ...

), and temperature extremes, low population levels and food shortage. A closed season is enforced by local conservation law for the conservation of the species and

wildlife management Wildlife management is the management process influencing interactions among and between wildlife, its habitats and people to achieve predefined impacts. It attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best availabl ...

; any hunting during closed season is punishable by law and termed as illegal hunting or

poaching Poaching has been defined as the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights. Poaching was once performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes and to supplement meager diets. It was set a ...

References

{{reflist Hunting Wildlife Animal law