Road trip for a duck stamp

[Silvers]

Time was that you went to the post office, any post office, and got your duck stamp without any hassles. I don't hunt doves so I didn't get one before now; that's typical for me and actually I'm a little early this year. I stopped at a local post office today and found out they were sold out and wouldn't be getting any more. The sellout surprised me and I asked why and the gal told me that many customers mentioned they have only part time work, laid off, etc so they might as well go hunting. A helpful gent in the back told me that the X post office (about 20 miles away) still had some as of yesterday. No thanks. So then I drove 7 miles to post office Y, same story there... none on hand. Then to another PO "Z" about 8 miles from there. Likewise no duck stamps. But the clerk phoned around and learned that PO "A" about 12 miles from there still had some. I booked it there and bought 2, for myself and my cuz.

Word to the wise, better get your stamp before you head to the dove field or the duck blind. Times have been changing gents! Silvers

[eightbore]

In Maryland, any outlet that sells hunting licenses has duck stamps, but I think I got mine last year on the net. There are at least eight states that have an online Federal Stamp sales program and you don't have to live in one of those states to buy a stamp from them. It is a chore to wade through the websites however. Google is a good place to start.

[ROMAC]

I got mine today in Center City Philadelphia in the underground concourse right near city hall of all places. While in line I kept scanning the different counters hoping to get served by the one guy who looked like he might know what I was talking about. The hunting gods smiled upon me and it was quick and painless. In past years I've waited as much as 15 minutes while the Racheal Maddow lookalike took her good old time getting me my "evil" hunting stamp.

Nice Wood Duck this year. Can't wait to use it.

[fullchoke16]

Just a bit of info if you are a PA resident. You need to get a resident migratory bird (HIP) on your additional privileges tag to hunt doves or woodcock or waterfowl. The Federal duck stamp is only needed for waterfowl. At this end of the state the really small post offices have always been hit or miss for stamps. The season directly after the Wall Street crash a few years ago saw a marked increase in archery hunters here because it was cheap entertainment and the guys had plenty of time to kill that season.

[Laxcoach]

Frank,
Fullchoke is correct----you DON'T need a MIGRATORY WATERFOWL STAMP ("duck stamp") to hunt doves, but you do need a HIP number in from the state you are hunting doves in (as well as waterfowl).

[Silvers]

Fred and Dick are absolutely correct, a federal duck stamp isn't required to hunt doves in Pennsylvania. But a PA Migratory Bird permit is. There's a lot of confusion on this as evidenced by sold out duck stamps at the Post Offices as of today September 5. None of the waterfowl seasons start in PA until October. Thanks gents for clarifying this.

[mmylin73]

Have an early Canada goose season in my part of PA that opened September first along with doves. May explain alot of federal stamp sales.

[Silvers]

Thanks for the info. But more confusion. I just checked the Pennsy Game Commission website again, and the earliest opening date for ducks or geese I can find is October 6 and that includes so called resident geese. Only one exception and that's for a Junior (youth) hunt on September 15 & 22 only. PA readers please note, there are many areas with different opening dates and regs. Be sure to check the official PGC website for up to date migratory bird season info before planning or starting out on a hunt. I am as confused on this as anyone, maybe more than most. Silvers

[ROMAC]

Silvers, see below:


http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/se ... 716&mode=2

September Canada Goose Season: A statewide season from September 1-25 (8 daily, 16 in possession) except:

(1.) In the SJBP Zone the daily limit is 3, possession limit 6.

(2.) In the area south of SR 198 from the Ohio state line to intersection of SR 18, SR 18 south to SR 618, SR 618 south to US Route 6, US Route 6 east to US Route 322/SR 18, US Route 322/SR 18 west to intersection of SR 3013, SR 3013 south to the Crawford/Mercer County line. The daily bag limit is 1, possession limit 2; except on SGL 214 where the season is closed to September goose hunting.

(3.) Canada geese may be taken on Pymatuning State Park Reservoir and an area to extend 100 yards inland from the shoreline of the reservoir, excluding the area east of SR 3011 (Hartstown Road). The daily bag limit is 3, possession limit of 6.
(4.) In the area of Lancaster and Lebanon counties north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, east of SR 501 to SR 419, south of SR 419 to Lebanon-Berks county line, west of Lebanon-Berks county line and the Lancaster-Berks county line to SR 1053 (also known as Peartown Road and Greenville Road), west of SR 1053 to Pennsylvania Turnpike I-76, the daily bag limit is 1, possession limit 2; except on SGL 46 (Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area) where the season is closed.

Note: Numbers 2 and 4 do not apply to youth participating in Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 Youth Waterfowl Days; regular season regulations apply.

Hunting hours for all migratory birds, including Canada geese, close at sunset on the 2 youth waterfowl days.

Pennsylvania’s other Canada goose season lengths and bag limits vary by zone.

Resident Population Goose Zone: All of Pennsylvania, excluding the Southern James Bay Population Zone and the Atlantic Population Zone. The season is Oct. 27-Nov. 24, Dec. 11-Jan. 15, and Feb. 1-28, with a five goose daily bag limit.

Southern James Bay Population Zone: That area north of I-80 and west of I-79 including in the city of Erie west of Bay Front Parkway to and including the Lake Erie Duck zone (Lake Erie, Presque Isle and the area within 150 yards of Lake Erie shoreline). The season is Oct. 6-Nov. 24, Dec. 10-Jan. 18, with a three goose daily limit.

Atlantic Population Zone: That area east of SR 97 from the Maryland state line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US 30, south of US 30 to SR 441, east of SR 441 to SR 743, east of SR 743 to intersection of I-81, east of I-81 to intersection of I-80, south of I-80 to New Jersey state line. The season is Nov. 13-24 and Dec. 13-Jan. 26, with a three goose daily limit.

[Silvers]

Thanks everyone. It's funny Romac, that's a different link than on the PGC Home page in its News Release dated 8/21/2012. Seasons and limits are shown way down at the bottom of this link. No mention of a September early goose season.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/se ... 96_12.html

Ok so then when I finally found two duck stamps yesterday, the clerk says they don't have any printed regulations to hand out. And... maybe I can get them from the internet. I give up.

[eightbore]

I think those regulations boil down to the command well known to anyone who once went through Army basic training. "Smoke 'em if you've got'em."

[loggy]

I am glad we have UPS and FedEx. Maybe the post office will run health care.