TBC Press - Outdoor Hunting, Fishing News

  New Mexico duck and goose hunters will have a more convenient way to purchase federal duck stamps beginning Sept. 1, when the Department of Game and Fish will start selling the stamps under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s E-Stamp program. Federal duck stamps, also known as Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, are required for all duck and goose hunters ages 16 and older. Hunters can purchase the stamp online, at license vendors, and by phone at (888) 248-6866, and will receive the physical stamp within 45 days by regular mail. A receipt, or validation on the hunter’s license will meet the... READ MORE

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New Mexico Fall (any legal sporting arms) turkey season begins Nov. 1 through Nov 30. The bag limit is any one turkey  and if a hunter does not harvest a turkey during the September Archery Only Hunt, (which runs Sept 1 - Sep 30) she/he may hunt again in November using any legal sporting arm for turkey.  Areas open for fall OTC license hunts include... READ MORE

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New Mexico does offer several over the counter (OTC) hunting opportunities. The only OTC deer hunting is on private land. If you have access to private land and permision from the landowner, you can purchase your license from any license vendor. Although they are not truly OTC licenses, some elk and pronghorn permits can be obtained without having to draw. There is also a very unique opportunity to hunt Ibex with an over the counter permit. These permits are valid for Ibex that have moved off the Florida Mountains and the season runs for a year. The habitat that these Ibex occupy is... READ MORE

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  You can hunt elk in 2017 without winning the lottery. Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington have many units with general season or Over-the Counter (OTC) tags that offer a good chance at getting an elk, especially if you get an any sex elk tag. Wyoming and Montana no longer offer OTC tags to non-residents, but chances are still good to hunt elk in those states. California, Nevada and New Mexico do not offer any OTC Elk tags, so all elk tags in these states are limited entry only. Some of the OTC tags are not limited except in certain units, while other tags may be... READ MORE

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  The Idaho winter was tough on upland birds, but hunters will get more pheasants on WMAs. Some bird populations were hit hard, but others fared well and should provide good hunting. Like other animals, heavy snowfall in across southern and central Idaho took its toll on upland game birds with many populations the same or down from recent years, but there are highlights. Pheasant stocking at Fish and Game’s Wildlife Management Areas will increase by 37 percent thanks to the license and tag fee increase. Fish and Game will stock about 21,300 pheasants at WMAs, including... READ MORE

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2017 should be another productive hunting season for Idaho despite harsh winter. Hunters will see similar numbers of elk and white-tailed deer, but fewer mule deer. Idaho big game hunters have been on a roll in recent years with a top-10, all-time deer harvest in 2016, an all-time record whitetail harvest in 2015, and a top-five, all-time elk harvest in 2015. Overall hunting success rates over the last five years have... READ MORE

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Idaho Department of Fish & Game gives an overview of wildfires that may affect hunters. This post will be periodically updated, but wildfires are dynamic and situations can constantly change. We will do our best to keep hunters informed about what fires are affecting early season hunts. This is for general information on a large-scale basis. Please follow links for more details... READ MORE

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  The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission set the 2017-2018 oyster season based on the annual oyster stock assessment provided by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists and comments received from members of the public, including the oyster industry. The following dates were set for the upcoming oyster season: Wednesday, November 1, 2017 – Calcasieu Lake: West Cove only and Monday, November 13, 2017 - all Public Oyster Seed Grounds east of ... READ MORE

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is reminding users of Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area (WMA) that new limited access areas (LAA) are in effect through Jan. 31. Operation of internal combustion engines inside LAA boundaries is prohibited from Sept. 1-Jan. 31. However, hunters and fishermen may access and navigate LAA via use of paddles, push poles or electric trolling motors. Any vessel with a movable outdrive system may enter an LAA as long as the boat’s internal combustion engine is trimmed up out of the water in an inoperable position. Vessels with... READ MORE

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Minnesota recreational netting for whitefish-tullibee opens on Friday, Oct. 13, on designated lakes that are less susceptible to sudden changes that impact water temperature, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. A $10 license is needed to sport gillnet tullibee or whitefish. The season is open to Minnesota residents only. These lakes, known as Schedule II lakes, offer recreational netting on the following schedule... READ MORE

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  Duck hunting is expected to be good when Minnesota’s regular waterfowl season opens a half-hour before sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 23. The number of breeding ducks in Minnesota and North America has been good in recent years, so we’re optimistic that will result in a good duck season, said Steve Cordts, waterfowl specialist with the Department of Natural Resources. Wetland habitat conditions and wild rice lakes are in pretty good shape.  Canada goose populations remain high as well, so... READ MORE

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New York September Canada goose seasons occur in all goose hunting zones except the Western Long Island area. All upstate areas opened September 1 and run through September 25. The Central Long Island and Eastern Long Island seasons began on Tuesday (Sept. 5) and runs through September 30. These seasons include liberal bag limits, extended shooting hours, and... READ MORE

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Duck hunting is expected to be good when Minnesota’s regular waterfowl season opens a half-hour before sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 23. The number of breeding ducks in Minnesota and North America has been good in recent years, so we’re optimistic that will result in a good duck season, said Steve Cordts, waterfowl specialist with the Department of Natural Resources. Wetland habitat conditions and wild rice lakes are in pretty good shape.  Canada goose populations remain high as well, so... READ MORE

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  In southeastern New York, the early bear season runs from Sept. 9 to Sept. 24 in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, and 4R. The early bowhunting season for bears opens in all of the Southern Zone on Oct. 1, followed by the regular firearms season beginning Nov. 18. In northern New York, the early bear season runs from Sept. 16 to Oct. 13 in WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6C, 6F, 6H, and 6J. Bowhunting season for bears also begins on Sept. 16 in the other Northern Zone units (WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K and 6N). Muzzleloader season opens in all northern WMUs on Oct. 14, followed by... READ MORE

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Washington State wildlife managers plan to release thousands of pheasants at the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area in Thurston County this year, but not in the area ravaged by a wildfire that swept across 345 acres south of the creek last month. Fortunately, firefighters prevented the blaze from jumping Scatter Creek, so we can still have a hunting season in the wildlife area, said Christopher White, WDFW pheasant manager for the wildlife area. We had to improvise a bit.The season will get underway Sept. 23-24 for hunters under age 16, followed by... READ MORE

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