Regulators are now considering wood ducks and other species prevalent in Georgia in addition to mallards when they set the hunting season.

Regulators are now considering wood ducks and other species prevalent in Georgia in addition to mallards when they set the hunting season. / AP Photo

Waterfowl hunting season opened in Georgia over the weekend, bringing with it some changes.Regulators have made some changes this waterfowl season.

 

Regulators have lowered the number of mallards hunters can kill each day from four to two because of a declining population.

 

Behind the scenes, officials have also changed how they set the rules for the season up and down the coast. And the rules apply to more than just just mallards. They now consider four ohter bird species, including some that are more common here.

 

Georgia wildlife biologist Greg Balkcom said mallards are not as prevalent here as they are in the northeast.

 

"I'm really happy, as a Georgia hunter, really happy that wood ducks and ringneck ducks are being considered very strongly in the choice of our season 'cause those two birds are especially important in Georgia," he said.

 

One final change is that the season will now have a fixed end date of January 31, instead of moving around from year to year.

 

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