Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2022-2023

2022·3.4 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

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NOPPA Mourning dove
Conservation Department Offices
Director,
Department of Conservation
Sara Parker Pauley
The Conservation Commission
Margaret F. Eckelkamp
Steven D. Harrison
Mark L. McHenry
Wm. L. (Barry) Orscheln
Missouri Department of
Conservation
PO Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180
573-751-4115
mdc.mo.gov
Central Region Northwest Region Southwest Region
Equal opportunity to participate in 3500 East Gans Road 701 James McCarthy Drive 2630 N. Mayfair
and benefit from programs of the Columbia, MO 65201 St. Joseph, MO 64507 Springfield, MO 65803
Missouri Department of Conservation 573-815-7900 816-271-3100 417-895-6880
is available to all individuals without
Kansas City Region Ozark Region St. Louis Region
regard to their race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, ancestry, age, 12405 SE Ranson Road 551 Joe Jones Blvd. 2360 Highway D
sexual orientation, veteran status, or Lee’s Summit, MO 64082 West Plains, MO 65775 St. Charles, MO 63304
disability. Questions should be directed 816-622-0900 417-256-7161 636-441-4554
to the Department of Conservation,
Northeast Region Southeast Region
PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102,
3500 S. Baltimore 2302 County Park Drive
573-751-4115 (voice) or 800-735-2966
(TTY), or to Chief, Public Civil Rights, Kirksville, MO 63501 Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department 660-785-2420 573-290-5730
of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW,
Washington, D.C. 20240.
To report poaching or game-law violations, call
Operation Game Thief
800-392-1111
Rewards are available for information
leading to the arrest of game-law violators.
You can remain anonymous.
Table of Contents
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4 Permits and Stamps 17 Falconry
4 Permit and Stamp Requirements
26 Waterfowl Hunting Areas
4 Small Game Hunting Permits
27 How the Morning Drawing Works
4 Permit Requirements for Young Hunters
27 ADA Blind Rules
4 Hunter-Education Requirement
27 Rules of the Morning Drawing
4 Who May Purchase Resident Permits?
28 Managed Waterfowl Hunting Areas
5 MO Hunting App
29 Other Waterfowl Hunting Areas
5 Where to Purchase Permits
5 Where to Purchase Duck Stamps 30 State and Federal Regulations
5 Replacing Permits 30 Wildlife Code of Missouri
5 Apprentice Hunter Authorization 36 Federal Regulations Summary
5 Social Security Number Requirement
38 General Information
6 Permit Prices
38 Areas Requiring Nontoxic Shot
8 Dove Season
38 Drone Use
9 Dove Identification 38 Proper Handling of Game Birds
38 Watch Your Wake
10 Rail, Snipe, and Woodcock Seasons
38 When Hunting From a Boat
11 Rail, Snipe, and Woodcock Identification
38 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
12 Waterfowl Seasons 38 Report Your Bands
12 Teal Season 39 Sunrise and Sunset Times
13 Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days 40 Seasons at a Glance
14 Duck and Coot Seasons
15 Duck Hunting Zones and Season Formulas
16 Goose Seasons
17 Light Goose Conservation Order
18 Duck Identification
24 Goose Identification
Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2022–2023 3
Permits and Stamps
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A Permit and Stamp Requirements Hunter-Education Requirement
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D All hunters age 16 or older must carry the appropriate permits You must complete an approved hunter-education program
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Ain either paper, plastic, or electronic format to pursue, take, in Missouri or another state to buy firearms hunting permits
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Tpossess, and transport migratory game birds in Missouri. The unless:
MIpermits you need depend upon whether you are a resident or ◾ You were born before Jan. 1, 1967.
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PEnonresident hunter and the game birds that you plan to hunt. ◾ You are 15 or younger and hunting in the immediate
presence of a properly licensed adult hunter 18 or older
Ducks, Geese, and Coots
who has a valid hunter-education card or was born before
Three permits are required.
➊ Jan. 1, 1967.
Small Game Hunting Permit
➋ ◾ You are using an Apprentice Hunter Authorization. See
Migratory Bird Hunting Permit
➌ Page 5.
Federal Duck Stamp
◾ You have a developmental disability. See Rule 3 CSR
Doves, Rails, Snipe, and Woodcock 10-5.205 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.
Two permits are required. A hunter-education card need not be displayed when buy-
➊
Small Game Hunting Permit ing permits if certification can be verified online. If this is not
➋
Migratory Bird Hunting Permit possible, some hunters will need to contact the Conservation
Department to provide proof of hunter-education certifica-
Snow, Blue, and Ross’s Geese During the
tion. Once in Missouri’s permit database, hunters won’t have
Conservation Order
to submit this information again.
One permit is required.
➊ You must be 11 years or older to enroll in Missouri’s hunter-
Conservation Order Permit
education course. For more information on hunter education,
Small Game Hunting Permits visit mdc.mo.gov/huntereducation.
The Conservation Department offers a variety of small game Who May Purchase Resident Permits?
hunting permits for residents and nonresidents. Only one
◾ Any person who does not claim resident privileges in
small game hunting permit is needed to hunt migratory game
another state or country, and whose actual residence and
birds.
legal permanent home address are both in Missouri, and
Some hunters are not required to possess a small game
have been for at least 30 days before applying for the per-
hunting permit.
mit. Owning real estate or attending a Missouri school does
◾ If you are a resident landowner (as defined in Rule 3 CSR
not in itself make you a legal resident.
10-20.805 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri), you do not need
◾ Missouri residents employed by the United States in the
a small game hunting permit to hunt on your own land.
District of Columbia or serving in the U.S. armed forces.
◾ If you are a Missouri resident 65 or older, you do not need a
(Immediate family members who reside with them also
small game hunting permit.
may purchase resident permits.)
◾ If you are an honorably discharged resident or nonresident
◾ All members of the U.S. armed forces stationed and resid-
veteran having a service-related disability of 60 percent or
ing in Missouri on permanent change-of-station status and
greater; a member of the U.S. military currently assigned as
immediate family members residing with them.
a patient to a Warrior Transition Brigade, Warrior Transition
◾ Any honorably discharged military veteran having a
Unit, or a military medical center; or if you were a prisoner
service-related disability of 60 percent or greater, or who
of war during military service, you do not need a small
was a prisoner of war during military service; must carry a
game hunting permit. However, you must carry a certified
certified statement of eligibility from the U.S. Department
statement of eligibility from the U.S. Department of Veter-
of Veterans Affairs while hunting and purchasing permits.
ans Affairs or orders showing your assignment.
◾ Any member of the U.S. military currently assigned as a
Permit Requirements for Young Hunters patient to a Warrior Transition Brigade, Warrior Transi-
tion Unit, or a military medical center; must carry orders
If you are 15 or younger, you do not need any permits to hunt
showing such assignment while hunting and purchasing
migratory game birds in Missouri. However, you must:
permits.
◾ Hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed
adult hunter age 18 or older who has a valid hunter-
education card or was born before Jan. 1, 1967;
◾ Or possess a valid hunter-education card.
Note: During Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days, you must hunt
in the immediate presence of an adult, regardless of whether
or not you have a valid hunter-education card. See Page 13.
4 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2022–2023
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◾ Nonresidents who are registered students attending a M
Where to Purchase Duck Stamps A
public or private secondary, postsecondary, or vocational T
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school in Missouri and who live in Missouri while attending ◾ You may buy duck stamps online at mdc.mo.gov/ D
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school; must carry evidence of a Missouri residence and buypermits, from a retail permit vendor, or through the A
student status, such as a student ID, while hunting. Note: MO Hunting app. An electronic duck stamp (e-Stamp) will TS
Nonresident students who qualify for resident permits be issued to you, and a paper duck stamp will be mailed to MI
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must purchase them in person, over the phone, or through you. The e-Stamp may be used immediately and is valid for E
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the mail from Conservation Department offices. 45 days. After 45 days, you must sign and carry the paper
◾ Immigrants who possess an I-551 Resident Alien Card from duck stamp that is mailed to you. The cost of an e-Stamp
the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and who is $29.50, which includes a $4.50 handling fee. If you do
do not claim resident privileges in another state or country, not receive your paper duck stamp, please contact Amplex
and whose actual residence and legal permanent home customer service at 800-852-4897.
address are both in Missouri, and have been for at least 30 ◾ Traditional (paper) duck stamps may be purchased for $25
days before purchasing a permit. at some U.S. Post Offices. Please contact the office before
you visit to ask if duck stamps are available.
MO Hunting App
◾ Duck stamps are no longer sold at waterfowl hunting areas.
The Conservation Department’s free MO Hunting app offers a ◾ Many permit vendors no longer sell traditional (paper) duck
quick, easy, and convenient option for carrying your permits stamps. However, all permit vendors offer electronic duck
afield. The app, which is available for Android and Apple stamps.
mobile devices, allows you to:
Replacing Permits
◾ Purchase permits and duck stamps.
◾ See all the hunting, fishing, and trapping permits you have If you lose your permit, simply download the MO Hunting
purchased — even if they were purchased from a tradi- app to your Android or Apple mobile device, log in with your
tional vendor, online, or by telephone. Conservation Number, and a valid, electronic version of your
◾ Carry valid, electronic permits afield. Note: The MO Hunt- permit will appear on the app. Any active, valid permit can
ing app will display your purchase of a Federal Duck Stamp, be reprinted at home for free at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits.
but you must sign and carry a paper duck stamp afield after Replacement permits can also be purchased from any vendor
your 45-day e-Stamp has expired. for $2.
To log in to MO Hunting, you’ll need your Conservation
Apprentice Hunter Authorization
Number. This nine-digit number can be found on any current
or previous permit. For help locating your Conservation Num- Hunters age 16 or older who do not have a valid hunter-
ber, call 573-522-0107 during regular business hours, or go to education card may hunt with firearms, as long as they:
short.mdc.mo.gov/ZkH. ◾ First purchase an Apprentice Hunter Authorization;
MO Hunting is available in the Google Play and Apple App ◾ Then purchase permits for the season they want to hunt; and
stores. You can also get MO Hunting and learn more about the ◾ Hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed
app at short.mdc.mo.gov/Zi2. adult who has a valid hunter-education card or was born
before Jan. 1, 1967.
Where to Purchase Permits
Note: The Apprentice Hunter Authorization by itself does not
◾ Over the counter from any permit vendor. No surcharges allow you to hunt. It only allows those who have not com-
will be assessed. pleted a hunter-education course to purchase firearms per-
◾ Online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits. Use your credit card mits. The Apprentice Hunter Authorization can be purchased
to pay. No surcharges will be assessed. Print your permit at for no more than two years.
home and have it in hand immediately.
Social Security Number Requirement
◾ From your smartphone using the free MO Hunting app. Use
your credit card to pay. No surcharges will be assessed. Your Federal Statute 42 U.S.C. § 666 and Missouri Revised Stat-
permit will appear on the app immediately after purchase. ute 454.403 require buyers of Missouri hunting, fishing, and
◾ By telephone at 800-392-4115. Use your credit card and pay trapping permits to provide their Social Security number.
a $1 surcharge. Allow 10 days for delivery. Individuals who do not have a Social Security number will be
required to affirm that information. Falsifying a Social Secu-
rity number may result in revocation of privileges or criminal
charges. Social Security numbers are securely stored and used
in support of the Missouri Department of Social Service’s child
support enforcement.
Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2022–2023 5
Permits and Stamps
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A Resident Small Game Hunting Permit Resident Lifetime Small Game Hunting Permit
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D This permit allows you to take birds (except turkeys), mam- This permit allows the same privileges as the Small Game
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Amals (except black bears, deer, and elk), frogs, and to sell Hunting Permit, Migratory Bird Hunting Permit, and Conserva-
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Tfurbearers taken by hunting. tion Order Permit. Black bear, deer, elk, and turkey hunting
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Cost..................................................... $10 privileges are not included. A Federal Duck Stamp is required
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PE to hunt waterfowl.
Resident Small Game Hunting and
Age 15 or younger......................................$275
Fishing Permit
Age 16–29 .............................................$400
This permit allows the same privileges as the Resident Small Age 30–39 .............................................$350
Game Hunting Permit, plus it allows you to take fish, mussels, Age 40–59 .............................................$300
clams, turtles, crayfish, and live bait. Age 60 or older.......................................... $35
Cost..................................................... $19 To apply for this permit:
◾ Go online at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZJ4.
Resident National Guard and Reserve Service
◾ Call 573-522-0107.
Small Game Hunting and Fishing Permit ◾ Email [email protected].
This permit allows the same privileges as the Resident Small Resident Lifetime Conservation Partner Permit
Game Hunting and Fishing Permit. It is for Missouri residents
who are mobilized (or have been in the past 12 months) and This permit allows the same privileges as the Small Game
are serving on full-time active duty in the National Guard Hunting and Fishing Permit, Trout Permit, Migratory Bird
(federal status) or U.S. Reserves. Hunting Permit, and Conservation Order Permit. Black bear,
deer, elk, and turkey hunting privileges are not included. A
Cost.......................................................$5
Federal Duck Stamp is required to hunt waterfowl.
To apply for this permit:
◾ Go online at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZJ9. Age 15 or younger......................................$550
◾ Call 573-522-0107. Age 16–29 .............................................$800
◾ Write to National Guard Permits, Missouri Department of Age 30–39 .............................................$700
Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Age 40–59 .............................................$600
Age 60 or older.......................................... $70
Nonresident Small Game Hunting Permit
To apply for this permit:
This permit allows you to take birds (except turkeys), mam- ◾ Go online at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZJ4.
mals (except black bears, deer, elk, and furbearers), and frogs. ◾ Call 573-522-0107.
Cost..................................................... $94 ◾ Email [email protected].
Daily Small Game Hunting Permit
This permit allows you to take birds (except turkeys), mam-
mals (except black bears, deer, elk, and furbearers), and frogs.
It is valid for a single day only, but you may purchase addi-
tional daily permits to hunt additional days.
Cost..................................................... $14
Resident Conservation Order Permit Migratory Bird Hunting Permit
This is the only permit you need to hunt light geese during This permit is required of all resident and nonresident migra-
the Conservation Order. tory bird hunters (including landowners), age 16 or older.
Cost.......................................................$5 Cost.......................................................$6
Nonresident Conservation Order Permit Federal Duck Stamp
This is the only permit you need to hunt light geese during This stamp is required of all resident and nonresident water-
the Conservation Order. fowl hunters, age 16 or older. You may buy duck stamps online
Cost..................................................... $47 and at some U.S. Post Offices (see Page 5 for more informa-
tion). Paper duck stamps must be signed in ink across the face.
Cost..................................................... $25
6 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2022–2023
Permits and Stamps
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Dove Season
Dates Hunters Provide Valuable Dove Data by
Sept. 1–Nov. 29, 2022 Reporting Bands
Shooting Hours Mourning doves are one of the most widely distributed and
abundant game birds in North America. Survival and harvest
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset information is critical for understanding how hunting regula-
tions affect mourning dove populations. Banding is an impor-
Limits
tant tool for obtaining this information.
◾ Mourning doves, white-winged doves, and Eurasian Captured doves are fitted with a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-
collared-doves count toward daily and possession vice (USFWS) band inscribed with an identification number.
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O limits. Hunters should examine their mourning doves for leg bands.
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A◾ The daily bag limit is 15 doves, combined total of all By reporting banded doves (see Page 38), you help manage
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S three species. this important migratory bird resource.
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V◾ The possession limit is 45 doves, combined total of all Missouri also is cooperating with the USFWS in collecting
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D three species. mourning dove wings from hunters. Randomly selected hunt-
ers will be asked to save one wing from each dove during the
first week of the season and mail the wings (postage free) to
Allowed the USFWS. Hunters using high-use public areas also may be
asked to provide dove wings. Data from the wings, in com-
◾ Shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller and manufactured
bination with information from banded birds, is used to estab-
or modified so as not to hold more than three shells in the
lish hunting regulations.
magazine and chamber combined.
◾ Hunting dogs Dove Hunting on Public Land
◾ Motor boats or sailboats may be used, but only if the motor
Dove hunting fields on conservation areas are planted
has been shut off and/or the sails furled, and the boat’s
in sunflowers, wheat, millet, buckwheat, corn, or a
progress has stopped.
combination of crops. Maps of areas that have dove fields
◾ Other methods are allowed by state and federal regula-
are available from the Conservation Department’s website
tions. Please consult Chapter 7 of the Wildlife Code of
at short.mdc.mo.gov/ZZ7. For additional information,
M issouri for more information.
contact the regional office for the area you want to hunt.
Prohibited
Some Dove Hunting Areas Require
◾ Rifles and pistols
Nontoxic Shot
◾ Firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge
◾ Punt guns, battery guns, swivel guns, fully automatic fire-
Nontoxic shot is required for hunting doves on 20 conserva-
arms, traps, snares, nets, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explo-
tion areas (see Page 38 for a list of areas where nontoxic shot
sives, and stupefying substances
is required for all shotgun hunting). Research shows that
◾ Motor vehicles and aircraft. Paraplegics and people missing
doves, waterfowl, and many other species suffer from lead
one or both legs may hunt from a stationary vehicle.
poisoning after consuming pellets from spent shotgun shells.
◾ Sink boxes and any other type of low-floating device that
The use or possession of lead shot for hunting doves is
conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water
prohibited at the conservation areas listed below. Also
◾ Electronic calls and electronically activated calls
check Page 38 for a list of areas where lead shot is prohib-
◾ Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
ited for all hunting with a shotgun.
◾ Night vision, infrared, and thermal imagery equipment
◾ Bilby Ranch Lake ◾ Pony Express Lake
◾ Live decoys
◾ Bois D’Arc ◾ Reed (James A.) Memorial
◾ Bait (see Page 36)
◾ Busch (August A.) Wildlife Area
Permits ◾ Crowley’s Ridge ◾ Reform
◾ Davisdale ◾ Talbot (Robert E.)
Two permits are required. See Page 6 for permit details.
◾ Harmony Mission Lake ◾ Truman Reservoir Manage-
➊
Small Game Hunting Permit
◾ Lamine River ment Lands (Bethlehem)
➋
Migratory Bird Hunting Permit
◾ Logan (William R.) ◾ Weldon Spring
◾ Maintz Wildlife Preserve ◾ Whetstone Creek
◾ Pacific Palisades ◾ White (William G. and
◾ Park (Guy B.) Erma Parke) Memorial
◾ Peabody Wildlife Area
8 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2022–2023
Dove Identification
Mourning dove
◾ Grayish-brown
◾ Faster wing beat, more
erratic flight path than
white-winged dove
◾ 12 inches from tip of beak
to end of tail
Black spots
◾ Call is a soft, inflected
cooAHoo followed by Long, pointed tail N
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White-winged dove
◾ Grayish-brown
◾ Slightly larger than White wing patch
m ourning dove
◾ Call is a soft hoohoo
hoohoo with the final
Long, m oderately
note descending
rounded tail
Eurasian collared-dove
◾ Gray
◾ 13 inches from tip of beak
to end of tail
◾ Call is a three-part coo Thin black band on neck
with similar tone to a with white upper border
domestic pigeon
Long, squared tail
HEL
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Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2022–2023 9
Rail, Snipe, and Woodcock Seasons
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Virginia rail NOPPA
Dates Limits
◾ Sora and Virginia Rails: Sept. 1–Nov. 9, 2022 ◾ Sora and Virginia Rails: 25 daily (combined total of both
◾ Wilson’s (Common) Snipe: Sept. 1–Dec. 16, 2022 species)
◾ American Woodcock: Oct. 15–Nov. 28, 2022 ◾ Wilson’s (Common) Snipe: Eight daily
◾ American Woodcock: Three daily
Shooting Hours
◾ Possession limits are three times the daily bag limits for
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset rails, snipe, and woodcock.
Allowed Prohibited
◾ Shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller and manufactured ◾ Rifles and pistols
or modified so as not to hold more than three shells in the ◾ Firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge
magazine and chamber combined. ◾ Punt guns, battery guns, swivel guns, fully automatic fire-
◾ Hunting dogs arms, traps, snares, nets, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explo-
◾ Motor boats or sailboats may be used, but only if the motor sives, and stupefying substances
has been shut off and/or the sails furled, and the boat’s ◾ Lead shot is prohibited at some conservation areas. See
progress has stopped. Page 38.
◾ Other methods are allowed by state and federal regula- ◾ Motor vehicles and aircraft. Paraplegics and people missing
tions. Please consult Chapter 7 of the Wildlife Code of one or both legs may hunt from a stationary vehicle.
M issouri for more information. ◾ Sink boxes and any other type of low-floating device that
conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water
Permits
◾ Electronic calls and electronically activated calls
Two permits are required. See Page 6 for permit details. ◾ Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
➊ Small Game Hunting Permit ◾ Night vision, infrared, and thermal imagery equipment
➋ Migratory Bird Hunting Permit ◾ Live decoys
◾ Bait (see Page 36)
10 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2022–2023