Waterfowl hunters will have 60 days of duck hunting and at least 45 days of goose hunting statewide this fall as a result of Natural Resources Commission action on waterfowl season regulations at its Aug. 14 meeting in Lansing.

A big change this year is a new three-zone system for goose hunting with goose zones being the same as current duck hunting zones. The traditional North, Middle and South duck zones now apply to Canada goose hunting as well.

"This simplifies waterfowl hunting regulations and increases goose hunting opportunity across the state," said DNR waterfowl specialist Barb Avers. "It also provides duck and goose hunting opportunities at the same time, something hunters say is one of their top priorities."

Canada goose regular seasons are:

• North Zone Sept. 22 - Nov. 5
• Middle Zone Oct. 4 - Nov. 10, and Nov. 27 - Dec.3
• South Zone Oct. 11 - Nov. 13, and Nov. 27 - Dec.7

The Tuscola/Huron and Saginaw goose management units (GMU) have the same goose season dates as the South zone. There will still be different seasons for the two special goose management zones in southwestern Michigan. The season at the Allegan County GMU is Nov. 8-10 and Dec. 20 - Jan. 30. The season at Muskegon Waste Water GMU is Oct. 14 - Nov. 13 and Dec. 2-15. The daily bag limit is two for all GMUs.

The late goose season will be Jan. 3 to Feb. 1, 2009 in all of the South Zone, except the Allegan County and Muskegon Waste Water GMUs. The daily bag limit during the late season will be five geese, except in GMUs where it is two.

In the Middle and South zones, the goose season opener corresponds to the duck season openers. Duck seasons are:

• North Zone Oct. 4 - Dec. 2
• Middle Zone Oct. 4 - Nov. 30 and Dec. 6-7
• South Zone Oct. 11 - Dec. 7 and Jan. 3-4

The federal framework does not allow a season for canvasback ducks this year.

An unusual aspect to the upcoming duck season is a federal framework that allows hunters a two-bird daily bag limit for scaup (bluebills) for only 20 days of the 60-day duck season and just one scaup daily during the remaining 40 days. The 20-day, two-bird seasons for Michigan are Oct. 11-30 in the North Zone; Oct. 18-Nov. 6 in the Middle Zone; Oct. 25 - Nov. 13 in the South Zone. The 20-day seasons were set to correspond to the peak of scaup migration.

The daily bag limit is six ducks. Hunters will be allowed to take three wood ducks a day this year, up from two last year. All other daily bag limits for individual species - four mallards, no more than one hen; two redheads; one pintail and one black duck, are the same as last year. In addition, hunters may take up to five mergansers, no more than two of which may be hooded mergansers. The possession limit for waterfowl is twice the daily bag limit.

Michigan will once again have a youth waterfowl hunting weekend for all properly licensed youths 10 to 15 years of age. This season is Sept. 20-21. Youths must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or someone 18 years of age or older, designated by their parent or guardian. The adult is not allowed to hunt waterfowl. Regulations and species restrictions are the same as for the regular waterfowl seasons.