Pennsylvania hunters are already salivating for the start of archery season and the launch of their annual pursuit of whitetails. But October teems with additional hunting opportunities. One is waterfowl hunting.

Last week, I made a quick trip to Ed's Sport Shop, Tamaqua, for last-minute preparations, namely, installing a plug in a used shotgun and picking up non-toxic shot. I already had my duck stamp - the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, which any person 16 and older must have to hunt migratory birds like geese, doves, woodcock and ducks. You can get a temporary "duck stamp" on line through the Pennsylvania Automated License System (PALS), and that will be valid for 45 days. Be sure to sign the stamp and carry it in the field.While you're online, apply for the "light goose" free conservation permit. Go to the Game Commission website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and go to the "Light Goose Conservation Hunt website. You'll need it if you're going to hunt geese in the Atlantic Population Goose Zone, where the regular light goose (snow geese and Ross geese) season runs from Oct. 1 to Jan. 30 and the light goose conservation season runs from Feb. 1 to April 22.The Resident Population Goose Zone regular light goose season will run Oct. 28 to Feb. 29, and the light goose conservation season will run March 1 to April 22. To participate in the light goose hunts, hunters need their regular hunting license, duck stamp and the free light goose conservation season permit. Hunters must file a mandatory report of harvest/participation.Hunters must use non-toxic shot while hunting ducks, geese or coots in PA. The use of decoys powered or operated by batteries or any other source of electricity is unlawful in PA, except during the light goose conservation seasons. The use of any sort of artificial substance or product as bait or an attractant is prohibited.2015-16 WATERFOWL SEASONS AND BAG LIMITSDUCKSNorth Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 10-Nov. 28, and Dec. 19-Jan. 7.South Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 17-24, and Nov. 14-Jan. 14.Northwest Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 10-Dec. 12, and Dec. 29-Jan. 2.Lake Erie Zone: Ducks, sea ducks, coots and mergansers, Oct. 26-Jan. 2.Total Duck Bag Limits: 6 daily, 18 in possession of any species, except for the following restrictions: daily limit may not include more than 4 mallards including 2 hen mallards, 2 scaup, 1 black duck, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 pintails, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck and 4 scoters. Possession limits are 3 times the daily limits.Mergansers: 5 daily, 15 in possession (not more than 2 hooded mergansers daily, 6 hooded in possession).Coots: 15 daily, 45 in possession.REGULAR CANADA GOOSE SEASON & BAG LIMITS(including WHITE-FRONTED GEESE)All of Pennsylvania will have a regular Canada goose season, however, season lengths and bag limits will vary by area as follows:Resident Population Goose Zone (RP): All of Pennsylvania except for the Southern James Bay Population and the Atlantic Population zone. The season is Oct. 24-Nov. 28, Dec. 18-Jan. 14, and Feb. 1-29, with a five-goose daily bag limit.Southern James Bay Population Zone (SJBP): The 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. 10-Nov. 28, Dec. 14-Jan. 22, with a three-goose daily limit.Atlantic Population Zone (AP): The area east of route SR 97 from Maryland State Line to the intersection of SR 194, east of SR 194 to intersection of US Route 30, south of US Route 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. 14-28 and Dec. 19-Jan. 30, with a three-goose daily limit.Exception: Areas outside of the controlled goose hunting areas at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and State Game Lands 46 in Lebanon-Lancaster counties have a daily limit of one, and a possession limit of three during the regular Canada goose season. Areas inside the goose hunting areas at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and State Game Lands 46 have a limit of one.BRANT(All Zones): Oct. 17-Nov. 20, 1 daily, 3 in possession.LIGHT GEESE(Snow Geese and Ross' Geese)Atlantic Population Zone: Regular: Oct. 1-Jan. 30, 25 daily, no possession limit.Conservation Hunt: Feb. 1 - April 22; 25 daily, no possession limit.Southern James Bay Population Zone: Regular: Oct. 1-Jan. 22; 25 daily, no possession limit.Conservation Hunt: Jan. 23 - April 22; 25 daily, no possession limit.Resident Population Zone: Regular: Oct. 28-Feb. 29; 25 daily, no possession limit.Conservation Hunt: March 1 - April 22; 25 daily, no possession limit.HARLEQUIN DUCKS, TUNDRAand TRUMPETER SWANSNo open season.Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area: Shooting days at Pymatuning are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, one-half hour before sunrise to 12:30 p.m. Ducks: Oct. 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 31; Nov. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28 and 30; Dec. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 30; and Jan. 2. Geese: Oct. 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 31; Nov. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 27; Dec. 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28 and 30; and Jan. 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20 and 22.Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area: Shooting days at Middle Creek are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to 1:30 p.m. Geese and ducks: Nov. 14 (Junior-Only Day), 17, 19, 21, 24, 26 and 28; Dec. 19, 22, 24, 26, 29, and 31; Jan. 2, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 14. Geese only: Jan. 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, and 30.JUNIOR WATERFOWL HUNTING DAYSStatewide: Sept. 19; also in North and Northwest zones, Sept. 26; in Lake Erie Zone, Oct. 17; and in South Zone, Nov. 7. Open to licensed junior hunters ages 12-15, when properly accompanied, for ducks, mergansers, gallinules and coots, and Canada goose as permitted. Same daily bag limits as regular season. Hunting hours to close at sunset.JUNIOR-ONLY DAY AT CONTROLLED HUNTING AREASMiddle Creek is Nov. 14, and Pymatuning is Nov. 28.