DES MOINES – The Natural Resource Commission of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources approved the special Canada goose hunting zones and the early duck and goose seasons during a special session last week.

The special Canada goose season for the Des Moines zone and the Cedar Rapids – Iowa City zone is Sept. 1 to 15. The daily bag limit is three geese with a possession limit of six.

The early Canada goose season is Sept. 11 to 12, in the portion of Iowa north of U.S. Hwy. 20. The daily bag limit is two geese with a possession limit of four.

The early duck season is Sept. 18 to 22 in the north duck zone and Sept. 25 to 26 in the south duck zone. The bag limits in the early duck season will be the same as the regular duck season, which will be established at the August 12 meeting of the Natural Resource Commission.

Seasons are set for three other species. Rails [sora and Virginia] season is Sept. 4 to Nov. 12 with a daily bag limit of 12 and possession limit of 24. Woodcock season is Oct. 2 to Nov. 15 with a daily bag limit of three and possession limit of six, and Snipe season is Sept. 4 to Nov. 28 with a daily bag limit of eight and possession limit of 16.

The remaining waterfowl seasons and all other waterfowl regulations will be final after the Aug. 12 meeting.