Seasons/Limits for Mergansers

[Bill W]

mergies have been uncontrolled (other than hunting) for the past 30 years.  They aren't the main reason salmon counts are down but every little bit helps.  The USDA was going to work on cormorants this year but I don't know how covid affected that.  I volunteered for that but they wanted full time USDA employees.

[dilleytech]

I have eaten a few mergansers and they tasted fine. Would love a open season on them. I hate seeing them sitting by the dozens outside of the hatcheries getting fat on salmon smolts. Cormorants would be a blast to shoot as well for the good of the salmon.. or whales or whatever excuse they right up.

[Stein]

You can shoot 7 a day.  I know one spot where you can whack a few on occasion, but if you have a honey hole that is publicly accessible and legal to shoot, post it up.  I would do trips to help out fish, get the dog some retrieves and see a change of scenery.

I have only killed a few and they were late season and ended up in summer sausage with the end of season freezer cleanout.

[metlhead]

anybody who wants, mouth of the Cowlitz is loaded, especially when the smelt start showing on January. Two close launches, Gearhardt in Longview and the Ranier ramp.