With three duck hunting zones in effect in Minnesota, hunters in the Central and South duck zones are reminded of closed dates in those zones that split the season into two parts to provide more hunting opportunity later in the fall.
The waterfowl season in the Central Duck Zone (south of Highway 210) will be closed from Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. 9, and then reopen Saturday, Oct. 10.
In the South Duck Zone (south of Highway 212), the waterfowl season will be closed from Monday, Oct. 5, through Wednesday, Oct. 14, and then reopen Thursday, Oct. 15, which coincides with a long weekend off for many students.
Goose season is also closed in the central and south duck zones when duck season is closed.
Opening weekend report
Over the opening weekend of waterfowl season that began Sept. 26, duck numbers were good and hunter numbers were similar to last year. Blue-winged teal, wood duck and mallard comprised most of the harvest, according to Steve Cordts, waterfowl specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
“As always, results varied throughout the state, but overall I’d say it was a very good opening weekend – especially with the shirt-sleeve weather, which isn’t conducive to duck hunting,” Cordts said.
Lac qui Parle Refuge had the second best opening day in 26 years with 3.6 ducks per hunter. Big White Oak Lake had the best opener in at least 15 years with three ducks per hunter. Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Roseau River WMA, Big Rice WMA near Remer, and Swan Lake all averaged more than two ducks per hunter and above their long-term averages for opening day.
“The outlook for the rest of the season remains good, athough there will be the typical lull until new birds migrate into the state,” Cordts said. “Migrant ring-necked ducks will soon begin to build in numbers in northern Minnesota. Teal and wood ducks will still be fairly common in southern Minnesota this weekend.”
For more information on waterfowl hunting, including waterfowl migration reports, see www.mndnr.gov/hunting/waterfowl.
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NOTE: Image available at ftp://mediaroom.dnr.state.mn.us in folder named “news release resources,” then in folder named “10-05-15 ducks.”
DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 5, 2015
Media contact: Steve Merchant, wildlife populations and regulations manager, 651-259-5220,
[email protected].
