New Changes for Upcoming Minnesota Waterfowl Season

Detroit Lakes, MN — When waterfowl seasons open this fall, hunters will see a number of regulatory changes with duck and goose seasons and season dates. Before implementing these changes, the DNR took a comprehensive look at waterfowl regulations. Some of the objectives for these changes focused on simplification of regulations and providing additional opportunity that remains compatible with current and future waterfowl populations.

The DNR collected extensive public engagement and input on a variety of potential regulatory changes earlier this year through mail-out surveys to randomly selected hunters, two opportunities for online public input and a town hall meeting to use to help inform the decisions.

Detroit Lakes Area Wildlife Supervisor Rob Baden was one of those who was very active in the decision making process for waterfowl regulations. One of the exciting new additions to waterfowl opportunities this fall is the addition an early Teal season.

The Canada Geese Season will see changes this year as well. Baden says they are expanding the regular season bag limit to five birds and opened up hunting over water across the state during the September season.

Shooting hours also will change this fall with hunters being allowed to hunt until sunset for the entire season. In previous years, Minnesota has closed waterfowl hunting at 4 p.m. early in the duck season. Motorized decoys may also be used statewide during the teal season and throughout the entire waterfowl season, including on wildlife management areas.