Minnesota Waterfowl Seasons Open Saturday: Early Teal And Goose Dates

(KNSI) – Minnesota waterfowl hunters get their first shots of the season this weekend.

Early teal season runs Saturday, September 5th through Wednesday, September 9th, with shooting hours from sunrise to sunset. The early goose season, open statewide, runs September 5th through September 20th.

The DNR says the printed hunting and trapping regulations booklet lists the wrong dates for the central zone, which takes in the St. Cloud area. The booklet says the second half of the central zone duck season runs October 11th through November 30th. The correct dates are October 10th through November 29th. The online version has been corrected.

Waterfowl rules are no longer printed on their own. The DNR folded them into the main hunting and trapping regulations booklet this year, which is available online and wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Teal hunting is restricted on wild rice waters inside the Mille Lacs, Leech Lake and White Earth reservations. Hunters planning to be on those waters should contact the tribal authority for that reservation before opening day.

Duck, merganser, coot and moorhen seasons
Central zone: September 26th through October 4th, then October 10th through November 29th
North zone: September 26th through November 24th
South zone: September 26th through October 4th, then October 17th through December 6th

Goose seasons after the early season
Central zone: September 26th through October 4th, then October 10th through December 30th
North zone: September 26th through December 25th
South zone: September 26th through October 4th, then October 17th through January 6th

Youth waterfowl weekend is September 12th and 13th. Hunters 17 and younger can take part if they are with a nonhunting adult 18 or older.

A federal duck stamp is required for hunters 16 and older. Stamps are sold through the DNR’s electronic licensing system, in person or online. The electronic version is good for the entire season, and the pictorial stamp is mailed out after waterfowl seasons close.

More information is available on the DNR’s waterfowl hunting page.

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