Good Opener Predicted For Minnesota’s Waterfowl Season

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Officials say hunting is expected to be good when Minnesota's waterfowl season opens Saturday.

Steve Cordts, waterfowl specialist with the Department of Natural Resources, says there are lots of opportunities to find uncrowded areas to hunt. And he says duck numbers look strong compared with the state's long-term average.

This year's estimate is 11.8 million mallards, which is well above the long-term average. Since 1997, duck season length has been 60 days each year, and the mallard population has ranged from 6.8 million to 11.8 million.

The only bag limit change is for canvasback, which increases from one to two per day. The overall limit remains six ducks per day.

Minnesota’s regular goose season will open in conjunction with the duck season with a bag limit of three dark geese per day the entire season. “Dark” geese include Canada geese, white-fronted geese and brant.  The goose season will be closed in the central and south zones when the duck season is closed.

The DNR will post a weekly waterfowl migration report each week during the season.