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Minnesota^s regular waterfowl seasons are scheduled to open this year on Saturday, Sept. 30, except for Canada goose seasons in the Lac qui Parle and West Central goose zones, which will open on Oct. 7.
Proposed duck seasons are the same as last year, except for the calendar shift in dates. Canada goose seasons will be similar to last year and the snow goose daily bag limit will increase from 10 to 20.
"Conditions were dryer than last year in North America^s duck breeding grounds during May waterfowl population surveys, but duck numbers remain relatively high," according to Tim Bremicker, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Division director. "While June and July rainfall in many areas improved the production outlook relative to earlier predictions, they also improved water conditions to the west of Minnesota, so the stage is set for another year of possibly disappointing hunting success for Minnesota^s duck hunters. Duck harvest in Minnesota has been average in recent years, yet success has been below expectations based upon the expected fall flight and high harvests in some other states."
Bremicker noted that in contrast, Minnesota leads the nation in Canada goose harvest and another good year is expected. "Fewer young in the fall flight of migrant Canada geese may make hunting tougher in areas frequented by these geese, but there should be abundant Minnesota-breeding giant Canada geese to take up the slack in most areas," Bremicker said. "Minnesota should again be one of the top Canada goose harvest states in the country."
Bremicker reminded all migratory bird hunters, including waterfowl hunters, to enroll in the Harvest Information Program, known as HIP. To legally hunt migratory birds, hunters must answer "YES" to the question on their small game hunting license about whether they will hunt any migratory birds this year and their license must say "HIP CERTIFIED." If hunters did not check "YES" and wish to hunt migratory birds, they must visit an Electronic License System agent to obtain a HIP Certification. There is no fee.
PROPOSED DUCK SEASON The total duck breeding population in the Dakota^s, Montana, Alaska and much of Canada was estimated at 42 million birds, similar to last year and 27 percent above the 1955-99 average. The predicted fall flight of 90 million is less than last year^s 105 million -- due mostly to a poorer outlook for the production of young. In Minnesota, the number of breeding mallards was unchanged at 318,000, and remain at a relatively high level. Blue-winged teal in Minnesota were 21 percent below the long-term average, but continentally were at record high levels.
North American populations of pintails and scaup are the only major species that are below long-term average numbers this year. The scaup population estimate decreased 9 percent this year. Last year^s reduction in the daily bag limit to three scaup will be maintained this year.
Dates for the 2000 Minnesota duck hunting season will be noon on Saturday, Sept. 30, through Tuesday, Nov. 28. Except for opening day, when shooting hours will be noon to 4 p.m., shooting hours will be from one-half hour before sunrise to 4 p.m. daily through Saturday, Oct. 7, and from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset beginning Sunday, Oct. 8, through the close of the season.
Bag limits are proposed to be the same as last year. The proposed daily bag limit is six ducks, and may not include more than four mallards (only two of which may be females), three scaup, two wood ducks, two redheads, one black duck, one pintail and one canvasback. Possession limits are double the daily bag limits.
PROPOSED GOOSE SEASON The regular Canada goose season will be the same as last year. This will be the second year of the expanded December Canada goose seasons, intended to provide more hunting pressure on Minnesota^s growing resident goose flock.
"The migrant Eastern Prairie Population (EPP) Canada geese, which influence goose hunting regulations in Minnesota^s western goose zones, had an extremely poor production year, but the population numbers estimated in June provide for the same hunting season as last year according to the EPP management plan," Bremicker said. "This is the second consecutive year of poor production of EPP geese, which likely will have a negative effect on future population size."
The regular goose season will begin the same day as the duck opener, on Saturday, Sept. 30, except in the Lac qui Parle and the West Central zones where the season will open on Saturday, Oct. 7, to better coincide with peak goose numbers in these zones.
In the Lac qui Parle Zone and the West Central Zone, the 30-day goose season will be Oct. 7 - Nov. 5. The harvest index in the Lac qui Parle Goose Zone will again be 16,000; the season may close earlier than Nov. 5 if the index is reached. The daily bag limit will be one Canada goose in these zones.
In the West Goose Zone (outside of the West Central and Lac qui Parle goose zones) and in the Northwest Goose Zone, the regular goose season will be 40 days from Sept. 30 - Nov. 8. The daily bag limit will be one Canada goose in these zones. The remainder of the state will have a 70-day goose season, from Sept. 30 - Dec. 8, with a bag limit of two Canada geese daily.
This will be the second year of the experimental December Canada goose season, which includes the entire state, except for the Lac qui Parle and West Central goose zones. Late season hunters must have the same $3 Special Goose Hunt Permit that is required to hunt the early September goose season. The same permit will work for both the early and late seasons. The December season will be Dec. 9 - Dec. 18, except in the Southeast Goose Zone, where the season will be Dec. 15 - Dec. 24. Bag limits for Canada geese will be five per day, except in the Southeast Goose Zone, where the bag limit will be two. The Southeast Goose Zone includes an area south of the Twin Cities along the Mississippi River extending westward to the Rochester area. A map of the zone is in the Hunting Handbook and in the waterfowl regulations supplement.
Light geese (snow, blue and Ross^ geese), white-fronted geese and brant seasons will be Sept. 30 - Dec. 24. The only exception is in the Lac qui Parle Zone, where the season for all geese closes the same date as the Canada goose season. The daily bag limit will be 20 light geese, two white-fronted geese and one brant. The daily bag limit for light geese was increased to possibly help control increasing snow goose problems. These species make up a small portion of Minnesota^s total goose harvest.
OTHER Waterfowl seasons will not be finalized until after the comment period closes on the proposed federal migratory waterfowl rules in early September; however, it is unlikely that the federal waterfowl season frameworks will be different from those noted above.
To comment on the proposed seasons, write Minnesota DNR, Division of Wildlife, 500 Lafayette Road - Box 7, St. Paul, MN 55155-4007; or write Chief, Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, ms 634 - ARLSQ, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
The DNR will announce the final season dates and limits in early September. Waterfowl hunters should consult the "2000 Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations" booklet, which is now available from license agents and DNR offices, for basic waterfowl regulations and September seasons. For details on regular and December season waterfowl regulations, consult the "2000 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Supplement," which will be available in early-September.
Uploaded: 8/29/2000
Uploaded: 8/29/2000