A Federal Duck Stamp is required for all persons age 16 and older. An electronically-issued federal stamp is valid for 45 days. Pictorial stamps, when received by mail, must be signed and in the possession of the hunter ($25).
HIP certification is required for any licensed waterfowl or migratory bird hunter.
A Minnesota state waterfowl stamp is required for residents age 18 to 64 and nonresidents age 16 and over. 72-hour licenses include the state waterfowl stamp $7.50.
Special goose permit (residents ages 18-64 and all nonresidents) required for the September season, $4.
Sandhill crane permit required for northwest crane season (residents and nonresidents) $3.
Persons hunting waterfowl on commercial shooting preserves are required to have both a federal and a state duck stamp validation in addition to a small game license. The only exception is when taking only marked, pen-reared mallards.
There are licensing exceptions for landowners, military personnel and others.
The combined daily limit for all species listed – not including goose – is 6
Early Teal
Species
Limit
Blue-winged, Green-winged,Cinnamon
6 combined
Ducks
Species
Limit
Mallard
4 (2 hens)
Wood duck
3
Redhead
2
Canvasback
2
Black duck
2
Pintail
1
All others
6
Scaup
Dates
Limit
Zone opening day - Oct. 13
1
Oct. 14 - Zone closing day
2
Coots & moorhen (gallinule)
Species
Limit
Coots & moorhen (gallinule)
15
Mergansers
Species
Limit
Mergansers
5 (no more than 2 of which may be hooded mergansers)
Early goose season
Species
Dates
Limit
Canada, White-fronted, Brant
Sept. 3-18
5 combined
Snow, Blue snow, Ross's
Sept. 3-18
20
Regular goose season
North zone
Species
Dates
Limit
Canada, White-fronted, Brant
Sept. 24-Dec. 23
5 combined
Snow, Blue snow, Ross's
Sept. 24-Dec. 23
20
Central zone
Species
Dates
Limit
Canada, White-fronted, Brant
Sept. 24-Oct. 2; Oct. 8-Dec. 28
5 combined
Snow, Blue snow, Ross's
Sept. 24-Oct. 2; Oct. 8-Dec. 28
20
South zone
Species
Dates
Limit
Canada, White-fronted, Brant
Sept. 24-Oct. 2; Oct. 8-Dec. 28
5 combined
Snow, Blue snow, Ross's
Sept. 24-Oct. 2; Oct. 8-Dec. 28
20
The possession limit for all migratory birds is three times the daily limit.
Duck: Daily limit is 6. No more than any of the following species: 4 mallards (2 hen mallards), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 pintail.
One scaup may be taken per day through October 14; 2 scaup per day through the remainder of the season in each zone.
If not listed up to 6 ducks of a species may be taken daily until the possession limit is reached.
Coot and moorhen (gallinule) daily limits: Daily limit is 15.
Merganser daily limit: Daily limit is 5, no more than 2 of which may be a hooded merganser.
Hunting over water: During the September goose season, hunting over water is legal statewide.
Required licenses: Small game license, state waterfowl stamp, federal duck stamp, special goose permit and HIP certification.
Regular Season Duck and Goose Zones
YOUTH HUNT
On September 10-11, waterfowl hunters age 17 and younger, when accompanied by a non-hunting adult (age 18 and older) may take ducks, geese, mergansers, coots and moorhens from ½ hour before sunrise to sunset.
Daily limits are the same as the regular duck and goose seasons.
Hunters ages 13 to 17 must have a firearms safety certificate or apprentice hunter validation in their possession.
Youth hunters age 16 and 17 must have a Federal Duck Stamp and a youth small game license. Hunters under age 16 are not required to possess a small game license or stamps.
All other migratory bird hunting regulations apply.
Motorized decoys are legal during the youth hunt
SANDHILL CRANE SEASON
Open area: Sandhill crane zone only
Season dates: Sept. 18 - Oct. 24
Daily limit: 2 sandhill crane
NEW Shooting hours: 1⁄2 hour before sunrise to sunset
License: Small game
Stamps: Not required
Permit: Sandhill crane permit ($3): all hunters
Nontoxic shot required.
Sandhill Crane Zone
HARVEST INFORMATION PROGRAM (HIP)
Before hunting waterfowl or migratory game birds (except sandhill cranes), you must be Harvest Information Program (HIP) certified by answering “yes” when asked whether you intend to hunt migratory birds at the time you buy your small game or sports license. If you don’t, you can still answer “yes” at a later date by getting a HIP receipt at any electronic license sales location online or by telephone. Evidence of compliance will be noted on your license as “HIP Certified” and must be carried while hunting migratory birds.
WHY HIP?
Using information gathered with HIP, DNR waterfowl biologists and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are developing more reliable estimates of the number of all migratory birds harvested throughout the country.
FIREARMS SAFETY CERTIFICATE
Anyone born after December 31, 1979 must have a Firearms Safety Certificate, Apprentice Hunter Validation, a previous hunting license with a firearms safety indicator or other evidence of successfully completing a hunter safety course to obtain a license to take wild animals with firearms in Minnesota.
Avoid Spreading Invasive Species
It is illegal to transport aquatic plants, zebra mussels, snails or other prohibited invasive species in or on boats, trailers, or other equipment such as decoys and waders. Waterfowl hunters may use emergent aquatic plants, such as cattails and bulrushes, cut above the waterline, for building blinds or camouflage.
Clean aquatic plants, animals and mud from your boat, trailer, waders or hip boots, push poles, clothing, decoy and lines, dogs, and ATV or truck.
Drain all water from boats and equipment and leave drain plugs out when transporting.
Dry everything for at least five days before hunting in other waters.
Use elliptical, bulb-shaped or strap decoy anchors to reduce snagging aquatic plants.
Youth Duck Hunting Opportunity
Carlos Avery WMA Controlled Hunt Zone—A special restricted access hunt will be held in the Pool 2 portion of the sanctuary at Carlos Avery WMA in Anoka County. Two areas will be available by drawing on Saturday and Tuesday mornings until the beginning of the firearm deer season. Applications will be accepted for groups of up to four with preference given to groups with at least one youth hunter (age 17 and under) or one senior hunter (age 65 and over). Drawings for blinds will be conducted two weeks prior to each week of hunting.
For rules, application form and dates go to:
www.mndnr.gov/averyhunt
Or call the Carlos Avery WMA Headquarters at: 651-539-3323
GENERAL WATERFOWL REGULATIONS
STAMP AND APPRENTICE HUNTER VALIDATIONS
License validations for state migratory waterfowl stamps are legal for hunting without the pictorial stamp. Purchasers can request the optional pictorial stamp for a fee but it is not required for hunting.
Apprentice hunter validation is available for residents and non-residents who would normally be required to possess a firearms safety certificate to hunt small game or deer. See the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook for details.
Aquatic Invasive Species Alert: Faucet Snail
The faucet snail carries a parasite that has killed thousands of diving ducks and coots in Minnesota. Faucet snails can be moved to new lakes on waterfowl hunting equipment—they can attach to your gear, be hidden in mud, or attached to plants. You can help prevent the spread of faucet snails by taking a few moments to check your boat, waders, push poles, decoys, and decoy anchors before leaving the water access:
Clean aquatic plants, animals and mud from all gear, boats, clothing, dogs and vehicles.
Drain all water from boats and equipment, and leave drain plugs out when transporting.
Dry everything for at least five days before hunting in other waters.
Check your gear before you go back out to hunt—faucet snails can live out of water for more than five days.
Visit www.mndnr.gov/AIS for more information.
DEFINITIONS
“Migratory game birds” means ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, moorhens (gallinules), woodcock, rails, snipe, sandhill cranes, and mourning doves.
“Migratory waterfowl” means ducks, geese, and mergansers.
“Undressed bird” means ducks, or geese or other migratory game birds with one fully-feathered wing attached.
NON-TOXIC SHOT REQUIRED
It is unlawful to take geese, ducks, mergansers, coots, moorhens, or sandhill cranes with lead shot or while having any lead shot in possession. Only shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may be used.
DON’T SHOOT A SWAN
Both tundra and trumpeter swans are found in Minnesota and are not legal game birds. Trumpeter swans are entirely white with a black bill and black legs. They weigh over 25 pounds. Young swans are gray-brown in color.
OPENING DAY POSSESSION LIMIT
On the opening day of the season, no person may possess more freshly killed migratory game birds than is allowed by the daily limit.
RETRIEVAL
A person may not kill or wound any migratory game bird without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird and include it in the daily limit.
TAKING IN OPEN WATER
A person may not take migratory waterfowl, coots, or rails in open water unless that person is:
a) within a natural growth of vegetation sufficient to partially conceal the person or boat, or
b) pursuing or shooting wounded birds (while in compliance with watercraft restrictions), or
c) on a river or stream that is not more than 100 yards in width, or
d) hunting on one of the following water bodies:
Mississippi River from the Highway 61 bridge at Hastings to the Iowa border: hunting is allowed from anchored boats not more than 100 feet from any shoreline, including islands.
Lake Pepin, Lake of the Woods, and Lake Mille Lacs: open-water hunting is allowed from boats that must be anchored.
Lake Superior: open water hunting is allowed on the Minnesota waters north and east of the Minnesota/Park Point peninsula as long as boats remain anchored.
WATERCRAFT
A person using watercraft to take migratory waterfowl must comply with the provisions for “Taking in Open Water.”
Migratory waterfowl may be taken from a floating watercraft if the craft is drifting, beached, moored, resting at anchor, or is being propelled by paddle, oars, or pole.
Migratory waterfowl may be taken from a watercraft propelled by motor or sails only if the motor is shut off and the sails are furled and the water- craft has stopped.
While on the water and traveling to or from a site the person intends to hunt, unloaded and uncased firearms may be transported in a boat or other watercraft capable of being propelled by motor or sail. Firearms must be transported unloaded and cased in such watercraft:
Within Anoka, Hennepin and Ramsey counties.
Within the boundaries of a home rule, charter or statutory city with a population of 2,500 or more.
As otherwise restricted by game refuge, shining or night vision laws.
All watercraft (including boats used for duck hunting during the duck season) are required to carry and have readily accessible, one U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable (Type I, II, or III) personal flotation device or life preserver for each person on board. In addition, boats 16 feet or longer (except canoes and kayaks) must carry at least one coast guard approved throwable device (boat cushion or ring buoy) for the boat. Boat cushions are not acceptable as primary lifesaving devices.
During open waterfowl seasons, a person may not leave an unattended boat used for hunting waterfowl in public waters between sunset and one hour before sunrise unless the boat is adjacent to private land under control of the person and the water does not contain a natural growth of vegetation sufficient to partially conceal a hunter or a boat.
A waterfowl boat does not have to be licensed when used for waterfowl hunting.
Persons leaving waters of the state must drain boating-related equipment holding water and live wells and bilges by removing the drain plug before transporting the watercraft and associated equipment. Drain plugs, bailers, valves, or other devices used to control the draining of water from ballast tanks, bilges and live wells must be removed or opened while transporting watercraft on public roads.
Report Your Bands at www.reportband.gov
Each year, state and federal waterfowl biologists mark thousands of waterfowl with numbered leg bands. Hunters who report recovered bands receive specific information on where and when the bird was banded while providing important information for waterfowl management.
Bands may be reported online at www.reportband.gov
BLINDS AND SINK BOXES
No person may erect a blind in public waters or on public land more than one hour before the open season for waterfowl.
No person may take migratory waterfowl, coots, or rails using a sink box or in public waters from a permanent artificial blind. A sink box is a structure that allows a hunter to hide beneath the water surface. Layout boats are not considered sink boxes.
Any blind on public land or in public waters when not in use is considered public and not the property of the person who constructed it. Any use of threat or force against another person to gain possession of a blind is unlawful.
Hunters may use aquatic emergent plants, such as cattails and bulrushes, cut above the waterline, for building blinds.
DECOYS
No person may place decoys on public lands or in public waters more than two hours before legal shooting hours for waterfowl.
No person may leave decoys on public waters between sunset and two hours before legal shooting hours or leave decoys unattended during other times for more than three consecutive hours, except decoys may be left in waters adjacent to private land under control of the hunter where there is not sufficient natural vegetation growing in the water to partially conceal a hunter. A person may not leave decoys in public waters between sunset and one hour before shooting hours if the decoys constitute a navigational hazard.
MOTORIZED DECOY
Motorized decoys may be used statewide during the teal season and throughout the entire waterfowl season, including on wildlife management areas. Remote controls for motorized decoys are legal.
WHITEFISH NETTING SEASON OPEN
The whitefish netting season on Leech Lake and other lakes is open during duck season. Be careful when venturing near buoys.
USE OF AERATION SYSTEMS
Aeration systems may not be used to create open water areas to attract or delay the migration of wild waterfowl on public waters. Aeration systems means a bubbler, fan, water circulation or similar system used to increase dissolved oxygen or maintain open water.
POSSESSING AND TRANSPORTING MIGRATORY WATERFOWL AND GAME BIRDS
Ducks and all other migratory game birds must be transported with a feathered wing attached. Exception: doves may be fully dressed (wings and feet may be removed).
MIGRATORY FEEDING AND RESTING AREAS
The following areas have been designated Migratory Waterfowl Feeding and Resting Areas. Use of motor-propelled watercraft is restricted to the following: Watercraft using trolling motors with battery power of 12 volts or less are allowed during the open waterfowl season on the lakes listed below.
COUNTY
LAKES
Beltrami
Puposky Lake and Little Puposky Lake
Carver
Tiger Lake
Faribault
Part of Minnesota Lake
Freeborn
Bear Lake, Upper Twin Lake
Jackson
Part of South Heron Lake, all of North Heron Lake except Winzer Bay and North Marsh
Kandiyohi
Wakanda Lake, Lake Lillian
LeSueur
Dora, Diamond, Sanborn
McLeod
Bakers Lake and the unnamed lake (Penn Marsh) in Sec. 28, Twp. 114N, R 29W. (Penn Twp.)
Polk
Turtle Lake
Pope
Nelson Lake
Traverse
Part of Mud Lake
No motor-propelled watercraft are allowed during the open waterfowl season on the lakes listed below.
COUNTY
LAKES
Big Stone, Lac qui Parle, Swift
Part of Marsh Lake, Thielke Lake
Blue Earth
Cottonwood Lake
Long Lake
Cottonwood Lake
Cass
Big Rice, Goose, Mud Lakes
Clearwater
Upper Rice Lake
Grant and Douglas
Part of Lake Christina
Itasca
Rice Lake (near Max) and Nature’s Lake Oakleaf Lake
LeSueur
Henry, Rice and Scotch lakes
Nicollet
Oakleaf Lake
Otter Tail
That part of Lake Lizzie, also known as Rush Lake, located in Sec. 3-9, Twp. 136 N., R. 42 (Lida Twp.); and Mud Lake in Aastad Twp.
Pope
Lake Johanna
Scott
Pleasant Lake
Sibley
Washington Lake and Mud (Erin) Lake in Washington Lake Twp.
OUTBOARD MOTOR USE ON STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS
The use of outboard motors (including electric trolling motors) or motorized water vehicles (including amphibious vehicles) is prohibited on most state wildlife management areas, federal waterfowl production areas or national wildlife refuges. See the Minnesota Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more details.
AIRBOAT USE ON DESIGNATED WILDLIFE LAKES
The use of airboats is prohibited at all times on the following lakes, which have been designated for wildlife management purposes, except as specifically authorized. Additional motorized restrictions may be posted at access points.
COUNTY
LAKE
Aitkin
White Elk
Anoka
Fish
Blue Earth
Cottonwood
Blue Earth
Perch
Blue Earth
Eagle
Blue Earth
Rice
Brown
Hanska
Big Stone
Lake 14
Carver
Patterson
Carver
Tiger
Cass
Big Rice
Cottonwood
Augusta
Cottonwood
Bolstad Slough
Cottonwood
Long Lake
Crow Wing
Dog
Douglas
Anka
Douglas
Jennie
Douglas/Grant
Christina
Faribault
Rice
Faribault
Minnesota
Freeborn
Bear
Freeborn
Lower Twin
Freeborn
Geneva
Freeborn
Upper Twin
Grant
Ash
Grant
Denton Slough
Grant
Towner
Jackson
Heron
Jackson
Teal
Kandiyohi
Middle
LeSueur
Sanborn
Lyon
Mahlke Marsh
Martin
Pierce
Mahnomen
Beaulieu
McLeod
Eagle
McLeod
Ward
Mille Lacs
Onamia
Murray
Maria
Murray
Round
Murray
South Badger
Murray
North Badger
Nicollet
Swan
Otter Tail
Mud
Otter Tail
Upper Lightning
Pope
Simon
St. Louis
Little Rice
St. Louis
Big Rice
Sibley
Sand
Stearns
Cedar
Steele/Dodge
Rice
Swift
Hassel
Waseca
Buffalo
Waseca
Goose
Waseca
Willis
Watonwan
Sulem
Wright
Pelican
Wright
Smith
Yellow Medicine
Curtis
Yellow Medicine
Spellman (North and South)
Yellow Medicine
Timm Lake
ILLUSTRATED DUCKS OF MINNESOTA
(NOT ALL SPECIES ARE DEPICTED)
ACCESSIBLE BLINDS FOR HUNTERS
The Lac qui Parle, Talcot Lake, Swan Lake and Whitewater Wildlife Management Areas have a number of duck or goose hunting blinds for hunters with mobility issues. For more information, contact:
Lac qui Parle WMA, 14047 20th St. NW, Watson, MN 56295 Phone number: 320-734-4451;
Nicollet Area Wildlife Office (Swan Lake WMA), 501 Ninth St., Nicollet, MN 56074 Phone number: 507-225-3572;
Waterfowl or small game hunting, as specified, is restricted to designated hunting stations in the portions posted as controlled hunting zones on or adjacent to the Lac qui Parle, Roseau River, Thief Lake,
Talcot Lake, and Orwell Wildlife Management Areas, and the Rochester Game Refuge.
General Restrictions
The following regulations apply to persons within all the controlled hunting zones during the open goose seasons or as otherwise specified:
No more than one hunting party, consisting of no more than three hunters, may occupy any hunting station at one time.
Waterfowl hunters must have their guns unloaded and cased except within 10 feet of a hunting station.
Hunters taking migratory waterfowl must be within 10 feet of each designated hunting station, except hunters may retrieve downed birds away from a posted station if they comply with all other refuge and trespass regulations.
On public lands, dogs must be on a leash except within 10 feet of stations or while retrieving, and must be under control at all times.
All persons occupying a hunting station must meet all license requirements to hunt waterfowl in Minnesota.
No person may leave any refuse, offal, or feathers on public lands in the controlled hunting zone or in any parking lot or designated overnight use area on the management area.
No alcoholic beverages may be consumed or possessed at any of the hunting stations on public lands.
No person may loiter between the designated hunting stations on public lands.
On public lands, after each party member has their daily limit of Canada geese or expended their limit of shells (if applicable), the party must promptly leave the station.
No trailers of any kind are allowed in designated parking lots.
Spring Snow Goose Season
(Light Goose Conservation Action)
Minnesota again plans to participate in a cooperative light goose conservation action in February, March and April 2022. This action is being taken in an attempt to reduce an overabundance of snow geese that is threatening their arctic breeding habitat. All participants must have a Light Goose Conservation Permit in their possession while attempting to take light geese.
LAC QUI PARLE
The following regulations apply to all persons in the Lac qui Parle Controlled Hunting Zone from October 21 through the end of the goose season.
Hunters must use designated hunting stations on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hunters are limited to one trip to the blinds before noon, and one trip after noon, per day.
Hunters are limited to 12 shells per trip in possession.
Waterfowl and small game hunters must have guns unloaded and cased except within 10 feet of assigned hunting stations.
No person may park in or otherwise occupy any designated Controlled Hunting Zone parking lot or occupy any hunting station from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
A goose hunting guide for the Lac qui Parle Controlled Hunting Zone is available on the DNR website. Hunters are encouraged to view this guide for regulations unique to the refuge, blind maps, and other helpful tips.
THIEF LAKE
The following regulations apply to waterfowl and small game hunters in the Thief Lake Controlled Hunting Zone during all open waterfowl seasons (including Early September and Youth Waterfowl Seasons). The restriction on small game hunting in the Controlled Hunting Zone applies from the opening of the regular waterfowl season through October 25.
Hunters must use designated hunting stations on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hunters are limited to one trip to the blinds before noon, and one trip after noon, per day.
Hunters are limited to 12 shells per trip in possession.
Hunters must have guns unloaded and cased except within 10 feet of the hunting stations.
Selected blinds will be posted closed during the early September Canada Goose Season because of their proximity to open water.
No person may park in or otherwise occupy any designated Controlled Hunting Zone parking lot or occupy any hunting station from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
TALCOT LAKE Closed Area All waterfowl hunting is prohibited upon or from the 1.5-mile segment of State Trunk Highway 62 and its right-of-way along the south boundary of the Talcot Lake Waterfowl Refuge (between the Cottonwood County line on the west and County Highway 7 on the east). The following regulations apply to all persons in the Talcot Lake controlled hunting zones during Canada Goose Seasons:General Restrictions
Hunting, other than waterfowl, is prohibited on public land in the east and west side controlled hunting zones.
The wildlife manager may limit persons to one day of hunting in every three. The manager will stamp the date on the Small Game Hunting License or Firearms Safety Certificate of each person at a restricted hunting station. Persons may hunt at any restricted station on the day stamped, but may not occupy a restricted station for the next two days. Restricted stations will be posted.
No persons may occupy a hunting station within a controlled hunting zone except when their vehicle is occupying a numbered parking stall in a designated parking lot in the controlled hunting zone. No persons other than those hunting at a hunting station may occupy a numbered stall or park in a designated parking lot.
Waterfowl hunters must hunt only at the hunting stations having numbers corresponding to their parking stall number.
No person may park in or otherwise occupy any parking stall in the designated parking lot or occupy any hunting station from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
SUMMARY OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
In addition to state regulations, the following federal rules apply to the taking, possession, shipping, transporting and storing of migratory game birds.
The following material is a summary. Each hunter should also consult the actual federal regulations found in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20. More restrictive regulations may apply to national wildlife refuges and state wildlife management areas open to public hunting.
ILLEGAL HUNTING METHODS
You may not hunt migratory waterfowl:
With a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, battery gun, machine gun, fish hook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance.
From a sink box or any other low floating device that conceals you beneath the surface of the water.
From a motorboat or sailboat, unless you shut the motor off or furl the sail and the vessel is no longer in motion.
Using live birds as decoys.
Using recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds or imitations of these calls and sounds.
While possessing any shot other than approved nontoxic shot. A list of approved shot is available online at: http://www.fws.gov/birds/bird-...
With a shotgun that can hold more than three shells, unless you plug it with a one piece filler that cannot be removed without disassembling the gun.
From or by means, aid, or use of any motor vehicle, motor-driven land conveyance, or aircraft (if you are a paraplegic or are missing one or both legs, you may hunt from a stationary car or other stationary motor-driven land vehicle or conveyance).
By the aid of baiting or on or over a baited area where a person knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited. A baited area is considered to be baited for 10 days after removal of bait.
POSSESSION LIMIT
No person shall possess more migratory game birds taken in the United States than the possession limit or the aggregate possession limit, whichever applies.
FIELD POSSESSION LIMIT
No person shall possess, have in custody or transport more than the daily limit or aggre
gate daily limit, whichever applies, of migratory game birds, tagged or not tagged at or between the place where taken and either (a) his automobile or principal means of land transportation; or (b) his personal abode or temporary transient place of lodging; or (c) migratory bird preservation facility; or (d) a post office or (e) a common carrier facility.
WANTON WASTE
You must make a reasonable effort to retrieve all migratory game birds that you kill or wound and keep these birds in your actual custody while in the field. You must immediately kill any wounded birds that you retrieve and count th
ose birds toward your daily limit. Birds must remain in your possession while in the field. You may not give your birds to another person in the field regardless of whether or not they are properly tagged.
TAGGING
You may not put or leave migratory game birds at any place or in the custody of another person unless you tag the birds with your signature, address, number of birds identified by species and the date you killed them.
RALLYING
You may not hunt migratory game birds that have been concentrated, driven, rallied or stirred up with a motorized vehicle or sailboat.
DRESSING
You may not complete
ly field dress migratory birds (except doves) before taking them from the field.
DUAL VIOLATION
A violation of a federal migratory game bird regulation is also a violation of state regulations.
PROTECTED BIRDS
Federal law prohibits the killing of nongame migratory birds.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Federal migratory game bird hunting regulations can be found in 50 CFR Part 20. If you have
additional questions about waterfowl hunting and the law, contact Division of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5600 American Blvd. W, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437-1458. Telephone: 612-713-5320.
National Wildlife Refuge specific regulations may differ from state regulations
Please consult the refuge specific hunting regulations where you plan to hunt or follow the link to find the individual refuge website at www.fws.gov
SHOOTING HOURS
Shooting hours for migratory game birds are 1/2 hr before sunrise until sunset the entire season, except during teal season when shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.
Nine hunting time zones are shown on the Minnesota state map (right). Sunrise and sunset times to be used for hunting in the zone titled “In Table” are shown in the table (right). For other zones, add or subtract the minutes shown at the top of the map to the times shown in the table.
