Have a safe, legal, productive duck season
(2005-09-27)

Season, bag limit and shooting hours The waterfowl seasons will open at 9 am Saturday, Oct. 1, and continue through Nov. 29.

The four duck daily bag limit may include no more than one hen mallard, one black duck, one pintail, two wood ducks, two redheads and two scaup. One canvasback will be allowed from Oct. 8 through Nov. 6. Possession limits are twice the daily bag limits.

Except for opening day, when shooting hours will be 9 am to 4 pm, shooting hours will be from one half hour before sunrise to 4 pm daily through Saturday, Oct. 8, and from one half hour before sunrise to sunset beginning Sunday, Oct. 9, through the close of the season.

New this year

* unattended decoys, motorized decoys

During the waterfowl season, a person may not leave decoys in public waters between sunset and one hour before lawful shooting hours or leave decoys unattended during other times for more than four consecutive hours, unless the decoys are in waters adjacent to private land under the control of the hunter and there is not natural vegetation growing in water sufficient to partially conceal a hunter.

Motorized decoys or other motorized devices designed to attract migratory birds may not be used from the opening day of duck season through Saturday, Oct. 8. They may not be used at any time during the season on water bodies and lands fully contained within state wildlife management area boundaries.



Hunter boating safety

The Minnesota DNR offers these tips for duck hunters:

* Wear a life jacket to and from the blind, with or without waders

* Don't overload the boat

* Learn how to float in waders and hip boats or don't wear them

* Stay near the shore and avoid crossing large expanses of open water, especially in bad weather

* Let someone know where you are going and when to expect your return

Help prevent the spread of exotic and invasive aquatic species

Hauling boats and decoys from one water body to another increases the risk of transferring invasive plants and animals. Aquatic invaders such as zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil threaten our waters and cause ecological and economic harm.

Here are a few tips to help prevent the spread of exotic species:

* Switch to elliptical, bulb-shaped or strap decoy anchors that won't collect submerged aquatic plants as easily

* Inspect and remove aquatic plants, animals, and mud that are attached to decoy lines or anchors and waders

* Drain water from boats and equipment

Call the Turn In Poachers (TIP LINE) at 1-800-652-9093 to report Game & Fish violations...Rewards available.

For more information, contact: Jeff Lightfoot, DNR NE Regional Wildlife Manager, 218-999-7938,

Captain Ken Soring, DNR NE Region Enforcement, 218-999-7809;

or Jean Goad, DNR NE Regional Public Affairs, 218-999-7911
 

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