DNR Wants Public Input on Proposed Waterfowl Hunting Regulations

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has proposed new waterfowl hunting regulations and seasons, which would impact hunting zones throughout the state, and they're looking for public input.

According to the DNR, comments are welcome through an online form which you can access by clicking here. Comments will be accepted through Sunday, April 11

If you'd like more information on the proposed changes prior to submitting comments, the DNR will be hosting a virtual town hall meeting on Thursday, April 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This meeting can viewed through a computer, mobile device or phone to learn and participants will be able to both comment and ask questions.

Please click here for more information on Minnesota waterfowl management and to access the virtual town hall meeting on April 1.

The proposed waterfowl regulations were created after DNR public engagement efforts over the past few months, which included an online questionnaire, direct staff outreach and a hunter attitude survey.

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Here are the proposed changes to Minnesota's waterfowl regulations and seasons:

Increasing the Canada goose bag limit to five birds per day for the entire season;
Extending legal shooting hours to sunset for the entire season, eliminating the 4:00 p.m. early season closure.
Implementing a five-day early teal season (Sept. 4 - Sept. 8) as an experimental regulation for up to three years.
Allowing statewide over-water goose hunting during the early September season.
Establishing season dates through the 2024 season for the north, central and south waterfowl hunting zones, as follows: North zone: Keeping a 60-day season with no split. The 2021 season dates would be Saturday, September 25, to Tuesday, November 23. Central zone: Keeping a 60-day season with a five-day split. The 2021 season dates would be Saturday, September 25, to Sunday, October 3, and Saturday, October 9,M to Sunday, November 28. South zone: Implementing a 60-day season with a five-day split rather than the 12-day split implemented the past nine years. The 2021 season dates would be Saturday, September 25, to Sunday, October 3, and Saturday, October 9, to Sunday, November 28.