Photo: MDC

From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - September 23, 2021

Minnesota’s regular waterfowl season opens a half-hour before sunrise on Saturday, Sept. 25. Hunters need to be aware of new regulations in effect for the 2021 season:

• Shooting hours end at sunset the entire season.
• The Canada goose daily bag limit is five per day the entire season, with a possession limit of 15.
• In the South Zone, the split (closed period) is five days instead of 12 days. The closure is from Monday, Oct. 4, through Friday, Oct. 8.
• Motorized decoys may be used statewide throughout the entire waterfowl season, including on wildlife management areas. Remote controls for motorized decoys are legal.

Although drought conditions in some areas have improved, waterfowlers should plan ahead to ensure they can access areas they plan to hunt.

Information to help hunters properly identify waterfowl is available in an illustrated guide contained in the 2021 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations (link is external). Complete regulations and the illustrated guide also are available in Hmong (link is external), Karen (link is external), Somali (link is external) and Spanish (link is external). Access to complete information on Minnesota’s waterfowl hunting seasons is available from the DNR’s waterfowl hunting web portal (link is external).

Join this webinar on waterfowl hunting 
Anyone curious about waterfowl hunting is invited to join a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources webinar at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The webinar will cover how the state and federal governments work together to study waterfowl and set regulations, as well as tips and resources on how to get started in waterfowl hunting.

The webinar is part of the DNR’s Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series, which aims to give participants quick, relevant information on upcoming seasons and events, and skills to help enjoy these opportunities. Registration and more information are available on the DNR website (link is external).