Waterfowl season opens today

From the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota’s waterfowl hunting season opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. The state is home to 23 species of ducks and geese, and is flyover country for the Eastern Prairie population of migrant geese that nest on the Hudson Bay in Canada. These migrating geese fly each fall from Hudson Bay over Minnesota to Missouri. Migrating geese are six to eight pounds, while resident geese can weigh up to 16 pounds.

Migration is physically demanding to all birds including waterfowl. Ducks lose 10 to 15 percent of their body weight on a day dominated by flight. Ducks must recover this weight before continuing. With good habitat and food, a duck can rebound in one to three days. Disturbances such as motorized boats reduce rest and feeding and extend recovery time to five to nine days, or more.

New this year:

Scaup bag limit: One scaup may be taken daily until Oct. 24. Two scaup may be taken daily from Oct. 25 to Nov. 13.

Canvasback closed: No canvasback may be taken.

To read more about decoy restrictions, bag limits and opening day possession limits, pick up the print edition of the Oct. 2 Hutchinson Leader.