ST. PAUL — Minnesota's duck hunting season will open a week earlier than usual.
Opening day shooting hours also will be earlier, and the annual youth waterfowl hunt will fall on an earlier date this year. Bag limits for wood ducks and hen mallards will be higher than last year. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources also is adding north and south hunting zones to give duck hunters more opportunities.
DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr says waterfowl hunters supported the changes. And with waterfowl hunter numbers at record lows, Landwehr says the DNR doesn't expect the changes to hurt breeding populations.
The 60-day, six-duck-limit waterfowl season opens Saturday, Sept. 24. Opening day shooting will start a half-hour before sunrise.
Youth waterfowl day will be Saturday, Sept. 10, two weeks before the regular opener.
