Edina Waterfowl Hunters Approve of New Regulations

The 2011 waterfowl hunting season in Minnesota has some noticeable changes and as far as one Edina hunting family goes, that’s a good thing.

Steve Wallschlaeger has been hunting almost all of his life for a little bit of everything—ducks and geese, pheasants and deer. As a veteran outdoorsman, he has an experienced take on what the new regulations mean.

"I think the new regulations are good for the sport and for conservation," he said

The season opened on Sept. 24 this year—one week earlier than normal—with some significant changes.

On opening day, shooting was legal 30 minutes before sunrise as opposed to 9 a.m., which has been the case in past years. Hunters can take two mallards (including two hens), which is one more than in previous years and three wood ducks, which is also one more than in the past.

The possession limit remains twice the daily limit.

Wallschlaeger learned the art of hunting from his father, a common trait among most hunters. He has passed the tradition down to his daughters, Nika, 17, and Marena, 15.

"We do a lot of hunting each fall," he said.

Both of his daughters join him for many of his trips. Wallschlaeger ventures to central and northern Minnesota, North and South Dakota depending on the time of the year and the specific game he is pursuing.

Nika hunts strictly waterfowl and first went into the field with her dad when she was eight simply to experience the hunting, but did not start shooting until she was 12. Marena hunts a bit more part-time than her older sister, but both girls are getting more involved as they get older.

In large part, the more liberal waterfowl regulations are a reflection on the fact that there are fewer people taking up hunting, especially for waterfowl and upland birds, than has been the case in the past.

Minnesota DNR officials and advocates of hunting say fewer kids are engaging in the sport as society has become more urban and wilderness areas are shrinking.

Regardless, Wallschlaeger and his daughters will be out in the woods and fields this fall.

"I think the new regulations will help hunting," he said. "My one concern is that an earlier start to the season poses the problem that the ducks are not in full plumage, so it makes it more difficult to identify a drake mallard from a drake hen."

"At the same time, the extended season means that toward the end of the season, you will see a few more ducks, especially mallards, then we used to see."