New Waterfowl Hunting Regulations for 2012

New in 2012

• The early goose season will be held Sept. 1-21.

• The daily bag limit for Scaup has been increased to four.

• Motorized decoys controlled by remote may be used for taking migrating waterfowl and doves when and where they are otherwise legal.

• The Sandhill crane season (northwest zone only) will be open Sept. 15-Oct. 21.

• The regular waterfowl season will open statewide on Sept. 22. The season will then be split in the central and south zones to provide additional hunting opportunity.

• Shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise until 4 p.m. from Sept. 22 through Oct. 6 and until sunset thereafter.

• Goose season will run concurrent with duck season, but will close in December, depending on zone.

• Youth waterfowl day will be Sept. 8.

• Falconry waterfowl season will run concurrent with the open duck season with a split in the late season.

• The Rochester goose zone is no longer necessary due to the late season closure in the south zone.

License Validation/Apprentice Hunter

• License validations for state migratory waterfowl stamps are legal for hunting without the pictorial stamp. Purchasers can request the optional pictorial stam for a fee but it is not required for hunting.

• Apprentice hunter validation is now available for Minnesota residents who would normally be required to possess a firearms safety certificate to hunt small game or deer.

Date to remember

09/01/12 - 09/21/12

Early Canada Goose season

09/08/12

Youth Waterfowl Hunt Day

09/22/12

Waterfowl season opener

This content was provided by the MN DNR website. For a complete guide of the 2012 Waterfowl Regulations click here.