Duck season off to good start

Unseasonably cold temperatures and warm memories were hallmarks of last weekend’s Minnesota duck hunting opener, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Steve Cordts, waterfowl specialist, said hunting was good across most of the state, with blue-winged teal, wood duck and mallard comprising most of the hunt.

“Duck numbers were good,” Cordts said. “Hunter numbers were similar to last year, which was the first upturn in duck hunters in Minnesota in several years. The only downs were the temperature, which was nippier than many hunters expected, and water levels at certain locations.”

With three duck hunting zones in effect this year, Cordts reminded hunters in the central and south zones to be aware of closed dates, splitting the season into two parts to provide more opportunity later in the fall.

The waterfowl season in the Central Duck Zone (south of Highway 210) will be closed from Oct. 1 through Oct. 5, and then reopen Saturday Oct. 6. In the South Duck Zone (south of Highway 212), the waterfowl season will be closed from Oct. 1 through Oct. 12, and then reopen Saturday Oct. 13.

The goose season is closed in those zones when the duck season is closed.

Tags: outdoors, minnesota