Waterfowl Regulation Book 2017
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This document is made available electronically by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library as part of an ongoing digital archiving project. Effective September http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/lrl.asp through20 April1 30,7 2018 MINNESOTA WATERFOWL HUNTING REGULATIONS SHARE THE PASSION www.mndnr.gov/hunting #huntmn WATERFOWL HUNTERS Future hunters are relying on you to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species … do your part. CLEAN aquatic plants, animals and mud from all gear, boats, clothing, dogs and vehicles. DRAIN all water from boats and equipment and leave drain plugs out when transporting. DRY everything for at least 5 days before hunting in other waters. Learn more at www.mndnr.gov/ais TABLE OF CONTENTS License Information ....................................................................................................... 5 Sandhill Crane and Early Goose Seasons ............................................................... 6 2017 Seasons, Dates and Bag Limits .........................................................................7 Youth Hunt ........................................................................................................................ 8 Harvest Information Program (HIP) ...................................................................... 10 Questions About Licenses ......................................................................................... 10 General Waterfowl Regulations ...............................................................................12 Illustrated Ducks and Geese of Minnesota ..........................................................18 Blinds for Hunters with Disabilities .........................................................................24 State Refuges Open to Goose Hunting ...............................................................24 Summary of Federal Regulations ............................................................................28 Shooting Hours ............................................................................................................ 30 Minnesota State Duck Stamp Funds raised through the sale of Minnesota state duck stamps pay for waterfowl research, management and habitat thereby improving conditions for the state’s resident and migrating waterfowl. Redheads Painting by Timothy Turenne, Richfield, Minnesota Cover photo courtesy of Steve Piepgras. Wetland photo: Deborah Rose, MN DNR. Ring-neck drake photo by Carrol Henderson. Waterfowl images on pages 18-23 from Waterfowl Identification by Richard LeMaster, Stackpole Books. www.stackpolebooks.com. Used with permission. This publication is partially funded through advertising revenue. The State of Minnesota and Department of Natural Resources can neither endorse the products or services advertised nor accept any liability arising from the use of these products or services. www.mndnr.gov 3 ANYONE CAN REGISTER TO BE AN ORGAN, EYE & TISSUE DONOR NEW IN 2017 Register as a donor when you get your DNR waterfowl hunting license online. www.DonateLifeMN.org Just wear it. Waterfowlers are more likely to drown in a duck boat capsizing accident than they are to be accidentally injured in a firearms mishap. For a free brochure on duck boat safety contact the Minnesota DNR. Call 888-MINNDNR or email [email protected] 4 2017 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations LICENSE INFORMATION GENERAL Resident and nonresident waterfowl hunters 16 years old or older must have one of the following licenses: FEE* LICENSE AGE $13.50 Resident Senior Citizen Small Game 65 and older $ 5 Resident Youth Small Game 16 and 17 $22 Resident Small Game 18 to 64 $19 Resident 72-hour Small Game 18 to 64 $38 Resident Individual Sports 18 and older $52 Resident Combination Sports 18 and older $93 Resident Individual Super Sports 18 and older $117 Resident Combination Super Sports 18 and older $** Resident lifetime small game renewal $** Resident lifetime sports renewal $ 5 Nonresident Youth Small Game 16 and 17 $75 Nonresident 72-hour Small Game 18 and older $102 Nonresident Small Game 18 and older In addition: • A Federal Duck Stamp is required for all persons age 16 and older. An electronically-issued federal stamp is valid for 45 days. Pictorial stamps, when received by mail, must be signed and in the possession of the hunter. • HIP certification is required for any licensed waterfowl or migratory bird hunter. (See HIP information page 10.) • A Minnesota state waterfowl stamp is required for residents age 18 to 64 and nonresidents age 16 and over. (72-hour licenses include the state waterfowl stamp.) • Special goose permit (residents ages 18-64 and all nonresidents) required for the September season, $4. • Sandhill crane permit required for northwest crane season (residents and nonresidents) $3. • Persons hunting waterfowl on commercial shooting preserves are required to have both a federal and a state duck stamp validation in addition to a small game license. The only exception is when taking only marked, pen-reared mallards. • There are licensing exceptions for landowners, military personnel and others. See the 2017 Hunting Regulations Handbook for a complete listing of license requirements. * Prices shown do not include additional fees charged for issuing licenses. ** Price varies depending on age at purchase. Lifetime license applications are available by calling 888-646-6367 or online at www.mndnr.gov www.mndnr.gov 5 SANDHILL CRANE AND EARLY GOOSE SEASONS SEPTEMBER GOOSE HUNT Season dates: September 2-17. Daily bag limit: 5 dark geese (combined); 20 light geese (combined). Shooting hours: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset. License requirements: • Small game license. • State waterfowl stamp ($7.50). • Special goose permit ($4, residents ages 18-64 and all nonresidents). • A federal stamp is required for the September and regular goose seasons. NORTHWEST GOOSE AND SANDHILL CRANE ZONE Northwest Goose Early season goose and sandhill crane hunting near water are prohibited within and Sandhill Crane Zone Noyes Sultan the northwest goose zone boundary !( !( !( !( Saint !( Saint Vincent Junction Vincent Caribou from September 2-17. )"310 )"11 Roseau !( Mattson 9 SWAN LAKE AREA !( «¬ Early season goose hunting Robbin !( Kittson Roseau «¬9 (September 2-17) near water Skime !( prohibited within the boundary. «¬1 Big Woods «¬54 See page 9 for details. !( )"89 !( Grygla Oslo !( Marshall «¬54 Pennington «¬28 )"1 Red Lake River «¬27 East Grand Forks !( Mallory Red Lake !( Freeman Terrebonne ¤£2 !( Noyes Junction !( !( !( !(!( !( !( ¬2 Fisher Anglim )"32 )"92 « !( Trail !( Brooks !( Crookston !( Delorme Gully Polk Swan Lake Area «¬5 «¬13 S w a n Oshawa M i d d l e (! 21 )"111 «¬12 «¬ North Star(! Nicollet (! )"99 Courtland Nicollet(! County ¤£14 «¬17 Minnesota River 6 2017 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations 2017 SEASONS, DATES AND BAG LIMITS DUCKS/COOTS DUCKS, COOTS, MERGANSERS, MOORHENS SEASON DATES (GALLINULES) North Zone See map, page 8 Sept. 23 - Nov. 21 Central Zone See map, page 8 Sept. 23 - Oct. 1; Oct. 7 - Nov. 26 South Zone See map, page 8 Sept. 23 - Oct. 1; Oct. 14 - Dec. 3 Duck: Daily bag limit is 6. No more than any of the following species: 4 mallards (2 hen mallards), 3 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks. If not listed up to 6 ducks of a species may be taken. Coot and moorhen (gallinule) bag limits: Daily bag limit is 15. Shooting hours are the same as for the regular waterfowl season. Merganser bag limit: Daily bag limit is 5, no more than 2 of which may be a hooded merganser. The possession limit for all migratory birds is three times the daily bag limit. GEESE CANADA, WHITE‑FRONTED, BRANT, SEASON DATES BAG LIMITS SNOW, BLUE SNOW, ROSS’S Early Goose (statewide) Sept. 2 - 17 Dark geese 5 combined Light geese 20 North Zone* Sept. 23 - Dec. 22 Dark geese 3 combined Light geese 20 Central Zone* Sept. 23 - Oct. 1; Oct. 7 - Dec. 27 Dark geese 3 combined Light geese 20 South Zone* Sept. 23 - Oct. 1; Oct. 14 - Jan. 3 Dark geese 3 combined Light geese 20 Dark geese: Canada, white-fronted and brant Light geese: snow, blue snow and Ross's * See map page 8. www.mndnr.gov 7 Regular Season Duck and Goose Zones YOUTH HUNT On September 9, 2017, waterfowl hunters age 15 and younger, when accompanied by a non-hunting adult (age 18 and older, no license required) may take ducks, Canada geese, mergansers, coots and moorhens from ½ hour before sunrise to 4 p.m. Motorized decoys may not be used. Bag limits are the same as the regular duck season. Five Canada geese may be taken statewide. Hunters ages 13 to 15 must have a firearms safety certificate or apprentice hunter validation in their possession. All other migratory bird hunting regulations apply. SHOOTING HOURS Shooting hours for sandhill crane, rail, snipe, ducks and geese are ½ hour before sunrise to 4 p.m. from the opening day of duck season through Friday, October 6, and until sunset thereafter. See youth hunt and early goose season for additional hours. 8 2017 Minnesota Waterfowl Hunting Regulations OTHER MIGRATORY BIRDS SEASON DATES DAILY LIMIT POSSESSION LIMIT Mourning doves Sept. 1 - Nov. 29 15 45 Woodcock Sept. 23 - Nov. 6 3 9 Sora and Virginia rail Sept. 1 - Nov. 6 25 (in aggregate) 75 (in aggregate) Common snipe (Wilson’s Sept. 1 - Nov. 6 8 24 or Jacksnipe) Sandhill crane* Sept. 16 - Oct. 22 1 3 * Northwest goose and crane zone only, see page 6. SPECIAL FALCONRY SEASON Dates: • Ducks, coots and moorhens may be taken by falconry from September 23 through December 3 only when they may be taken by