Next years waterfowl opener is..............

[knucklehead]

According to the DNR recording I heard while on hold last week.............September 24, 2005 or October 1st........I say lets split the state and have a north season and a southern season!!!

[mechanictim]

I agree a north and south zone would be nice. they could issue three stamps. The first for the north zone, one for the south zone and a combo. Each stamp would be good for 60 days or 45 or whatever the season length that year.

I live near the Iowa border and duck hunting in sept. i spend more time swatting skeeters than looking for ducks. shooting teal is fun for me for one weekend and it is rare that the teal would leave before the second week of Oct. I would just really like to have a chance at the big mallards that come through after the lakes ice over up north.

[Roosterslayer05]

They really should have a north and south season. Many years people that hunt northern MN want an early opener because it gives them another week to hunt before the lakes freeze. When we open the season early it cuts off a week of the best duck hunting in southern MN.

[MasterGophHunter]

I'm all for two zones. It makes sense to have an earlier opener for the North and later end for the South. I hunt both (depending where the boundary would be) and I think I would like the two different seasons.

-MGH-

[duckbuster]

I just want a 60 day season and start it in October. I don't want to see a split season nor do I want to see more than one zone. If the ducks are there so be it. If there not so be it. If the lakes freeze so be it. Let the chips fall where they may. But the early opener SUCKS!!!

Every year brings something entirely different. Last year it wouldn't have matter what type of season we had. When it's 10-20 below on the deer opener it will not matter if we have 2 zones or split season's.

Let's go back to how it was and just take our medicine on what the weather will bring.

[dkhntr]

I have ben yelling for a split season for years. The river is still wide open and JUST getting good. I have heard that the reason why we dont is it will confuse hunters. That's a crock in my book. Hunters KNOW do check regs every season because regulations change more often than I change my underwear.

Doesn't Wisconsin have a split?

[beretta]

I cant agree with dkhntr more! how many people do you hear confused about deer hunting regs and bonus tags? they dont seem to try to simplify them any. i dont think they are confusing anyways people just need to learn how to read! i like the idea of 2 zones like wisconsin. it would give you more options here in our home state.

[Henbanger]

The earlier opener is the best thing the DNR has ever done.

Two zones should be the next thing they do!

[big drift]

No to a split season, just a later opening. Most of us up north do not want to shoot one weekend early and then wait until the flights come. Go later and we can still locate late season spots. The big flights do not usually show until right around deer hunting, this kills about 2 more weeks of duck up north. Why? because I don't want to get shot by an (Contact US Regarding This Word) putting out a field spread or morning shore spread.

Up north we are more affected by the freeze ups then southern mn and further a split season just encourages higher pressure on more concentrated areas. Just look at the number of S. Mn deer hunters coming up north, there are lot's more guys up here now then in the past because the oppurtunity is better. just my .02 later

big drift

[duckbill]

60 day season. NO split. Start 2nd weekend in October. That would be my vote.

[Guest]

Here are the dates from the only synopsis's that I have, wish I could go back further to opening and closing dates. Many of today's hunters may not remember back to the days of more restrictive seasons which we may be faced with again. It seemed like many times even on those shortened seasons we seen freeze up on waters prior to those closing dates up in the northern 1/2 or say north of brainerd. I welcome the ability to get out early and hopefully be able to get in most of the weekends before it's all locked up.

There are certainly times, such as the second week of season, where it could just as well be closed which would extend any season out a week. From looking at these dates it appears that they just closed things on a split during the week. Also I remember many more ducks on the more restrictive years but that may have been due to a lack of water and breeding conditions in the main nesting habitat areas.

There are many good ideas out there and none will ever satisfy everyone. We are very much at the mercy of mother nature and had the temps and weather patterns of been different people's ideas would of changed. I say thanks for finally getting to hunt the whole season without ever getting everything locked up.

1993- Oct 2-10 14-31 Nov 5-7 Limit3

1994- Oct1-Nov9 Limit3

1995- Sep30-Nov18 Limit5

1996- Sep28-Nov16 Limit5

1997- Oct4-Dec2 Limit6

1998- Oct3-Dec1

1999- Oct2-Nov30

2000- Sept30-Nov28

2001- Sept29-Nov 27

2002- Sept 28-Nov26

2003- Sept 27-Nov25

2004- Sept25-Nov23

I also always wonder what makes a hunter "hardcore"? Being able to withstand cold? How about dealing with the conditions you are dealt with within a framework and making the most of it.

[bassman222]

I agree with Bigdrift, just a late opener would be fine. A split season would definatly put tons of pressure on N. MN-there already is enough in my opinion.