Contact: Taylor Finger, DNR Migratory Game Bird Ecologist
Taylor.Finger@wisconsin.gov or 608-212-7923
Wisconsin Natural Resources Board Approves 2021 Migratory Bird Hunting Season Framework And Regulations
Highlights Include New Open Water Duck Zone
The 2021 Wisconsin migratory bird season structure has been set by the Natural Resources Board.
Photo credit: Eugene Hester/USFWS
MADISON, Wis. – Thanks to input from hunters and new scientific research, changes are coming to the 2021 migratory bird hunting season. Today the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) voted unanimously for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to move forward with proposed rules for the 2021 migratory bird season framework and regulations.
Highlights from the approved season structure include:
- A new duck zone structure for the 2021 season. A new Open Water Zone has been created in the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan, and the former Mississippi River Zone has been absorbed into the South Zone.
- The South Canada Goose Zone has a daily bag limit of three Canada geese during the first portion of the season, and a daily bag limit of five Canada geese during the Holiday Hunt.
- Based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s season framework, there will be a scaup bag limit of one scaup for 15 days and two scaup for 45 days.
“The 2021 season frameworks are based on the most current scientific data, as well as on input from the public, conservation and hunting groups and results from a waterfowl hunter survey,” said Taylor Finger, DNR migratory bird ecologist. “We used all the tools in our toolbox to collect public input while adhering to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Virtual meetings and expanded online outreach increased our engagement with our customers. In total, we received more than 1,500 comments regarding the 2021 waterfowl season proposals.”
The public plays a crucial role in setting the waterfowl season structure. View the 2021 public input results and comments here. Learn more about waterfowl hunting here.
Early season dates are as follows:
|
Early Species Season |
Open |
Close |
Limit |
|
Early Teal |
Sept. 1 |
Sept. 9 |
Six birds per day, |
|
Early Goose |
Sept. 1 |
Sept. 15 |
Five birds per day |
|
Mourning Dove |
Sept. 1 |
Nov. 29 |
15 birds per day |
|
Woodcock |
Sept. 25 |
Nov. 8 |
Three birds per day |
Duck season dates and bag limits are as follows. Opening day shooting hours will begin one-half hour before sunrise for all regular waterfowl hunting seasons.
|
Duck Season |
First Open |
First Close |
Second Open |
Second Close |
|
Youth Hunt |
Sept. 18 |
Sept. 19 |
|
|
|
North Zone |
Sept. 25 |
Nov. 23 |
|
|
|
South Zone |
Oct. 2 |
Oct. 10 |
Oct 16 |
Dec. 5 |
|
Open Water Zone |
Oct. 16 |
Dec. 14 |
|
|
The daily bag limit statewide is six ducks, including no more than:
|
Duck Bag Limits |
|
|
Species |
Daily limit (total daily bag limit is six ducks of any species) |
|
Mallard |
4 (of which only 2 may be a hen) |
|
Black Duck |
2 |
|
Canvasback |
2 |
|
Wood Duck |
3 |
|
Pintail |
1 |
|
Redhead |
2 |
|
Merganser |
5 (no more than 2 hooded) |
|
Any duck species not specifically listed |
6 |
There is a 60-day restrictive scaup bag limit (federal restriction; 15 days at one scaup/day and 45 days at two scaup/day):
|
60-day Restrictive Scaup Bag Limit |
||
|
Zone |
Period |
Scaup/day limit |
|
North Zone |
Sept. 25 – Oct. 9 |
One/day |
|
Oct. 10 – Nov. 23 |
Two/day |
|
|
South Zone |
Oct. 2 – Oct. 10 |
One/day |
|
Oct. 16 – Oct. 21 |
One/day |
|
|
Oct. 22 – Dec. 5 |
Two/day |
|
|
Open Water Zone |
Oct. 16 – Oct. 30 |
One/day |
|
Oct. 31 – Dec. 14 |
Two/day |
|
Regular goose season dates are as follows (92 days total):
|
Regular Goose Season Dates |
||||||
|
Zone |
First Open |
First Close |
Second Open |
Second Close |
Third Open |
Third Close |
|
Daily Bag Limit |
3 Canada geese/day |
3 Canada geese/day |
3 Canada geese/day |
3 Canada geese/day |
5 Canada geese/day |
5 Canada geese/day |
|
North Zone (3 Canada geese/day entire season) |
Sept. 16 |
Dec. 16 |
|
|
|
|
|
South Zone |
Sept. 16 |
Oct. 10 |
Oct. 16 |
Dec. 5 |
Dec. 20 |
Jan. 4, 2022 |
|
Mississippi Zone (3 Canada geese/day entire season) |
Oct. 2 |
Oct. 10 |
Oct. 16 |
Jan. 4 |
|
|
