DNR reminds hunters about upcoming season dates

Minnesota waterfowl seasons are around the corner, and hunters have a wide variety of opportunities to look forward to in 2025, with seasons starting Saturday, Sept. 6. Early teal season runs Saturday, Sept. 6 through Wednesday, Sept. 10, with shooting hours from sunrise to sunset.

“Hunters should review the regulations and hunting season dates this year. As usual, scouting and preparation will be key to success,” said Nate Huck, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources migratory gamebird specialist. “We have high water this year in many places, so hunters will have lots of ways to get duck boats through wetlands this year.”

The Waterfowl Hunting Regulations handbook is available wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold and on the Minnesota DNR waterfowl hunting webpage (mndnr.gov/hunting/waterfowl).

Early teal season reminders

The Minnesota DNR reminds waterfowl hunters who plan to take part in the early teal hunting season or early goose season (Sept. 6-21) to be aware of and cautious around wild rice beds.

Wild rice is an important natural and cultural resource that typically ripens in early September. Wild rice harvesters may be active in beds if the rice is ready to be collected. In addition, wild rice plants are susceptible to damage during this time, even if active harvest is not underway.

Hunting season dates for geese are:

• Early goose season is Saturday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Sept. 21;

• Saturday, Sept. 27 through Friday, Dec. 26, in the north zone;

• Saturday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 11, through Wednesday, Dec. 31, in the central zone;

• Saturday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 18, through Wednesday, Jan. 7, in the south zone.

Youth waterfowl weekend is Saturday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 14, when waterfowl hunters 17 and younger can hunt if accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years of age or older. Regulations for this hunt are available on page 12 of the waterfowl hunting regulations (mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting).

Learn to hunt information is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/gohunting).