Duck season 2011: Enjoy it while you can
November 23, 2011
If you live in northern Minnesota –north of Highway 210 – then your duck season is done, if you plan on hunting around home. But if you don’t mind packing up and heading south – south of Highway 210 – you still can get a few more days of shooting in.
Thanks to the split season the state DNR implemented this year, the season in the northern part of the state ended yesterday – Nov. 22. It stays open for five more days – through Nov. 27 – in the southern part of the state.
We’re interested in hearing people’s reaction to the split season. For the most part, it seems like it worked out pretty well, but it also seems likely there are some northern hunters who are watching birds fly south as we speak. In previous years, they could have hunted them. But thanks to this year’s earlier opener, the season closed five days earlier than usual in the north.
That said, if things go gangbusters in the southern part of the state through the end of this week, it’s likely most hunters will say the split season was well worth it.
Got thoughts on it? Please leave them in the comments section of this post.
Also, keep in mind that just because the duck season is over doesn’t mean there aren’t waterfowling opportunities to be had.
In the north duck zone – again, north of Highway 210 – you can shoot Canada geese through Dec. 17. And in the south zone, you can shoot them through Dec. 22.
And if you’ve never hunted geese around Rochester, it’s worth your time. That season runs through Nov. 27 and then reopens on Dec. 8. It stays open until Jan. 1.
Hall of Fame
We understand if you don’t feel you’ve had your fill of waterfowl yet this year. But if you can’t go hunting again, consider stopping by the Minnesota Waterfowl Hall of Fame, which is at our main office here in Hopkins. You’ll see pictures and biographies of some of the most instrumental folks in terms of waterfowl in Minnesota. We’ve also got lots of mounts and other things that tell the story of waterfowling in Minnesota. We’re pretty darn proud of it, so please stop by.
