Little fanfare on opening weekend of the duck hunting season
The Minnesota waterfowl hunting season opened last weekend and it came and went without much fanfare or shooting, according to Bemidji area conservation officer Stacey Sharp.
"I didn't see many hunters and the ones I saw didn't have many ducks," Sharp said.
"It was a pretty slow opener."
During Saturday and Sunday Sharp visited three area lakes and patrolled stretches of the Mississippi River. He reported that the number of hunters was down and of the hunters he did encounter, the total bag was four ducks.
"I saw three teal and one mallard in the bag," Sharp said.
Better reports came from Puposky Lake where a few groups shot their limit. Most of the ducks taken on Puposky were ringnecks.
"There is plenty of water out there," Sharp said. "It's only a guess on my part but I think the ducks in this area may be hanging around the secluded areas tucked in the woods. I know we're not seeing them in the areas we normally find them."
Sharp also reminds hunters that the Bemidji Refuge is off limits to waterfowl hunting.
"Pay attention to the refuge boundaries," Sharp cautioned. "You can't hunt waterfowl in the refuge."
For more information on the duck hunting regulations and the Bemidji Refuge boundaries, check the waterfowl hunting pamphlet or visit the DNR website at www.dnr.state.mn.us.
The Minnesota waterfowl hunting season opened last weekend and it came and went without much fanfare or shooting, according to Bemidji area conservation officer Stacey Sharp.
"I didn't see many hunters and the ones I saw didn't have many ducks," Sharp said.
"It was a pretty slow opener."
During Saturday and Sunday Sharp visited three area lakes and patrolled stretches of the Mississippi River. He reported that the number of hunters was down and of the hunters he did encounter, the total bag was four ducks.
"I saw three teal and one mallard in the bag," Sharp said.
Better reports came from Puposky Lake where a few groups shot their limit. Most of the ducks taken on Puposky were ringnecks.
"There is plenty of water out there," Sharp said. "It's only a guess on my part but I think the ducks in this area may be hanging around the secluded areas tucked in the woods. I know we're not seeing them in the areas we normally find them."
Sharp also reminds hunters that the Bemidji Refuge is off limits to waterfowl hunting.
"Pay attention to the refuge boundaries," Sharp cautioned. "You can't hunt waterfowl in the refuge."
For more information on the duck hunting regulations and the Bemidji Refuge boundaries, check the waterfowl hunting pamphlet or visit the DNR website at www.dnr.state.mn.us.
