Waterfowl hunters will see a few major changes in regulations this season, including a simultaneous regular season opener in all three zones on Sept. 29 and elimination of the Horicon Canada goose management zone, meaning there will now be a single statewide regular goose zone.
The Wisconsin Natural Resources board finalized the season dates and regulations in mid-April after listening to input from the public and various conservation and hunting groups, according to Taylor Finger, DNR migratory game bird ecologist. State biologists start with general season guidelines given to them by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists, since that agency oversees management of migratory waterfowl.
Another big change is that hunters may now bag three Canada geese per day, one more than last year. The pintail daily bag limit has been increased from one to two.
The regular waterfowl seasons include a 60-day duck season and a 92-day regular goose season, the latter of which has two splits to allow hunting during the holidays.
The daily bag limit statewide is six ducks, as in previous years, including no more than: four mallards, of which only one may be a hen; one black duck; two canvasbacks; three wood ducks; two pintails; three scaup; and two redheads.
Five mergansers can be harvested daily, of which no more than two may be hooded.
The waterfowl season kicks off Sept. 1 with the early teal season (Sept. 1-7). The daily limit is six teal per day with sunrise to sunset shooting hours. The early goose season is Sept. 1-15, with a five-bird daily limit.
Mourning dove season opens Sept. 1 and continues through Nov. 29, with a 15-bird daily limit.
The woodcock season opens Sept. 22 and continues through Nov. 5, with a three-bird daily limit.
North duck zone will open one week later than in previous years, resulting in a single statewide opener for the North, South and Mississippi zones on Sept. 29. The boundary between the north and south waterfowl zones is Highways 10 and 41, so all of Shawano, Oconto, Langlade and Menominee counties and most of Waupaca County are in the North zone.
Opening-day shooting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise for all regular waterfowl hunting seasons. See the DNR waterfowl guide for shooting hours and other regulations.
Duck season dates are as follows:
• Youth Hunt — Sept. 15-16
• North Zone — Sept. 29 to Nov. 27
• South Zone — Sept. 29 to Oct. 7 and Oct. 13 to Dec. 2
• Mississippi Zone — Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 and Oct. 13 to Dec. 4
Eliminating the Horicon Canada goose zone means the entire state is considered one zone (the Exterior Zone). The Mississippi River is a sub-zone within the Exterior Zone. Hunters who already bought a Horicon Canada goose permit can simply use that as a regular permit for the entire state (no other purchases are needed).
In addition to the new three-bird Canada goose daily limit, a twin-split season in the South Zone allows hunters to continue to hunt during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
Goose season dates are as follows:
North Zone — Sept. 16 to Dec. 16
South Zone—Sept. 16 to Oct. 7 (5-day Split) and Oct. 13 to Dec. 2 (13-day split) and Dec. 16 to Jan. 3, 2019
Mississippi Zone — Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 and Oct. 13 to Jan. 3
As always, waterfowl hunters need to be registered for HIP (available online through Go Wild or at any license vendor), have a state waterfowl stamp and signed federal waterfowl stamp if age 16 or older and a small game license. Stamps are not required for hunting doves, coots and woodcock. Conservation patron licenses include the small game and state stamp but not the federal stamp (the latter available at post offices). As a reminder to Canada goose hunters, registration of Canada geese and in-field validation of the Canada goose hunting permit is no longer required.
Non-toxic shot (non-lead) is required for all waterfowl hunting.