Michigan Natural Resources Commission Sets 2013-14 Waterfowl Hunting Season
Michigan hunters will once again enjoy 60-day duck seasons this fall, as the Natural Resources Commission set waterfowl seasons Thursday at its regular meeting in Muskegon.
Duck seasons will once again be split into two segments in all three of state duck-hunting zones.
In the North Zone, duck season is set for Sept. 21 –Nov. 10 and Nov. 23 – Dec. 1.
In the Middle Zone, duck season is Oct. 5 – Dec. 1 and Dec. 14-15.
In the South Zone, duck season is slated for Oct. 12 – Dec. 8 and Dec. 28-29.
The daily bag limit is six ducks, to include no more than four mallards (no more than one hen), three wood ducks, three scaup (bluebills), two redheads, two canvasback, two pintails and one black duck.
Waterfowl hunting starts with the early Canada goose season beginning Sept. 1 statewide. The season is Sept.1-10 in the North Zone and Sept 1-15 in the rest of the state except in Saginaw, Tuscola and Huron counties, where the season is Sept.1-10. The daily bag limit is five.
The regular Canada goose season is Sept. 11 – Dec. 11 in the North Zone; Sept. 21-29 and Oct. 5 – Dec. 26 in the Middle Zone; and Sept. 21-23, Oct. 12 – Dec. 8 and Dec. 28-29 in the South Zone, except in designated goose management units. The daily bag limit is two.
In the Saginaw County Goose Management Unit, the season is Sept. 21-23, Oct. 12 – Dec. 8 and Dec. 28 – Jan. 27, 2014, with a daily bag limit of two.
In the Tuscola/Huron GMU, the season is Sept. 21-27, Oct. 12 – Dec. 8, and Dec. 28- Jan. 23, with a daily bag limit of two.
In the Allegan County GMU, the season is Nov. 2 – Jan, 31, with a daily bag limit of two.
In the Muskegon Wastewater GMU, the season is Oct. 16 – Nov. 13 and Dec. 1-22, with a daily bag limit of two.
The late goose season in the South Zone is Jan. 18 – Feb. 15, 2014, with a daily bag limit of five.
“Waterfowl hunters will have ample opportunity to get out in Michigan’s marshes, lakes, and fields with these maximum season lengths,” said Barb Avers, DNR waterfowl and wetlands specialist.
The announcement of the 2013-14 waterfowl hunting seasons continues the celebration of the Michigan Waterfowl Legacy (MWL). The MWL is a 10-year, cooperative partnership to restore, conserve and celebrate Michigan’s waterfowl, wetlands and waterfowl hunting community. For more information about MWL, please visit www.michigan.gov/mwl.