6 minute read
Duck-Duck-Hunt
Zach Wood
Zach Wood is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.
The Basics Of Wisconsin's Waterfowl Season
The days are getting shorter, and mornings feel cooler — Wisconsin’s duck season is right around the corner!
This year is shaping up to be another excellent season with few changes from prior years. The 2024 season again offers a 60-day duck hunting period in each zone, along with a six-bird daily bag limit. Hunting in the open water zone will continue two weeks later than in the southern zone, allowing for later opportunities on Lake Michigan.
As always, hunters should check all season dates before heading to the field.
New For 2024
Although little has changed, hunters should note a few new things for the 2024 season.
Last December, President Biden signed the Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 into law. This act modifies provisions regarding the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, known to many as the duck stamp, allowing for legal hunting with only an electronic copy of the federal stamp.
That ends a longstanding requirement that hunters carry hard copies of the stamp while afield. Hunters who purchase their federal duck stamp online will still be mailed a physical copy.
Federal Ducks Stamps can be purchased via the Go Wild licensing system (additional processing fees are charged) or at a Post Office. It is required to carry the E-Stamp certification received after your Go Wild purchase when hunting (digital image or hardcopy) or the physical stamp you received from the Post Office.
If the stamp was purchased from another state’s licensing system, you will need to carry the hardcopy E-Stamp certification. Physical stamps must be signed while the E-Stamp Certification does not need to be signed.
Season Dates
Here are hunting dates for waterfowl and other migratory birds plus additional game birds; seasons are statewide, unless noted.
Youth waterfowl hunt: Sept. 14-15
Northern duck zone: Sept. 21–Nov. 19
Southern duck zone: Sept. 28–Oct. 6, and Oct. 12–Dec. 1
Open water duck zone: Oct. 12–Dec. 10
Coot: Same as duck season for each zone
Northern goose zone: Sept. 16–Dec. 16
Southern and Mississippi River goose zones: Sept. 16–Oct. 6, Oct. 12–Dec. 1, and Dec. 21–Jan. 9
Fall turkey: Sept. 14–Nov. 22; additionally in zones 1–5, Nov. 23–Jan. 5
Rail (Virginia and sora), snipe and common gallinule: Open now through Nov. 9
Mourning dove: Open now through Nov. 29
Pheasant: Oct. 19 (9 a.m.)–Jan. 5
Ruffed grouse: Zone A, Sept. 14–Jan. 5; Zone B, Oct. 19–Dec. 8
Crow: Nov. 23–March 26
Hungarian partridge: Oct. 19 (9 a.m.)–Jan. 5 (but closed in Clark, Marathon and Taylor counties)
Bobwhite quail: Oct. 19 (9 a.m.)–Dec. 11
The Rules
Complete hunting regulations can be found online, but here are some general rules and reminders for duck hunters to keep in mind.
To lawfully hunt ducks in Wisconsin, hunters age 16 and older must purchase and carry their small game license, Wisconsin waterfowl stamp and federal migratory bird stamp.
Waterfowl and other migratory bird hunters also must register each year with the federal Harvest Information Program. HIP registration is free and can be completed at the time of license purchase or added later.
State licenses and stamps, permits and HIP registration are all available through Go Wild online at gowild.wi.gov.
Always follow shooting hours for your location.
Total daily bag limit is six ducks, to include not more than four mallards (two hens), two black ducks, one pintail, two canvasbacks, two redheads, three wood ducks and scaup. For species of ducks not listed, such as teal and ring-necks, the combined total with all other species may not exceed six ducks. In addition, five mergansers to include not more than two hooded mergansers.
Report A Violation
See something sketchy? Report it to the DNR Violation Hotline via call or text to 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367) or online on the DNR's Report A Violation webpage.
Safety Tips
Water temperatures are rapidly cooling at this time of year. An accidental fall overboard can quickly turn dangerous as hypothermia sets in. Wearing a life jacket can keep individuals on the surface and allow energy to be used to keep warm rather than working to stay above the water.
Other important tips:
Remember to protect canine companions on the water — they need life jackets, too.
Never overload the boat. If hunting on a large river or lake, use a boat that is big enough to handle rough water.
Balance the boat evenly and keep weight low for stability.
Be on the lookout for elements outside your control, such as changing weather or a slightly submerged stump, rock, sandbar or floating debris.
If in a boat or canoe with a hunting partner, establish and communicate a safe fire zone; do not stand to shoot if a partner is shooting from a seated position.
Know the danger of waders in the water. If a boat capsizes and the hunter is ejected, the waders could fill with water, creating suction around the hunter’s legs and feet, making it difficult to remove the waders.
Always carry a cell phone in case of an emergency.
Share the water. Fall is a great time for all sorts of water recreation — hunters, paddlers and anglers may all be using the same areas at the same time. Be mindful of other recreators while afield. Wisconsin’s waters belong to everyone.
Additionally, hunters should follow the four rules of basic firearm safety, known as TAB-K:
Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Never assume a gun is unloaded, and never treat it that way, even if you watch as it is unloaded.
Always point the muzzle in a safe direction. About one-third of all hunting incidents are self-inflicted injuries. That means the muzzle was pointed at some part of the hunter’s body. A safe approach is one where the bullet will travel and harm no one in the event of an unwanted discharge.
Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it. Positive target identification is a must. In addition to identifying the target, a hunter must know that a safe backstop for their bullet is present in every shooting situation.
Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot. If a hunter stumbles with a firearm in one hand and nothing in the other, whatever that person does with their free hand — such as reaching out to break their fall — will automatically happen with the hand holding the gun.
Learn More
Find complete duck hunting dates, shooting hours, regulations, zone designations and more online on the DNR's Waterfowl Hunting webpage.
