State wildlife managers expect a fair to good opening weekend of duck season in Minnesota this Saturday and Sunday. Duck season opens at 9 a.m. Saturday with a 60-day season and six-duck daily limit with restrictions on several species.
Many blue-winged teal left the state as cold fronts moved in earlier this week, said Steve Cordts, DNR waterfowl specialist in Bemidji, in his weekly waterfowl report Thursday. Fair numbers of migrant ring-necked ducks have moved in on those same fronts, but they're concentrated on a few lakes, Cordts said.
Mallard and wood duck numbers appear to be about average as opening weekend approaches, Cordts said in his report. Migrant Canada geese, both giant Canadas and small Canadas, have moved into the state since mid-September.
Hunters can expect seasonal temperatures for the opener, with highs near 60 in northern Minnesota and lows near freezing. For details on duck limits, go to the Minnesota DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us .