DNR to re-evaluate shooting hours

[DDSBYDAY]

The DNR will be discussing the shooting hours.  Minnesota is one of only a few states that end the shooting hours at 4pm the first week of the season.  There are thoughts of changing the hours to sunset right from the begining of the season.   It looks as though the 9am start is solid.

             I for one would support the sunset closing.  Many people only hunt the first weekend.  It won't effect me because I want to be on my walleye spot at sunset.  What I like about it is it gives you a chance if you are working to get out a couple of more times for an afternoon hunt.

[Cody Gruchow]

well i like the 4pm close for the first week.  i mean ya have till sunset for the rest of the season not being able to hunt till sunset the entire season aint gonna kill you

[The General]

These silly little laws are one of the reasons I quit hunting waterfowl in MN.  No more of my cash is going towards Minnesota Waterfowl........the safe haven for the southern states.

[Go Big Red!]

For the die-hards, I can see this 4 pm end time impact their daily bag limit.  For the rest, including myself, you get to start  earlier.

[fubar]

OPEN IT UP!

[Benny]

I personaly think we should have a 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset day, just because it gives everyone a choice as to how long they want to hunt durring the day.

A lot of times we go out in the pre dawn and hunt till 9 am then go back to the cabin for lunch and do a few odd jobs around the place then head back out around 2PM to get a few hours in before for the 4 pm close.
It might add one or two more birds to our bag limit if we could go till sunset is all that I see, but it would't make a huge difference at all.

I have always though the noon and 9 AM start time were wrong, and are just one of the reasons I started hunting the Dakota's. I do still hunt Minnesota but it is more or less just because of tradition and not to kill ducks.

Benny

[DDSBYDAY]

Better yet.  The Dnr wiill be discussing moving the season opener 1 week.  Might happen.  If you take time off of work be aware.   I think this would be a good idea.  If we have a cold snap before opener many of our local woodies and teal have already flown the coup.

[Tyler Rother]

I like the fact "hunters" are being included in these debates with the government. I'm for the half hour before straight though, and sunset. The week early I like, but week later I don't, as i am a late season Mallard hunter. But hey, it really all depends on good ole Mother nature on what the ducks decide to do, not the guys in suits, or in camo. I wouldn't mind a early Teal season, but won't happen. Would scare off all the locals.

[Cody Gruchow]

ya a early teal season would scare off all the locals with very few migrating down. the week earlyer i like, but like said twice already its all up to the weather because if we get a cold snap a few days before the season, there wont be any birds or very few birds, me personally i love shooting wood ducks and teal, teal are my favorite duck to eat, and i like shooting faster birds.

[Go Big Red!]

The weather was a huge factor this past season in my book for the beginning weeks.  Would moving it up a week help?  It might but it depends on the weather.  I know we didn't see the teal and woodies like most (Not anyone I know of had good luck) yet we didn't get the big northern birds down any earlier either.

What if the decision makers extended the season by 2 weeks?  A week earlier and a week longer?  How much impact would that have on duck numbers?

I would be up for something like that.  I wouldn't hunt more necessarily but be more selective in species.

[Cody Gruchow]

well i say keep the times the way they are. as for the week earlyer its not a bad idea, but also think you still have the youth day which takes a toll on the marsh i hunt, maybe run the youth day with the opener?

[Benny]

Now that's exactly what we need to do is change the youth day to opening day, start the hunt at Half hour before sunrise or 9 am , and the adults can't shoot till noon.

I do understand it would be very hard to enforce, so maybe only youth can shoot on opener.

Benny

[Tyler Rother]

I like that Benny, why not make it Youth Opening Day, and instead, we start on the second day? Kids get a full days hunt, and we get our opener once the birds start moving the next day.

[Benny]

Wouldn't bother me one bit to wait till Sunday to hunt , Saturday is usually a find the spot,get the decoys set up down and get the blind ready day.

Sunday morning is when we get serious about hunting and killing a few ducks to cook for dinner.

Benny