Waterfowl hunters have an exciting new hunting opportunity to look forward to, as Sept. 1-7 will mark Michigan’s first early teal hunting season in nearly 50 years. These small ducks, especially blue-winged teal, are some of the earliest duck species to migrate each fall.
group of blue-winged teal in flightThis statewide teal-only season is now possible because of growing teal populations. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission approved the Sept. 1-7 early teal season at the commission’s July 10 meeting. Hunters may take six teal per day and hunt from sunrise to sunset.
Accurate identification of ducks is essential during this special season, because only teal are legal to harvest. It is important for hunters to understand the season is experimental for three years, and the Department of Natural Resources is required to measure the attempts and harvest of non-target species to make sure hunters are harvesting teal and not other duck species like wood ducks and mallards.
“The results of the experiment will determine if Michigan is allowed to continue the early teal season after the three-year experiment,” said DNR wetland and waterfowl specialist Barbara Avers. “Because of this, hunters are strongly encouraged to brush up on their duck identification skills for this season. Don’t shoot if you aren’t sure of your target.”
To learn more about this hunting opportunity, duck identification and teal-hunting tips, visit www.michigan.gov/waterfowl.
The 2014-15 waterfowl hunting season continues the celebration of the Michigan Waterfowl Legacy, a 10-year, cooperative partnership to restore, conserve and celebrate Michigan’s waterfowl, wetlands and waterfowl hunting community. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mwl.
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