2019 waterfowl hunting: Duck season update
Duck, coot and merganser hunting seasons:
- North Zone – Sept. 28 - Nov. 24 and Nov. 30 - Dec. 1.
- Middle Zone – Oct. 5 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 14-15.
- South Zone – Oct. 12 - Dec. 8 and Dec. 28-29.
The daily bag limit is six ducks of any species; however, there may be no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be hens) and no more than three wood ducks, three scaup, two redheads, two canvasbacks, two black ducks and one pintail. In addition to the duck limit, hunters may take five mergansers, only two of which may be hooded mergansers.
Additional waterfowl hunting information is available at Michigan.gov/Waterfowl or in the 2019 Waterfowl Hunting Digest.
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Canada geese, white-fronted geese (or specklebellies) and brant are part of a dark goose aggregate daily bag limit. After Sept. 30, the daily limit for dark geese is five, only three of which may be Canada geese and one of which may be a brant.
An aggregate bag limit is also in place for light geese, including snow, blue and Ross’s geese. Hunters may harvest 20 light geese per day during goose seasons.
Season dates:
- North Zone – Sept. 1 - Dec. 16.
- Middle Zone – Sept. 1 - 30, Oct. 5 - Dec. 20.
- South Zone – Sept. 1 - 30, Oct. 12 - Dec. 8, Dec. 28-29 and Jan. 25 - Feb.10, 2020.
- Allegan County GMU – Sept. 1 - 30, Nov. 2-12, Nov. 21 - Dec. 8 and Dec. 14 - Jan. 30, 2020.
- Muskegon County GMU – Oct. 19 - Dec. 21.
Michigan's Wetland Wonders offer first class waterfowl hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. Use the Wetland Wonders locator to find a managed waterfowl hunt area to explore.
Again this year, Consumer's Energy and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs have partnered with the DNR to hold an annual contest for hunters – the Wetland Wonders Challenge.
From Oct. 12 through February 10, 2020, you can explore, hunt and win with the Wetland Wonders Challenge. To enter, just visit three of the official Wetland Wonders Challenge sites and fill out an entry form. Visit four or more sites and receive a bonus entry into the contest for each site visited, giving you more chances to win.
Seven lucky winners will take home the duck hunting prize package, which includes a $500 gift card for duck hunting gear, a Zink custom duck call, a Yeti water bottle and a "golden ticket" good for one first-choice pick at a managed waterfowl hunt area drawing (non-reserved) for the 2020-21 waterfowl hunting season.
Learn more about Michigan's Wetland Wonders and the challenge at Michigan.gov/WetlandWonders.
The Southeast Region managed waterfowl hunt areas, or Wetland Wonders, will host open houses in October. It's a great way to meet the staff, take a driving tour of the area and learn how the managed hunt drawings work – perfect for experienced waterfowl hunters and those who may not have hunted these areas before. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and familiarize yourself with these locations before the regular waterfowl season opens.
All open houses will start at 6 p.m.
- Oct. 2 – Crow Island State Game Area, 1888 River Road, Saginaw.
- Oct. 8 – Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, 1570 N. Tower Beach Road, Pinconning.
- Oct. 9 – Fish Point State Game Area, 7750 Ringle Road, Unionville.
- Oct. 9 – St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area, 3857 Columbine Road, Harsens Island.
- Oct. 10 – Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, 37025 Mouillee Road, Rockwood.
- Oct. 10 – Shiawassee River State Game Area, 225 East Spruce St., St. Charles.
The 2019 Michigan duck stamp features a pair of northern pintails by wildlife artist Paul Bridgford.
To learn more about the waterfowl stamp program and how you can support conservation efforts in Michigan through the purchase of collector’s-edition waterfowl stamps and prints, see the Michigan Waterfowl Stamp Program webpage.
The stamp is a voluntary purchase and does not replace the state waterfowl hunting license.
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Invasive plants and animals like phragmites, European frogbit and zebra mussels can cause significant harm to wildlife habitat, reduce hunting opportunities and damage equipment. Don't forget – it is now required to clean and drain all watercraft and trailers before transporting them.
Watch this video for reminders about how to help prevent the spread of invasive species and protect waterfowl habitat.
Contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-WILD (9453).
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