Wisconsin Natural Resources Board Approves 2023 Migratory Bird Hunting Season Framework And Regulations

A flock of male and female ducks in a body of water among reeds

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board voted unanimously to approve the 2023 migratory bird season framework and regulations. Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) voted unanimously during the April board meeting to approve the 2023 migratory bird season framework and regulations.

Thanks to input from hunters and new scientific research, changes are coming to the 2023 migratory bird hunting season. Highlights from the approved season structure include:

Updating the definition of the Open Water Duck Zone boundary. The updated definition incorporates adjacent rooted vegetation, floating cattail mats and Green Bay’s Long Tail and Little Tail points as part of the mainland shore.
Simplifying the regulations for the open water restrictions on approved inland open water hunting lakes by decreasing the distance from shore to 500 feet.
The Mississippi River Canada Goose Zone will run concurrently with the South Canada Goose Zone, opening on Sept. 16 rather than opening with the duck season.

“The 2023 season frameworks are based on the most current scientific data, as well as input from the public, conservation and hunting groups and results from a waterfowl hunter survey,” said Taylor Finger, DNR game bird ecologist. “We used everything in our toolbox to collect public input – in-person meetings, virtual meetings and expanded online outreach – to ensure engagement with anyone interested in migratory bird management. In total, we received 500 comments regarding the 2023-2025 migratory bird season proposals.”

The public plays a crucial role in setting the migratory bird season structure. View the 2023-2025 public input results and comments here. Learn more about Wisconsin waterfowl hunting on the DNR website.

The 2023 migratory bird hunting seasons are below with the 2024 and 2025 seasons coming later this year in a permanent rule.

Early Season Dates

Early Species Season	Open	Close	Limit
Early Teal	Sept. 1	Sept. 9	6 teal/day
Early Goose	Sept. 1	Sept. 15	5 Canada geese/day; 20 light geese/day
Mourning Dove	Sept. 1	Nov. 29	15 dove/day
Woodcock	Sept. 23	Nov. 6	3 birds/day

Duck Season Dates And Bag Limits

Opening Day Shooting Hours Will Begin One-Half Hour Before Sunrise For All Regular Waterfowl Hunting Seasons.

Duck Season	First Open	First Close	Second Open	Second Close
Youth Hunt	Sept. 16	Sept. 17
North Zone	Sept. 23	Nov. 21
South Zone	Sept. 30	Oct. 8	Oct. 14	Dec. 3
Open Water Zone	Oct. 14	Dec. 12

Duck Bag Limits

Species	Total daily bag limit is 6 ducks of any species, including no more than the following:
Mallard	4 mallards, of which only 2 may be hens
Black Duck	2
Canvasback	2
Wood Duck	3
Pintail	1
Redhead	2
Merganser	5 mergansers, of which only 2 may be hooded mergansers

Regular Canada Goose Season Dates And Bag Limits

Canada Goose Season	First Open	First Close	Second Open	Second Close	Third Open	Third Close
North Zone (3 Canada geese/day)	Sept. 16	Dec. 16
South Zone (3 Canada geese/day until Dec. 3 then 5 Canada geese/day Dec. 16 – Jan. 2)	Sept. 16	Oct. 8	Oct. 14	Dec. 3	Dec. 16	Jan. 2, 2024
Mississippi Zone (3 Canada geese/day until Dec. 3 then 5 Canada geese/day Dec. 16 – Jan. 2)	Sept. 16	Oct. 8	Oct. 14	Dec. 3	Dec. 16	Jan. 2, 2024