Early Teal Hunting Season Begins September 1

Michigan is in its fourth year of an experimental early teal hunting season; this year, that season runs Sept. 1-10, 2017. These small ducks, especially blue-winged teal, are some of the earliest duck species to migrate each fall.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted Michigan the opportunity for an additional year of experimental teal hunting. Michigan met the criteria for allowable non-target attempts and harvest and passed the experiment. The decision to operationalize the teal season was made in June 2017, and Michigan will have the opportunity for a regularly occurring early teal hunting season beginning in 2018.

This statewide teal-only season now is possible because of growing teal populations. Hunters may take six teal per day and hunt from sunrise to sunset. Please note that the opening shooting hours for teal hunting are 30 minutes later than those for Canada goose hunting.

Accurate identification of ducks is essential during this special season because only teal are legal. It is imperative that hunters brush up on their duck identification skills.

“We recently learned that Michigan will have the opportunity to continue its early teal season for the next several years, but the success of the early teal season depends on accurate targeting of teal,” said Michigan Department of Natural Resources waterfowl and wetland specialist Barbara Avers. “Hunters are strongly encouraged to study their duck identification for this season. Don’t shoot if you aren’t sure of your target.”

To brush up on your teal identification skills and to get tips on where teal are likely to be found, visit mi.gov/waterfowl and click on “Early Teal Season.” The website contains information to help get hunters prepared to go out in the marsh.

“If you head out for the teal season and some ducks wing their way into your range, remember to only shoot if you are sure they are teal,” said Avers. “The continuation of our early teal season depends on the skill and judgement of hunters like you.”

In addition to early teal season, other migratory bird hunting seasons begin Sept. 1, including early goose, Virginia and sora rail, common snipe and common gallinule (moorhen). To learn more about these hunting opportunities, duck identification and teal hunting tips, visit mi.gov/waterfowl.