Minnesota’s regular waterfowl hunting season begins Saturday

(ABC 6 News) – Minnesota’s regular waterfowl hunting season opens a half-hour before sunrise on Saturday, with the same regulations as last year.

Minnesota has three waterfowl hunting zones – north, central and south – that share the season opener of this Saturday, but have varying end dates.

The central and south zones also have a mid-season closure of October 3-7.

To view waterfowl hunting regulations, CLICK HERE.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is advising waterfowl hunters to take precautions for avian influenza when handling harvested birds to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.

The virus poses a low risk to humans, but can spread by contact with sick birds and by hunting equipment.

RELATED: Minnesota DNR asks waterfowl hunters to take precautions for avian flu

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommendations hunters can take to protect themselves from avian influenza. To view them, CLICK HERE.

For more information on hunting season dates, regulations, a waterfowl identification guide and weekly waterfowl migrations reports from the DNR, CLICK HERE.