(MDNR report)
Early Goose, Teal Seasons to Open SoonMichigan's teal and early goose season opens next week and Indiana's will kick off on Sept. 9.
The Michigan teal season runs concurrent with Michigan's early goose season.
Indiana's teal season runs Sept. 9-24. Its early goose season runs Sept. 9-17.
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 DNR 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 www.mi.gov/waterfowl and click on Early Teal Season. The website contains information to help get hunters prepared to go out in the marsh.
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 www.mi.gov/waterfowl.