Season
Duck · Open Water Zone
WI 2026-27 · Open Water Zone
Oct 17 – Dec 15, 2026
DNR's entry
Zone: Open Water Zone
Dates: Oct. 17-Dec. 15
Daily Bag Limit: 2 scaup/day: Oct. 17- Nov. 30 1 scaup/day: Dec. 1-15
Legal weapons
ShotgunBow and arrowCrossbow
Bag limit
Daily limit 6
Sub-limits: Mallard 4, Hen mallard 2, Black duck 2, Pintail 3, Canvasback 2, Redhead 2, Wood duck 3, Scaup 2 (Oct 17 – Nov 30), Scaup 1 (Dec 1 – Dec 15)
6 ducks, to include not more than 4 mallards (2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 pintail, 2 canvasbacks, 2 redheads, 3 wood ducks and scaup as outlined below. For species of ducks not listed, such as teal and ring-necks, the combined total with all other species may not exceed 6 ducks.
Daily limit 5
Sub-limits: Hooded merganser 2
In addition, 5 mergansers to include not more than 2 hooded mergansers.
Special rules during this season
Zone
Open Water Zone
Shooting hours over the season
DNR's shooting hours for Zone A. Other zones add their minutes (DNR's Map of Zones for Shooting Hours): Zone B +4 min, Zone C +8 min, Zone D +12 min, Zone E +16 min, Zone F +20 min.
| Date | Northern Area | Southern Area |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 17 | 6:39 AM – 6:01 PM | 6:38 AM – 6:04 PM |
| Sun, Oct 18 | 6:41 AM – 5:59 PM | 6:39 AM – 6:02 PM |
| Sun, Oct 25 | 6:50 AM – 5:47 PM | 6:48 AM – 5:51 PM |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 6:00 AM – 4:37 PM | 5:57 AM – 4:41 PM |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 6:10 AM – 4:27 PM | 6:06 AM – 4:33 PM |
| Sun, Nov 15 | 6:20 AM – 4:19 PM | 6:15 AM – 4:25 PM |
| Sun, Nov 22 | 6:29 AM – 4:13 PM | 6:24 AM – 4:20 PM |
| Sun, Nov 29 | 6:38 AM – 4:08 PM | 6:33 AM – 4:16 PM |
| Sun, Dec 6 | 6:46 AM – 4:06 PM | 6:40 AM – 4:14 PM |
| Sun, Dec 13 | 6:53 AM – 4:06 PM | 6:46 AM – 4:14 PM |
| Tue, Dec 15 | 6:54 AM – 4:07 PM | 6:48 AM – 4:14 PM |