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Minnesota's 2010 Waterfowl Hunting Regulations handbook will be available beginning Friday, Aug. 20, wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, online at mndnr.gov/regulations, and in many Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offices across the state.

Hunters should familiarize themselves with the regulations book before the hunting season begins. Among the new regulations for this year are:

· The daily bag limit for pintail has been increased to two. The bag limit for other species is as follows: four mallards (only one hen mallard) two redheads, two scaup, two wood ducks, one black duck, one canvasback. If not listed, up to six ducks of a species may be taken. The possession limit is twice the daily limit.

· Canada geese may be harvested for 85 days (Oct. 2-Dec. 25) statewide and the bag limit has been increased to three. The season will be split in the Rochester Goose Zone. Details are outlined on pages 21-25 of the regulations book.

· Youth younger than 16 are required to obtain a free license before hunting small game or waterfowl. Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification also is required to hunt waterfowl with the free license. This requirement applies to youth participating in Youth Waterfowl Day on Saturday, Sept. 18.

· Persons leaving waters of the state must drain boating-related equipment holding water and live wells and bilges by removing the drain plug before transporting the watercraft and associated equipment on public roads.

· From Saturday, Sept. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 10, sandhill cranes may be harvested in a portion of northwest Minnesota. Hunters need a $3.50 permit.

In addition to information on regulations, season dates and bag limits, hunters will find articles on sandhill crane hunting, wood ducks and moist soil management in this year's waterfowl regulations handbook. Additional information on moist soil management is also available on the DNR web page at mndnr.gov/waterfowl.[[In-content Ad]]

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