Duck Season Timing and Zones

Hunters Help Establish Season Dates and Zones

The Missouri Department of Conservation will host public workshops during March and April to gather hunter input about duck season dates and zone boundary locations for the next five years. Participants will have the opportunity to review long-term data about weather, migration, habitat use, harvest, and hunter opinions, and discuss their season date and zone preferences with other hunters and Conservation staff. Hunter input gathered through the workshops combined with hunter opinion surveys will be used to establish Missouri’s 2011-2015 duck season dates and zones.

Options for Duck Zones And Split Seasons

Duck zones aim to provide the best season dates for private and public land. Missouri has the opportunity to revise zones every five years with possible options including a statewide season with no splits, no zones with up to two splits and three segments, two zones with one split and two segments, and three zones with no splits. Two additional options that may be available for the 2011-2015 period include four zones with no splits or three zones with one split. A split season refers to a season that is open for a period of time, closes, and then reopens for a second period of time.

Zone Boundaries Represent a Compromise

Given the range of hunter preferences that exist, it is likely that not all hunters will be completely satisfied regardless of which season dates or zone boundaries that are selected. The challenge is to provide a balance that will accommodate at least a portion of most hunters’ desires.

Whether or not changes are recommended for 2011-2015 will depend primarily upon hunter input. If most hunters from a particular region prefer a different season structure (zones and splits) or season dates, a change will likely be recommended. Otherwise, “change for the sake of change” will not be recommended. Regardless, the time and effort taken by hunters to provide their input is valued, and it will help us develop the best possible recommendation for Missouri duck hunters.

The informational booklet used for the 2011 Duck Season Dates and Zone Boundaries Workshops will be available in early March.

Zone Boundaries

North Zone: That portion of Missouri north of a line running west from the Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25; west on Lincoln County Hwy. N to Mo. Hwy. 79; south on Mo. Hwy. 79 to Mo. Hwy. 47; west on Mo. Hwy. 47 to I-70; west on I-70 to the Kansas border.

Middle Zone: The remainder of Missouri not included in other zones.

South Zone: That portion of Missouri south of a line running west from the Illinois border on Mo. Hwy. 74 to Mo. Hwy. 25; south on Mo. Hwy 25. to U.S. Hwy. 62; west on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 53; north on Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. Hwy. 51; north on Mo. Hwy. 51 to U.S. Hwy. 60; west on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. Hwy. 21; north on Mo. Hwy. 21 to Mo. Hwy. 72; west on Mo. Hwy. 72 to Mo. Hwy. 32; west on Mo. Hwy. 32 to U.S. Hwy. 65; north on U.S. Hwy. 65 to U.S. Hwy. 54; west on U.S. Hwy. 54 to U.S. Hwy. 71; south on U.S. Hwy. 71 to Jasper County Hwy. M; west on Jasper County Hwy. M to the Kansas border.