With temperatures hitting 80 degrees under blue skies, Minnesota's waterfowl hunting opener was one most hunters likely will remember, regardless of how many ducks they saw or shot.

Fortunately, many hunters went home with some ducks — along with mosquito bites — according to conservation officers and wildlife officials.

"Everything I've heard has been pretty positive despite the horrid weather for duck hunting,'' said Steve Cordts, a DNR waterfowl specialist. Cool weather a week before the opener likely sent some early migrants like teal and wood ducks out of the state, hurting hunter success, he said. But ringnecks already have moved into the state. Here's a roundup:

North

Hunters averaged 2.5 ducks apiece at Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and 2.4 ducks at Roseau River WMA near Roseau — both above average. At Bemidji, "accesses were busy opening morning with a lot of shooting,'' reported conservation officer Brice Vollbrecht. Most bags consisted of teal, mallards and wood ducks.

"The duck opener was very eventful in Black Bay of Rainy Lake,'' reported officer Darrin Kittelson of International Falls. "Hunters checked seemed to do very well, with a larger than expected wood duck count.''

Near Perham, hunters had a mixed bag of wood ducks, mallards and teal. Most hunters checked in the Pelican Rapids area had two or three ducks, though some shot six-bird limits. Near Fergus Falls, hunters had good shooting with blue-winged teal dominating the bag. Overall success was "pretty good'' in the Grand Rapids area.

South

"Waterfowl hunters had a great weekend with large ducks and small ducks being taken,'' reported officer Doug Lage of Marshall. Some hunters shot limits. Most ducks were teal, mallards, shovelers, and wood ducks. Hunters had "decent'' luck near Ortonville.

At famed Swan Lake in Nicollet County, hunters averaged 0.78 ducks apiece on Saturday (mostly blue-winged teal and wood ducks), down from 1.6 ducks apiece last year. "There was lots of shooting, but not a lot of killing,'' said Stein Innvaer, DNR assistant wildlife manager. "I expected it to be a little better. I think the best is yet to come. The lake is in great shape.''

Hunters did well near Buffalo and Center City, but did poor near Waconia. Near Montevideo, some hunters shot limits. Hunting pressure was high on the Mississippi River in the southeast, with poor results near Winona and La Crescent.

Hunters averaged 1.25 ducks apiece at Carlos Avery WMA near Forest Lake, where pressure, as always, was high.

Doug Smith • 612-673-7667