State DNR announces hunting dates

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources today has announced many of the dates for hunting seasons in 2008.

The DNR said the dates are being announced now to help hunters plan ahead. The dates are tentative, the DNR said, but unlikely to change.

The waterfowl season opener won't be determined until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes proposed migratory bird hunting frameworks this summer.

Additional details on season lengths, quotas and bag limits will be announced this summer, after the 2008 seasons are finalized.

The seasons announced are:

SMALL GAME

April 16-May 29 - Spring wild turkey (first season) Sept. 13 - General small game opener, including grouse gray partridge, rabbits and squirrels Oct. 11 - Pheasant Oct. 18 - Prairie chicken opener Oct. 15-19 - Fall wild turkey (first season) Oct. 22-26 - Fall wild turkey (second season)

Sept. 1 - Bear Sept. 13 - Deer - archery Oct. 4 - Moose - northeast zone Nov. 8 - Deer - firearms Nov. 29 - Deer - muzzleloader

FURBEARERS

Oct. 25 - Fox, raccoon badger, opossum Oct. 25 (north) - Mink, muskrat, beaver, otter Nov. 1 (south) - Mink, muskrat, beaver, otter Nov. 29 - Fisher, marten, bobcat

MIGRATORY BIRDS

March 1-31 - Crow (first season) March 1 - Spring light goose July 15 - Oct. 15 - Crow (second season) Sept. 1 - Mourning doves Sept. 1 - Rails, snipe Sept. 6 (tentative) - Early Canada goose Sept. 20-21 - Take A Kid Hunting Weekend Sept. 20 (tentative) - Woodcock Oct. 4 (tentative) - Waterfowl