Most hunters found some ducks — and mosquitoes — on a summerlike waterfowl opener

With temperatures hitting 80 degrees under blue skies, Minnesota's duck 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. But ringnecks already have moved into the state, Cordts said.

Here's a roundup:

Hunters averaged 2.5 ducks apiece at the Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and 2.4 ducks at the Roseau River WMA near Roseau — both above average. At Bemidji, "access 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 area,'' reported officer Darrin Kittelson of International Falls. "Hunters checked seemed to do very well, with a larger than expected wood duck count.''

Hunting was slow near Cook and poor to good near Ely.

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. Many hunters had good success near Henning and reportedly did well near Cass Lake, too.

Overall success was "pretty good'' in the Grand Rapids area.

Near Morris, reported officer Tony Anderson, "Hunters reported decent success on opening day, followed by a slower day on Sunday.'' Action was slow near Staples

Action was mixed near Cromwell and slow near Carlton. Good numbers of ducks were harvested in the Crosslake area, and hunters averaged two bird per party in the Crosby area, mostly wood ducks and mallards.

"Good numbers of hunters and a fair amount of ducks'' was the report from officer Randy Posner of Brainerd. Hunters had moderate success near Onamia. In the Pierz area, hunting groups averaged five ducks.

"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 of the ducks were teal, mallards, shovelers, and wood ducks. Hunters had "decent'' luck near Ortonville.

At famed Swan Lake, the 10,000-acre waterfowl mecca, hunters averaged 0.78 ducks apiece on Saturday, 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. "It was definitely down.''

Blue-winged teal and wood ducks were most common in the bag, with mallards third.

"I expected it to be a little better,'' Innvaer said. "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