Migratory Season Structure 2026-2030 Survey Results
By Todd Schaller, WWA Vice President
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s March 2026 Newsletter edition.
The Advocacy pillar of the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s mission is often about members speaking and WWA listening — which is exactly what happened in mid-February.
Earlier in 2026, WWA distributed a survey to gather member input on potential waterfowl season structures for the next five years. The survey results provided important guidance to WWA representatives participating in the Migratory Game Bird Advisory Committee discussions, ensuring that member voices were part of the conversation.
The advisory committee includes staff from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, representatives from the Conservation Congress, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, WWA, and other Wisconsin waterfowl organizations. The committee’s role is to evaluate options and work toward consensus recommendations for season structures.
The purpose of the recent meeting was to discuss season structure options — including splits, start dates, and zone considerations — and move toward a recommended proposal for the 2026–2030 seasons. These multi-year decisions are guided by federal frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, biological data, and public input.
The consensus process is a careful balance of multiple information sources, including:
- Input from the “average” hunter through WDNR scientific surveys
- Historical harvest and migration data
- Organizational surveys (often representing highly engaged hunters)
- Public feedback and meetings
- Considerations such as rule simplification and hunting opportunity
Seeing the debates on social media about what season structure is best — often based on location or hunting style — makes it clear that waterfowlers are passionate and have strong opinions. While no structure will satisfy 100% of hunters, the process is designed to reach the best overall outcome given the complexity involved. Factors include federal framework options, the diversity of hunting types across Wisconsin, more than 62,000 waterfowl hunters statewide, and unpredictable elements such as weather and migration patterns.
The next step is the WDNR public input process, which includes an online survey and public meetings that were recently announced: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/waterfowl
Input gathered through this process will be used to finalize the 2026–2030 season structure proposal, which will then be presented to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board in April for approval.
Wisconsin’s waterfowl community is fortunate to have a strong, public-driven process for establishing season structures. Don’t miss this opportunity to be involved in shaping what our seasons will look like for the next five years.
