Despite a statewide ban since the 1980s on using lead shot for waterfowl hunting in Wisconsin, wardens continue to find hunters afield using illegal shells, he says. The law banning lead shot aims to prevent lead poisoning of waterfowl and other birds, as well as animals that feed on dead waterfowl, he says. In addition to the lead shot ban for waterfowl, hunters are required to use non-toxic shot on federal refuges and waterfowl production properties for all hunting except turkey and deer. Steel shot is the most popular non-toxic shot in use, but advancements in bismuth and tungsten loads now give hunters other alternatives to steel. Besides opening day, hunting hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for the season.
Actual times vary day to day and by area of the state being hunted.
Lawhern advises hunters to check the timetable in the regulation pamphlet carefully. Two more frequent waterfowl hunting violations are hunting with a firearm capable of holding more than three shells and shooting or possessing more than the daily bag limit, Lawhern says. Laws that prohibit hunters from hunting waterfowl with a firearm capable of holding more than three shells are intended to promote fair chase and to avoid wounding birds, he says. As waterfowl get farther away, and if the hunter still has more shots to fire, the hunter runs the risk of wounding but not killing the bird. The current bag limit is six ducks, but there are also restrictions on certain species or gender, such as hen mallards, black ducks, wood ducks, scaup, canvasbacks and redheads.