A person may not take protected wild animals, except raccoon and fox, with a firearm between the evening and morning times established by commissioner's rule, except big game may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset, and, except as otherwise prescribed by the commissioner during the first eight days of the season, until January 1, 2001, waterfowl may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset during the entire season prescribed by the commissioner.