PUEBLO, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife will offer a clinic for duck hunters at 6 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Pueblo Hunter Safety Building at 2500 W. Mesa Ave. The clinic is a way for waterfowl hunters to learn about hunting regulations, duck biology, identification, and hunting tactics – all with the goal of increasing duck hunting success. "This…
Duck season is currently open for Panhandle Counties. Zone 1 opens Saturday October 29, and Zone 2 opens Saturday November 5. Youth Waterfowl opportunities October 29-30 for Zone 2, see regulations for details. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com. The next waterfowl report is scheduled for November 2. NORTHWEST Canton – Zone 1:…
Bemidji, Minn. – The number of state duck stamps sold has dropped every year since 2002, and sales last year were the lowest ever. But it looks like the trend won't last. As of earlier this week, hunters had purchased 85,180 duck stamps, compared with 83,692 at the same time last year. Total sales last year were 88,069. "To me,…
The time chart on Page 11 in the 2011-2012 Waterfowl Seasons and Rules book has some incorrect times for five days in January. The opening times on January 22 through 27 in the column for Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties and part of Idaho County, all in the Mountain Time Zone areas are…
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is searching for young hunters who want to go on a guided duck hunt this fall at one of six lakes across Oklahoma. The hunts are designed for youth ages 12-15 who have completed the Wildlife Department's free hunter education course. Hunts are held at Altus-Lugert Lake, Ft. Gibson Waterfowl Refuge, Ft. Cobb State…
As hard as it is to remove my ever-spinning thoughts off of deer season and the upcoming 2011 rut, which is supposed to be a sizzling nine days for deer hunters everywhere, I have to remember that this year I'll be missing the last few days of the pre-rut. Fortunately, and yet strangely, I'm thrilled at the prospect. Typically, should…
New Orleans (AP) – Given the current political climate, it's easy to consider Dale Hall a hopeless optimist when reading this: the CEO of Ducks Unlimited is pushing Congress to raise the price of the federal duck stamp from $15 to $25. But then you want to change "hopeless optimist'' to "just plain crazy'' when you read this: While waiting…
DNR has announced dates and sites for its annual youth waterfowl hunts in all four waterfowl zones. Yes, that's all four zones. The new south central zone implemented this year for duck hunters will have its own youth hunt. At most sites, including federal sites, regulations that apply during the regular waterfowl hunting season apply during the Youth Hunt. The…
Big Six LAKE MILLE LACS East – Crankbaits or slip bobbers and leeches are providing steady walleye action at night on the shoreline breaks and mid-depth rocks. Bigger fish continue to be taken on crankbaits or leeches during the day on deep, main-lake structure. The rock piles and bays are starting to give up bigger perch and smallmouth bass are an…
This comes from the Minnesota DNR, but it's a well-worded piece on duck boat safety. Every year, outings that could have been good memories become tragedies. Let's make this a year with no such tragic endings… With many duck hunters anxiously preparing for the Sept. 24 Minnesota opener, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds people to make sure…
Bemidji, Minn. – Steve Cordts is so confident duck hunters will see birds on Saturday's opener that he's got a deal for hunters who don't: give him a call and he'll put you on them next year. "About all I can guarantee is everyone who goes hunting will see a duck," Cordts, waterfowl specialist for the DNR, said. "I won't…
Madison – It's almost always the same. It lurks out there, just beneath the horizon, an opportunity as yet unfulfilled from the boat blinds and the shore blinds, from the cattails, the bulrushes, and sloughs – it's the 2011 waterfowl season, and from all indications, it's going to be one of the better years for duck hunters across the state….
Springfield – "Duck down." It's an exclamation the state's waterfowlers hope to hear – and themselves utter – several times this fall. For some waterfowlers in the state, it's the beginning of a new era: the 2011 season includes an additional hunting zone and altered hunting dates. For others, there will be basically no changes. Changes or no changes, successes…
In spite of abnormally wet conditions earlier this year, Minnesota waterfowl hunters may find access to lakes and wetlands challenging in some areas this fall. "Some hunters may be surprised by water levels, especially at the very shallow sites," said Ken Varland, area wildlife supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "Some wetlands are significantly lower than they…
We're all about breaking down barriers to newcomers, so we like this article from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks… A few days ago a co-worker, commenting on the breeding duck population surveys this year, told me, "It sounds like a person could go out to a local wetland this fall, fire a shotgun into the air, and a duck would…
The California Waterfowl Association's 2011-12 Waterfowl Hunter's Pocket Guide contains incorrect dates for the upcoming North Coast Black Brant hunting season. The correct season dates for the Northern Brant Zone are Nov. 7, 2011 through Dec. 6, 2011. Categories: News Archive, Waterfowl
Montana's young hunters will have a special treat Sept. 24-25, the weekend of the youth waterfowl and pheasant special seasons. Legally licensed hunters ages 12-15 will be able to hunt ducks, mergansers, geese, coots and pheasants statewide on these two days. Also, under a new regulation, youngsters 11 years of age who will reach 12 years of age by Jan….
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department is asking that individuals who will be goose hunting in Perkins County this fall be aware of a misprint in the 2011 Hunting Handbook. On page 22 of the Handbook, Perkins County is listed under both Unit 1 and Unit 2 Canada Goose hunting units. Perkins County is not…
A ruddy duck painted by Stephen P. Hamrick of Lakeville will be featured on the 2012 Minnesota Migratory Waterfowl Stamp. Hamrick's painting was chosen as the winning design from among 26 entries in the stamp contest sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Thirteen entries advanced to the second stage of judging, from which four finalists were selected….
Columbus – A third duck hunting zone was indeed added to the northern Ohio landscape for this upcoming season. The 2011-2012 waterfowl hunting season dates have been approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council, according to the DNR Division of Wildlife. Ohio duck hunters can now take advantage of three zones for hunting. Based on comments received from waterfowl hunters in…
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is now accepting applications for the 2011-12 marsh and rice field lottery waterfowl hunts on the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area (WCA) in Vermilion Parish. The available dates for rice field hunts are: Nov. 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 22 and 30; Dec. 3, 4, 17, 18, 21, 28 and 30; Jan….
Thanks to a donation from the Oklahoma Waterfowlers Association, hundreds of acres of exposed shoreline on Lake Eufaula have been planted with Japanese millet seed to attract and benefit waterfowl this fall and winter. Along with providing the donation of 5,400 pounds of millet seed to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Waterfowlers Association members donated time to assist with…
Big Six LAKE MILLE LACS East -Look for perch in the bays in 12 to 18 feet. Shallow-water walleye action is improving with crankbaits working during the day and during low-light periods along the eight- to 12-foot rock transition areas. There's still plenty of big walleyes being caught on the deep, main-lake structure. Smallmouth bass are biting on the rocks and…
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking public comments on the draft revision of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). First signed in 1986 between Canada and the United States — with Mexico joining in 1994 — the NAWMP is held as a leading model for international conservation plans. In large measure this is because it is…
We thought this was a good warning to pass on to waterfowl hunters who might be hunting in drought-stricken areas. This is specific to Kansas, but the rules are made and enforced by the feds… TOPEKA, KS – With the recent failed corn crops in Kansas due to this year's drought, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reminds all…
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. – Michigan waterfowl hunters have much to anticipate this season with another 60-day season on the books, greater numbers of ducks across North America, and goose flocks that appear to be holding their own. Some goose hunters already are in the fields and marshes since the early season for resident Canada geese opened Sept. 1. Early…
