Winchester Blind Side Waterfowl Ammunition

Winchester Ammunition

East Alton, IL – -(Ammoland.com)- In 2011, Winchester Ammunition revolutionized steel waterfowl ammunition with the launch of Blind Side, the most innovative steel waterfowl product in the company’s history.

“Before Blind Side ammunition, waterfowl hunters could only dream of steel shot that approached the performance of lead. Now, it’s a reality,” said Brett Flaugher, Winchester Ammunition vice president of marketing and sales.

“Our engineers spent years developing Blind Side and we’re taking it to the next level in 2012 by expanding the Blind Side line to offer more choices to hunters.”

For 2012, Blind Side ammunition will be offered in the following gauges, shell lengths and shot sizes (new offerings in bold):

Gauge Shell Length Oz. Shot Velocity Shot Sizes

• 12 3 1/2” 1 5/8 1400 BB, 1, 2, 3
• 12 3” 1 3/8 1400 BB, 1, 2, 3, 5
• 12 2 3/4” 1 1/4 1400 2, 5
• 20 3” 1 1/16 1300 2, 5

Blind Side ammunition combines ground-breaking, stacked HEX Shot technology and the new Diamond Cut Wad in the most deadly Winchester waterfowl load available. The HEX Shot pellets, shaped much like dice, literally stack together inside the shell, resulting in up to 15 percent more pellets in every shell.

Loaded with 100 percent HEX Shot, hunters get more pellets on target, a larger kill zone and more trauma inducing pellets than ever before – meaning quick kill shots. The shot is designed to hit waterfowl like high-velocity tumbling bricks – preventing over penetration and maximizing energy deposit and knock down shock within the bird.

With a company heritage dating back to 1866, Winchester Ammunition was there for the taming of the American West, the Allied Forces’ victory in World War II and through the years, millions of fond memories made in the great outdoors. Known as The American Legend, Winchester is a global leader in sporting, law enforcement, military and personal defense ammunition production. Winchester continues to raise the bar with new products like Blind Side waterfowl and PDX1 Defender™ personal defense ammunition.

For more information about Winchester Ammunition, visit www.winchester.com, or connect with The American Legend™ on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterAmmunition.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

Pennsylvania --(Ammoland.com)- The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners gave preliminary approval to nearly all of the 2012-13 seasons and bag limits; however, there is one group of seasons that won’t be finalized until summer: waterfowl and migratory bird seasons.

In July, in concert with federal frameworks, the Game Commission will set seasons and bag limits for September resident Canada goose and webless migratory birds, such as doves, woodcock, snipe and moorhens.

In August, the Game Commission and waterfowl hunting organizations will host waterfowl organizations, individual sportsmen and the public to attend a briefing on the status of waterfowl populations and proposed preliminary federal frameworks for the 2012-13 hunting seasons.

In addition to reviewing frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for upcoming waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, Game Commission staff, along with conservation partners, will provide updates on current and planned research and management programs, as well as past hunting results.

Based on public comments received and gathered at the meeting, Game Commission staff will prepare and present recommended composite waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, bag limits and related criteria to the USFWS for final approval. All migratory bird hunting seasons and bag limits must conform to frameworks set by the USFWS. States select their hunting seasons within these established frameworks.

By mid-August, once the final selections are made, the Game Commission will print and distribute brochures outlining the seasons and bag limits for waterfowl and migratory bird seasons to U.S. Post Offices, where hunters may purchase their mandatory federal duck stamp. The brochure also will be posted on the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) along with a news release announcing the agency’s final selections by mid-August.

MOJO Outdoor's Screamin Woody Decoy

MOJO Outdoors

Las, Vegas, NV --(Ammoland.com)- The MOJO Screamin’ Woody is a MOJO realistic duck species spinning wing decoy for the duck hunter.

It features a realistic looking wood duck drake body. With the addition of the patented MOJO Mounting Peg and complete 3-piece support pole, the Screamin’ Woody can run up to 16 hours on 4 AA batteries (not included).

No worrying with rechargeable batteries. It is the HOTTEST new weapon in the duck hunter’s arsenal!

It will be available in stores around Mid-Summer.

**Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!**

And Remember…It Ain’t MAGIC – If it Ain’t MOJO

About:
MOJO Outdoors is the number one maker of motion decoys in the world… but we are also much more than that! MOJO Outdoors began life in the State of Louisiana with the invention and development, by real hunters, of the MOJO Mallard Spinning Wing Duck Decoy, which went on to become a phenomena in the world of duck hunting. With its realistic body, its large and practically unstoppable direct drive motor, highly reflective aluminum wings and rugged, dependable operation, it quickly took the market, making the name “MOJO” synonymous with “quality and success”.

GHG Pro Grade Wigeons

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Goose hunters enjoyed better decoying action near Dumas, Spearman and Amarillo with the snow and colder conditions.

Christmas Day brought four inches of snow on the High Plains which encouraged geese to decoy better.

Larger Canada geese are showing with frozen ponds in the northern states. Snow geese and Canadas are solid on roost ponds near Etter. Duck numbers continue to build in the Panhandle, with more mallards showing on playas. Many divers are hanging out on reservoirs and other deep water ponds. Feed lot ponds are good for gadwalls and wigeons. Recent snow runoff has put water in many dry playas. Outfitters have said hunter participation has been down. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: Duck hunters have taken good numbers of mallards in sloughs, creeks and river bottoms, especially with improved habitat conditions as of a result of recent rains, reported biologist Jared Laing. Colder weather and frozen waterways to the north have encouraged more mallards to cross the state line. Scouting has been crucial, said Laing, with birds moving about with more water on the ground. Canvasbacks and other divers have been steady on Lake O’Pines, Toledo Bend and Lake Fork. Backwaters around Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend and the Sulfur River have produced good mallard shoots as well. Gadwalls and wigeons have been taken in shallow coves of lakes and reservoirs. Wood ducks have been steady at first light in wet timber. Hunting remained steady around the zone boundaries of IH-10 where some areas received 2-4 inches during the holiday weekend. Freshwater impoundments have held pintails, wigeons, shovelers and green-winged teal. Prospects are good.

South Zone Duck: The coast continues to produce steady duck shoots on the prairies, marshes and bays. Gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers and pintails have been steady near Eagle Lake, Garwood and Wharton. Most of the upper coast received 2-4 inches of rain over the holiday weekend. Sheet water has covered many dry rice fields which has encouraged ducks to work goose spreads. Bay hunters enjoyed steady shoots near Port O’Connor and Rockport. Solid shoots have come from the Lower Laguna Madre around Port Isabel and Port Mansfield. Pintails, redheads, bluebills, gadwalls and wigeons have made up the bags. Hunters in Trinity Bay have struggled the past few weeks as ducks are here today and gone tomorrow. Marsh hunters in Orange County have seen good numbers of gadwalls and teal throughout the season. Snow goose hunting has been good with wind and a low ceiling. Absent have been large concentration of small Canadas that take up the slack for call-shy specklebellies. Sandhill crane numbers are steady. Most cranes have been harvested by goose hunters in white spreads. Prospects are good.

Season/Bag Limits: The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan. 29, 2012. The North and South zones run Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Blue-winged teal for the pot.

Delta Waterfowl

Bismarck, ND --(Ammoland.com)- Somewhere south of Morgan City, La., on the fabled Atchafalaya River basin, Jeff Green is navigating his custom-made 30-foot Hanko boat with a sky lounge and 250-horsepower motor as he cuts a wake through an ancient bayou on his way to his family’s half-century-old duck camp.

Greg Green, Jeff’s brother, is along for the nearly hour-long ride, as are childhood friend Mitch McHugh and three guests.

If you cup an ear and listen hard enough, as the haunting cypress swamp blurrily passes by like a cinematic ode to the Blair Witch Project, you can hear the music throbbing through his speakers as the refreshingly cool January air slithers beneath your collar and spirals down your neck like an invisible amusement park ride.

Wish I was back on the Bayou.
Rollin’ with some Cajun Queen.
Wishin’ I were a fast freight train,
Just a chooglin’ on down to New Orleans.

Born On The Bayou;
Born On The Bayou;
Born On The Bayou.

The coolers on board — and there’s more than one — runneth over with oysters and shrimp and crab and bullfrogs and doves and God knows what other exotic wild protein whose every part will be hand-spun into delicacies that will tie your tongue in knots and make your stomach scream for more.

Indeed, for the outsider whose “green” palate isn’t accustomed to the riches of Cajun cuisine (or any other delectable concoction conceived at duck camp), buckle up. Your taste buds are about to be hijacked by a savory, oh-my-God gastronomical wonderland, food as mega-calorie pyrotechnic.

For the record, the duck hunters of South Louisiana, a hard-living, fun-loving, distinctly prideful bunch, love to kill “their ducks” perhaps as much as any waterfowling demographic in North America. But the duck camp experience that defines part of the coastal hunting culture neither begins nor ends with slapping the trigger and watching a green-winged teal, an American wigeon or a drake northern shoveler (affectionately called a flathead mallard in bayou country) tumble from the sky.

Duck hunting is the tie that binds. The experience is the confluence of several cultural happenings, but food doesn’t play second fiddle to any of them.

“This is South Louisiana,” said Greg Green, at the R.J. Marcell Memorial Boat Ramp in Morgan City, minutes before departing downriver to duck camp, “so get ready to have some fun.”

South Louisiana Culture
When Delta Waterfowl Communications Director Nigel Simms and I decided to travel to coastal Louisiana in January to sample the duck camp experience, neither of us knew what to expect. Aside from what I had read and heard over the years, I knew very little about the region’s history or culture. Delta Development Director Bryan King has spent eight years as a regional director in Louisiana, particularly in its southern coastal reaches where people either work on the water, play on the water or both.

“Food is everywhere in South Louisiana because it has been woven into the culture for generations,” he said, noting he nearly put on 20 pounds his first few months on the job before reigning in his eating habits.

“Duck hunters are a big part of it. I personally have never experienced another culture in the United States that celebrates not just what it has harvested in the field, but as importantly, what that harvest will become once it’s in a big black pot and, ultimately, on the plate.”

As King spoke, serving as our defacto tour guide/cultural anthropologist, we sat at the Atchafalaya Café in Morgan City, enjoying — really enjoying — a bowl of seafood etouffee, deep-fried okra and iced tea. And did I mention the po’boy with deep-fried oysters?

A significant portion of South Louisiana — particularly its rural areas — is dominated by Cajuns, descendents of Acadian exiles who first came to the region in the late 18th century from Nova Scotia. However, Cajuns have, over time, absorbed and been influenced by other regional cultures: German, Spanish, Anglo Italian, Native American, Slavanian and more.

“It really is a stew of ethnic diversity, and its shows through in the food and music and in the diversity of language and customs,” King said. “There’s one word to me that defines the lifestyle and culture of south Louisiana: hard. Most of the people I’ve come to know embody the word. They work hard, play hard, cook hard, eat hard, drink hard and hunt hard.”

King had arranged a day of hunting with the Green brothers, both of whom are members of the local Delta chapter, and soon we were at the boat ramp loading our gear and pushing off down the Atchafalaya. Minutes after we did, John Fogarty crooned wildly through the speakers, fresh air awakened our senses and civilization as we knew it waved adios in our wake.

Green Family Duck Camp, Louisiana

Green Family Camp
The first thing I noticed when we arrived at the Green family duck camp was the sign. It was pure Old Testament: “Trespassers will be stripped, beaten, violated and abused…cooked alive, eaten and the remains thrown to the dogs.”

Thankfully, we were welcomed guests, and all that was asked of us was to help unload the gear and settle in for a night of good, clean fun before the morning’s hunt.

“What y’all think of the place?” asked Greg Green. “It’s not the Four Seasons, but it will do, don’t ya think?”

The duck camp itself is constantly becoming. Or, as Jeff Green says, “It’s constantly under construction.” Over the years, the camp has been torn asunder by hurricanes and other calamities, only to be rebuilt, augmented and rebuilt again.

The camp might not be the Four Seasons, but it’s not a tree fort on stilts, either. The kitchen has a gas range and oven, a sink, a long, rectangular-shaped island and a sturdy table and chairs. The living room has couches, lounge chairs and a big-screen television. Bedrooms and a bathroom sit down the back hall. In front, there’s a screened-in porch, and out back, a wooden deck complete with a grill and a nice view. A large generator makes the entire camp rattle and hum. Consider, too, the camp itself and its accoutrements were, at one time or another, boated in from Morgan City.

“This isn’t like going to hunt a rice lease,” Jeff Green said. “This camp has been in our family for 50 years, and ever since I can remember we’ve been putting into it as much as we’ve gotten out of it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

By early evening, all of us were sitting around the table, eating fresh oysters and a shrimp-and-oyster spread with crackers and leisurely drinking a few adult beverages, a ritual played out countless times over the years. Music, of course, was playing in the background. (The Green brothers have been known to bring in live music for special occasions at duck camp.)

The stories were plentiful too, thanks to Greg Green, the self-described director of entertainment. He wasn’t lying either. There are bona fide characters in this world, and then there’s Greg Green, who speaks so fast, and is so outrageously funny, you burn calories just listening — and laughing.

Thank goodness too. Before long, he had prepared a spread of deep-fried, hand-caught bullfrogs with spicy mustard, among other dipping sauces. They were lip-smacking sublime.

Albert Einstein once said, “Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to vegetarian diet.”

That’s perhaps debatable. But Einstein obviously never visited a duck camp in South Louisiana and ate Greg Green’s deep-fried frog legs.

“Cold frog legs are good fried food for breakfast,” Greg Green said, still in entertainment mode. “If you boys don’t lik’em, I’ll go out and get ya a nutria.”

“Go to bed little brother,” Jeff Green instructed. “You need your sleep.”

A heavy, roof-rattling rain began to fall, and an eerie fog rolled in as we went to bed. Wake up: 4:45 a.m.

“My worst-case scenario is waking up too early,” Greg Green said.

We all laughed.

Ducks For the Pot
The Green brothers rose before the alarm went off. Coffee was quickly on the boil, and before long, we were out the door and roaring down the bayou.

The plan was for us to break into two groups, with Greg Green, King and I hunting from a platform blind already brushed with natural vegetation.

The air was see-your-breath cool and the sky was mostly clear, with nary a hint of wind. The decoys sat listless as the morning sunrise — a spectacular ball of orange bracketed by a faint shade of crimson — inched above the horizon. The freshwater marsh finally came alive, although the birds were MIA.

“We need some wind,” King said.

“We need some ducks,” Greg Green said.

As the morning wore on, the wind picked up. Soon, the ducks started to move.

“You have a lot of gun-shy ducks this time of year, but it’s only a matter of time before we work a few in close,” said a smiling Greg Green as he cradled his trusty 10-gauge like a newborn. “But I don’t need ‘em that close.”

True enough. A pair of wigeon came in from behind before swinging wide, roughly 45 yards from Greg Green. Two shots, two ducks.

“That’s two for the pot,” he said, laughing.

The action picked up quickly, with teal, gadwalls, shovelers, the occasional pintail and more wigeon vectoring in and around our spread.

“The thing about hunting these freshwater marshes in Louisiana is the number of species you see, day in and day out,” King said. “When you go hunt the flooded timber in Arkansas, your expectation is that you’re going to see and kill mallards. Not down here. It’s a gumbo of species, and I like that.”

During the 2010-2011 hunting season, Louisiana hunters filled their gumbo pots with 2.7 million ducks, the most of any state, and according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than all of Central Flyway states combined. That’s a per-hunter harvest of 30.6 ducks.

“We’ve had a good year,” Greg Green said. “The cold weather pushed a lot of birds down. You’ll get no complaints here. Who’d listen anyway?”

By noon, we had picked up our decoys and were headed back to camp with a nice mixed bag of puddle ducks.

“The gunning wasn’t heavy, but we did just fine,” Jeff Green said. “It was a good morning any way you cut it.”

Food, Family and Fun
We barely got off the boat and Jeff Green and McHugh were starting breakfast. The bacon sizzled in the pan and, of course, the eggs were eventually cooked in the drippings.

“Duck camp is about 75 percent cooking,” said Jeff Green, winking.

As we were eating, he fired up the grill with mesquite charcoal — he had a mess of doves he wanted to grill.

“I got a new concoction for you little brother,” Jeff Green said.

If bacon and eggs weren’t enough, he rolled out a long piece of tinfoil and placed the doves on it. He covered the birds with diced potato, onion, bell pepper and bacon, after which he splashed the dish with homemade wine and Coke, and liberally applied various spices. He formed the tinfoil into a tent and put it on the grill.

“Now we gotta give it some time,” Jeff Green said. “Time to clean some ducks.”

Beneath a peerless blue sky and the warming sun, in front of his family’s 50-year-old duck camp, Jeff Green plucked his ducks just like his Daddy used to.

“This place is about food, family and fun,” Jeff Green said. He has three daughters and a son. “I like bringing my kids out here.

It’s good for them. Kids who hunt and fish are less likely to deal and steal. It ain’t about killing, I’ll tell you that. It’s about spending time with family and friends. It’s about having a good time.”

“I’ve been hunting and fishing since I was a kid, and it’s just a way of living for us folks down here, and we’re proud of it,” added Greg Green. “I just don’t know no better.”

Tori McCormick is associate editor of Delta Waterfowl.

About:Delta Waterfowl provides knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting. Visit: www.deltawaterfowl.org

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Duck hunting has improved with recent rains and snow. The Panhandle received more rain early this week and snow is forecasted as well.

Good numbers of mallards, gadwalls and teal have been harvested, along with wigeons, mallards and gadwalls.

Goose hunting has been great, according to several sources, with best goose hunts coming over wheat and corn. Lots of Canada geese on Lake Etter. Snow geese have been mixed with darks. Outfitters have reported larger Canada geese have moved in to the region with freezing temperatures in the northern states. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck:  Biologist Jared Laing said hunters have enjoyed good shoots for mallards in backwaters along sloughs, river bottoms and beaver ponds. Recent rains have drastically improved habitat in what had been a dismal first split of the season. Mallard action has been good along the Sulfur River and Red River bottoms. Gadwalls and wigeons have dominated the bag for the most part, but green-winged teal and divers have helped, too. Caddo Lake and Lake O’Pines are solid for divers, gadwalls and a few mallards. Lake Fork and Toledo Bend saw good shoots in shallow creeks and coves for mallards, canvasbacks, gadwalls and green-winged teal. Laing said the Neches, Sabine and Angelina rivers have improved with recent rains for mallards, gadwalls and wigeons. Hunting remains steady around the zone boundaries of IH-10 around Sealy, Brookshire, China, Winnie and Columbus. Lots of green-winged teal have filled the bag, along with gadwalls and shovelers. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: Pintails, green-winged teal, gadwalls and shovelers continue to be the mainstay on prairie ponds near Wharton, El Campo, Eagle Lake, Garwood, Lissie and East Bernard. An influx of blue-winged teal moved through the region last week. Bay hunters enjoyed limits t near Port O’Connor and Rockport. Redheads have been steady and so have wigeons, pintails and gadwalls. Lower Laguna Madre hunters have shot steady limits around the Arroyo Colorado and Port Mansfield. Goose hunters continue to take advantage of a high percentage of juvenile snow geese. Foggy conditions last week yielded banner hunts. Specklebellies have become much tougher to decoy, most of the times skirting white spreads and snubbing boisterous calling. Sandhill crane hunters get their first shot Dec. 24, and numbers look good around roost ponds. Limited water has concentrated cranes in very large groups. Prospects are good.

Season/Bag Limits: The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan. 29, 2012. The North and South zones run Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

This service is provided to you at no charge by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Goose hunters have enjoyed steady shoots for Canadas.

Outfitters have said goose numbers are solid, but hunter participation has been down. Best hunts have come over wheat and corn near Etter, Dumas and Spearman.

A few snow geese have been mixed with the darks. Peanut and bean fields around Abilene and Lubbock have held nice concentrations of dark geese.

Duck hunting has been fair to poor around Amarillo. Drought conditions have left little to no wet playas across the High Plains. Pheasant shoots have been fair. Numbers are down compared to a year ago. Sandhill cranes remain solid over plowed ground. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: The second-split opener was fair for most Northeast and Central Texas hunters. Any pond holding water held ducks, but those watering holes are few and far between. Reservoirs and lakes continue to hold the brunt of the duck population, but boat access has been limited due to record low levels on many waterways making boat ramps inoperable. Many hunters reported fair shoots on mallards and wood ducks in sloughs and rivers that are holding water. Caddo Lake and Lake O’Pines were fair for divers, gadwalls and a few mallards. The Sulphur River was fair for mallards, gadwalls and redheads. Hunting around the zone boundaries of IH-10 was good for shovelers, green-winged teal, pintails and gadwalls. Still, many more divers are holding on inland ponds than in years past, probably due to the lack of freshwater near coastal bay flats. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: The second-split opener was solid along the coastal prairies and bay flats. Prairie hunters saw large groups of decoying pintails, shovelers, green-winged teal and gadwalls. The coast continues to suffer the effects of the drought, and only those with access to water wells have been able to re-pump freshwater impoundments. Bay hunters enjoyed limits near Port O’Connor, Rockport, Port Aransas and Port Mansfield. Jefferson County marsh hunters have shot steady limits of ducks despite a hypersaline marsh. Goose hunters have seen solid decoying action from a large juvenile snow goose flock. Dry conditions have many goose concentrations heading to water by mid-morning due to their inability to water in feeding fields. More flocks of Canada geese have moved to the coastal prairies with the recent cold fronts. Largest concentrations have been found around Wharton, El Campo, Eagle Lake and Markham. Sandhill crane hunters get their first crack at the large gray birds Dec. 24 and numbers are good, especially around roosting water. Reminder: hunters must possess the free sandhill crane permit to hunt. Prospects are good.

Season/Bag Limits:The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan.29, 2012. The North and South zones run Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

LITTLE ROCK, AR --(Ammoland.com)- More heavy rain fell across the state this week, swelling rivers and streams and filling agricultural fields and other low-lying areas with water.

The rain has been followed by the coldest air of the season. The favorable hunting conditions arrived just in time for Thursday’s opening day of the second segment of Arkansas’s duck season.

Hunters will find an increase in waterfowl habitat this week, with many bottomlands and agricultural fields being flooded. Also, most of the state’s wildlife management areas that are managed for waterfowl will have ample water.

Hunters also should experience the coldest temperatures of the season, with overnight lows in the mid to upper 20s and daytime highs in the 40s and lower 50s.

Biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission flew the state’s first aerial waterfowl survey Nov. 11-18 and counted an estimated 627,841 ducks, including roughly 132,000 mallards, throughout the Delta. But conditions have changed rapidly since the first survey, and AGFC waterfowl program coordinator Luke Naylor said he expects to see much different results from the season’s second survey, which will be conducted Dec. 12-16, weather permitting.

“Things have changed drastically since the first survey,” Naylor said. “I would expect to see the ducks respond to these favorable habitat conditions, and it’s probable that some migration events are taking place as a result of the colder weather.”

Results from the first survey may be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/AGFCaerialsurveys.

Hunters who use wildlife management areas in eastern Arkansas are likely to find rapidly changing conditions following this week’s heavy rainfall. In fact, AGFC staff have been forced to manipulate water and close access roads at several WMAs.

The measures are necessary to prevent damage or failure of infrastructure such as levees and water-control structures. AGFC staff are manipulating water levels at Dave Donaldson Black River WMA, Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA, St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA, Big Lake WMA and Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA in northeastern Arkansas.

As much as five inches of rain fell on various parts of the state Sunday and Monday, causing a rapid rise in streams and rivers that feed the management areas. The surge of water potentially could cause blowouts in levees and water-control structures, causing additional water loss. Infrastructure on many of the affected WMAs was recently repaired following past flooding.

At Bayou Meto WMA in eastern Arkansas, AGFC staff have opened all Lower Vallier and Cannon Brake water-control structures. Levels are still rising in the lower impoundment and the Salt Ditch and Fish Lake Ditch have not crested.

The heavy rains have forced the AGFC to close several roads on other popular duck hunting areas. On Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA, the main road has been closed at the one-lane bridge just north of Interstate 40. The main road could be closed at the headquarters this week with fast-rising water coming down the Cache River, Robe Bayou and Bayou DeView. The road leading to Teal Pond also will be closed.

On Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA, the Railroad Dump Road to Gregory Access has been closed because of high water from the Cache River. The Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA main access road at Mitchell Corner is closed and will remain closed throughout the remaining waterfowl season. This is part of the AGFC’s water management plan for the WMA. Access to Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek WMA will be limited to Jones Island Road from Georgetown. All other accesses from county roads are under water.

While this waterfowl report seeks to provide information that is as timely as possible, hunters should keep in mind there’s often a lag of two or three days between the time field reports are received and this report is published. Thus, actual water levels and percentage of flooded habitat may differ from what’s reported here. The AGFC encourages hunters to check stream gauges (links are provided at the end of this report) and physically scout potential hunting areas to determine actual field conditions.

To assist waterfowl hunters with the latest information, the AGFC provides links to sources on waterfowl location and abundance in Arkansas and other states. The links are available at http://www.agfc.com/hunting/Pages/HuntingWaterfowlReport.aspx#1.

This waterfowl report provides capsule information from agency staff in all corners of Arkansas and is updated each Wednesday throughout waterfowl season. To receive the report each week on your computer, send an e-mail to arkansasoutdoors@agfc.com and type “Waterfowl Report” in the subject line.

• Information on river levels can be found at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/ or http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html.
• Sunrise/sunset tables are available at: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-us and in the Arkansas Waterfowl Regulations Guide.

Texas Migratory Bird Report No. 14

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: The recent cold front pushed more geese to the High Plains. Goose hunters enjoyed better decoying action near Dumas, Spearman, Etter and Amarillo. Limits of Canadas have been taken from corn and plowed ground. A few snow geese have been mixed with dark geese. A good juvenile hatch of snow should help when snows develop a feeding pattern. Specklebellies and Canadas continue to work in Knox and Haskell counties. Duck numbers continue to build in the Panhandle, with more mallards showing with the cool front, but water remains a premium. Few playas are wet, so most ducks have had to resort to feed lot ponds and larger reservoirs. Sandhill crane hunters have enjoyed great decoying action. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: The first split of duck season ended at sunset Nov. 27 and results across the region ranged from poor to fair. Lack of water was the culprit, as the region and the rest of Texas have been suffering from a record drought. Many areas of the North Zone did receive solid rain as the front blew through over the weekend, but backwater sloughs and bayous that are normally wet soaked up the moisture quickly. Gadwalls and wigeons have been taken in shallow coves of lakes and reservoirs. Divers are steady around Lake O’Pines, Sam Rayburn, Lake Fork and Toledo Bend, though boat ramp access has been limited. Hunting was good around the zone boundaries of IH-10, especially after the front as an influx of green-winged teal hit the coast. Freshwater impoundments have held pintails, wigeons, teal and shovelers and the weekend rains helped recharge freshwater impoundments. The second split opens Dec. 10.

South Zone Duck: Duck hunters along the coast enjoyed the best duck hunting in the state during the first split. The coast continued to produce steady duck shoots on the prairies, marshes and bays. Gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers and pintails were taken on the coastal prairies. Large wads of green-winged teal had been absent during the past week; however, wads of greenwings showed on the heels of the blowing north wind. Bay hunters enjoyed limits to near-limits around Port O’Connor, Rockport and Port Mansfield. More snow geese showed with the front, but large concentrations have been using isolated ranches with multiple roost ponds. A bumper crop of young snow geese have decoyed well over rag spreads. Rice fields have been best thus far. Specklebellies have readily decoyed, with unofficial estimates of 30-40 percent juvenile birds in the coastal population. Sandhill crane numbers are steady, but the season does not open in Zone C until Dec. 24. Hunters must possess the free crane permit to hunt sandhill cranes. The South Zone duck season reopens Dec. 10.

Season/Bag Limits: The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan. 29, 2012. The North and South zones run Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Decoying action has been solid for Canada geese over plowed, milo and corn. Strong numbers of birds have been seen near Dumas, Etter and Spearman. Good numbers of snows are on Lake Etter. Duck hunting has been hit-or-miss due to lack of water on playa lakes. Successful hunters have allowed ponds to rest longer between hunts. More ducks are using larger reservoirs than ever before. Sandhill cranes have readily decoyed over gray spreads. Prospects are fair to good.

North Zone Duck: Duck hunting remains fair at best. Lack of water in the region has encouraged ducks to keep heading south to find suitable habitat. More mallards have shown, but the brunt of the greenhead population has not arrived. Most sloughs and river bottoms are dry, but those with water are holding solid numbers of wood ducks. Gadwalls and wigeons have been taken in shallow coves of lakes and reservoirs. The diver population on lakes and reservoirs has been impressive since the drought has limited watering sources. Hunting remains best around the coastal zone boundaries of IH-10. Freshwater impoundments have held pintails, wigeons, shovelers and teal, but wildlife managers have had to pump water due to the dry conditions. More divers have been seen on the high ground since salinity levels are so high on the bays. The first split of the North Zone duck season ends at sunset Nov. 27. Prospects are fair.

South Zone Duck: The coast continues to produce steady duck shoots on the prairies, marshes and bays. Gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers, teal and pintails have been the species showing in bags. If you have water, you have ducks. Bay hunters have seen an influx of birds with limits of redheads, wigeons and pintails being the norm around Port O’Connor. Good numbers of birds were reported in Rockport and Port Mansfield, with pintails, wigeons and redheads making up the brunt of the bag. Prairie hunters are holding abnormally high amounts of diver ducks, probably due to the lack of freshwater near bay flats. Snow goose hunting has been solid in isolated areas with significant water to roost birds. A good number of juvenile snows have aided in solid decoying action over feeding fields. Specklebellies action has been impressive, with a bumper crop of young specks readily decoying over rice. Sandhill crane numbers are steady, though the large gray birds will not be legal to hunt until Dec. 23. The first split of the South Zone duck season ends at sunset Nov. 27. Prospects are good.

Season/Bag Limits: The High Plains Mallard Management Unit runs Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan. 29, 2012. The North and South zones run Nov. 5-27 and Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

LITTLE ROCK, AR --(Ammoland.com)- Arkansas duck hunters have been looking forward to the season ever since wildlife officials announced this summer that breeding duck populations were at record levels.

After this week’s substantial rainfall, there’s even more reason to be excited.

With dry conditions persisting across much of the state in recent months, this week’s rainfall came just in time for Saturday’s opener, setting the stage for the state’s 14th consecutive 60-day season with a 6-duck daily bag limit.

“We certainly needed the rain,” said Luke Naylor, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission waterfowl program coordinator. “This should really improve habitat conditions across many parts of the state.”

Much like the past several years, this year’s season will be split into three segments: Saturday-Nov. 27, Dec. 8-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 29, 2012.

Reports from the U.S. and Canadian breeding grounds point to the potential for an impressive fall flight this fall and winter. Observers estimated this summer’s total breeding duck population at 45.6 million birds, an 11 percent increase over last year’s count and 35 percent above the long-term average. It was the highest population estimate since the annual survey began in 1955.

But high duck counts on the breeding grounds don’t necessarily translate to ducks in Arkansas. Numerous factors, including weather and habitat conditions throughout the Central and Mississippi flyways, affect duck abundance in The Natural State.

Arkansas received much needed rainfall earlier this week, with some areas experiencing as much as four to five inches of rain. The rainfall should improve habitat conditions on many of the state’s wildlife management areas, which largely are dependent on rainfall for flooding. The rain also figures to bolster habitat conditions on private lands managed for waterfowl. The rainfall is being followed by cooler air, which traditionally brings more ducks into the state.

Several wildlife management areas in northeastern Arkansas received too much rain in a short period of time, forcing the AGFC to manipulate water-control structures at several WMAs. The measures are necessary to prevent damage or failure of infrastructure such as levees and water-control structures. The good news for duck hunters is that affected areas still should be at or near full pool for Saturday’s opener.

Rains didn’t fall as heavily in other parts of eastern Arkansas, and other popular waterfowl areas such as Dagmar WMA and Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA will need more rain to reach full pool. Bayou Meto WMA in southeastern Arkansas received much less rain and also will need more rainfall to fully flood impoundments.

AGFC observers are flying the state’s first aerial waterfowl survey of the season this week. Initial reports indicate a dramatic increase in waterfowl habitat as a result of this week’s rainfall. More detailed aerial survey information, including estimated duck abundance, will be available next week.

While this waterfowl report seeks to provide information that is as timely as possible, hunters should keep in mind there’s often a lag of two or three days between the time field reports are received and this report is published. Thus, actual water levels and percentage of flooded habitat may differ from what’s reported here. The AGFC encourages hunters to check stream gauges (links are provided at the end of this report) and physically scout potential hunting areas to determine actual field conditions.

To assist waterfowl hunters with the latest information, the AGFC provides links to sources on waterfowl location and abundance in Arkansas and other states. The links are available at http://www.agfc.com/hunting/Pages/HuntingWaterfowlReport.aspx#1.

This waterfowl report provides capsule information from agency staff in all corners of Arkansas and is updated each Wednesday throughout waterfowl season. To receive the report each week on your computer, send an e-mail to arkansasoutdoors@agfc.com and type “Waterfowl Report” in the subject line.

Delta Scientific Director Dr. Frank Rohwer checks a trap block nest in North Dakota.

Delta Waterfowl

Bismarck, ND --(Ammoland.com)- BISMARCK, N.D.—Dr. Frank Rohwer has a warning for duck hunters: The conditions that produced the remarkable fall flights of recent years won’t last forever, and that means fewer ducks down the road.

“Duck production is the furthest thing from hunters’ minds right now,” admits Rohwer, a professor at Louisiana State University’s School of Renewable Natural Resources.

“Duck populations are high and hunters are laughing. But if we lose the Conservation Reserve Program’s nesting cover and the prairie breeding grounds go dry, duck numbers will plunge, and hunter and managers alike will be asking what we can do for ducks.”

Fortunately Rohwer, who doubles as director of Delta Waterfowl’s scientific research program, believes he has the answer: intensive management techniques like predator management, artificial nesting structures and conservation programs that protect small wetlands.

In recent years, waterfowl scientists have been forced to acknowledge a dramatic shift in duck distribution from the Canadian prairies to the U.S. side of the breeding grounds, a trend that continued the last two breeding seasons.

The shift occurred because CRP provided 5 million acres of lush nesting cover and productive wetlands in North and South Dakota, while in Canada wetland losses are ongoing, and large, undisturbed blocks of grass nesting cover are scarce.

Delta research has found hatch rates in prairie Canada commonly below five percent. Key production areas such as Minnedosa, Manitoba are consistently less than three percent, well below the necessary 15 percent needed to maintain populations.

As a result, the U.S. has been attracting mallards, pintails, blue-winged teal, gadwalls and shovelers at a rate far above historical levels, while prairie Canada has struggled to keep pace with its long-term average for most of the upland-nesting species.

Rohwer, himself an avid waterfowl hunter, doesn’t hide his concern about what’s coming as CRP acres are put into agricultural production. At the current rate of CRP loss, North and South Dakota will slip to around 1.5 million acres by 2013.

“We can’t give up on CRP,” he says. “Hunters must press Congress to maintain a viable program. It is simply critical to waterfowl, pheasants, and lots of other wildlife. But looking into my crystal ball, with commodity prices as high as they are and the current debates over federal spending, I don’t know if CRP will continue to have the impact it has had over the last two decades.”

Lacking large blocks of undisturbed CRP cover, intensive management, like predator control, might be the most important tool in the waterfowl manager’s kit. Delta began managing predators in the 1994 breeding season, and it quickly proved to be an effective technique for boosting sagging nest success. But as the duck population expanded, thanks to CRP and unusually wet conditions, subsequent studies showed that ducks didn’t need any help in those areas. That is why Delta switched its predator management research to areas of low grass.

“Ducks have done so well in areas with CRP that nesting hens simply don’t need a helping hand,” says Rohwer, “but ducks are struggling in many areas and in a couple years, we may not have any choice–low grass sites will be all that’s left.”

In 2009 and 2010 Delta shifted its efforts in North Dakota to areas that continued to attract high densities of nesting ducks but had relatively little (10 percent or less) grass nesting cover. Research also shifted to prairie Canada, where nest success is consistently low.

The results of those two years were impressive, with 28.3 percent nest success for ducks nesting in trapped areas compared to 6.4 percent for sites that had similar cover but were not trapped.

In 2011, one North Dakota site saw higher nest success on the trapped block: 35.5 percent versus 10.2. The second location, however, showed very different results. The trapped blocks came in with a 47 percent nest success. But the control, or non-trapped site, enjoyed a whopping 64.1 percent success rate.

“It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen,” says Rohwer. “That site shows what we’ve known for a decade: that you’ll get incredible variation in nest success from one site to another, and from year to year.

“We know from our trap sites that ducks respond to one another during the breeding season. If there’s a safe piece of ground, you’ll see a buildup of ducks nesting there because they’re keying on the other ducks using that spot.

“This area was two pieces of grass that were totally isolated–nothing but black dirt for miles in every direction. I guess there was no reason for predators to go there, and the buildup of nesting ducks was remarkable.”

Delta also trapped Manitoba the last two years. In Minnedosa, the trapped block enjoyed 49.5 percent nest success to just 2.5 percent on a non-trapped control site in 2010, and 32.7 to 0.5 in 2011.

At the Shoal Lake site, nest success was 37 percent trapped versus 3.6 non-trapped in 2010. In 2011, however, the trapped site was only 6.9 percent compared to 5.2 percent at the control site.

Says Rohwer: “The unprecedented flooding in Manitoba caused havoc with the Shoal Lake site. The trapper couldn’t get around and our students had a hard time nest searching. But that’s why we do the research and that’s why we do this work over many sites for many years, to get a solid answer.”

Delta plans to continue its predator management in 2012 on the same sites. Average nest success over the span of three years of evaluation in North Dakota is 32.6 percent nest success on trapped sites versus 16.7 percent nest success on non-trapped sites. In Manitoba, nest success on predator removal sites has averaged 31.5 percent nest success. The non-trapped sites averaged 3 percent over two years of evaluation.

About: Delta Waterfowl provides knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting. Visit: www.deltawaterfowl.org

The Author's Yellow Lab at work.

Drake Waterfowl Systems

Olive Branch, MS --(Ammoland.com)- “Where the heck are those geese going?”

The flock meandering across the western horizon was the first of several that Drake Field Expert Steve Bierle and I were hoping would pay a visit to our decoy spread in a freshly turned fallow field. It was the opening morning of South Dakota’s special August season for resident Canada geese, and apparently the birds had received the memo.

Truthfully, I would have been more surprised had the first flock followed the game plan. After more than a decade of chasing Canada geese at summer’s end, I’ve come to discover that the only certainty with these birds is uncertainty.

Since 1996, South Dakota has implemented an early season to help control the growing number Canada geese that nest and raise young in the state. The big birds love to set up shop on the many wetlands that dot this prairie state, but unfortunately, they also love to munch on the surrounding fields of budding soybeans and corn.

Typically hunters have to wait until the first of September to take a crack at the resident geese, but a growing population – estimated at 227,000 breeding birds this spring – and mounting conflicts with landowners have caused the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks to open hunting for resident hunters the past two years in mid-August.

With so many geese around, it should be an easy fight, right?

It appeared that these geese were ready to come out swinging.

“These birds have been in this field for the better part of a week,” said Bierle, watching intently as the flock winged nearly a mile south off-course. “What in the world are they doing?”

Just about the time we gave up on the flock for good, the birds suddenly changed course and made a line for our decoy spread amid small stands of stubborn weeds and volunteer corn.

Steve began to work the call in earnest, and I fumbled with my camera, hoping to get the perfect shot of the first flock of the year. As the geese crossed over the southern edge of the field, it became apparent that they were setting up to land far short of our full-bodied decoys.

“Johnny, you better get on that flag,” Bierle whispered from his layout blind. I had broken rule number-one as an outdoor writer: either press the shutter release or hunt, but don’t try and do both.

I traded camera for goose flag, but the birds cupped up and dropped down in a wide, shallow swale some 200 yards down-wind.

“Crazy birds,” I said, hoping that my hunting partner would forgive me for being a tad bit late on the flag.

“Who knows what they’re thinking,” he answered. “Do you suppose I should walk those out?”

Before I had a chance to respond, the sounds of approaching geese cut through the cool morning air. A glance to the north and west told us that instead of taking a wayward detour, this second flock of the morning had drawn an immediate bead
The birds maintained a good line of approach until reaching the border of the field, when they began to slide with the wind. I flagged, Bierle called, but the geese wanted nothing to do with us. They weren’t flaring or giving any indication that they were spotting us, the geese simply did not want to decoy. After making another pass to the south, the flock of 25 birds cupped up and hit the dirt.

With ego slightly bruised, I noted that as a consolation, at least they completely ignored the other birds already on the ground, as well. The comment drew a muffled grunt from Bierle, and I thought that I even heard a sigh of frustration from my yellow Labrador, Murphy, who was sitting behind my blind. This hunt was starting to get personal.

“Here we go, another flock,” said Bierle. “This is looking better.”

A line of a dozen or so honkers was bearing down on the field from the west. The flock was considerably lower than the others, and the slowing rhythm of wing-beats led me to envision locked wings, dropped landing gear and a mob of birds backpedalling in the decoys.

That was wishful thinking.

After making a textbook swing down-wind, the birds worked against the breeze on a line for decoys, only to slide left of the spread, well out of range for either Bierle or myself.

“From behind, from behind,” came the hushed directions from Bierle, when the geese banked behind the blinds and again swung down-wind.

The big geese lumbered against the wind, but true to form, again slid left of the spread. They were nothing if not consistent.

Just as the flock cleared the left side of the blinds, the geese hooked slightly toward the backside of our decoy spread, and looked to land some 35-yards away. It was now or never.

“Take ‘em!”

Bierle and I swung around and focused on the closest birds, a pair that was just touching down. Steve crunched the left bird with his first shell, while my initial shot found nothing but air. We both tagged the remaining goose with our second shells, and I pulled on a farther bird making an escape to the right. My final load of Hevi-Metal #2’s hit home, and the goose sailed down to a crash landing on the dark soil.

With birds milling all around us, I waited to send Murphy on the first retrieve, hoping that we’d be able to convince a bird or two to return. The geese wheeled around in the sky momentarily before finally moving out in all directions.

I looked at Murphy, who was sharing opening morning with his 5th birthday, and the urgency in his eyes was what you’d expect from a dog that is being asked to patiently wait to make his first real retrieve since a March hunt for spring snow geese.

After giving the “OK,” the yellow Lab motored out of his blind like he had been shot out of a rocket. Frustrating morning or not, at the moment he was loving life.

The sky remained calm and clear for the next half-hour, and other than a wayward whitetail doe wandering close to the decoys, it became painfully clear that our opening morning had come to a quiet end.

“Well, it sure wasn’t pretty,” offered Bierle. “But it beat not going at all.”

“My thoughts exactly,” I said. “It could have been worse.”

Chances are strong that there will be another frustrating hunt or two as late summer gives way to fall, and fall to winter. And while this first morning certainly went the way of the birds, God willing, we’ll be out in the fields and marshes again to try and even the score.

About:
When we set out to create the best waterfowl hunting clothes on the market nearly four years ago, we knew immediately that a standard warm coat wouldn’t be near enough to impress the hard-core hunters that spend day after day in the field. We needed something to meet every condition a hunter can face… we needed a “SYSTEM”. This was the beginning of Drake Waterfowl Systems. Visit: www.drakewaterfowl.com

California Department Of Fish And Game

California --(Ammoland.com)- Permits will be issued for two California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) special apprentice waterfowl hunts at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in Solano County.

On Saturday, Dec. 10 and Wednesday, Dec. 28, spaced blinds on Pond 11 and the Crescent Unit of the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area will be available only for apprentice hunt participants. The area will be closed to the general public on those days.

An adult chaperone (18 years or older) must accompany and supervise each apprentice hunter.

The adult may hunt with the apprentice and must possess the required 2011-2012 California hunting license and state and federal waterfowl stamps and the free Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation.

Junior hunting license holders must have a federal waterfowl stamp and the free HIP validation to hunt waterfowl.

All available blinds can accommodate two persons: the apprentice hunter and the adult chaperone. Nontoxic ammunition approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required for waterfowl hunting. A minimum of one dozen duck decoys are required at all blind sites and chest waders are recommended.

Sunrise at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area. DFG photo

To apply, please mail a standard-sized post card to Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, 2548 Grizzly Island Road, Suisun, CA 94585.

On the back of the card, please include the following information:

• Apprentice hunter’s name
• Junior hunting license number
• Mailing address and phone number
• Name of chaperone
• Hunt date desired

Each hunter may apply only once and for one date. Application cards must be received by close of business on Nov. 23. Apprentice hunt reservations will be filled by a random drawing conducted on Nov. 28. There will be 24 reservations issued for each date, and all successful applicants will be notified by mail.

The Grizzly Island Wildlife Area will also accept apprentice hunters on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the hunt to use the free roam areas and to fill any no-shows from the reservations. As a reminder, all chaperones who wish to hunt must have either a Type A One Day, Two Day or Season Pass, which must be purchased prior to arriving at the check station. These can be obtained through either a License Agent or online at www.dfg.ca.gov (allow two weeks mailing time if ordering online).

DFG would also like to encourage use of the West Family Unit, which is available only to apprentice hunters. Hunt days are Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the open season. Gates will be opened approximately two hours before shoot time. An adult chaperone is required and five double blinds, including one mobility-impaired blind and one three-person blind are available.

The unit is north of Benicia on Goodyear Road; from Highway 680 take the Marshview Road exit and turn right onto Goodyear Road from the off-ramp and the hunt area will be on the left.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Opening weekend in the Panhandle saw lackluster results due to an absence of water. Very few playas, if any, are wet, so habitat is stressed. Most ducks were taken over feed lot ponds. Melting snow from last week’s cold front left a little moisture, but the region is in dire need of rain to sustain the winter waterfowl population. Sandhill crane numbers look good; however, lack of roosting water might be a problem as the season progresses. Duck season reopens and runs Nov.4-Jan.29, 2012. Goose season runs Nov.5 in the West Zone. That season also opens Nov. 5. Prospects are fair.

North Zone Duck: Duck season opens Nov. 5 and best prospects have been found on lakes and reservoirs still holding water. Lack of ponds and sloughs have ducks concentrated on big waters. The problem lies with access to these large water bodies, as many boat ramps are inoperable due to extreme low water conditions. Mobile hunters with shallow-running flatbottoms able to traverse muddy timber should see good shoots. The front that blew through last week brought new birds to the area and deposited wigeons, gadwalls and teal on lakes and reservoirs. The coastal region continues to suffer from the drought, however, many hunters have the ability to pump water from wells. Another front this week should encourage more birds to move to Texas, though most coastal prairie ponds holding water are already covered with ducks. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: Opening day is Nov. 5 and prospects look excellent if you have access to water. Coastal prairie ponds are black with ducks and specklebellies, and a few snow geese showed with last week’s front. Concentrations of dark geese on the ground indicate a good hatch of young specklebellies, which should encourage steady decoying action. The front forecasted for this week should shove more light geese to the coast. Reports along the bay flats indicate good numbers of pintails, wigeons, gadwalls and redheads. More divers are showing daily with fronts. Bay hunters should enjoy steadier hunting this year with the lack of water on the coastal prairies. Prospects are good.
Season/Bag Limits:

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Oct. 29-30, Nov. 4-Jan. 29, 2012.

Duck:
North and South zones: Nov. 5-27, Dec. 10-Jan. 29, 2012.

Goose:
West Zone:

• Nov. 5-Feb. 5, 2012 (20 light geese, 5 darks, to include no more than one white-fronted)

East Zone:

• Light geese and Canadas: Nov. 5-Jan. 29, 2012 (20 light geese, 3 Canadas, 2 white-fronted)
• White-fronted (specklebellies): Nov. 5-Jan. 15, 2012

Bag Limits: The daily bag limit shall be 6 ducks, to include no more than the following: 5 mallards (only 2 of which may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup (lesser scaup and greater scaup in the aggregate), 2 redheads, 2 pintails, 1 canvasback, 1 dusky duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). All other species: 6.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Drake Waterfowl & Xpress Boats Migration Nation Boat

Drake Waterfowl Systems

Olive Branch, MS --(Ammoland.com)- Drake Waterfowl and Xpress Boats have teamed up to create the ultimate series of duck boats.

The 2012 Xpress Boats Drake 16 and 18 foot duck boats, inspired by the needs of television’s Drake Migration Nation.

The serious hunter requires a comfortable, stable platform, designed for virtually any hunting condition.For years, the Xpress HD Duck Boat hull has been the gold standard for rugged, hard-nosed boating.The Drake 16 and 18 is that perfect blend of functionality and versatility.

These boats are a direct result of what dealers and customers have been looking for.A rugged, maneuverable boat built to be sturdy and comfortable.

J. Paul Jackson, host of the Sportsman Channel’s “Drake’s Migration Nation is thrilled what has been accomplished: “As host of the of Drake’s Migration Nation television show for the last two years, if I have learned anything about the good folks at Drake Waterfowl Systems during that time, it is that they take the company motto, “Innovators in Waterfowl Hunting”, very seriously.Every product in the Drake line features innovations that the competition just can’t match.

At Drake, we are constantly striving to build new products that are of the highest quality and functionality.

Therefore, when we decided that we wanted to partner with a boat manufacturer to build the ultimate boat for the Migration Nation, Xpress Boats was the obvious choice.From their quality all welded designs to their smart standard features and useful optional accessories; Xpress Boats has truly become America’s premier aluminum boat manufacturer.The result of combining Drake’s innovation with Xpress’ superior quality and craftsmanship produced a boat that even exceeded my high expectations, the new Limited Edition Drake’s Migration Nation Boat by Xpress.”

Key Features of the Drake 16 and 18 Models:

• Innovative hull design is suitable for both outboard and surface drive motors
• Handling capabilities and the durability and timber-toughness that made Xpress duck boats famous
• Xtreme Coat paint
• Longitudinal rib construction
• All-welded design
• Foam-injected floors
• Floatation pods
• Xpress step transom
• Multi-functional platform ideal for hunting, fishing and pleasure all in one boat

More videos, photos, and updates on the new Xpress Boats – Drake 16 and Drake 18 models coming soon. Sign up Here

About:
When we set out to create the best waterfowl hunting clothes on the market nearly four years ago, we knew immediately that a standard warm coat wouldn’t be near enough to impress the hard-core hunters that spend day after day in the field. We needed something to meet every condition a hunter can face… we needed a “SYSTEM”. This was the beginning of Drake Waterfowl Systems. Visit: www.drakewaterfowl.com

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Washington --(Ammoland.com)- There’s more than one way to put a turkey on your table for Thanksgiving. As the holiday draws near, thousands of hunters are looking forward to the wild turkey season that gets under way Nov. 20 in northeastern Washington.

Then again, who says turkey has to be the center of attention on Thanksgiving Day? November is also prime time to hunt ducks, geese, elk, deer, pheasant, forest grouse and a variety of other game species around the state.

“Waterfowl hunting usually picks up around the middle of the month, when the wet and windy weather starts pushing more migrating birds into the area from the north,” said Don Kraege, waterfowl manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “That’s good news for waterfowl hunters from the Skagit Valley to the Columbia Basin.”

For anglers, Thanksgiving traditionally marks the start of winter steelhead fishing in western Washington, where anglers can also reel in coho and chum salmon moving in from the ocean. On the eastside, fly fishers are flocking to a hot catch-and-release steelhead fishery on the Grand Ronde River, where anglers can retain up to three marked hatchery fish per day on the lower river starting Nov. 1.

Rather serve shellfish? Seven areas of Puget Sound are currently open for crab fishing, and two more – marine areas 11 (Tacoma) and 13 (South Puget Sound) – are scheduled to reopen Nov. 21.

In addition, four ocean beaches – Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks – will open Oct. 28-29 after noon each day for the first razor clam dig of the season. Pending the results of marine toxin tests, additional digs are tentatively scheduled Nov. 11-12 and Nov. 25-26, providing plenty of opportunities to put clams on the table for the holiday.

For more information about fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing available over the next month, see the Weekender Regional Reports posted on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/weekender/ . These reports are updated throughout the month to provide current information about recreational opportunities around the state.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

North Zone Dove: Hunter participation has slowed to a crawl. More birds moved into the region with light north winds. Rains over the weekend recharged ponds and puddles. Afternoon watering holes have produced lately with the drought conditions. Lubbock and Abilene fields have produced good shoots in scouted fields. Fields near Paris and Red River County have been fair around treelines. Dallas area fields have been fair in the afternoon. The season runs through Oct. 23. Prospects are fair to good.

Central Zone Dove: Birds have been best over corn, milo and watering holes in the afternoon. Fields around San Antonio, Castroville, Hondo, Uvalde and Del Rio have been fair to good in the afternoon. Hunter participation has waned of late. Fields around Hankamer, Sealy and Waller have been fair to good. The region received much needed rain over the weekend. Dayton fields of goatweed have been good. Waco and Georgetown hunters have seen best flights in the afternoon. The season runs through Oct. 23. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Dove: Harlingen, Brownsville and Laredo hunters have seen mixed flights of whitewings and mourners in milo and sunflowers. Milo and sunflowers near Raymondville and Port Mansfield have been good in the afternoon. Devine hunters have scored easy limits. El Campo, Bay City, Blessing, Danevang and Palacios fields have been best in the afternoon around shredded fields and goatweed. Milo crops along the middle coast have held birds. Areas along the middle coast enjoyed as much as five inches of rain over the weekend. More whitewings have shown in fields east and west of Houston during the past two weeks. The season runs through Oct. 30. Prospects are fair to good.

Waterfowl Migration: The coastal prairie received anywhere from 2-5 inches of rain over the weekend. Many ponds that were evaporating after being pumped for teal season were recharged with “free water.” Pintails, shovelers, teal, gadwalls, wigeons and redheads are showing on the coast. More specklebellies and ducks showed with the light north winds coupled with the bright moon. The North and South zones open Nov. 5.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Mossy Oak

WEST POINT, MS --(Ammoland.com)- Question: What do you look for when scouting for places to hunt ducks and geese?
Answer: It depends on if I am hunting public or on private land. Typically if you are hunting public land, your area of scouting is a lot larger. When I am on public land I will look for areas where birds are grouping up to rest. Typically in public land scenarios the birds are pressured a lot. So if you can find the spot that they feel comfortable relaxing, then that is where I would try to set up.

Private land is a lot different because you are restricted to the area of land that you are leasing or have permission to hunt. However, this makes your scouting much easier because you do not have to cover as much ground to find that special spot. Hopefully, the area you are on has birds using it. If so, just keep an eye on them for 2 or 3 days before you decide to hunt that spot. You should start to quickly see when and where they are feeding or resting on your land.

Mossy Oak Pro Staff Member Cory Dukehart

Question: How do you decide on your decoy placement for ducks?
Answer:I have tried all different set ups for ducks in a lot of different scenarios, and I do things differently depending on if I am hunting ducks alone or ducks and geese together. All waterfowl like to land into the wind. When hunting ducks only, I will always set up with the wind at my back.

This will help get the birds to land into your face and shooting zone and not behind you. You can try any variety of the “U,” “J” hook, or “C” pattern shapes. I have not found one to be better than the other in my opinion. Any pattern that allows the birds to land into the wind and gives them an open spot to aim for is worth trying. When I am targeting both ducks and geese at the same time, typically my goose decoys out number my duck decoys drastically. I will usually set up my goose decoys first and then, on the inside of my target area for the geese, I will place the duck decoys on the edge of the geese closest to where I am located. This will help draw the ducks within range, but not push the geese out of the hole.

Question: Do you use different decoy patterns when setting up? Do you change the spread during the hunt?
Answer: My decoy patterns depend solely on the wind. I set up depending on the wind direction and speed. A very light wind allows you to be a little bit more lenient with your pattern direction, whereas a fast strong wind you have to follow it exactly if you want good shots.

I will absolutely change my spread throughout the hunt. A lot of people do not like to get out of their blinds to make a change to the spread due to the lost time and the possibility of losing birds that may come to work the spread while you are in it. But, if you are seeing a negative trend from the birds you need to do something, or you will probably watch them repeat that trend all day long.

What I mean is, if you watch a few flocks work your spread really well, giving you 2 or 3 circles and each time they are looking more and more like they are ready for that final decent. If all of a sudden the lead bird flares and they slide on off the horizon, then something isn’t right. It could be a number of different things that are causing this but one thing is certain, unless you change something you will have that same issue again. Get out and move the decoys around. Re-check the wind to see if it has changed.

If the birds are working behind you and you are forced to make uncomfortable shots change the spread so that you are looking at the zone where they are trying to land. Losing 15-20 minutes of the hunt making a change is going to be much more rewarding than sitting there and dealing with a small issue all day.

Question: Do you use layout blinds when field hunting for ducks & geese? If so, where do you place them in your decoy spread?
Answer: I do use layout blinds in some situations for both ducks and geese. Typically I will place my blinds right in the middle of my spread facing the landing zone with the wind at my back. I try to thicken up the decoys in that area to help hide my blind.

Question: How do you conceal your blind and hunting area?
Answer:

• Pit blinds – Rake up existing vegetation and tie or fasten it to the top of your pit. You may have to do this a few times throughout the season.
• Above ground – Most above ground blinds are either in standing corn or hedge rows. For corn fields use some of the left over stalks to help hide the blind. If it is a hedge row, you can use any type of tree or bush.
• Boat – If you have a blind on your boat, anchor your boat up against an existing land structure and use as much of the natural vegetation around you to help hide the boat. If you are exiting the boat and hunting from the land, make sure you have a couple of large brown or camo burlap fabric pieces and drape it over the boat.
• Layout – First thing you should do to every layout blind is put mud all over it. Let the mud dry and then knock it off. This will take the shine off of the fabric on the blind. Then, attach whatever you are hiding into the loops that should be connecting to your blind.
• Your dog – The best way is to purchase a dog blind and then follow the process for the layout blind.

Question: What are your basic calling tips for ducks?
Answer: Most people make the mistake of calling at ducks too much. In most cases, I think less is more with ducks. Give them just enough pecking and clucking and a few quacks are typically all it takes especially in high pressured areas.

Question: What are your basic calling tips for geese?
Answer: With geese I am much more vocal on the call. But I am always watching how the birds are reacting to the call. Some days it seems as if they don’t want to hear anything at all and others you need to be giving them something until their feet are about to touch the ground. Watch the lead goose in the flock and see how that bird is reacting to your sounds. If they are continuing to come to a certain note, stick with that sound. If you do something different and one of the geese in the middle or towards the back starts to break off, continue with that sound. Sometimes you may be able to pull just a few instead of the whole group.

Question: How can I be a more consistent shooter on ducks & geese?
Answer: Practice is really the only answer to this question. No gun, shell, or choke tube is going to fix problems that practice can’t. Shooting clay targets do not always replicate the shooting scenarios that waterfowlers encounter, but you can get used to wing shooting by practicing this way.

Question: Do you use different chokes in your shotgun depending on the type of hunting?
Answer: I do. I have about 4 different choke tubes that I use in different situations. In reality they are not that different from each other but if I know I am going to be focusing on a specific size of bird, I will most certainly change my tube accordingly.

Question: How can I attract waterfowl to private property?
Answer: The two most important things for any good waterfowl property are food and water. If you can build a pond or flood a field, you are setting yourself up nicely to have birds using your land all day long. As far as food goes, there are several options you can plant from Mossy Oak BioLogic that are geared towards ducks and geese. But most fields have been planted with crops that have since been harvested and those fields will almost always attract hungry ducks and geese.

Question: How do you introduce youth to waterfowl hunting?
Answer: One of the best ways to getting a kid involved in hunting waterfowl is to actually let him contribute to the hunt. Let him go retrieve the birds if you are in a field, or let him send the dog. A great way to really let a youngster think he/she is really helping out is to give him a duck whistle. These whistles are very inexpensive, and can be bought anywhere hunting equipment is sold. You can reproduce the sounds of about 6 different ducks on this whistle and it will hardly ever spook a duck.

The Mossy Oak ProStaff is a group of top outdoors men and women from across the country that act as spokespersons for the Brand. Members of the Elite ProStaff are people the hunting community will recognize from their hunting expertise and accomplishments, videos, TV and magazine articles. Our Regional ProStaff is a group of accomplished hunters who promote Mossy Oak in various regions across the U.S. They also manage a more localized Field Staff in their regions. From event support to retail store grand openings to radio and TV appearances, our ProStaff adds value to the Mossy Oak Brand nationally, regionally and locally.

Read Part One of this Interview.

Bass Pro Shops

Springfield, Missouri --(Ammoland.com)-  To become a better wingshooter, try positioning your feet so that your lead foot is pointing slightly past the area where you expect the bird to flush and keep your stance narrow.

Doing so will give you more room to swing your shotgun without awkwardly twisting your body.

Also, make a conscious effort to follow through with your swing. Stopping a swing is why most people miss.

Alan Treadwell is co-host of “Outdoor World Television” on Versus.

Keep your cheek down on the stock as you follow through and don’t immediately look up to see if you hit the bird.

When a bird flushes, don’t mount your shotgun too soon. Focus on the target before you mount the gun. Stay focused on the target, not the shotgun bead.

Alan Treadwell is co-host of “Outdoor World Television” on Versus.

For more tips, log onto basspro.com

About Bass Pro Shops Group:
Bass Pro Shops -56 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 110 million people annually, international catalog and internet retailing, American Rod & Gun wholesale division selling to over 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide, Outdoor World Incentives also selling Bass Pro Shops gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America and a restaurant division with 26 locations. For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.

Ohio Department Natural Resources

COLUMBUS, OH --(Ammoland.com)- Ohio hunters should have good opportunities to take some of the most popular species of waterfowl, based on the findings of biologists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The spring pond index for the prairie pothole region of North America (Kansas to central Saskatchewan) and breeding duck surveys indicate a better than average reproduction year for most duck species. Ponds are housing above normal numbers and good production has been noted from most of the primary breeding range.

Closer to home, the Upper Great Lakes states and eastern Canadian provinces showed good to excellent mallard nesting and brood rearing habitat conditions and breeding populations similar to 2010. The Upper Great Lakes are the primary breeding range for mallards harvested in Ohio. Mallards are Ohio’s most harvested duck and can be found throughout the state.

Wood ducks, which are the second most harvested duck in Ohio and the state’s number one breeding duck, appear to also have had a good production year.

Canada geese are overall the most harvested waterfowl in the Buckeye State and can be found in good numbers throughout Ohio. In-state giant Canada geese had the highest population estimate this spring and all indications are there was fair to good production across the state. Migrant interior populations (Southern James Bay and Mississippi Valley) of Canada geese have also had good production. With proper weather, the hunting outlook is good to very good.

With good habitat conditions, Ohio hunters will enjoy a liberal 60-day hunting season again this year. Pintail continued to increase in population which will allow a two-bird bag for the second year in a row. Scaup showed a slight increase in population, and will see a two-bird bag for the entire 60-day season. The canvasback population increased slightly, and there will be a full season in 2011.

The success of Ohio waterfowl hunters has more to do with weather conditions and local habitat conditions rather than continental ducks populations. State wildlife areas are in good condition with excellent fall food potential.

Details of the waterfowl and all other hunting seasons can be found in the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and in Ohio Waterfowl Hunting Seasons Publication 5295. Hunters can also review seasons and regulations online at wildohio.com.

The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Final Approach Mallard Floating Feeder Decoys

Final Approach

Overland Park, Kan --(Ammoland.com)- Successful waterfowl hunters understand the importance of having a realistic decoy spread.

Ducks and geese see a lot of different presentations during the season and become wary as hunting pressure increases, making it increasingly important to have a collection of lifelike decoys.

Final Approach, a leading developer of waterfowl products and accessories, has introduced FA Gunner floating feeding Mallards to help add extra realism to the hunter’s arsenal of decoys.

The Mallard decoys are available in two-pack sets that include a drake and hen. Designed by acclaimed decoy artist Marty Hanson, the decoys offer the most lifelike anatomy on the market, and feature a vivid custom paint scheme. Each decoy is complete with weighted keels for a realistic on water.

Pair the floating feeding Mallards with a six-pack of FA Gunner floating Mallards to enhance the realism of the spread.

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For more information about Final Approach and its complete line of waterfowl products and accessories, visit www.fabrand.com or call 1- 800-423-3537.

Bushnell Outdoor Products is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products based in Overland Park, Kansas. Bushnell Outdoor Products sells its products worldwide under the Bushnell®, Tasco®, Serengeti®, Bollé®, Uncle Mike’s Law Enforcement®, Stoney Point®, Hoppe’s®, Butler Creek®, Cébé®, Uncle Mike’s®, Final Approach®, Simmons® and Millett® brand names. For information about any of these brands or products, please contact Bushnell Public Relations at (913) 752-6105.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- Michigan duck hunters will again enjoy a 60-day season this year as the Natural Resources Commission approved upcoming waterfowl seasons at its August meeting Thursday.

Duck season will begin Sept. 24 in the North Zone (Upper Peninsula) and run through Nov. 18, then re-open Nov. 24-27.

• In the Middle Zone, duck season is set for Oct. 1 – Nov. 27 and Dec. 3-4.
• In the South Zone, the season is Oct. 8 – Dec. 4 and Dec. 10-11.

The seasons were established under the federal framework through consultation between the Department of Natural Resources and the Citizens Waterfowl Advisory Committee.

Bag limits are unchanged from last year. Hunters may take up to six ducks daily with no more than four mallards (no more than one of which may be a hen), three wood ducks, two redheads, two scaup, two pintails, one canvasback and one black duck.

The early Canada goose hunting season begins statewide Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 10 in the North Zone and in Saginaw, Tuscola and Huron counties; and through Sept. 15 in the rest of the state. The daily bag limit is five.

The regular Canada goose seasons – with the exception of designated goose management units (GMU) are Sept. 17 – Oct. 31 in the North Zone; Oct. 1-8 , Nov. 24-27 and Dec. 3-4 in the Middle Zone; and Oct. 8 – Nov. 10 and Nov. 24 – Dec. 4 in the south zone. The daily bag limit is two.

The goose seasons in the Saginaw County GMU and the Tuscola/Huron GMU are Oct. 8 – Nov. 10, Nov. 24 – Dec. 4, and Dec. 31 – Jan. 29. The daily bag limit is two.

The seasons in the Allegan County GMU are Nov. 12-30, Dec. 10-20, and Dec. 31 – Jan. 14. The daily bag limit is two.

At Muskegon Waste Water GMU, the seasons are Oct. 11 – Nov. 13 and Dec. 1-11. The daily bag limit is two.

The late goose season – in the South Zone only – is Dec. 31 – Jan. 29. The daily bag limit is five.

Hunters may take 20 snow, blue or Ross’ geese daily and one white-fronted goose and one brant during the regular and late seasons in respective zones or GMUs.

Continental duck populations increased 11 percent from 2010 as a result of exceptionally good wetland conditions in the mid-continent prairie and parkland regions. Most duck species are above their long-term averages. However, about 75 percent of Michigan’s mallard harvest is from ducks produced in the Great Lakes region. Michigan’s mallard population was down 34 percent this year from 2010 and 40 percent below the long-term average. Therefore despite very good predictions for continental fall duck flights, Michigan duck hunters will likely encounter fewer ducks, especially mallards, this season.

Michigan’s Canada goose harvest is derived from primarily three flocks, including local giant Canada geese, the Mississippi Valley Population (MVP), and the Southern James Bay Population (SJBP). Michigan’s giant Canada geese make up approximately 70 percent of the state’s goose harvest. Michigan’s Canada goose population estimate is down about 42 percent from last year. The MVP and SJBP flocks breed largely on Hudson Bay, Ontario, and account for the majority of Michigan’s migrant goose harvest. MVP numbers are significantly down this year and SJBP numbers are similar to last year and remain stable. In general, goose hunters are likely to see smaller numbers of Canada geese throughout Michigan’s goose hunting seasons; however some local areas have good giant Canada goose numbers and will provide excellent opportunity.

For more information on waterfowl hunting in Michigan, go to www.michigan.gov/hunting and click on Waterfowl.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

New Jersey Fish and Game

Trenton, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife has posted the PDF version of the 2011-2012 Migratory Bird Regulations Booklet on its website.

The print version will be available at license agents by the beginning of September.

The booklet can be downloaded at http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/pdf/2011/11-12mig_booklet.pdf .

For information on the upcoming migratory bird seasons, see http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/artmigratory11.htm , also on the division’s website.

New Jersey 2011-2012 Migratory Bird Regulations Booklet

Sicklebill Curlew: The top lot of the sale was this spectacular sicklebill curlew from Duxbury, Mass.($111,550)

Decoys Unlimited

HYANNIS, Mass. --(Ammoland.com)- A spectacular and rare sicklebill curlew decoy made in Duxbury, Mass., by a craftsman whose identity is a matter of debate among veteran collectors, soared to $111,550 at an auction held July 24-25 by Decoys Unlimited, Inc., based in Barnstable, Mass. The sale was conducted at the Cape Codder Resort & Hotel in Hyannis, Mass., on Cape Cod.

The sicklebill curlew was described by Dr. George Ross Starr, in his book Decoys of the Atlantic Flyway, as “the finest example of a sicklebill decoy in my collection” and “the kind of a decoy a collector dreams about.” He called it “a beautifully proportioned piece of work.” It’s rare in part because sicklebill curlews are scarce in New England and therefore so are their decoys.

It was by far the top lot in an auction that saw just under 1,000 decoys change hands. About 400 people attended in person (121 were registered bidders), plus there were 57 absentee bidders and 90 phone bidders (who together bid on 639 lots). Internet bidding (via Artfact.com) had 153 registered bidders. All of these numbers were new records for Decoys Unlimited, Inc.

“The sale went well above our expectations despite a global economy that is still a bit anemic,” said Ted Harmon of Decoys Unlimited, Inc. “But the market for quality decoys is strong and I see it remaining that way for some time. The less expensive decoys were a bit off, but not as far off as they were last year.” The auction, he added, grossed more than $1.2 million.

Headlining the sale was the private collection of the late Joseph Bard “Joe” French, plus other quality consignments from across North America. Mr. French (1919-2009) was a pioneer in the hobby who collected his first decoy in 1954 and took delivery of his last decoy just two days before his passing. He also wrote extensively on the subject and produced decoy videos.

Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

The auction’s second top lot, at $60,375, was an outstanding hissing goose made circa early 1900s by George Boyd, the master decoy maker from Seabrook, N.H. The canvas over frame Canada goose boasted excellent, finely crackled original paint throughout plus a strong, nearly perfect wing, tail and cheek outline, and great feather detailing on the sides and rear neck.

Two lots posted identical sale prices of $37,375. One was an exceptionally rare pair of circa early 1900s unrigged and unused mergansers, acquired as a gift from Irving Wallace from Small Point, Maine. A letter of provenance came with the birds. The other was a pair of racy swimming red-breasted mergansers (circa 1918-1922) by A.E. Crowell of East Harwich, Mass.

A one-of-a-kind American merganser hen made in the late 1800s by the Stevens Factory of Weedsport, N.Y. (with the maker probably George Stevens, owing to the concave carving on the neck seat) went to a determined bidder for $29,900; and a pair of redheads crafted circa 1920s by the Ward Brothers of Crisfield, Md., with original paint on body and bill, hit $24,180.

Artwork was also featured in the auction. A framed oil on board of two mermaids and King Neptune by the noted Cape Cod artist Ralph Cahoon (1910-1982), a relative of C.D. Cahoon, who is said to have painted decoys for Elmer Crowell when he was behind on orders, brought $24,150. A second Ralph Cahoon work, depicting mermaids at auction, made $23,000.

A rare and early example of a sanderling (or “wind bird”), executed circa 1860-1890 and attributed to a member of the Chipman family of Sandwich (on Cape Cod), commanded $23,000; while a circa 1900 greater yellowlegs by A.E. Crowell featuring fine early period brushed soft original paint with very light wear and only a few very small scuffs knocked down at $18,400.

A pair of outstanding lots each fetched $17,200. The first was a circa-1909 eider drake by Augustus Aaron “Gus” Wilson, Maine’s most celebrated decoy maker. Wilson carved animated decoys of all types, including this early sculpture, in a career that spanned about five decades. The second was an early mallard drake by A.E. Crowell (circa 1915-1918) with original paint.

Another early example by A.E. Crowell – this one a circa-1915 golden plover with the original paint and in all-original condition with no repairs — crossed the block at $16,100; and a pair of Evans Factory (active 1921-1937) blue-winged teal (circa early 1900s), with early paint and the rare double blue speculum, plus the ‘Evans Decoy’ stamp on the bottom, rose to $14,950.

Rounding out the day’s top lots, a rare and oversize red-breasted merganser drake by Doug Jester of Chincoteaque, Va., having the original paint with some crazing, breezed to $13,800; and an early gunning model of an immature (or winter plumage) black-bellied plover by A.E. Crowell (circa 1905-1910), with extremely fine original paint, also gaveled for $13,800.

Ted Harmon has been in the decoy collecting business since 1966 and has been in the same Barnstable, Mass., location since 1970. He and his wife Judy started the auction aspect of the business in 1986. Today, Decoys Unlimited, Inc., is a full-service company for collectors of American bird decoys, folk art and related items. The firm also offers personalized collection advice, auction and private purchase representation, brokering for sales and appraisal services.

Decoys Unlimited, Inc., is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item or an entire collection, you may call them at (508) 362-2766 or (508) 737-2193; or, you can e-mail them at theodores.harmon@comcast.net. The firm’s next big auction will be a mixed antiques and decoys sale slated for late October or early November on Cape Cod.

Boyd Goose Decoy: Outstanding early 1900s hissing goose made by George Boyd of Seabrook, N.H. ($60,375)

Crowell yellowlegs Decoy: Greater yellowlegs by A.E. Crowell featuring soft early period brushed original paint ($18,400)

Crowell Mergasers Decoys: Pair of circa 1918-1922 racy swimming red-breasted mergansers by A. E. Crowell ($37,375)

Evans Teal Decoys: Pair of Evans Factory Decoys (active 1921-1937) blue-winged teal, created circa early 1900s ($14,950)

To learn more about Decoys Unlimited, Inc., and for more information on the fall auction as times and dates are determined, please log on to www.decoysunlimitedinc.net.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Louisiana --(Ammoland.com)- The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) voted to tentatively adopt proposed season dates, bag limits and shooting hours for the 2011-12 migratory waterfowl season at their Aug. 4 meeting.

The dates will be ratified by a declaration of emergency from the commission, after approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Following a comment period that began after the July commission meeting, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) recommended a 60-day season for ducks, coots and mergansers. In the West Zone, the first segment will open on Nov. 12 and close on Dec. 4. The second segment will open on Dec. 17 and run through Jan. 22. In the East Zone, the first segment will go from Nov. 19 to 27. The second segment will last from Dec. 10 to Jan. 29.

A proposal to move the Youth waterfowl weekend to the weekend during the splits was revised by LDWF based on a majority of public comments received. Those comments favored keeping that weekend opportunity for youth prior to the season opening dates in both zones. The revised Youth waterfowl weekend dates proposed by the department and adopted by the commission are Nov. 5-6 in the West Zone and Nov. 12-13 in the East Zone.

The daily bag limit on ducks is six and may include no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be females), two pintails, one canvasback, one mottled duck, one black duck, three wood ducks, two scaup and two redheads.

The daily bag limit on coots is 15. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which only two may be hooded mergansers. The merganser limits are in addition to the daily bag limit for ducks.

The possession limit on ducks, coots and mergansers is twice the daily bag limit.

Light geese and white-fronted geese will have a 74-day season. The first segment in the West Zone will open on Nov. 12 and close on Dec. 4. The second segment in the West Zone will run from Dec. 17 to Feb. 5. The first segment in the East Zone will open on Nov. 5 and run until Nov. 27. The second segment will run from Dec. 10 to Jan. 29. The daily bag limit on light geese is 20, with no possession limit. The daily limit on white-fronted geese is two, with a possession limit of four. When the Canada goose season is open, the limit is two dark geese (white-fronted and Canada) of which no more than one can be a Canada goose.

The Canada goose season will be 44 days and run from Dec. 17 to Jan. 29 statewide, except for a small closure area in southwest Louisiana. The daily limit for Canada geese is one in aggregate with white-fronted geese and the possession limit is two in aggregate with white-fronted geese. So the daily bag limit will allow two dark geese (white-fronted and Canada geese), no more than one of which may be a Canada goose.

The Statewide Conservation Order for light geese will open in the West Zone on Dec. 5, and the first segment will close on Dec. 16. The second segment in the West Zone will run from Feb. 6 to March 11. The first segment in the East Zone will run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9, and the second segment will be from Jan. 30 to March 11. During this time, only snow, blue and Ross geese may be taken and daily bag and possession limits are eliminated. The use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns is permitted. Shooting hours during the Conservation Order begin one-half hour before sunrise and extend until one-half hour after sunset.

Rails may be taken from Sept. 10 to 25 and again from Nov. 12 to Jan. 4. For King and Clapper rails, the daily limit is 15 in the aggregate with a possession limit of 30. Sora and Virginia rails have a daily and possession limit of 25 in the aggregate.

Gallinule season will be open from Sept. 10 to 25 and again from Nov. 12 to Jan. 4. The daily bag limit is 15 with a possession limit of 30.

Snipe may be taken in the West Zone first segment from Nov. 5 to Dec. 7 and from Dec. 17 to Feb. 28 in the second segment. In the East Zone, the first segment will run from Nov. 5 to 30 with a second segment running Dec. 10 to Feb. 28. The daily bag limit is 8 and the possession limit is 16.

An extended falconry season for ducks, rails and gallinules will take place from Nov. 5 to Feb. 3.

New Jersey Fish and Game

Trenton, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- An article about the upcoming 2011-2012 migratory bird seasons has been posted on the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife website.

Waterfowl biologist Ted Nichols provides detailed information on the population status of the state’s waterfowl species and how the waterfowl seasons are affected by population status.

Among significant changes this year will be the duration of the woodcock season (increased from 24 to 36 days) and the brant season, which will be closed during part of the duck season in all zones.

The bag limits for the various duck seasons are noted, as is information on Canada and light goose seasons.

The article can be viewed at www.njfishandwildlife.com/artmigratory11.htm on the division’s website.

Louisiana Has Record Waterfowl Harvest

Ducks Unlimited

LAFAYETTE, LA --(Ammoland.com)- Waterfowl hunters harvested more than 2.7 million ducks in Louisiana during the 2010-11 waterfowl season, more than any other state, according to the recently released annual U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest report.

“Conserving waterfowl habitats in Louisiana has long been one of Ducks Unlimited’s highest priorities,” Bob Dew, DU manager of conservation programs, said.

“More ducks were harvested in Louisiana last season than in the entire Atlantic or Central Flyways! If that doesn’t convey the continental importance of Louisiana as wintering waterfowl habitat, I don’t know what does.”

Louisiana’s harvest accounts for 18 percent of the United States harvest. Arkansas had the second highest harvest in the Mississippi Flyway with 1.4 million ducks. Factoring in hunter numbers, Louisiana’s harvest equated to 30.6 ducks harvested per hunter for the season.

“That is a big increase in our hunter success from the year before,” Larry Reynolds, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Waterfowl Study Leader, said. “Last season provided some great duck hunting in Louisiana, and given the increased populations and wetland conditions on the breeding grounds, we are hoping for another excellent season.”

However, waterfowlers should remember there are a multitude of factors that influence migration patterns as well as individual hunting success. Weather patterns are often the greatest driving force for waterfowl, and last winter’s weather patterns pushed waterfowl south with hard freezes and snow cover to the north. Local habitat conditions, particularly local rainfall patterns that influence habitat availability, also play a critical role in hunter success.

Last fall and winter there were significant efforts related to the Deepwater Horizon disaster to provide habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. The effort resulted in significant habitat in southwest Louisiana throughout fall and winter due to the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative, while southeast Louisiana marshes were under the influence of a high river with open freshwater diversions.

“Ducks Unlimited’s partnership with private landowners, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service put about 80,000 acres of water on the ground in drought-stricken southwest Louisiana in time for the fall flights,” Dew said. “And the freshwater pouring into southeast coastal marshes encouraged excellent submersed aquatic vegetation growth, an important food resource for waterfowl, in that portion of the state.”

Last year’s breeding populations were above long term averages for most species, so waterfowl production should have been very good. Add to that late fall and winter weather patterns that pushed ducks south where they were greeted by locally excellent habitat conditions, and you have great harvest potential. Additionally, USFWS data also suggest that Louisiana had an increase in hunter numbers last year – more than 9,000 more than the previous year – and an increase in hunter effort – more than 130,000 more days afield – and the result is a near perfect combination of factors leading to Louisiana’s record harvest.

The coming waterfowl season is shaping up to be promising as well. The breeding ground population surveys and wetland pond counts showed great breeding pair numbers and habitat conditions. Flooding along the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers has provided significant freshwater inputs, and river levels remain high so stands of submersed aquatic vegetation attractive to ducks should be developing nicely. Also, most of the habitat created through the MBHI program will be provided again for waterfowl in the rice prairie region.

“With the wet conditions on the breeding grounds, duck hunters should be excited about the upcoming season,” Dew said. “But some areas of Louisiana are very dry and very salty, which will have an effect on habitat conditions locally. Keep your fingers crossed for some rain and cold fall and winter weather up north.”

Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- Representatives of waterfowl organizations, interested hunters and the public are invited to attend a briefing on Friday, Aug. 5, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, on the status of Atlantic Flyway waterfowl populations and proposed preliminary federal frameworks for the 2011-12 waterfowl hunting seasons.

The briefing will begin at 1 p.m., at Presque Isle State Park, Picnic Shelter # 2, near the Waterworks.

In addition to reviewing frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for upcoming waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, Game Commission staff will provide updates on current and planned research and management programs, as well as past hunting results.

Public comments will be accepted at the meeting; or by sending a letter to: Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bureau of Wildlife Management, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797; or via e-mail through waterfowlcomments@state.pa.us.

Based on public comments, Game Commission staff will prepare and present recommended waterfowl and migratory bird seasons, bag limits and related criteria to the USFWS for final approval. All migratory bird hunting seasons and bag limits must conform to frameworks set by the USFWS. States select their hunting seasons within these established frameworks.

Early migratory bird hunting seasons – including September Canada goose, mourning dove, American woodcock and webless species – will be announced in late July.

By mid-August, when the final selections are made, the Game Commission will issue a news release on the remaining hunting seasons for migratory birds. The agency also will print and distribute the annual brochure outlining the seasons and bag limits for waterfowl and migratory bird seasons to U.S. Post Offices, where hunters may purchase their mandatory federal duck stamp. The annual brochure also will be posted on the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us).

Delta Waterfowl

Bismarck, ND --(Ammoland.com)- Duck hunters will find plenty to cheer about in the annual breeding population and habitat survey, which was released earlier today.

Conducted each May by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, this year’s survey reveals the second-highest pond count and a record 45.6 million ducks, the most since the survey was started in 1955. Blue-winged teal, shovelers and redheads soared to record levels, and if that’s not enough, mallard, pintail, canvasback and gadwall numbers rose substantially from 2010.

But not all is well across the U.S. and Canadian prairies.

While water is great for ducks, excessive snowpack and heavy spring rains produced extreme flooding across much of the prairie breeding grounds. From the Canadian prairies to the Dakotas and eastern Montana, tens of thousands of homeowners have been displaced by swollen rivers, millions of acres of cropland remain unplanted and hundreds of miles of roads are under water.

2011 Duck Numbers“Our hearts go out to all those affected by flooding this spring,” says Delta President Rob Olson.“This has been an indescribable hardship for the people living in the Prairie Pothole Region.”

The closely watched May ponds total, the second-highest ever, doesn’t do justice to the unprecedented flooding still terrorizing residents of the breeding grounds. Across the U.S. side of the region, the last three years have been the wettest since pond counts began. The 3.2 million ponds inventoried in the U.S. this spring were the most on record.

The 4.9 million ponds in prairie Canada were 43 percent more than the long-term average, which dates back to 1955, and brings the total pond count across the traditional survey area to 8.1 million, second only to the 8.3 million recorded in 1974.

Not surprisingly, all that water attracted a record number of ducks. The 12.5 million breeding ducks that settled in the eastern half of the Dakotas was the most ever, and was 172 percent above average.

The Canadian prairies got drenched this year and, accordingly, attracted significantly more ducks than last year: Alberta saw a 60 percent jump in pond numbers and 66 percent more ducks, Manitoba was 72 percent wetter with 41 percent more ducks and Saskatchewan’s pond count rose 18 percent and attracted 56 percent more ducks.

Olson was quick to point out that wet conditions don’t create more ducks, they just attract birds that on dry years would settle elsewhere. “The bush country is empty because all the birds are having a party on the prairies,” he says.

Species reaching all-time highs include blue-winged teal at a whopping 8.9 million, northern shovelers at 4.6 million and redheads with 1.4 million. Mallards improved to 9.2 million; pintails jumped to 4.4 million, the highest level since 1980; gadwalls rose to 3.3 million; canvasbacks climbed to 692,000, and scaup improved slightly to 4.3 million.

Dr. Frank Rohwer, Delta Waterfowl’s scientific director, says the uninterrupted wet cycle that began in the U.S. in 1994 is only part of the reason ducks numbers have skyrocketed in recent years, citing millions of acres of dense nesting cover provided by the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and an outbreak of mange that has kept fox numbers in check as other important factors.

“The eastern Dakotas have become the Mecca for prairie ducks,” says Rohwer, a Louisiana State University professor who admits he’s excited about the coming hunting season. “Pintails have reversed their long-term decline, driven largely by very high counts in the eastern Dakotas. Blue-winged teal are off the charts–yikes. Shovelers are at an all-time high and gadwalls and mallards are up.”

To demonstrate his point about productivity in the U.S., Dr. Rohwer did some back-of-the-envelope calculations based on the survey results. “I added up the number of mallards, gadwalls and blue-winged teal for each region and divided them by the pond counts to get a pairs-per-pond figure,” he says. [Continued...]

“The eastern Dakotas had 3.7 pairs per pond, while southern Saskatchewan had just 1.78. Southern Manitoba and Alberta were slightly lower than Saskatchewan.”

Rohwer’s calculations explain why flooding isn’t the only reason for long faces on the breeding grounds: Waterfowl managers are increasingly concerned about the long-term ability of the U.S. prairies to produce ducks in light of budget cuts being considered by Congress. If approved, those cuts could put CRP and numerous other conservation programs responsible for this year’s eye-popping numbers at risk.

“Mother Nature has dealt the pothole region a winning hand with all this water,” says Delta Senior Vice President John Devney. “When the prairies get this wet, it sets off a chain reaction of positive outcomes–an abundance of small wetlands attracts more ducks to prime breeding areas, and those ducks are more inclined to re-nest and brood survival increases. Re-nesting is important because it offsets predation.

“But the U.S. prairies won’t stay wet forever, and if we continue to lose CRP, native grasslands and wetlands, duck numbers could go down even faster and more dramatically than they’ve come up in recent years. Worse, without adequate nesting cover, populations will be slower to recover.”

The importance of CRP on the U.S. side of the “duck factory” becomes more apparent with each passing breeding season.

For the third year in a row, more pintails settled in the eastern Dakotas (1.5 million) than in prairie Saskatchewan (1.1 million). Pintail numbers in the eastern Dakotas were a whopping 209 percent higher than average.

Blue-winged teal numbers were knock-your-socks-off good. The 8.9 million blue-wings were the most ever, and 61 percent of those ducks set up housekeeping on the U.S. side of the region–179 percent more than the norm.

Redheads have also taken advantage of nesting conditions in the U.S. The 1.4 million breeders recorded this year set yet another record, and 654,000 of them–241 percent more than average–settled in the U.S.

Northern shovelers also set a record at 4.6 million, 98 percent higher than the long-term average. Shoveler numbers actually dropped across the eastern Dakotas, but rose dramatically in the prairie provinces and the western Dakotas.

The mallard breeding population rose less than some observers expected to a very respectable 9.2 million, with 3.4 million of those in the U.S. Surveyors counted 18 percent more canvasbacks than a year ago, gadwalls were the third highest ever and scaup climbed to the highest level since 1999, which is still 15 percent below average.

Species of concern are the American wigeon, which fell 14 percent from last year to 2.1 million and is now 20 percent below average, and green-winged teal, off 17 percent to 2.9 million but still 47 percent higher than average. “High duck numbers bode well for good production and a strong fall flight,” Devney says.

About:
Delta Waterfowl provides knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting. Visit: www.deltawaterfowl.org

Ohio Magee Marsh Wildlife Area Waterfowl Hunt Cancelled

Ohio Department Natural Resources

OAK HARBOR, OH --(Ammoland.com)- An extensive restoration and enhancement project at the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area will necessitate cancellation of the area’s controlled waterfowl hunt for the 2011-2012 waterfowl hunting season according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.

The temporary closure of the area will result in decades of improved wetland management capabilities on Magee Marsh and enhanced waterfowl hunting opportunities in the future. However, completing the restoration work will require the drawdown of water from the eastern and southern wetland units on a temporary basis. This project affects 392 acres of coastal wetlands on Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, securing the main water supply to 282 acres of hemi-marsh and semi-permanent wetlands by restoring the structural integrity of the main water supply channel levee. Another benefit of the effort is the restoration of wetland hydrology to three wetlands including a 60 acre forested wetland and 50 acres of emergent marsh habitats adjacent to the forested wetland.

This project is a cooperative effort between the Ohio Division of Wildlife and Ducks Unlimited, and is funded through a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection Grant and funds generated from the sale of the Ohio Wetland Habitat Stamp.

Opportunities for sportsmen and women will still be available during the special teal and early Canada goose season in September. A drawing for these seasons is scheduled for Saturday, August 20, 2011 at the Lake Erie Waterfowler’s Festival.

Daily drawings for waterfowl hunting opportunities for the remainder of the 2011-2012 waterfowl hunting season will be held when the project is completed, but a completion date for this project has not been determined.

For information about Ohio’s wildlife, visit wildohio.com, find the Division of Wildlife on Facebook, or follow updates on Twitter.

The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Delta Waterfowl’s Top Ten Spring Snow Goose Hunting Tips

Delta Waterfowl

Bismarck, ND --(Ammoland.com)- Snow-sodden fields. Ankle-deep mud. Biting winds, driving rains and cold-to-the-bone temperatures.
Play Slideshow

Spring snow goose hunters happily endure Mother Nature’s unpredictable mood swings to chase geese that hold advanced degrees in survival. Snow geese can be older than you, and have witnessed, from their lofty, discriminating vantage point, untold decoy spreads during their travels across the continent. They’re savvy, cunning and difficult to hunt—even exasperating—but far from impossible.

If you’re looking for a prescription for successfully hunting spring snows, Delta Waterfowl has a small coterie of snow goose aficionados who are qualified to help. After years of hunting these wily birds, they’ve learned some fool-proof (or nearly so) secrets to help fill your freezer with some tasty wild protein. Enjoy the spring season.
Delta’s Top 10 list:

1) Scouting: If you don’t find the birds, they likely won’t find you. “You have to scout, scout and scout some more,” says Scott Terning, Delta’s director of recruitment and education. Watch the snow line; birds will be south of it, always. You can also use a number of online sources to aid your scouting and get refuge reports to determine bird concentrations, but remember nothing compares to doing real-time scouting.” Terning recommends finding the largest concentration of birds on a lake, wetland or piece of sheet water. During the spring, he said, it’s common to locate multiple roosts in a given area. “You want to scout these birds and locate where they are feeding for your hunt the next day,” Terning says. “Taking these simple first steps will save you a lot of time and frustration.”

2) The sheet water connection: “In the spring finding sheet water is often the key element in finding birds,” says Delta Waterfowl Senior Vice President John Devney. “They seem to decoy far better in fields with a little water in them. Spring snows will often look for corn stubble and sheet water in the same field.”

3) Concealment: Hide, hide, hide! Fooling spring snows requires you stay well hidden. Take advantage of any field changes that allow for better concealment—from drainages to low spots to missed field vegetation. Conceal ground blinds from all angles and use decoys to break up their outlines. In grain fields it’s sometimes best to ditch the ground blinds and hunt in your best “whites.” And don’t forget your facemask. There’s typically no margin for error.

4) Decoys: You don’t need a 1,000-decoy spread to have a successful hunt, says Terning. “You need a respectable amount of decoys, and the best ones you have, because quality can be more important than quantity,” he said, noting that you should team up with a friend if you don’t have enough decoys. “Bring along some floaters too. You’ll want to use them in the sheet water.” Keep decoys properly spaced, about three or four feet between each. The spread will look more natural from a distance and create the affect of having a larger spread.

5) Movement in decoys: It’s very important to attract distant birds to your spread. Use kites, flyers, flags and other decoys to increase motion, especially directly behind your blinds on the upwind side of your spread. This will create the illusion of snows landing and leap-frogging over each other to feed. “Silosock flyers work really well to add movement to your spread,” says Terning. Bottom line: employ as much movement as possible, even to the point of putting a white vest on your dog.

6) Late snows: The latter part of the migration can provide the best decoy hunting, because the majority of the birds are juveniles. “Young birds are much easier to decoy,” says Delta’s Jim Fisher, Canada’s director of conservation policy. “You won’t see the number of birds, generally speaking, but the decoy hunting can be excellent.”

7) Hunter placement in decoys: “Don’t be afraid to move within the decoy spread to get to a better position to shoot lower birds or to have a chance at flaring birds,” says Delta’s Fisher. “Or leave the decoys altogether and get downwind to a spot that may give you closer shots.”

8 ) Prepare for fog and mud: Spring hunters will likely find both in copious amounts. “Morning fog can really get guys mixed up when they’re looking for the field they received permission to hunt the night before, so make a mental note of landmarks to guide you to the right spot,” says Delta’s Terning. “If the fog has been really bad, use a GPS to plot the precise location of where you want to set up the following day. A good map and GPS are indispensable.” The spring season has another constant: mud. Be prepared for it; bring extra clothes/gear and have a plan for transporting decoys because driving a truck and trailer into a field may not be an option. “Hunters need to do their best to leave the smallest footprint as possible,” says Delta’s Devney. “Be respectful of landowner property and be extremely careful not to tear up muddy roads.”

9) Ballistics and shooting: Fisher strongly recommends using quality shells. “I like to use three-inch shot shells with BB or BBB,” he said. “Be judicious with the shots you take, know your maximum effective range and don’t stray from it. After all, it’s hunting, not shooting.”

10) Food, glorious, food: Have a plan. Bring a cooler, ice and cleaning materials. Know the rules on how to legally transport birds. Snow geese, contrary to popular myth, are superb table fare. Bring a grill or stove and prepare a feast in the field. An easy recipe: take the tenderloins from several goose breasts. Dredge them in seasoned flour and fry. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce. Delta President Rob Olson says sweet chili or plum and hot mustard is a terrific combination. Find some great snow goose recipes at deltawaterfowl.org

About:
Delta Waterfowl provides knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting. Visit: www.deltawaterfowl.org

South Dakota Fish, Game & Parks

PIERRE, S.D. --(Ammoland.com)- Government personnel have been investigating a large mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) die-off located approximately 16 miles northwest of Pierre, South Dakota.

A recent update by the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) indicates respiratory fungal infections caused the deaths of more than 8,000 mallards.

The South Dakota Department of Game Fish and Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first responded on January 27, to a mallard die-off on the Okobojo Creek arm of Lake Oahe.

A total of 360 mallards were found dead on the lake ice and were removed.

The following day, approximately 7,000 additional dead mallards were discovered at an open artesian pond on private land located 3 miles north of the first die-off site. In an effort to keep birds away from the water source, hazing techniques including use of propane canons, scare streamers, and other activities were initiated at the pond after all dead mallards were removed on January 29. An aerial survey of the area on February 3, found more than 600 additional dead mallards at a third site consisting of several small open beaver ponds.

A sample of thirteen mallards either found dead or euthanized were sent to NWHC for diagnostic necropsy. Initial results indicated that at least two of eight mallards necropsied died due to aspergillosis, a respiratory tract infection caused by the inhalation of spores produced by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. Asperillosis has been known to cause previous mallard die-off events, including an event that occurred at the Oahe Seep near Pierre in 1985 (Bair et al. 1988). Further testing, including histopathology analysis of lung tissues, later confirmed that two of the other six mallards necropsied also died from a fungal respiratory infection, possibly caused by a different genus of fungi. Scientists at NWHC are continuing tests to try to identify the fungal pathogen associated with disease in these birds. Fungi can also cause avian morality by producing toxins (mycotoxins) that target the liver; however, lab results did not indicate mortality from liver disease.

The mallards most likely developed the fungal respiratory infections after being exposed to moldy corn; however, lab findings did not definitively determine the source of fungi that infected the mallards. Moldy corn was found in a silage pile at a feedlot located near the site where most of the dead mallards were found and in the digestive tract of several mallards examined. Observations also indicate that mallards are drawn to the feedlot when snow cover keeps them from foraging elsewhere.

The fungal disease identified from the mallards that were tested is not considered contagious (does not spread from bird to bird) and humans are not considered susceptible unless they have an immune system deficiency or develop an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions are rare and generally found in individuals working directly with the fungi and not from exposure to infected bird carcasses.

For more information contact one of the agencies named in this release. More information on aspergillosis and other fungal diseases is available in the National Wildlife Health Center “Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases” available at http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/field_manual/index.jsp).

Bair W.C., Simpson S.G., Windingstad R.M. 1988. Acute aspergillosis in mallards at Oahe Seep near Pierre, South Dakota. Prairie Naturalist 20(3):153 – 156.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

West Zone Goose: Hunter participation has waned in the High Plains, though goose numbers remain strong around Amarillo. The Arctic blast this week should get geese in the mood to feed as forecasts call for several days of freezing temperatures and precipitation. Canada geese are strong over wheat and corn. The Light Goose Conservation Order begins Feb. 7, and prospects look fair around Lake Etter. Prospects are fair.

East Zone Goose: The Light Goose Conservation Order began Jan. 24 to lackluster participation. Still huntable numbers of snows on the coastal prairies, but few hunters are interested in hunting during the liberal special season. Good hunts were posted in green fields near Port Lavaca, but few outfitters are offering hunts. Pre-frontal fog early in the week allowed for solid shoots. Recent wet weather has discouraged hunters. Prospects are fair.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- To give waterfowl hunters another tool to assist with efforts to address overabundant snow goose populations, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a regulatory change to allow the use of electronic decoys during the Snow Goose Conservation Hunt.

If published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the official compendium of Pennsylvania regulations, the regulatory change could be in effect for hunters participating in the 2011 Snow Goose Conservation Hunt (Feb. 21-April 16).

“Snow goose populations have reached levels that are causing extensive and possibly irreversible damage to the arctic and sub-arctic breeding grounds they and other nesting birds use,” pointed out Kevin Jacobs, Game Commission waterfowl biologist.

“For some populations of snow geese, their nesting habitats can no longer support these large numbers. What’s more, these geese are beginning to impact habitat and crops in Mid-Atlantic States and Quebec.

“It’s likely that North America has never had as many snow geese as it does now. They have become a huge and unexpected problem for themselves and other wildlife that shares the wintering and breeding grounds these waterfowl occupy.

In addition to extending hunting hours and allowing the use of electronic calls for the Snow Goose Conservation Hunt, electronic decoys should provide hunters additional opportunity to harvest snow geese.”

Waterfowlers Urged To Keep Safety In Mind

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

LITTLE ROCK, AR --(Ammoland.com)- Changing weather conditions have been the rule this duck season, and the final days of the 2010-11 season will be no exception.

After a season of very little rainfall, up-and-down temperatures and other weather changes, Arkansas waterfowl hunters will get a shot of almost spring-like weather over the final days of the season.

Temperatures will continue to rise throughout the weekend with highs expected to reach the lows 60s by the weekend.

Nighttime temperatures for central Arkansas are forecast to drop into the low 40s on Friday and Saturday night.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists took to the skies last week for the 2010-11 season’s final aerial waterfowl surveys. Observers counted a total of 1,786,677 ducks in the Delta with 1,311,245 mallards included in that total. In the Arkansas River valley, observers counted 60,635 ducks including 41,850 mallards. Duck numbers have fluctuated this season due to limited rainfall.

Biologists said it appeared that most ducks were scattered last week in the Delta. Thursday’s freeze-up had ducks concentrated on Friday flight. Habitat conditions and water levels in the fields looked about average as a whole. Most rivers (e.g., Bayou DeView, Cache, White, Black, St. Francis) looked well below average depths. The Cache and Bayou DeView were especially low. The low water conditions forced ducks to keep open holes in fields on Friday or continue south looking for open water.

All shallow water habitats were frozen last week. Good numbers of ducks were spotted on large bodies of water throughout the Arkansas River Valley. Habitat conditions are still poor due to lack of rainfall. Hunters with water might expect good success this last week of the season, but the warm weather may prove a challenge.

Arkansas’s duck season ends Sunday, Jan. 30.

To assist waterfowl hunters with the latest information, the AGFC provides links to sources on waterfowl location and abundance in Arkansas and other states. The links are available at www.agfc.com/hunting/Pages/HuntingWaterfowlReport.aspx#1.

This waterfowl report provides capsule information from agency staff in all corners of Arkansas and is updated each Wednesday throughout waterfowl season. To receive the report each week on your computer, send an e-mail to arkansasoutdoors@agfc.com and type “Waterfowl Report” in the subject line.

Information on river levels can be found at: www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/ or http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html.

Sunrise/sunset tables are available at: www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-us and in the Arkansas Waterfowl Regulations Guide.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Duck season ended Jan. 23 in the High Plains and the consensus was a successful season.

Lots of water in the Panhandle gave ducks ample habitat and hunters many playa lakes to hunt. However, the abundant water scattered ducks, somewhat. Mallards, pintails, wigeons, gadwalls and teal were harvested the final weekend. Goose season runs through Feb.6, and prospects are good for decoying action. Outfitters said good goose numbers are roosting on Lake Etter and around Dalhart. More geese moved in to the Amarillo area. The Light Goose Conservation Order in the West Zone begins Feb. 7. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: Duck season ended Jan. 23 and hunters said the latest cold front and timely rains 10 days prior aided success. The region received as much as four inches of rain, which finally floated a good mast crop of acorns. Wood ducks remained solid throughout the season, and mallards improved in January, especially the last week of the season. Lots of divers were reported on Lake O’Pines, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn, Lake Fork and Cooper Lake. The Sulphur River and Lake Wright-Patman was hit-or-miss. The good news is the latest rains have provided an abundance of water to sustain ducks through the winter, or at least until they begin to trickle back north.

South Zone Duck: As is traditionally the case, the coast was the hotspot for ducks in Texas, namely the coastal marshes and bays. Some hunters around Port O’Connor said they have never seen this many ducks throughout the season. Rockport hunters saw consistent action as well. Baffin Bay, Port Mansfield and areas around the Arroyo Colorado reported excellent shoots of pintails, redheads and wigeons from start to finish, with little or no boat traffic from other hunters. Pintails, shovelers and teal were the most prevalent species taken on the prairie, though greenwings did not show up en masse until the final week of the season. Absent, too, were wigeons and gadwalls did not show up in number compared to past years. Hunters were pleased with the extra pintail this year and took advantage on many prairie ponds and bay flats. Goose season ended Jan. 23 and most hunters said they enjoyed average decoying action throughout the season. Most pegged the juvenile population of snow geese at around 10 percent. Specklebellies and Canada geese filled the void when snows were not cooperative. The Light Goose Conservation Order began Jan. 24., however, participation was minimal.

About:
The Mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, (TPWD), is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us

Arizona Offers Extensive Hunting For Deer, Javelina, Quail, Duck & Rabbit

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- Now that we’re into the new year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to remind sportsmen and women that January offers a wide variety of hunting opportunities.

Getting back into the field can help you burn off some of those holiday treats as well.

The recent winter cold fronts provide the perfect conditions for hunting deer, javelina, ducks, geese, quail and rabbits.

Deer: Archery-only deer season runs through Jan. 31 with open areas throughout the state allowing the harvest of any antlered mule or white-tailed deer. Nonpermit-tags are required and can be purchased over-the-counter from Game and Fish or any license dealer.

Javelina: Archery-only javelina season runs through Jan. 20 and hunters have two options for a tag. Nonpermit-tags for metro and outlying units are available for purchase over-the-counter from Game and Fish and any license dealer. Additionally, leftover permit-tags for a number of surrounding units around the state are available from Game and Fish offices on a first-come, first-served basis.

Quail: Open through Feb. 6, Gambel’s quail populations are healthy in many of their traditional areas. Now is the time of the year when smaller family groups gather into larger coveys. Finding these coveys might take some extra walking, but the reward should be worth it.

Ducks: The mountain zone closes Jan. 16, but desert zone hunters have through Jan. 30. With the recent cold snaps, this is the time to get after ducks. Mapping out your quail hunting trips around tanks, water holes, streams, and river corridors can be very productive. To get the full duck hunting experience, put on some waders, throw out a dozen decoys and watch the skies for ducks on cupped wings.

Rabbits: The year-long season is good for cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits. Hunting for these wary creatures is fun, challenging, and never-ending excitement – not to mention they are both good in the cook pot.

Start the New Year off getting some exercise and taking part in an American tradition – go hunting.

For big game hunting information on deer and javelina, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw

For quail, rabbit and duck hunting information, visit www.azgfd.gov/hunting.

Delta Waterfowl Truck Raffle Benefits Ducks & Duck Hunters

Delta Waterfowl

Bismarck, ND --(Ammoland.com)- Attention waterfowlers: Want to help Delta Waterfowl fulfill its mission for ducks and duck hunters?

You can by purchasing a ticket in Delta’s annual truck raffle.

All proceeds will support Delta’s conservation and hunting programming.

Tickets cost $300 each, but only 325 will be sold – great, great odds for some lucky waterfowler to win a new 2011 Toyota Tundra with all the trimmings.

Tickets can be ordered by contacting Delta’s Bismarck office toll free at 1-888-987-3695 or by simply filling out the online order form.

The purchase deadline is January 19, and all tickets will be issued a first-come, first-served basis. The drawing will be held on January 21, after which the winner will be notified.

About:
Delta Waterfowl provides knowledge, leaders and science-based solutions that efficiently conserve waterfowl and secure the future for waterfowl hunting. Visit: www.deltawaterfowl.org

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Texas --(Ammoland.com)- High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Goose hunting continued steady for Canadas and a few snow geese, though light winds have hurt decoying action at times. Plowed ground close to roosting water has paid off best for light geese.

Wheat and corn have held most of the dark geese. Good hunts for mallards, teal, wigeons and gadwalls were reported on playa lakes and feed lots.

Knox City has been good for wigeons, mallards and teal. Specklebellies and Canadas have been good in plowed ground and peanuts. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck:
Duck hunters have taken good numbers of mallards in wet sloughs and creeks in the northeast portion of the state. Wood ducks have been steady, but many woodies have been working larger waters since timber water has been limited. Caddo Lake has been good for ringed-necks, gadwalls, scaup and a few mallards.

The Sulphur River and Wright-Patman Lake has held good numbers of wood ducks and mallards. Canvasbacks and other divers have been steady on Lake O’Pines, Toledo Bend, Lake Fork and Cooper Lake. Hunting has been fair around the zone boundaries of IH-10, but expect the area to respond positively to timely rains that fell last week. Prospects are good.

South Zone Duck:
The coast continues to produce the best duck hunting in the state. Pintails, teal and shovelers have been fair to good near El Campo, Eagle Lake, Garwood, Collegeport, East Bernard and Wharton. Green-winged teal numbers improved this week around Blessing, Pierce, El Campo and Wharton. Many coastal bags have been devoid of gadwalls and wigeons, two species of ducks that were a mainstay on hunters’ straps a year ago. Bay hunters have enjoyed limits to half-limits near Port O’Connor and Rockport. Redheads, bluebills, gadwalls and wigeons have made up the bay bags.

Those hunters willing to go mobile and hunt natural cover have been more successful compared to large, gaudy blinds. Hard north winds pushed lots of water out of the bay, relocating birds to deeper shorelines. Good numbers of pintails, redheads and gadwalls have been taken in Baffin Bay and Port Mansfield. Snow goose hunting has been fair to good.

Young birds continue to decoy well. Specklebellies have shied from calls and water; the white-fronted goose season closes at sunset Jan. 9. Sandhill crane numbers are excellent, and many hunters have taken at least a bird a man in goose spreads. Those setting up along canal banks and fence rows to pass-shoot have had little trouble taking their two-bird limit. Prospects are good.