Waterfowlers expect good year

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 Waterfowl season is already underway in parts of Oklahoma and will soon be in full swing statewide, with reports from biologists pointing toward a memorable and successful season.
            Waterfowl season in the panhandle counties opened Oct. 10 and runs through Jan. 6, while the season in zone 1 runs Oct. 24 through Nov. 29 and Dec. 12 through Jan. 17, 2010. Zone 2 opens Nov. 7 and runs through Nov. 29 and Dec. 12 through Jan. 31, 2010.
            According to Josh Richardson, migratory game bird biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, opening days in zone 1 and 2 in recent years saw summer-like conditions that made for less successful hunts.
            “This year is looking to change that,” Richardson said. “Already a good number of early migrants have been moving through, and the continued cold weather up north should keep pushing birds on down to us.”
            Additionally, bird forecasts are good this year as well.
            “Duck production this year was very good across most of the breeding areas and particularly in the prairie pothole region, which supplies the majority of our ducks,” Richardson said. “The rains we've been getting are helping to raise water levels into shoreline vegetation. Really everything is looking like it is all going to come together to make a very good season for all our waterfowl hunters.”
            Changes to this year’s waterfowl season include expanded opportunities for pintails and canvasbacks as well as wood ducks. Oklahoma waterfowlers can hunt pintails and canvasbacks throughout the entire waterfowl season this year as well as take an additional wood duck as part of their daily limit of six ducks.
            Since 2003, pintails and canvasbacks have had a shorter season within the overall regular duck season. This year, hunters can take pintails and canvasbacks throughout the entire waterfowl season.
            Additionally, last year a hunter’s daily limit of six ducks could not include more than two wood ducks, whereas this year a hunter can harvest up to three per day as part of their six-duck limit.
            Aside from these two expanded hunting opportunities, the waterfowl seasons will be same as last year, with adjustments made to calendar dates.
            Full details, including information on seasons for all ducks, Canada geese, white-fronted geese, light geese and sandhill cranes are available in the new “Oklahoma Waterfowl Guide,” available at hunting license dealers statewide or online at wildlifedepartment.com.
            Hunters who wish to participate in the waterfowl season must have a resident or non-resident hunting license and, if their hunting license was purchased prior to July 1, a fishing and hunting legacy permit. Additionally, they must have a 2009-10 Federal Duck Stamp, and unless exempt, a 2009-10 Oklahoma Waterfowl License and a Harvest Information Program Permit. The federal duck stamp is available at U.S. Post Offices. Hunters pursuing sandhill cranes must also purchase a separate sandhill crane hunting permit.
            Sportsmen can sign up online for a free weekly news release from the Wildlife Department that is sent straight to their email inbox that contains seasonal reports on waterfowl activity at key locations across the state. For more information or to sign up to receive the free weekly news release by e-mail, log on to http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/wl_news.htm

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