Waterfowl Report
By Staff Reports
Thursday, January 08, 2009
1/08/09 at 2:40 AM
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation statewide waterfowl report for Jan. 7, 2009. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to
tulsaworld.com/wildlife
Northwest
Canton: Lake level is 0.75 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is fair on the lake. High water levels throughout the spring have limited native forage growth in the shallow portions of the lake. Winter wheat plantings are in fair condition. Row crops in the area have been harvested and are in fair to good condition. Duck numbers are high, with most birds feeding in the row crop fields around the area. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success. The boat ramp west of the WMA headquarters is usable as are all boat ramps on the south side of the lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drawdown is nearly complete.
Ft. Supply: Lake level is 0.34 ft above normal. Habitat conditions are fair, with good wheat conditions in the area. Duck numbers are good, with mainly mallards. Goose numbers are fair. Hunting activity is moderate, with fair success. Bird numbers have shown a increase in the last few days.
Southwest
Hackberry: Refuge reservoir is approximately 5 foot below conservation pool. Habitat conditions are poor. Winter wheat in the area is in poor condition. Duck numbers are fair, with mainly pintails, green-wing teal, and mallards present. Goose numbers are good. Due to lack of rain fall water is limited at Hackberry Flat WMA.
Little River NWR: Food conditions in the area are good. Duck numbers: mallard 450; gadwall 200; wood duck 125. No geese observed in the area.
Waurika: Lake level is 0.25 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor around the lake. Wheat is good to fair depending on the unit. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are fair. Hunting activity is low, with no reports of success. Bird movement in the area has been slowly increasing.
Northeast
Copan: Lake level is 1 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair. Flooded native plants on wetland units are in fair condition, with corn fields on the Wildlife Management Area in good condition. Plenty of flooded vegetation present to hold birds. Duck numbers are low, with less than 1,500 birds. Goose numbers are about 500 on the area. Hunting activity is heavy on the weekend and light during the weekdays. Hunting success has been low. All birds seen were on the main body of the lake and heading north towards Kansas.
Eufaula: Lake level is 0.55 ft. below normal. Current habitat condition is poor. Very little farming in the area. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is light with low success. No significant bird movement was noticed in the area.
Ft. Gibson: Lake level is 3.36 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyard grass, and some agricultural crops in the area. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is moderate, with fair success.
Hulah: Lake level is 0.5 ft. above normal. Flooded native plants on wetland units are in fair condition. Wheat fields on the Wildlife Management Area are in good condition. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with fair success. Most birds seen were on the lake.
Kaw: Lake level is 0.74 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is poor. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success. Bird movement has been minimal.
Keystone: Lake level is 1.10 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are poor. Both duck and goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is moderate on wetland units, with low success. All duck movement has been going out of the area. Hunters using the area this year should be prepared for very deep mud. Caution should be taken, especially if hunting alone.
Oologah: Lake level is 1.28 ft. below normal. Current habitat conditions are poor, with no flooded millet. Ag fields around lake are in poor condition due to flood conditions this past summer. Duck numbers are poor to fair, with gadwalls, mallards, and ring-neck seen in the area. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is fair, with poor to fair success. Bird movement has been slow in the area.
Webbers Falls: Lake level is 2.79 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success.
Southeast
Grassy Slough: Duck numbers: mallard 125; wigeon 13; shoveler 24; pintail 2; wood duck 37; ring-neck 18. No geese observed.
Hugo: Duck numbers: mallard 700; gadwall 200; wigeon 66; mergansers 85; green-wing teal 100; cinnamon teal 200; shoveler 33; pintail 50; wood duck 25; redhead 75; canvasback 97; scaup 15; ring-neck 200; bufflehead 75. Goose numbers: Canada 125.
Texoma: Lake level is 0.25 ft. below normal. No food sources flooded at current lake levels. All Japanese Millet plantings were lost to flooding in the summer. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success. With current food conditions hunting efforts should coincide with weather fronts.
Wister: Duck numbers: mallard 400; gadwall 100; wigeon 50; merganser 50; green-wing teal 50; shoveler 25; pintail 10; wood duck 75; ring-neck 50. Goose numbers: Canada 300.
