U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - News Release

Sept. 20, 2006

DRY CONDITIONS AWAIT WATERFOWL HUNTERS, SAYS USFWS

North Dakota hunters may have to look harder for ducks and geese when waterfowl season opens for state residents on Saturday. According to the weekly report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, dry conditions have caused the disappearance of many small and medium-sized wetlands. On the other hand, high spring breeding populations and adequate early water conditions should mean good numbers of local ducks.

Water conditions and waterfowl populations are both good in southeastern North Dakota. Biologist Kristine Askerooth of Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge says the birds are spread out and starting to bunch up. She adds that the large wetlands are full, but most ducks are not sitting on large water. Askerooth reports seeing ducks feeding in flooded pastures, harvested small grain fields and some cut corn fields. She believes field shooting should be good, and adds that lots of gadwall and teal, along with some wigeon, were taken in the youth waterfowl hunt last weekend. Askerooth notes that the area is still holding good numbers of resident Canada geese.

Hunters willing to do some scouting should be able to find waterfowl in northeastern North Dakota. Biologist Cami Dixon of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says the area had good waterfowl production this year, and the dry conditions should concentrate the birds on the wetlands still holding water. She believes the best hunting opportunities may be in Ramsey and northern Towner and Cavalier counties. Dixon adds that some sandhill cranes are also being seen.

Duck numbers are fairly low so far in east-central North Dakota, but some resident Canada geese are present. Wetland manager Ed Meendering of the Valley City Wetland Management District says local duck production was average or below this year, no migrants have arrived, and most small wetlands are dry. He reports the best water conditions in the five-county area are in Griggs County and southern Barnes County.

Eastern Logan and McIntosh counties and western LaMoure and Dickey counties should provide fair hunting on opening weekend. Assistant manager Travis Carpenter of the Kulm Wetland Management District says most of the small wetlands are dry, and hunters will need to scout. He reports seeing increasing numbers of mallards and teal, along with some pintails and wigeon.

Hunters willing to do some scouting could reap the benefits of a good waterfowl production year around Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, north of Jamestown. Biologist Paulette Scherr estimates the Refuge is holding up to 600 Canada geese and 5,000 ducks. She says the ducks are mostly mallards along with other dabbling and diving ducks including pintails and canvasbacks. Scherr notes water conditions are very poor, but that could concentrate the ducks.

It looks like an "average" opening weekend in the Chase Lake Wetland Management District in Stutsman and Wells counties. District manager Tomi Buskness suggests hunters try southern Stutsman County, where water conditions are better. She reports some grouping of ducks and geese.

Larger wetlands in northern Burleigh and Kidder counties have small to moderate numbers of resident ducks, but smaller and mid-sized wetlands have all dried up. Biologist Gregg Knutsen of Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge says the refuge is holding about 500 sandhill cranes and 800 Canada geese, and he also reports a very small influx of migrant Canada geese into the area.

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge near Coleharbor is holding fewer than 5,000 Canada geese and some sandhill cranes, but dry conditions mean hunters will have to scout hard to find birds in McLean, Sheridan and Ward counties. Wetland manager Mike Goos says the area had decent waterfowl production this year, but migration has been very light so far. He adds that the only water available is in permanent and semi-permanent wetlands, and hunters finding water should be able to find waterfowl.

Wetlands in north-central North Dakota have been drying up rapidly. Tedd Gutzke, project leader at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge near Upham, says the refuge is holding fairly good numbers of mallards and about 2,000 Canada geese. Large mud flats on the north end of the refuge have attracted about 1,000 sandhill cranes, and the first few snow geese are showing up. Gutzke says duck hunters will probably find the best water conditions in Rolette and northern Pierce counties.

Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge was holding about 5,000 ducks, 1,000 Canada geese and about 50 snow geese early this week. Deputy refuge manager Tom Pabian says the birds are in small flocks scattered throughout the Refuge, which is located northwest of Minot. With the opening of waterfowl hunting season, the Refuge will close the area from Lake Darling Dam north to Carter Dam to sharp-tailed grouse and gray partridge hunting.

Like most other parts of the state, the area around Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare is very dry. Refuge manager Dan Severson says the area produced decent waterfowl numbers this year, and the Refuge has plenty of water for roosting.

The Lostwood Wetland Management District in northwestern North Dakota is experiencing a major wetland loss. Biologist Cory Lawson says waterfowl will be concentrated on permanent wetlands, although he hasn’t seen any large concentrations of mallards. He adds that about 200 Canada geese are staging around Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, and small bunches of sandhill cranes have been migrating through the area. Lawson believes the best opportunities for hunters will be near the big water in the southern part of the district and in central Mountrail County.

The outlook is grim for waterfowl hunters in Divide, Williams and Burke counties. Refuge manager Tim Kessler of the Crosby Wetland Management District says water conditions are very poor, and only the few areas with deeper water have some local gadwalls, shovelers and blue-winged teal. He also reports some resident Canada geese are being seen, but only a few snow geese.

In northeastern South Dakota, Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge was holding 20,000 ducks and 900 Canada geese early this week. Biologist Bill Schultze says most of the ducks are mallards, shovelers and gadwalls. He notes that waterfowl numbers west of the Refuge are low, and the best hunting opportunities should be to the east. Schultze says Sand Lake was drawn down this summer, and the lake is very shallow and about one-third its normal size.

At least one major change in the regulations has been made. Under the "hunters choice" bag limit, the daily limit is five ducks, with these restrictions: two scaup, two redhead and two wood duck; and only one from the following group: hen mallard, pintail and canvasback

Hunters are warned to avoid fields that could be considered baited. A field that has been manipulated by discing or other means prior to being harvested is likely to be considered baited, and anyone hunting waterfowl there could be prosecuted.

Nonresidents can begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota on Sept. 30, but can not hunt any game on Wildlife Management Areas controlled by the N.D. Game and Fish Department or on Conservation PLOTS areas from Oct. 14-20.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit the Service’s website at www.fws.gov
 

USFWS