U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - News Release

Nov. 8, 2006

STILL SOME GOOD WATERFOWL HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES, SAYS USFWS

Recent warm temperatures have allowed some ducks and geese to stick around North Dakota beyond their expected departure date, but a return to colder weather could chase most remaining waterfowl out of the state. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists say the best opportunities for hunters are in the southern one-third of the state.

Many wetlands in southeastern North Dakota have re-opened, and hunters are finding fairly good concentrations of mallards and Canada geese, along with some bigger flocks of 2,000 or more snow geese. Biologist Kristine Askerooth of Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge says Kraft Slough and southern Richland County are good places for hunters to try, but she warns that scouting will still be needed. She adds that the birds are starting to feed in harvested corn fields.

Warm temperatures have re-opened Long Lake and many surrounding wetlands. Biologist Gregg Knutsen of Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge says the Refuge was holding 40,000 snow geese and several thousand Canada geese, although very few ducks remained at mid-week. He adds that scattered large concentrations of more than 30,000 snow geese can be found in portions of Kidder and Emmons counties, with lesser numbers in northern and central Burleigh County. Knutsen adds that duck numbers are generally low in the three counties.

At mid-week, Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge was still holding 10,000 Canada geese, 25,000 snow geese, more than 1,100 tundra swans and 30,000 ducks. Biologist Paulette Scherr says nearly all the ducks were mallards. She warns that many of those birds appear ready to leave.

Quite a few snow geese and Canada geese moved into southeast-central North Dakota last week. However, deputy refuge manager Travis Carpenter of the Kulm Wetland Management District says their stay could be short. He notes that most ducks have gone south, but hunters could still find a few. Carpenter adds that even some of the larger wetlands still have ice.

Stutsman County still had quite a few pockets of snow geese at mid-week. Manager Tomi Buskness of the Chase Lake Wetland Management District says the area also had some Canada geese and ducks.

The snow goose population is up and Canada goose numbers are holding steady in east-central North Dakota. Manager Ed Meendering of the Valley City Wetland Management District says the area still holds some mallards and diving ducks on larger wetlands, but he notes that even the big lakes have some ice.

Goose hunters in northeastern North Dakota may still have some success field hunting, but biologist Cami Dixon of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District says most birds have left the area. Exceptions may include Benson County, where large flocks of snow geese were reported, and Devils Lake, which is holding large numbers of scaup.

Warm temperatures have melted some of the ice at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, and the Refuge was holding about 1,000 Canada geese and 200 ducks at mid-week. Project leader Tedd Gutzke watched some snow geese moving south from Canada early this week, but he says none stopped.

Lake Darling has started to open again, and waterfowl activity is up. Officer Shawn Tripp of Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge estimated 2,000 Canada geese on the Refuge early this week, along with some mallards and bufflehead ducks. He also reported seeing small numbers of snow geese moving out of Canada. Tripp says there are pockets of geese near Greene and Grano.

Several hundred Canada geese moved onto Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge early this week. Refuge manager Dan Severson says most of the geese were near Kenmare. He watched migrant flocks of snow geese flying south over the area last weekend. Severson notes that most fields are open, but most area wetlands remain iced over.

Nearly all the wetlands in Mountrail County are ice-covered, but Lake Sakakawea reportedly still has good numbers of Canada geese and mallards. Biologist Cory Lawson of the Lostwood Wetland Management District says other hunting opportunities are very limited.

Some wetlands in northwestern North Dakota are starting to open up again, but the waterfowl have already migrated. Refuge manager Tim Kessler of the Crosby Wetland Management District says he doesn’t expect to see any more ducks or geese in the area.

Despite recent warm temperatures, only the largest wetlands in McLean, Sheridan and Ward counties have open water. Groups of a few thousand snow geese and Canada geese are continuing to use those open areas, according to Audubon National Wildlife Refuge wetland manager Mike Goos. He says waterfowl numbers on the Refuge vary from day to day, ranging up to 10,000 Canada geese, up to 30,000 snow geese and up to 5,000 mallards.

In northeastern South Dakota, waterfowl populations at Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge have seen a large increase. At mid-week, the Refuge was holding 410,000 snow geese, about 6,000 Canada geese, some 300,000 ducks and 1,500 tundra swans. Biologist Bill Schultze says the lakes and wetlands on the Refuge and in the surrounding area re-opened last weekend. An aerial survey showed 200,000 snow geese and large numbers of mallards on Putney Slough, another 25,000 snow geese on Scatterwood Lake and 34,000 snow geese plus many ducks on Elm Lake. Schultze notes that some of the smaller, private wetlands west of Sand Lake were also holding snow geese.

Waterfowl hunters will have company in the field this weekend, as North Dakota’s deer gun season opens Friday.

Officers remind hunters they must leave one fully feathered wing or head on all waterfowl during transportation.

Hunters using Waterfowl Production Areas must note that motor vehicles may not be used off established roads or trails, and upland bird hunters using WPAs are restricted to nontoxic shot and must use shotguns capable of holding no more than three shells.

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