Duck season looks promising

We are off and running! Even though muzzle-loader hunters had soggy conditions, deer hunters are off to a good start this year. And with cooler temps in the forecast, deer activity should be on the rise.

Archery hunters have harvested over 18,000 deer so far this year, and muzzleloaders added another 10,000, bringing the total so far to 33,610 (some controlled hunts and youth numbers are included, if you are doing the math).

Waterfowlers hit the newly rejuvenated lakes this weekend and the rain and cold fronts pushed some ducks in for the opener. The waterfowl season runs Nov. 9-24, and Nov. 30 – Jan 26. for most of the state. Geese and crane seasons are already open as well.

Checking some waterfowl reports may get hunters a little excited. Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is reporting much increased bird activity with 10,271 Ducks, 7,993 Geese, 11,539 Sandhill Cranes, 8 Eagles and 6 Whooping Cranes in last weeks report.

With a few more cold fronts, and plenty of full ponds and lakes, hunters have new hope. Just a couple of weeks ago, it didn’t look so bright!

Speaking of reports Ducks Unlimited released its 2024 Status of Waterfowl last week and despite a continuing drought across much of the duck producing areas of the country, bird numbers are not as bad as many biologist had predicted.

The report showed that total duck numbers in the traditional survey area increased by 5 percent above the 2023 estimate, marking the first documented increase in nine years. After the numbers hit record highs in the mid-2010s, multiple years of widespread prairie drought reduced available breeding habitat and drove duck population estimates steadily downward. Although drought persisted across the prairies in 2023, this year’s results suggest the decline may have slowed for most duck species, with several species showing increases over last year’s estimtes.

Because the traditional survey area encompasses the highly productive Prairie Pothole Region, where habitat conditions and duck populations fluctuate in response to periodic wet and dry cycles, the fortunes of most waterfowl populations—and hunters—are tied to these variable conditions.

In welcome news for waterfowlers, mallards were up 8 percent in the traditional survey area (encompassing portions of Alaska to western Ontario and south into the Dakotas and Montana). Despite the modest gain for mallards, the 2024 estimate of 6.6 million birds was the second-lowest in 30 years and remained below the long-term average for the third consecutive year. Three species posted significant population increases this spring: American wigeon (up 55 percent), American green-winged teal (up 20 percent), and scaup (up 16 percent).

Hunters are encouraged to check out all of the regulations and bag limits for Oklahoma’s season at the Wildlife Departments webside. Also don’t forget the purchase State and Federal Waterfowl Stamps and complete the HIP survey before heading to the field.

See hunting calendar, waterfowl chart Page 2B