Seasons opening for goose, duck hunters

It looked for a while that waterfowl hunters would have to switch to dryland prey, but some recent rains have improved those conditions. Goose season is underway (started Nov. 2) and waterfowl will open Saturday

With rain, and a few cold fronts helping to push birds south, hunters are hoping for another good year.

Ducks Unlimited just released some data for this year’s migration, and prolonged drought in the prairie pothole region of the US and Canada has had a significant impact on waterfowl.

Waterfowl season for Zone 1&2 (which includes all the state except the panhandle) runs Nov. 9-24, and Nov. 30 – Jan 26.

Goose season runs Nov. 2 — 24 & Nov. 30 — Feb. 9 for dark geese and light geese (all geese except white-fronted geese) and Nov. 2 — 24 & Nov. 30 — Feb. 2 for white-fronts. Sandhill crane season is already underway and will run through Jan. 19.

Be sure to check the Oklahoma Waterfowl guide, which is in the regular Hunting booklet for seasons and bag limits for all waterfowl hunting, or online at wildlifedepartment.com.

Ducks and geese numbers are beginning to increase in the state, and with some recent rains there should be enough water for hunters to take advantage. Lakes and backwater areas are fuller and the colder weather up north is hitting just at the right time.

Limits for this year’s waterfowl season are: Ducks – Six combined of any species of duck. The daily limit may include no more than five mallards (only two may be hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two canvasbacks, one scaup and one pintail. Mergansers are included in the duck daily limit.

Goose limits are eight daily for dark geese, two daily for white-front, and 50 daily for light geese. The daily limit is three sandhill cranes.

Hunter’s must possess a valid Oklahoma Hunting license, Oklahoma waterfowl permit, and a Federal Waterfowl stamp. Don’t forget to sign your federal stamp in ink across the face. For more waterfowl regulations and information, consult the migratory bird section of the Oklahoma Hunting Guide.

All migratory game bird hunters, including lifetime license holders, who hunt migratory birds, must obtain, complete and carry a Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit while hunting migratory birds. Additionally, anyone hunting sandhill cranes is also required to obtain a Sandhill Crane Permit (SHC).

Both of these permits are federal permits, free of charge, and can be obtained on the ODWC app.

Keep an eye out for whoopers — While the reports at Salt Plains NWR do not show any whooping cranes right now, there is definitely an influx of migrating birds. There are reports of sandhill cranes, pelicans, ducks, geese, and several different species of shore birds. A good sign for what is to come. And that might mean a chance at seeing the majestic, endangered birds closer to home.

One of the rarest birds in North America, the whooping crane, migrates through Oklahoma every fall and may be spotted during the next several weeks. The entire migrating population of Aransas-Wood Buffalo migratory group, about 540 birds, will pass through the state between now and the first week of November, according to the International Crane Foundation.