Record Fall Duck Flight To Take Wing

By: Geoff Schneider

Another great year is in store for Nevada's waterfowl hunters as U.S. and Canadian biologists are projecting that a bumper crop of ducks and geese will take to the air for this fall's migration.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that a record 105 million ducks will be heading south. This is up from 84 million last year and the previous record high of 92 million in 1997.

Still more good news is that conditions are right in Nevada for hunters to take advantage of that fall flight. We're in excellent shape with lots of water, said Norm Saake, Nevada Division of Wildlife staff biologist. In some hunting areas we have the best feed conditions that we've seen in decades.

He predicts Nevada will receive about the same number of ducks and geese that it has had during the past two waterfowl seasons. Most of the increase in ducks are projected to be on the Central and Mississippi fly ways. The Pacific Flyway, which includes Nevada, is expected to have duck numbers comparable to last year.

While duck numbers are up, waterfowl experts continue to be concerned about pintails and scaup. Even though both had small increases this year, their total populations remain relatively low.

Saake said all indications point to another fine year for hunting in the northern portion of the state. Good precipitation combined with ongoing purchases of water rights by state and federal agencies have produced excellent waterfowl habitat.

Areas that should provide good hunter success for northwest Nevada hunters are Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area near Yerington, Humboldt Wildlife Management Area southwest of Lovelock and Carson Lake near Fallon. With abundant forage and ample water, Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge northeast of Fallon could produce a truly memorable waterfowl season.

Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge has good water and feed conditions and should have yet another good hunting season. Franklin Lake north of Ruby Lake is an area that Saake says hunters may wish to become acquainted with because it receives light hunting pressure and usually has good numbers of birds.

Goose hunting is also predicted to be good during the upcoming season with success similar to last year. Swan populations continue to climb and hunting is expected to be excellent for the Oct. 16-Jan. 2 season that will be held in the counties of Churchill, Lyon and Pershing.

Hunters in the southern half of the state typically don't have as good of waterfowl hunting opportunities as are found to the north because it is not a major migration area on the Pacific Flyway. However, there should again be fair hunting on state and federal refuges.

Saake said Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area south of Lund can provide excellent hunting and is well worth a trip. After the opening weekend hunting pressure is usually light and there are always birds using the area.

Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area and Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge have been receiving more and more hunting activity in recent years. Overton Wildlife Management on the shore of Lake Mead usually sees a lot of hunter interest, especially during the goose season, and hunter success can be fairly good, depending upon the year.

The duck hunting season is scheduled to get underway on Saturday, Oct. 2, in all counties except Clark and Lincoln. Duck hunting begins in those two counties on Saturday, Oct. 9. Limits are seven daily, 14 in possession, with restrictions on female mallards, pintail, canvasback, redhead and scaup duck species.

Goose hunting opens on Saturday, Oct. 23, except in the southern counties of Clark and Lincoln. Those counties will begin hunting geese on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Additional information on Nevada's various waterfowl hunting season dates and individual species limits is contained in a new quick reference pocket-sized pamphlet available at all license agents and Division offices statewide.

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