POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT WATERFOWL FLIGHT THIS SEASON

  The good news: the marshlands of Alberta, where most of the ducks and geese that migrate through Wyoming originate, had its best waterfowl production in a decade. The bad news: because of scarce water and unpredictable weather inducing flyovers, Wyoming’s waterfowl biologist cannot guarantee good Equality State hunting.

        “But, there’s a lot of reason to be optimistic,” said the Game and Fish Department’s Larry Roberts. “I’ve already seen good numbers of blue wing teal entering the state.”

        He adds that in addition to ample water, the prairie provinces of Canada are sporting the best grass cover in 35 years. “Those factors add up to excellent production for both ducks and Canada geese,” Roberts said.

        The veteran waterfowl biologist can’t say the same for Wyoming waterfowl production, which he rates as “poor” overall, with conditions fair in western Wyoming deteriorating to abysmal approaching the eastern border.

        But poor water conditions in the western Dakotas could help Wyoming hunting – with the right weather patterns. With help from storms, the birds could ignore that country and migrate through eastern Wyoming. 

        In addition to the impressive duck and large Canada geese production of Alberta, arctic areas hosting the small Canada and snow geese that migrate through Wyoming also tallied improved nesting success.

        Widgeon and scaup are the only ducks declining in numbers this year.

        With this year’s healthy waterfowl numbers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has again offered Wyoming the “liberal package” of seasons and bag limits for duck hunters. For the Central Flyway, Wyoming has adopted the “hunter’s choice” option with all species legal throughout the season, including bagging one from the group of canvasbacks, pintails and hen mallards. In the Central Flyway, the total daily limit would be five ducks and in the Pacific Flyway seven ducks.

        General waterfowl seasons open Sept. 23 in the Pacific Flyway and in the Central Flyway, Sept. 30 in zone 2 and Oct. 7 in zone 1. Youth only waterfowl hunting days in the Central Flyway are Sept. 23 in zone 2 and Sept. 30 in zone 1.

(contact: Larry Roberts (307) 473-3400)

-WGFD-