Waterfowl Survey Summary Reports

Waterfowl Report for November 15, 2006

Updates in the afternoon of  Nov.  22, Dec, 13, 21; January 4, 17, 24;  Feb. 7; 14; March 7, 21

 
Northwest

Canton: Lake level is 5.71 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor. Water level has dropped below all vegetation along the shoreline due to water release. Winter wheat plantings are mostly complete, but are in poor condition.  Duck numbers are low, with most ducks leaving to find better forage.  Goose numbers are low, with mostly Canadas, and a few Snow geese as well.  Some migration movement into and through the area has been observed within the few days.  Hunting activity is low, with low success.  The boat ramp west of Canton WMA headquarters is not usable due to low water levels.  One of the north ramps at Big Bend is usable for small boats.
 

Ft. Supply: Lake level is 2.5 ft. below normal.   Habitat conditions around the lake are poor, with lots of open shoreline.  Local wheat crops are fair to poor.  Duck numbers are low, with mostly divers.  Goose numbers are low.  Area bird movement has been low as of recent.  Area ponds and sloughs are mostly dry, and some boat ramps are closed due to low lake levels.  Hunting pressure has been low, with little success.  Waterfowl season is closed on Fort Supply from November 18 to November 26.

Washita National Wildlife Refuge:  Lake level is 4.79 ft. below normal.  Wheat in the area is up.  Duck numbers:  wigeon 75; redhead 48; green-winged teal 240; shoveler 10; ring-necked 41; gadwall 56; pintail 86; mallard 142; canvasback 7; bufflehead 35; ruddy 3; hooded merganser 26.  Goose numbers:  Canada 28,126; Snow 1,101; white-fronted 17.
 
Southwest
 
Ft. Cobb: Lake level is 2.23 ft. below normal.  Habitat condition is fair.  Peanut harvest is in progress, with winter wheat in good condition. Duck numbers are fair.  Goose numbers are fair.  Hunting activity has been low, with fair success.
 
Hackberry: Refuge reservoir is approximately 1 foot below conservation pool, with around 1,000 plus acres of wetland units flooded. Habitat conditions are good, with Johnson grass, wild millet, milo, and sunflower.  Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are fair. Ducks using the area include wigeons, gadwalls, teal and pintails. Several hundred sandhill cranes on the area.  Hunting activity is moderate with fair success.  Sandhill crane season on Hackberry Flat WMA runs Nov. 4 through Jan. 28, 2007.  Hackberry Flat WRP is closed to all activity from October 15 to January 31.

Waurika: Lake level is 4.99 ft. below conservation pool.  Lake habitat condition is good.  Winter wheat in and around the are is in good condition.  WDU on the south units are being flooded at this time. Duck numbers are low, but increasing.  Goose numbers are low.  Hunting activity is low, with low success.
 
Northeast

Copan: Lake level is 2.2 ft. below normal.  Lake level is not flooding terrestrial vegetation.  Soybeans and wheat in ag fields on WMA.  Beans are cut, with wheat coming up.  Duck numbers are low, with about 200 ducks observed. Goose numbers are low.  Ducks are currently using WDU’s on the north end of the lake as 3 of the 5 pools are now flooded.  Hunting activity is low, with fair success.

Deep Fork NWR:  Water conditions are poor.  Wetland conditions are dry.  River is at normal base level.  Food conditions are good.  Duck numbers:  mallard 250; gadwall 15; green-winged teal 24;  wood duck 400;  ruddy 2.  No geese present. 
 
Eufaula: Lake level is 3.68 ft. below normal.  Current habitat condition is poor due to lake level, but habitat potential is excellent.  Vegetation is very good to excellent on the mudflats and suitable lake shore.  Very little farming in the area.  Few ducks observed, about 300.  No geese observed.  No significant bird movements have been observed.
 
Ft. Gibson:  Lake level is 0.30 ft. above normal.  Habitat condition is good, with  smartweed, barnyardgrass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo, and wheat in the area.  Duck numbers are low-fair, with slow bird movement.  Goose numbers are low.  Hunting activity is moderate, with fair-good success.

Hulah: Lake level is 1.6 ft. below normal.  Lake level is not flooding terrestrial vegetation.  Soybeans and wheat in ag fields on WMA.  Beans are now cut.  Duck numbers are low, with about 150 ducks observed. Goose numbers are low.  Hunting activity is low, with low success.

 
Kaw: Lake level is 0.23 ft. above normal.  Habitat condition is good, with millet and natural food available.  Increased lake level has flooded some of the millet.  Duck numbers are fair with early migrants. Goose numbers are low.  Hunting activity is fair with fair success.  Good numbers of waterfowl are on the lake.

Keystone: Lake level is 3.9 ft. below normal.  Habitat conditions are poor, with all habitats dry on survey.  Habitat potential is fair to good in wetland units.  Habitat potential is fair on the mudflats, sloughs, potholes, and lower elevation.  Both duck and goose numbers are low.  Good amounts of waterfowl movement, but birds continue to move south due to poor habitat conditions.  Pumping operations are still underway at Cottonwood Creek WDU.  Hunting activity is high at Cottonwood Creek WDU, but moderate on flats.  Hunting success is moderate as birds pass through.

Oologah: Lake level is 4.13 ft. below normal.  Current habitat condition is fair, but not flooded.  No flooded millet or native vegetation on the lake.  Ag fields have been planted with wheat and soybean, and are in poor-fair condition.  Duck numbers are fair, with good numbers of gadwalls, mallards, and lesser scaup reported.  Goose numbers are poor.  Reports of fair-good size groups of birds flying in over the past week.  There is no water at Overcup Bottoms until there is significant rainfall. Upper Verdigris has no reports of waterfowl and both units are dry, until there is significant rainfall.

Sooner:  Lake elevation is 0.5 ft. below normal.  Habitat condition is fair, with some submerging vegetation. Winter wheat in the vicinity is poor to fair, with some fields not planted yet.  Duck numbers are good, with a good variety of both puddle ducks and divers.  Goose numbers are low, with resident Canada geese present.  Hunting activity is light during the week, but moderate on the weekends.  Hunter success is fair for ducks and low for geese.

Webbers Falls: Lake level is 2.67 ft. above normal.  Habitat condition is good, with smartweed,  barnyardgrass,  bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in the area.  Duck numbers are low-fair, with slow movement.  Goose numbers are low.  Hunting activity is moderate, with fair-good success.
 
Southeast

Hugo:  Lake level is 0.20 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is fair to good, with Japanese millet, sedges, and other native vegetation in the area. Duck numbers are fair, but improving. Goose numbers are very low, but also improving. Bird movement is slow in the area with mostly gadwall, teal, and mallards moving around.  Geese are also picking up with the front moving through.  Hunting activity is slow, with fair success.

Little River NWR:  Water levels across refuge are fair.  Food conditions are good.  Gadwall 80; green-winged teal 10; wood duck 125; mallard 155.  No geese observed.
 
Red Slough: Most wetland units are dry except for borrow areas.  Unit #21 is 80% full, unit #27A is 25% full, south part of unit #38 is partially flooded, and Teal Lake is 60% full.  Habitat conditions are good with milo and Japanese millet.  Duck numbers are fair, with 1,000 ducks present.  Goose numbers are poor.  Hunting activity is low.

Texoma:  Lake level is 3.41 ft. below normal.  Habitat conditions are good, with smart weed, barnyard grass, and nutsedge in the area.  Duck numbers are good.  Goose numbers are poor.  Large numbers of ducks and geese moving in on strong front Tuesday night.  Hunting activity is heavy, with good success.

Wister:  Lake level is 0.51 ft. above normal.  Habitat condition is fair, with sedges, smartweed, and barnyard grass present.  Duck numbers are low.  Goose numbers are low.  No signs of bird movement into area.  Hunting activity has been high, with low success.