Waterfowl Report for February 7, 2007

Updates in the afternoon of  Feb. 14; March 7, 21

Duck season is closed. Canada and light goose season open until Feb. 18; white-fronted goose season open through Feb. 9.

NORTHWEST

Canton: Lake level is 7.71 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 still in fair condition. Goose numbers are high, with mostly Canadas, but several Snow geese remain in the area. Goose numbers are extremely high for Canton Lake and will probably remain so until warmer conditions move birds back north. Hunting activity is low in the area, with fair to good success. The boat ramp west of Canton WMA headquarters is not usable due to low water levels.

Ft. Supply: Lake level is 0.26 ft. above normal. Habitat conditions around the lake are poor. Local wheat crops are fair to poor. Duck numbers are poor. Goose numbers are fair. Hunting activity is low, with no reports of success. Bird movement in the area has been slow.

SOUTHWEST

Ft. Cobb: Lake level is 1.90 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor due to lake level. Wheat in the area is good. Goose numbers are good. Hunting activity is low with fair success.

Mtn. Park:  Lake level is 9.43 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is poor due to lake level. Winter wheat is good on WMA and surrounding area. Goose numbers are good. Geese appear to be using the east side of the lake probably due to hunting pressure. Hunting activity is low, with no reports of success.

Waurika: Lake level is 4.25 ft. below normal. Habitat condition is fair. Wheat fields in the area are doing well.  Goose numbers continue to remain stable and are currently good.

NORTHEAST

Eufaula: Lake level is 1.56 ft. above normal. Current habitat condition is fair, with very little farming in the area.  Few ducks observed in the area.  No geese observed in the area. No bird movements have been observed.

Ft. Gibson: Lake level is 1.95 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo, and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are fair to good. Goose numbers are fair to moderate. Hunting activity is low, with moderate success.

Kaw: Lake level is 0.95 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is poor due to millet and natural food being depleted. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Good number of mergansers on the lake. Hunting activity in the area is light with fair success.

Keystone: Lake level is 1.30 ft. above normal. Habitat conditions are fair for geese. Fresh flooded Japanese millet in the mudflats. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with low success. Waterfowl movement into the area has increased habitat quality and lower hunting pressure.

Sooner: Lake level is normal. Habitat condition is poor. Winter wheat in lake vicinity is in fair condition. Goose numbers are good. Geese are widely distributed because of mild temperatures. Hunting activity is low, with low success. Ducks and geese are concentrating on the lake due to ice.

Webbers Falls: Lake level is 2.51 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is good, with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in the area. Duck numbers are fair to good. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low, with moderate success.

SOUTHEAST

Hugo: Lake level is 0.40 ft. above normal. Habitat condition is poor. Duck numbers are poor. Goose numbers are poor. Hunting activity is slow, with no reports of success. Slow bird movement in the area. Most birds in the area have headed north due to mild weather conditions.

Grassy Slough: Lake is 80 percent full. Habitat condition is fair, with some wild forage. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are poor.

Red Slough: Most wetland units are full now. Habitat conditions are good. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is low, with no reports of success. Approximately 10,000 birds are on the area.

Texoma: Lake level is 0.64 ft. above normal. Habitat conditions are poor, with very little food left in the area. Some wheat remains in the area. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are poor.

Status Summary of Waterfowl Development Areas

Planning an outing? Here's the weather

Responsible waterfowl hunters and the U.S. Department of the Interior have been working together for years in gathering information about waterfowl movements and natural histories. One of the ways they have been doing this is through reporting of harvested birds with leg-bands. Here is an easy way for you to help. When you bring to bag a teal, duck, goose or any migratory bird with a leg band, call 1-800-327-BAND or report over the internet to www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl. A certificate of appreciation will be sent to all hunters who report the bands.