Despite Slightly Fewer Birds, Waterfowl Hunting will be Ducky Again

Although not at the record highs of last year, duck and goose numbers fron northern breeding areas are high enough to warrant another great waterfowl hunting season. If the weather cooperates, waterfowl hunting will be ducky again this year. The statewide youth waterfowl hunt has been expanded to two days.

In the eastern region, hunting for local ducks and geese in the Spokane, Lincoln, and Whitman counties should be excellent. Water has been abundant this year for production, so numbers are as good.

In the south half of the eastern region, resident goose populations are at high levels and should provide excellent hunting along the Snake River.

In northcentral region, including the Columbia Basin, May duck pair counts indicated that production will be slightly lower than last year. Due to less water, regardless of how many ducks there are in the flyway, hunting conditions and weather can play more of a role in hunter success than waterfowl abundance.

Goose numbers in the Columbia Basin during the hunting season are determined primarily by the amount of production from local Western Canada geese and migrant lesser Canada geese from Alaska and northern Canada. Local goose production in the Basin was good this spring, but at this writing no migrant information was available.

In the southcentral region, ducks should continue to be one of the bright spots in all bird hunting. Local populations remain above the ten year average. The early season should be as good as last year. Late season duck numbers depend on northern populations and the timing of cold air masses. Goose populations also continue to be strong here with local populations on par with 1999.

The north Puget Sound region offers unique waterfowl hunting, from snow goose and brant up north to the lightly hunted sea ducks. Waterfowl production from Canada promises to be good and local Canada geese numbers are high, so early season hunting should be good. Snow goose hunting in Skagit County is dependent on the hatch and survival of snow geese on Wrangel Island, Russia, and reports from that area are excellent.

The Port Susan Goose closure remains in effect in Snohomish County. Hunters may hunt Canada Geese early in the season, but then the harvest of Canada Geese is closed to protect a race of dark geese, similar to Dusky Canada geese, that use the mouth of the Stillaguamish at Port Susan Bay.

Disabled hunter access has been added to the Welts property near Samish Island, along with some additional ponds, thanks to Ducks Unlimited. DeBays Slough, managed by Washington Waterfowl Association, Ducks Unlimited, Trumpeter Swan Society, and Skagit Audubon, also provides waterfowl hunting. Lake Terrell Wildlife Area near Ferndale continues to provide waterfowl hunting and agreements with industrial neighbors Arco and Intalco means additional land and water access is available.

Brant hunters need to look for changes in brant hunting dates. WDFW is considering season changes that would conserve the light bellied stock of brant.

The southwest region’s best duck hunting conditions occur after the fall rains improve water availability in the lowlands of Clark, Cowlitz and Lewis counties. Late November through January is normally the peak time for waterfowl numbers here. Coastal hunting can be very good early in the season.

Production of the Dusky Canada goose remains poor, showing the continued need for conservation measures. A quota hunt will continue to be in place this fall in Goose Management Area 2. The goal is for NO harvest of Duskys, so that the season for other sub-species of Canada geese may extend into January to reduce crop depredations on local farmlands. Again this year hunting procedures require ALL hunters to be certified for goose hunting during the general season in Goose Management Area 2. Hunters certified last year are valid for 2000, and need not retake the test unless their certification was revoked by the Department.

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