Oklahoma’s Waterfowl Report for December 19, 2012
Duck season is currently open statewide. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
NORTHWEST
- Canton – Zone 1: Water level is 9.14 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, no flooded vegetation around the lake. Winter wheat around the area is in fair to poor condition. Duck numbers are fair, mostly mallards. Goose numbers are fair, mostly resident with a few snow geese present. Hunting activity was moderate on weekend low on weekdays. Hunter success is unknown. The northwest portion of the lake is dry, and the only usable boat ramp is at the Canadian Campground day use area.
- Ft. Supply – Zone 1: Water level is 2.50 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are fair, very little native food available around the lake as most of the sloughs are dry. Local wheat is in poor to fair condition. Duck numbers are very low. Goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity and success is low. Bird movement has been very low over the past week, there are a fair number of geese in the area. The WMA portion of the lake is currently surrounded by approximately 50 yards or more of open shoreline, most boat ramps are closed, but small boats are still able to access the lake.
SOUTHWEST
- Ft. Cobb – Zone 2: Water level is 6.1 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor due to water levels. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. No reports on hunting activity or success.
- Hackberry – Zone 2: Water level is extremely low. Habitat conditions are extremely poor. Duck and goose numbers are low. No reports on hunting activity or success.
- Mtn. Park – Zone 2: Water level is 10.75 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. No reports on hunting activity or success.
- Waurika – Zone 2: Water level is 10.75 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, with some winter wheat present on private land. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low but increasing. No reports on hunting activity or success. Wetland units are dry and expected to remain dry throughout season.
NORTHEAST
- Copan – Zone 2: Water level is 3.5 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are good, just need water. Duck numbers are poor and goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is heavy on weekends and light on weekdays. Hunter success has been poor. Bird movement in the area has been light, but increasing with each northern frontal passage. Plenty of vegetation to hold birds, just need rain and a lot of it.
- Deep Fork NWR – Zone 2: Water level is extremely low. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is low. Hunter success is unknown.
- Eufaula – Zone 2: Water level is 4.75 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor at current lake elevation. Farming activity in the area is light. Duck numbers are fair but spotty. Goose numbers are low, with local resident birds present. Hunter activity is low and success is unknown. No new bird movement. Native vegetation and Japanese millet from the millet program are excellent and plentiful, but not inundated at current lake level. At present the lake continues to fall slowly with no inflows.
- Fort Gibson – Zone 2: Water level is .52 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are good. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity and success is slow.
- Hulah – Zone 2: Water level is 5 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are fair. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low, with resident birds present. Hunter activity and success is low. A few birds have moved in with the recent fronts.
- Kaw – Zone 2: Water level is 1.5 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are good, with Japanese millet, smartweed and good quantities of native food present. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is moderate and success is good. Bird movement is moderate.
- Keystone – Zone 2: Water level is 4.2 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor to fair. Almost all sloughs and potholes are dry due to extreme drought conditions. Cottonwood WDU over 100% full and filling with excellent food conditions in the majority of the units. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low and success is fair. Some birds arrived with recent cold front.
- Oologah – Zone 2: Water level is 3.82 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor to fair at current lake level. 300 acres seeded with Japanese millet, but not flooded at this time. Duck numbers are poor to fair, with mostly gadwalls, American widgeon, northern shoveler and mallards. Goose numbers are fair, with resident Canadians and migrants present. Hunting activity and success is fair. Bird movement has picked up in the past week.
- Sooner – Zone 2: Water level is 2 feet below normal. Habitat conditions on lake are fair. Winter wheat around the area is also in poor condition. Duck numbers are fair, mallard numbers are increasing. Goose numbers are fair, mostly Canadas. Hunter activity is moderate to high and hunter success is fair. Movement of additional birds in the last few days with the cold front.
- Webbers Falls – Zone 2: Water level is 2.87 feet above normal. Habitat conditions are good with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and winter wheat in the area. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity and success is low. Bird movement is slow.
SOUTHEAST
- Hugo – Zone 2: Water level is 7.9 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are good around lake, with MS1 and Sawyer unit in fair condition. Duck numbers are low. 500 snow geese are present. Hunter activity is low and success is poor. Some bird movement has occurred but the birds are not staying long due to low water.
- Red Slough – Zone 2: Wetlands are mostly dry. Plenty of wild forage is present but need water. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity and success is low. The birds currently here are mainly in the waterfowl refuge area.
- Sequoyah NWR – Zone 2: Wetlands are about ½ flooded. Mallard and teal numbers are moderate and improving weekly. Gadwall are common on the reservoir. Snow goose numbers are good.
- Texoma – Zone 2: Water level is 6.5 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, but a rise in water level would flood current Japanese millet and native vegetation present. Duck and goose numbers are very low. Hunter activity and success is low.
- Birds are not stopping due to poor habitat conditions.
- Wister – Zone 2: Water level is 1.75 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are fair, with smartweed, sedges and acorns present. Duck numbers are low. No geese are present. Hunter activity is low and success is poor.
