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CLEAR Temp: 82 °F Wind: N at 4 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 7, 2003 Waterfowl hunters can expect another productive season By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune Oregon waterfowl hunters will get yet another rendition of the good-ol’ days this year thanks to a few freak spring storms in Canada. Hunters are about to receive the seventh straight duck season of 107 days — the longest allowed under migratory bird treaties. The season also sports a seven-duck daily limit that this year will include a chance to shoot canvasbacks — a prospect not open for hunters last year. Duck numbers had been declining, and hunters were braced for a 2003 season that could have been as short as 60 days. Advertisement But a wet Canadian spring created prime nesting habitat, generating a spring hatch strong enough to allow the long and liberal season. "It was kind of a freak of nature," says Brad Bales, the game-bird program leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. "All winter, there was not much precipitation and it was looking like we were headed toward (a 60-day season). Then they got all their rain in one month in spring. It was perfect timing." That timing translates into 107 duck-hunting days, the kinds of lengthy seasons that were historically common along the Pacific Flyway before development limited wetlands. The duck season will begin Oct. 11 and end Jan. 25. "I can’t believe how long these 107-day seasons have gone," Bales says. Similarly, the goose season opens Oct. 11 and conclude Jan. 25, with a seven-goose daily limit. The seasons follow a framework developed this summer by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The in-state hunting dates and bag limits for ducks and geese are set for adoption Friday by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, which annually sets the seasons based on the federal frameworks. Friday’s commission decision will trigger thousands of Oregonians to set their vacation dates centered around the beginning and the end of the waterfowl hunt. Many waterfowl hunters will focus hard on the early season before the birds get wary, then burn a little of next year’s vacation on some late-season goose hunting in the Klamath Falls area around Super Bowl time. "We have hunters who, whether it’s a 60-day or 107-day (season), they’ll hunt opening weekend and maybe the second weekend and that’s it," Bales says. "Others are pretty consistent waterfowl hunters and continue to go as long as they’re getting birds." Despite the long seasons, Oregonians are not killing more ducks and geese. Trends show a decrease in harvest during each of the past three 107-day seasons, showing that success depends more upon weather than season length. A lack of storms to push birds around and get them into shooting range is, as always, the last ingredient hunters are looking for. "It’s been pretty mild these past few winters," Bales says. "That has a big impact on how much harvest occurs." This year’s youth combination of waterfowl and upland game-bird hunting is proposed for Sept. 27-28 at the Denman Wildlife Area. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times