Oklahoma Waterfowl Report for November 14, 2013

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 13.0 feet below normal. Native vegetation is in good condition, but currently not flooded. Winter wheat around the area is mostly planted and in good condition. Duck numbers are moderate. Goose numbers are moderate, mostly resident. Hunting activity was moderate on weekend low on weekdays. Hunting success was fair on ducks and low on geese. 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 normal. Habitat conditions are fair, some native food is available around the lake. Local winter wheat is in mostly fair condition. Duck and goose numbers are good. Hunting activity has been high on weekends and moderate during the week. Hunting success has been fair. Bird movement increased with recent cold front. ***Note Fort Supply WMA will be CLOSED TO ALL WATERFOWL HUNTING during the first nine days of deer gun season Nov. 23rd through Dec. 1st***

Salt Plains NWF-Zone 1: Lake level is normal. Habitat conditions are good. Duck numbers are average approximately 10,000 and goose numbers are high approximately 128,000. Hunter activity is low. Hunter success is poor. Wetland units in public hunting area are dry due to insufficient runoff. Goose hunting may be more successful on wheat fields. Majority of geese were moving out from the lake heading S, SW and SE. Duck were moving out in all directions. 

 
SOUTHWEST
 
Ft. Cobb - Zone 2: Water level is 5.67 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor due to water levels. Local winter wheat is in fair condition and peanut harvest is winding down. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is slow and success is low. Walnut Slough WDU is being pumped at this time.

 Hackberry - Zone 2: Hackberry Flat reservoir and wetland units are dry. Habitat conditions are POOR. Some native vegetation is present in wetland units. No ducks or geese are present. No hunter activity.

 Mtn. Park - Zone 2: Water level is 12.83 feet below normal. There is some flooded vegetation around the lake. Winter wheat is planted on WMA in most fields. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is low and success is fair. 8 of the 11 units are flooded on the WDU. Geese were using fields on the west side of the lake.

  

Waurika - Zone 2: Water level is 13.45 feet below normal. Lake is extremely low and habitat conditions are poor. Area winter wheat is planted and is in good condition. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. 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 normal. Habitat conditions are excellent. Native plants on units are excellent; soybean fields on WMA are poor. Duck numbers are fair and goose numbers are low, mostly resident Canada's. Hunter activity is fair and success is low. Bird movement in the area has been light, but increasing with each northern frontal passage. There is plenty of vegetation to hold birds. Birds are being seen on all ponds on private property. The main body of the lake is roosting a large number of birds.

Deep Fork NWR- Zone 2: Deep Fork NWR wetlands are currently at normal or above normal level. Most of Deep Fork wetlands are currently considered to be healthy, with a diversity of plants available to waterfowl. It is likely that Deep Fork NWR will have adequate resources available to waterfowl during their 2013-2014 migrating and wintering period. Very few ducks have been observed so far this fall.

Eufaula - Zone 2: Water level is .17 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor. Farming activity in the area is light. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low, with local resident birds present. Hunter activity is low and success is spotty. No millet was planted due to summer lake elevations. Native vegetation is very limited due to higher lake elevation through the summer.

Fort Gibson - Zone 2: Water level is 6.04 feet above normal. Habitat conditions are good. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is moderate and success is fair.

 Hulah - Zone 2: Water level is 2.2 feet above normal. Habitat conditions are excellent. Native plants on units and soybean fields on WMA are being harvested/ Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low, with resident birds present. Hunter activity is fair and success is good. There is plenty of vegetation to hold birds. Birds are being seen on all ponds on private property. The main body of the lake is roosting a large number of birds.

  

Kaw - Zone 2: Water level is 2 feet above normal. Habitat conditions are poor; no millet was planted due to late season flooding and very little native forage is present. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is fair throughout the week and high on weekends. Hunter success is fair on ducks and low on geese. Bird movement is moderate. Birds are concentrated on water over mudflats. Water level will remain at the elevation and will slowly rise to increase boater's access to desired hunting areas.

 Keystone - Zone 2: Water level is 1.7 above normal. On a scale 1-10 habitat conditions are a 4. Almost all sloughs are holding water in the area. Cottonwood WDU is 50% full with good habitat conditions on the northern most part of the unit. Duck and goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is high and success is fair. Some birds arrived with recent cold front.

 Oologah - Zone 2: Water level is 3 feet above normal. Habitat conditions are good. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunting activity and success is low. A few geese have moved in with the recent fronts.

Sooner - Zone 2: Water level is normal. Habitat conditions on lake are fair. Winter wheat around the area is looking good this year. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is high on weekend and lower during the week. Hunter success is fair. Good movement of ducks with recent cold front.

Webbers Falls - Zone 2: Water level is 3.1 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 is low and success is fair. Bird movement is slow.

SOUTHEAST

Hugo - Zone 2: Water level is a little above normal. Habitat conditions are fair. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is low and no report of hunter success.

Red Slough - Zone 2: Wetlands are starting to get sheet water. Barrow areas are mostly full. There is lots of good forage but very little huntable water. Duck numbers are low and most of the birds are in the waterfowl refuge area. Goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is low and no report of hunter success.

Texoma - Zone 2: Water level is 7 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor at current lake level. The lake would have to rise 4 feet to get into good habitat. 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 1.5 feet above normal. Habitat conditions are good, with smartweed, sedges and acorns present. Duck numbers are moderate and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity is moderate and success is low. Some bird movement occurred with last cold front.

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