2011 Duck Creek Waterfowl Wrap-Up

Photos

Duck Creek CA Waterfowl Abundance

Duck Creek CA Waterfowl Harvest

Mallards in Flooded Timber

Published on: Jan. 24, 2012

Well, another waterfowl season has come to a close. Once again, this year was different from the last. Duck Creek’s waterfowl numbers peaked at the end of November and first of December (Figure 1). Birds dispersed as we experienced our first ice and as the Castor River got out of its banks. We experienced a second smaller peak towards the end of December before the end of the season.

Our duck harvest across the season reflected a similar pattern. During the first two weeks of November, wood ducks carried the harvest as the number of Mallards started to increase (Figure 2). The harvest of our “other” ducks peaked around Thanksgiving as the early migrants passed through. The peak in Mallard harvest was similar to their peak in abundance on the area during the first week of December. The harvest also reflected the dip in birds as our mallard harvest fell between December 12-18th, before rising again to finish out the season.

Overall, 8000 ducks (4296 Mallards) were harvested by 4298 hunters in 2011. Prior to the beginning of the Duck Creek Renovation, 4000-5000 hunter trips were averaged between 2007-2009. We hope you had a great season and were able to get out on the area and contribute to these numbers.

Species Harvested at Duck Creek: 2011-12
Species	Harvest
Total	8000
Mallard	4296
Wood Duck	2114
Gadwall	495
Northern Shoveler	300
Ring-necked Duck	256
Green-wing Teal	236
Northern Pintail	81
Wigeon	42
Redhead	26
Scaup	4
Other waterfowl species	124

Now that the 2011 waterfowl season is over we have already begun preparing for the 2012 season. Water levels in Pool 2 and 3 have been lowered to increase the amount of shallow water to be available for the ducks to forage in. The strategy is working. You can go out today and drive around the pools and see quite a few birds in the timber. If you take time to stop and listen, you’ll hear a bunch of happy ducks feeding on bugs, getting ready for courtship and the long flight back north.

As you start to go through your gear and put your decoys away, I know waterfowl may still be on your mind. If you need your fix of seeing birds, they’re still on the area and looking sharper than ever as spring quickly approaches. If the road is open, you’re more than welcome to drive around and take a look.

Thanks again for a great 2011 waterfowl season.

Comments

On January 31st, 2012 at 6:13pm Anonymous said:

This site is a very good information exchange. How about sites to update all the areas or at least update area information for the general region?

On January 31st, 2012 at 9:15am frank said:

Darin, give me some time and I’ll look into it. At first glance though I think we saw what typically happens in Pools 2 and 3. Wood ducks contribute to the harvest early on in the season. As mallards show up they increase in the overall bag. As Pool 8 becomes available later in the season the mallards key on this flooded habitat and contribute significantly to our harvest until we get ice. What we missed this year with Unit A out of commission was the harvest of mallards in November in the moist soil habitat, which is typically higher than Pools 2 or 3.

On January 30th, 2012 at 8:07pm Bub said:

I was able to get some goose hunting in this weekend up in Unit A , me and my buddies managed to scratch out 7 Canada's. Saturday we seen 9 Trumpeter swans in 14, awesome site. Sunday Unit A was covered up with birds, Pintails,Mallards,Widgeon and teal, i think the renovations will provide some good hunting next season. Keep up the good work and hope all of Duck Creek staff has a great year.

On January 29th, 2012 at 7:13pm Dustin said:

I am curious how the harvested species distribution is different this year since Unit A was closed compared to the last few years with timber pools closed or open.

On January 27th, 2012 at 12:44pm cordek said:

Darin, The east portion of Unit A is accessible by vehicle to all area users up to the 13 / 14 parking area and from the two parking areas on HWY Z. Unit B may be accessed at the parking area near McGee.

On January 27th, 2012 at 12:19pm Darin said:

Can you drive into A unit yet, or are they hunting Geese back there? Thanks!! Darin

MDC