Photo by Kenny Bahr

During December, Indiana waterfowl hunters should consider heading for the South and the Ohio River zones to experience some of our state's finest hunting. At this time of the year, the other two zones -- namely the North and Saint James Bay Population zones -- are winding down and will be closed before you know it.

Typically, the North Zone closes during the third week of December, and by comparison, the South and Ohio River zones are open into the second and third weeks of January, respectively. (Please be sure to check all season dates, as they could change.)

The Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) makes available thousands of copies of the rules and season dates. They are available at many outdoor sports stores, at all fish and wildlife areas, and on the DFW's Web site at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/.

Fortunately, there are several major picks on public land for waterfowlers to take advantage of in the South and Ohio River zones. So don't put away those waders and duck calls just yet!

As you might guess, the starting dates for the primary waterfowl-hunting season in the South and Ohio River zones are scheduled later in the year than the North Zone. The reason for this is to time the season dates with the migration patterns of the waterfowl as they move through Indiana (from north to south).

As mentioned, the waterfowl-hunting season in the South and Ohio River zones typically closes in mid-January. This gives those waterfowlers in Indiana, who want to keep on hunting, the opportunity to do so.

From a geographical perspective, the South Zone encompasses the area from the North Zone's southern border almost all the way to the south end of the state. The South Zone takes up about two-thirds of the state and it is twice as big as the North Zone. It is by far the biggest of all the four zones.

The Ohio River Zone is made up of the Indiana counties whose southern borders are defined by the mighty Ohio River. In some cases, parts of these counties have their northern section in the South Zone and their southern section in the Ohio River Zone.

Let's now take a look at five public-land waterfowl hotspots that are still going strong in December and January.

HOVEY LAKE FISH AND WILDLIFE AREA
Hovey Lake Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA) is about 7,000 acres in size, and includes its namesake: Hovey Lake, a 1,400-acre oxbow lake. This FWA waterfowl magnet is in the southwest corner of Indiana in Posey County. It is in the Ohio River Zone.

Mark Pochon is the property manager at Hovey Lake. Here is what he had to say about ducks and geese on this property.

"If you look at where we're at, we're in the traditional flyway at the confluence of the Wabash and Ohio rivers," Pochon said. In fact, Hovey Lake's southern end nearly touches the Ohio River.

To give you some geographical viewpoint of where Hovey Lake FWA is situated, a person could stand on Indiana soil on this large FWA and look across the Wabash River into Illinois and across the Ohio River into Kentucky.

Moreover, swamps and lowlands that waterfowl are attracted to characterize the southwest tip of Indiana, which includes Hovey Lake FWA. If you take a look at a topographic map of this area, you'll soon realize it's the kind of place that makes a waterfowl hunter get excited. You can go to the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Web site for a map of Hovey Lake.