Photo by Kenny Bahr.

Hoosier duck hunters can expect an excellent season this year. When it comes down to it, Indiana's duck hunting depends more on the right mix of weather conditions than anything else, but as far as duck population trends go, things are looking up.

According to W. Adam Phelps, the Waterfowl Research biologist for the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), duck numbers are expected to be at least as high as last year.

"I'd say good weather should mean some very good hunting this fall," Phelps said.

Overall, the duck harvest has held fairly steady over the last seven years, maybe even increased slightly, Phelps said. The mallard harvest has been steady over the last three years, with the last available figures showing that 76,000 birds were taken in 2005. The wood duck harvest rebounded in 2005 to about 17,000 birds with the high probability that last year's harvest was even better.

Phelps doesn't have specific numbers for other species, but is willing to wager on the fact that gadwalls, northern shovelers, canvasbacks, pintails and both species of teal are going up. Scaup, black ducks and widgeons are on a downward spiral but will still be available.

Here's where to look for some great shooting this fall.

PIGEON RIVER FWA
"We usually have a pretty good time around here during the duck season," said Jason Wade, the Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA) property manager.

The area draws early-season wood ducks and then a little bit of everything shows up, according to Wade. Mallards, ringnecks, gadwalls and teal are all in the bag at one time or another during the season.

The top spot for duck hunters within the Pigeon River FWA is what the locals call the Buckwheat Patch. This section of the area is flooded every year when the winter and spring rains have been kind and the storage system has enough water.

The four zones in the Buckwheat Patch are subject to the draw. The field is within the Waterfowl Rest Area where hunting isn't otherwise permitted. These stakes are the locals' first choice.

The Mongo Mill Pond is located behind the office and comes in as a close second to the Buckwheat Patch, followed by several other lakes and ponds. A boat will be needed to effectively tackle the Ontario, Narby and Mongo ponds, while hunters can easily walk into the smaller ponds that are scattered throughout the FWA for some jump-shooting. The Troxel, Stayner and Beaver Dam lakes also require a canoe or johnboat.

Other particularly productive spots include the J-2 or J-4 marsh areas, according to Wade. These areas are off county Road 200 in LaGrange County and can be walked into or boated, depending on conditions.

Other than these hotspots, hunters just need to move around in their stake choices because that's what the ducks are doing. The shooting can be intense or fizzle out to nothing, all depending on the notoriously fickle fall weather.

There is a draw at the office every morning at 5:30 a.m. Hunters who are drawn can choose the stake they want for a party of three. All hunters are required to check in at the station before starting their hunt. If you change your mind about your location, go back to the office and see which stakes are up for grabs and you're back in business. Counting spots that the goose hunters prefer, about 100 stakes are available.

The biggest crowd last season totaled right around 35 parties, Wade said, but during the weekdays, three or four parties show up for the draw and sometimes 10 or so parties participate on the weekends. Duck hunting stops at noon until sometime in November. Goose hunting continues until sunset on the goose stakes. Sometime in November, the area switches to all-day duck hunts as well.

The Pigeon River FWA covers 11,605 acres of land, has 529 acres of lakes and impoundments and 17 miles of rivers. The area is in Steuben and LaGrange counties near Mongo.

For more information, contact the area manager at (260) 367-2164 or the DFW's District 3 at (260) 367-2186. A map is available on the DFW's Web site.

CEDAR SWAMP WETLAND CONSERVATION AREA (WCA)
"On Cedar Swamp, I've had a lot of good hunts and I've had some bad hunts, which is the way it is everywhere," Assistant Property Manager Mike Holcomb said.

"The hunting can be very good, but scouting here is very important. You've got to know where these birds are going to be."