Hovey Lake is like numerous other public-hunting areas. After the opener, many of the birds will move out of the area in response to being shot at. When another wave of migrants move in, they'll bolster the numbers of remaining ducks with fresh, unspooked birds.

Most of the FWA is regulated by a daily draw. A pre-season draw reserves zones for hunters for certain days of the waterfowl season, but most of the days are subject to the daily drawing, which is held at 4:30 a.m., every morning.

The open lake is divided into four zones that are the top picks of those who make the draw, according to Pochon. A boat is definitely a requirement on the water, but several marshes on the property are also productive for those hunters sans boats. Of these, only Rail Marsh is deep enough for a canoe or a small johnboat. Field blinds are set up for hopeful hunters to draw as well.

On the open hunting days, a hunter can sign himself in for a spot on an open field that isn't subject to a draw. For the most part, every hunter should be able to find a place to hunt if he shows up and is willing to walk.

The flooding across parts of the FWA is great for ducks but tough on humans, Pochon said. At times, the flooding can get out of hand.

"We're right between two rivers, so when it floods, a lot of our acreage is under water," he said. "One year, we even had 4 feet of water in the office."

Hovey Lake FWA covers about 7,000 acres. State Route 69 ends at the property's entrance. For more information, contact the Hovey Lake FWA at (812) 838-2927 or the DFW's District 15 at (812) 789-2724.

WILBUR WRIGHT FWA/PROVINCE POND WCA
"Waterfowl hunting in the upper Blue River Watershed can be relatively productive and enjoyable if you have access to property under the right weather conditions," biologist Kent Hanauer said.

Much of the hunting in the valley centers around the picked crop fields that ducks visit on a regular basis, and setting up to intercept the flights is key. The area has several small privately owned lakes that help hold decent numbers of birds throughout the fall and winter. The birds will fly around between lakes, crop fields and the Blue River.

Some of the duck habitat was lost when the river was channelized, but there are opportunities along the banks where hunters can set up for jump-shooting. Ducks show up unpredictably during the first weeks of the season, so checking the area before committing to a day's hunt is a good idea.

Hanauer pointed out that the duck hunting is completely dependent on the weather. Wet weather makes the area hospitable, especially to wood ducks and mallards. As the weather gets nastier and colder, duck movements seem to become more predictable. They'll use the water as a rest area and fly out to surrounding fields. As the season progresses, there are regular influxes of migrant birds to replenish the bird numbers.

October is usually good for a few days of wood duck hunting on Wilbur Wright along with the chance for some mallards, other puddle ducks and Canada geese. From the end of November through December, especially if the weather gets exceptionally ugly, a hunter who is willing to spend time patterning birds will find some excellent shooting.

Wilbur Wright covers 1,200 acres along the Blue River in Henry County. When the water is up, the floodplain becomes a series of overflow backwaters and ponds that ducks are drawn to.

The Province Pond Wetland Conservation Area is nearby and can pull in plenty of birds that may pass up Wilbur Wright. Province Pond is only about 10 years old and is a 60-acre depression that has become excellent duck habitat with the help of a levee. The remaining 140 acres provide great walk-in opportunities and a chance to sneak up on some good jump-shooting.

"Last year, hunters took about 100 birds throughout the season," Property Manager Cary Schuyler said. "Most of the birds taken were mallards along with 22 wood ducks, a handful of divers and a few teal."

The wetlands are shallow and the edges can be waded without a problem, Schuyler said. Warm-weather grasses have been established and add great shoreline cover.

Before trying Province Pond, contact the Wilbur Wright FWA for the status of any zone draws. For most of the season, the area is open to public hunting with no special regulations in effect.

Province Pond is small but a great place to keep in mind if you live close by, Schuyler said. Only electric motors are allowed.

Province Pond WCA is located a mile west of Mount Summit on state Route 36. Turn south off U.S. Route 36 onto county Road 125 West to reach the parking lot and registration booth. The boat ramp is near the parking lot along county Road 125. It lies northwest of New Castle in Henry County in the South Zone.

For additional information, contact the Wilbur Wright FWA at (812) 526-2051 or DFW's District 8 at (765) 529-9581.