Here we are again smack-dab in the middle of another waterfowl season! What a great time to be outdoors seeking out fast-flying ducks and geese. It’s the late season, and there’s no better time than now to fill those game bags.

Our waterfowl season hopefully will be improved this year with a little luck and the right kind of weather. Last year was a little tricky. We got an early freeze almost statewide, which pushed many birds out of the area. Some waterfowl did trickle back into the southern part of the state, but northern hunters were left a little short.

Harvest figures were not available from last season at press time, but data from 2004 shows the duck harvest has been down some from the previous three or four years. However, the goose harvest remained about the same as the year before and was up from the previous years. Much of the goose harvest success is related to our growing population of resident birds.

Resident Canada geese now make up around 85 to 90 percent of the harvest in a given year. Most of these birds are homegrown, but we do see some resident giants from other states when weather conditions are right. We will, at times, get birds from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and other nearby areas.

We still see a good number of migrant geese in Indiana — at least in the northern part of the state. Migrant flocks and the subsequent harvest in other parts of the state have really been spotty. Warmer temperatures than in the past, lack of snow cover, and more available open water and feeding areas have combined to interrupt migrant birds’ southward travel. Many traditionally great goose-hunting areas, such as Hovey Lake, have seen a noticeable decline.

The number of both ducks and geese available for fall migration are looking really good this year. Survey results from the breeding grounds indicate that ducks and migrant geese enjoyed good habitat conditions in many areas.

Duck numbers appear to be up. The overall population shows a 14 percent increase from the 2005 survey. This is 9 percent above the long-term average over the previous 50 years. Some species such as the American widgeon and scaup are still showing signs of decline. Mallards showed an 8 percent increase from 2005. Other species showing a nice increase since 2005 are gadwalls with a 30 percent increase, northern pintails with a 32 percent increase, canvasbacks at 33 percent, and redheads with a whopping 55 percent increase.

Goose numbers were equally good. In fact, the latest population survey showed the breeding population to be at their highest level since 1999.

The late season is a prime time to take advantage of these increased numbers of birds. If weather conditions cooperate, there are numerous places throughout Hoosierland that will provide excellent shooting opportunities.

GOOSE POND FWA
One of the greatest things to happen recently for waterfowl and waterfowl hunters is the ongoing project at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA). The state bought the land late in 2005 and is presently in the midst of a tremendous wetlands restoration project. When completed, the FWA is expected to become one of the best waterfowl hunting locations in the entire Midwest.

The Goose Pond area was once a thriving wetlands region, but was pumped and drained in the last century. It is a glacial wetland basin and lies within the Ohio River ecosystem. It was once one of the most significant waterfowl use areas in the state due to its size and proximity to other natural areas, as well as being near the White and Wabash rivers.