PIGEON RIVER FWA
Another great spot is the Pigeon River FWA in the northeast near Mongo. The three impoundments of Mongo, Nasby and Ontario reservoirs were acquired by the state in 1956, and launched the startup of the FWA. Since then, the state has added further lands along the Pigeon River valley and the area now encompasses just over 11,600 acres in total.

There are five lakes on the property, but one doesn’t get hunted much by waterfowlers. There are also around eight or so good-sized marshes, and other smaller marshes are found on the property. This adds up to potentially over 20 different bodies of water or wetland areas on the FWA. Hunting availability and quality in some of these areas is dependent on rainfall and available water. There is one section of the property that does not allow hunting, as it is designated as a waterfowl resting area.

Of course, the bulk of the ducks taken at Pigeon River are mallards, but there can be quite a variety of other ducks taken at times, too. In the early season, there are many wood ducks taken along with blue-winged and green-winged teal. This fades into mostly mallard hunting, with other ducks, such as pintails and gadwalls, arriving later in the season. Divers may also show up in the late season, especially when other areas lock up. Hunters can often take scaup, goldeneyes, buffleheads and both common and hooded mergansers.

Goose hunting can also be good at the area at times. Pigeon River FWA sees a good many resident geese and also attracts migrants as well. The FWA is in the Saint James Bay Population (SJBP) Zone, so hunters should keep those restrictions in mind when planning a hunt. Although not abundant, hunters also get occasional opportunities at passing snow geese.

The area does little in the way of manipulation to enhance the area for waterfowl. With its diverse waters and availability of natural vegetation, little extra enhancement is needed. However, the FWA does use water levels to help manage vegetation and to steer its growth in the direction desired. The water levels can be either raised or lowered depending on what is necessary to control certain plants and grasses.

There is quite a variety of hunting opportunities at the FWA, according to assistant property manager Mike Holcomb. There are walk-in opportunities in the marsh areas as well as dry land pass-shooting locations. Zone hunting accommodates boat hunters.

Hunters must come to the check station before hunting for a daily drawing and assignment of hunting locations. Successfully drawn hunters will choose their hunting locations before leaving the check station. This assures maximum hunting opportunity for everyone and limits conflicts or over-crowding.

Hunters at the dry land locations will be assigned a stake and goose hunters must stay within 10 yards of the assigned location. Both boat hunters and walk-in hunters must also choose hunting locations and be assigned a spot at which they must stay for the duration of their hunts. During the late season, there is a shotshell limit of eight shells per hunter at the goose hunting locations. Even if hunters are primarily targeting ducks at these spots, the shotshell limit still applies.

As this magazine went to press, there was discussion on the possibility of a late goose season at Pigeon River FWA. It would mainly be to target nuisance resident geese in the area and would probably be scheduled for the first two weeks of February. Interested hunters should check current regulations for the possibility of this additional opportunity.