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Could this be the year for duck hunters?Will this fall finally deliver waterfowl hunters the banner season theyve been expecting the past couple of years?
All the components are in place. Once again, nesting conditions have been superb in the North Country. Both ducks and geese populations are up.
But as Hoosier waterfowlers know all too well, it depends on the kind of weather Mother Nature hands us when the season opens Oct 24. She hasnt been very forgiving the past few seasons.
Indianas proposed season and bag limits set up similar to last year. Although the proposals require U.S. Fish and Wildlife approval, that likely wont be a problem.
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
2015 collector-edition Michigan duck stampThe Michigan Duck Hunters Association, in cooperation with the Michigan DNR introduces the 2015 collector-edition Michigan duck stamp and prints.
The Michigan Waterfowl Stamp Program, established in 1976, has become an icon for waterfowl hunters and wetland conservation enthusiasts. During the past 39 years, the program has gained popularity with collectors and conservation groups throughout the United States.
The Michigan Duck Hunters Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to waterfowl and wetland conservation, coordinates the stamp program in partnership with the DNR. Proceeds from stamp sales will be used to fund Michigan Duck Hunters Association projects, with 10 percent used to match DNR funding for purchasing, restoring and enhancing wetlands.
The 2015 Michigan Duck Stamp features a striking pair of common goldeneyes in flight, painted by Guy Crittenden. Also featured on the stamp is the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, located on Lake Superior in the Michiganís Upper Peninsula. Crittenden, a wildlife artist from Richmond, Virginia, has won the Virginia Duck Stamp Competition four times since 2005. He won the Connecticut Duck Stamp and the Michigan Duck Stamp competitions in 2014, and has placed as high as fifth in the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp Contest.
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(Provided by Indiana DNR)
Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation StampThe Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or "Duck Stamp," will increase in price for the first time in 24 years.
The cost will go from $15 to $25. The increase adjusts for inflation over the last 24 years. Several conservation organizations, including Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl, support the increase.
The 2005 National Duck Hunter Survey showed that 65 percent of U.S. duck hunters spent more than $250 per season.
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
Extreme cold conditions on Michigans waters are causing some trouble for Michigans waterfowl, according to the Michigan DNR.
The exceptionally cold winter weather of the past few weeks has caused the rivers and waters of the Great Lakes to freeze further into the center, similar to conditions experienced last year.
Large concentrations of ducks like canvasbacks, long-tailed ducks, redheads and scaup are gathering in the remaining areas of open water on the Great Lakes, including western Lake Erie, and on large rivers like the Detroit and St. Clair rivers. With so many ducks in a small area, and a fairly small amount of food, some of these ducks are becoming malnourished.
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Indiana will again offer a late season for Canada geese that targets urban geese.
The season runs Feb. 1-15 in the following counties in northern Indiana: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, LaGrange, Marshall, Noble, St. Joseph, Steuben, Starke, and Whitley.
The bag limit is three Canada geese per day (possession limit 9) while shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunters must have an Indiana hunting license, Indiana waterfowl stamp, federal waterfowl stamp, and a HIP number to participate.