Hunters should see ducks on opener, but will they bag 'em?

September 21, 2011 at 4:11AM

Last week's cold snap might have pushed some early migrant ducks from Minnesota, but there still should be plenty of teal and wood ducks for Saturday's state waterfowl opener.

At least that's the forecast of Steve Cordts, Department of Natural Resources waterfowl specialist.

As usual, scouting is key.

"Some areas will be phenomenal, and some areas will be terrible," Cordts said. "You have to chose wisely. But it's duck season, and it's fun. I guarantee people will at least see ducks."

Cordts normally would have flown aerial duck surveys by now, but he hasn't been able to get in the air this week, so he only has wildlife manager reports to base his assessment upon. Those reports are mixed, but spotting ducks from the ground can be more difficult.

Saturday's weather forecast also isn't promising for duck hunting: Clear skies with temperatures in the 70s.

Still, tens of thousands of hunters are expected for the opener, and optimism is in the air. The state's breeding duck population is up 30 percent from last year, to about 687,000. And the continental breeding population is at a record 45.6 million. Last fall, Minnesota hunters bagged an estimated 524,000 ducks -- a 33 percent increase over a dismal 2009 season.

Meanwhile, hunters should check water levels. A lack of rain has lowered water in many areas of the south and west. "Water levels on Marsh Lake have dropped 5 feet in the last three weeks," said Dave Trauba, DNR area wildlife supervisor at Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area.

Cordts plans to put out his weekly waterfowl migration report Thursday or early Friday on the DNR's website, www.dnr.state.mn.us.

DOUG SMITH

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