Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Waterfowl Report January 2, 2013
Duck season is currently open statewide. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
NORTHWEST
Canton – Zone 1: Water level is 9.25 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, no flooded vegetation around the lake. Winter wheat around the area is in poor condition. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are fair. Hunting activity is low. Hunter success is moderate. Numbers have increased with each cold front. The northwest portion of the lake is dry, and the only usable boat ramp is at the Canadian Campground day use area.
Ft. Supply – Zone 1: Water level is 2.80 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, very little native food available around the lake as most of the sloughs are dry. Local wheat is in poor condition. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are good, mostly Canada. Hunter activity and success is low due to heavy ice making the birds hard to hunt. Bird movement has increased with the colder weather especially geese. The WMA portion of the lake is currently surrounded by approximately 50 yards or more of open shoreline, most boat ramps are closed, but small boats are still able to access the lake.
SOUTHWEST
Ft. Cobb – Zone 2: Water level is 6.1 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor due to water levels. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. No reports on hunting activity or success.
Hackberry – Zone 2: Lake elevation is extremely low. Habitat conditions are poor. Duck numbers are low. No reports on hunting activity or success.
Mtn. Park – Zone 2: Habitat conditions are poor. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. No reports on hunting activity or success.
Waurika – Zone 2: Water level is 10.9 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor, with some winter wheat present on private land. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. No reports on hunting activity or success. Wetland units are dry and will remain dry throughout waterfowl season.
NORTHEAST
Copan – Zone 2: Water level is 3.5 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are good, just need water. Duck numbers are poor and goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is heavy on weekends and light on weekdays. Hunter success has been poor. Bird movement in the area has been light, but increasing with each northern frontal passage. Upper end of lake and shallow water is frozen; most of the birds were on the main body of the lake.
Eufaula – Zone 2: Water level is 5 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor at current lake level. Very little farming in the area. Duck numbers are fair to poor; spotty. Goose numbers are low, with local resident birds present. Hunter activity is low and success is unknown. A few possible flights of migrants observed over the weekend. Native vegetation and Japanese millet from the millet program are excellent and plentiful, but not inundated at current lake level. At present the lake continues to fall slowly with no inflows.
Fort Gibson – Zone 2: Water level is .69 ft. below normal. Habitat conditions are good, smartweed, barnyard grass, and some agricultural crops in the area. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity and success is slow.
Hulah – Zone 2: Water level is 6 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are fair. Harvested soybeans are good and wheat is fair. Duck numbers are low. Goose numbers are low. Hunter activity and success is low. A few birds have moved in with the recent fronts.
Kaw – Zone 2: Water level is 1.5 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are good, with Japanese millet, smartweed and good quantities of native food present. Duck numbers are good. Goose numbers are fair. Hunter activity is moderate and success is good. Bird movement is moderate.
Keystone – Zone 2: Water level is 4.2 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor to fair. Almost all sloughs and potholes are dry due to extreme drought conditions. Cottonwood WDU over 100% full and filling with excellent food conditions in the majority of the units. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are low. Hunting activity is low and success is fair. Some birds arrived with recent cold front.
Oologah – Zone 2: Water level is 4.03 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are poor to fair at current lake level. 300 acres seeded with Japanese millet, but not flooded at this time. Duck numbers are poor with some mallards, gadwalls and ring-necks. Goose numbers are poor, with resident Canadians and migrants present. Hunting activity and success is poor. Small group of migrants has arrived.
Sooner – Zone 2: Closed to hunting, fishing and boating until further notice. Check ODWC website wildlifedepartment.com for updated information regarding it reopening.
Webbers Falls – Zone 2: Water level is 2.97 feet above normal. Habitat conditions are good with smartweed, barnyard grass, bidens, cut soybeans, corn, milo and winter wheat in the area. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity and success is slow. Bird movement is slow.
SOUTHEAST
Hugo – Zone 2: Water level is very low. MS1 unit water is low and food is fair. Sawyer unit dry and food is in fair condition. Duck numbers are low. 500 snow geese are present. Hunter activity is low and success is poor. Bird movement is picking up, but not using the area much.
Red Slough – Zone 2: Wetlands are mostly dry. Plenty of wild forage is present but need water. Duck and goose numbers are low. Hunter activity and success is low. The birds currently here are mainly in the waterfowl refuge area.
Texoma – Zone 2: Lake is at 611.8. Habitat conditions are poor, with barren mudflats at 615.5 feet and below. Japanese millet and native wetland plants are good from 614.5ft and above but lake level needs to come up to 615 or better. Duck and goose numbers are very low. Hunter activity and success is low. Birds are not stopping due to poor habitat conditions.
Wister – Zone 2: Water level is 2 feet below normal. Habitat conditions are fair, with smartweed, sedges and acorns present. Duck numbers are low. No geese are present. Hunter activity is low and success is poor.
