Novalex
11-17-2006, 02:45 PM
Airboaters hold upper hand for ducks
Airboaters will have the upper hand for ducks along the St. Johns River for the season-opener Saturday.
The opening phase for the statewide waterfowl season kicks off at 6:17 a.m., one-half hour before sunrise, and it'll continue through Nov. 26. It'll be followed by a much longer second phase running Dec. 9-Jan. 28.
Water levels along the Upper St. Johns have dropped rapidly in recent weeks and that will push the early flights into potholes and backwaters best accessible by airboat.
"With the ducks concentrated, that means hunters will be concentrated, and that's not necessarily good," said Jeff Kraynik of Palm Bay who operates The Coastal Sportsmen guide service.
"Basically, it's going to be pothole shooting. If you can find potholes, you should find some ducks," Kraynik added.
One area where water is not an issue is at the T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area south of Palm Bay and 6 miles west of Babcock Street.
Water is retained in the impoundments at the Goodwin area and the adjoining Broadmoor Marsh Unit where hunters will find 3 to 31/2 feet of water and a good representation of ducks including about 2,000 teal, 200 mottled ducks and scattered pintail.
A permit system at Goodwin limits the number of hunters and all the permits are issued in advance.
Typical during the first phase of the season, most of the ducks along the Upper St. Johns River are teal and that was evident in the report from an aerial survey of the region last week by waterfowl biologist Jamie Fedderson with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Outside of the Goodwin area, some of the better concentrations of ducks were south of Lake Poinsett and in most areas Fedderson reported no more than a few hundred birds.
Fedderson said the marsh on the east side of the St. Johns north of Moccasin Island near Lake Winder is wet and it held about 600 teal.
Moccasin Island to the south also offers water and about 500 teal.
Other St. Johns areas with ducks included the Blue Cypress Recreation Area (Garcia) with 200 ringnecks in hydrilla in the northwest section and 200 teal in the lily pads in the northeast, Mary A Block 200 teal, Sartori Block about 3,000 ringnecks and teal with some pintails and shovelers, and Lake ****'n Blazes 200 teal.
No specific reports were available for the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge but guides scouting parts of the refuge reported widgeon and pintail. Generally the Shiloh Marsh section in hunt area 4 produces the better hunting during the early phase.
Refuge spokesman Dorn Whitmore said the refuge Website will offer updates on aquatic plant conditions and types of ducks using certain areas. The site is www.fws.gov/merrittisland/
Refuge hunters must note that the new statewide light goose season does not apply to Merritt Island where only ducks and coots can be taken.
Diane Eggeman, the coordinator for the FWC Waterfowl Management Program said the term "light geese" refers to three species -- greater snow geese, lesser snow geese and Ross' geese.
Those using the Storm Treatment Areas, the so-called STAs, in South Florida will find the highest number of birds perhaps of anywhere in the state.
At STA 5 in Hendry County Fedderson reported 4,000 teal, 300 ringnecks, 200 mottled ducks and 5,000 coots. At STA 3-4 in Palm Beach County he saw about 1,500 teal, 300 ringnecks, and thousands of coots.
Kraynik said the drying conditions are making for some exception hunting for snipe along the St. Johns marshes.
"There's lots of snipe and plenty of marsh area and the birds are holding tight," Kraynik said.
Most property owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District is open to public hunting. But hunters are responsible for knowing the boundaries. Adjoining private land is off-limits without permission from the landowners.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061117/COLUMNISTS0308/611170361/1067/sports
Airboaters will have the upper hand for ducks along the St. Johns River for the season-opener Saturday.
The opening phase for the statewide waterfowl season kicks off at 6:17 a.m., one-half hour before sunrise, and it'll continue through Nov. 26. It'll be followed by a much longer second phase running Dec. 9-Jan. 28.
Water levels along the Upper St. Johns have dropped rapidly in recent weeks and that will push the early flights into potholes and backwaters best accessible by airboat.
"With the ducks concentrated, that means hunters will be concentrated, and that's not necessarily good," said Jeff Kraynik of Palm Bay who operates The Coastal Sportsmen guide service.
"Basically, it's going to be pothole shooting. If you can find potholes, you should find some ducks," Kraynik added.
One area where water is not an issue is at the T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area south of Palm Bay and 6 miles west of Babcock Street.
Water is retained in the impoundments at the Goodwin area and the adjoining Broadmoor Marsh Unit where hunters will find 3 to 31/2 feet of water and a good representation of ducks including about 2,000 teal, 200 mottled ducks and scattered pintail.
A permit system at Goodwin limits the number of hunters and all the permits are issued in advance.
Typical during the first phase of the season, most of the ducks along the Upper St. Johns River are teal and that was evident in the report from an aerial survey of the region last week by waterfowl biologist Jamie Fedderson with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Outside of the Goodwin area, some of the better concentrations of ducks were south of Lake Poinsett and in most areas Fedderson reported no more than a few hundred birds.
Fedderson said the marsh on the east side of the St. Johns north of Moccasin Island near Lake Winder is wet and it held about 600 teal.
Moccasin Island to the south also offers water and about 500 teal.
Other St. Johns areas with ducks included the Blue Cypress Recreation Area (Garcia) with 200 ringnecks in hydrilla in the northwest section and 200 teal in the lily pads in the northeast, Mary A Block 200 teal, Sartori Block about 3,000 ringnecks and teal with some pintails and shovelers, and Lake ****'n Blazes 200 teal.
No specific reports were available for the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge but guides scouting parts of the refuge reported widgeon and pintail. Generally the Shiloh Marsh section in hunt area 4 produces the better hunting during the early phase.
Refuge spokesman Dorn Whitmore said the refuge Website will offer updates on aquatic plant conditions and types of ducks using certain areas. The site is www.fws.gov/merrittisland/
Refuge hunters must note that the new statewide light goose season does not apply to Merritt Island where only ducks and coots can be taken.
Diane Eggeman, the coordinator for the FWC Waterfowl Management Program said the term "light geese" refers to three species -- greater snow geese, lesser snow geese and Ross' geese.
Those using the Storm Treatment Areas, the so-called STAs, in South Florida will find the highest number of birds perhaps of anywhere in the state.
At STA 5 in Hendry County Fedderson reported 4,000 teal, 300 ringnecks, 200 mottled ducks and 5,000 coots. At STA 3-4 in Palm Beach County he saw about 1,500 teal, 300 ringnecks, and thousands of coots.
Kraynik said the drying conditions are making for some exception hunting for snipe along the St. Johns marshes.
"There's lots of snipe and plenty of marsh area and the birds are holding tight," Kraynik said.
Most property owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District is open to public hunting. But hunters are responsible for knowing the boundaries. Adjoining private land is off-limits without permission from the landowners.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061117/COLUMNISTS0308/611170361/1067/sports