Bad weather means waterfowl hunting in Colorado should be good

Bad weather means waterfowl hunting in Colorado should be good

Nov 10, 2001

THESE CANADA GEESE are locals. They can be found year-round near the pond at Centennial Park or at the pond at Parque de Vida in Cortez. But if they should venture off, they might find themselves as the guest of honor for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Waterfowl season is under way in Colorado. Canada geese, who actually make their homes in Canada instead of Cortez, pass through the Four Corners area on their way to warmer climates.

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor

Waterfowl hunting in Colorado goes as the weather up north goes.

As a general rule, the worse off the weather, the better the waterfowl hunting. The duck and geese seasons should be good this year, if predictions hold true. Waterfowl hunting success rates this fall will depend highly on Mother Nature. Many of the ducks that pass through Colorado come from wetland habitats in southern Canada. In the past several years, the natural duck habitats in those areas have remained relatively dry compared with eastern Canada, and were even drier this year. That may result in a slight decline in waterfowl numbers for Colorado and other western states.

As always, a consistent series of cold fronts throughout the season will keep ducks in the skies over the Western Slope. While warm weather will allow ducks to stay comfortable in their summer grounds, a series of winter storms will force the birds to migrate south. But so far it has been unseasonably warm even in Canada for this time of year.

The second split, which began Oct. 2 and continues through Jan. 20 for both ducks and geese in the Pacific Flyway. During the first split, the ducks and geese are basically local birds and can be few and far between because they don’t venture off. But as cold fronts from the North move in, early migrants begin to move out and fly through the Four Corners area. Thus, there are generally more birds in the air.

Last year, Colorado issued 8,708 waterfowl hunting stamps. While many hunters may not consider Southwestern Colorado for waterfowl hunting, it does have some productive water holes that attracts ducks and geese.

Western Slope waterfowlers can expect to see duck numbers consistent with last year on their side of the mountains, according to the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The Pacific Flyway in the Western Slope mountain corridor produces fewer ducks, but production has remained more consistent. Even Totten Lake near Cortez is one of the more popular places for area hunters. Cinnamon teal, mallards and Canadian geese can all be found on the water on this easily accessible reservoir.

Other bodies of water in the area to consider include McPhee Reservoir and Summit Lake. Both are good places to try. Both have good habitat conditions. Another option is Bauer and Little Bauer near Mancos.

Several ponds in the Glade area, just north of McPhee Reservoir, have been good spots in past seasons.

The season dates for the second split and third splits in the Central Flyway were modified to Nov. 3, 2001 through Nov. 29, 2001 (2nd split) and Dec. 7, 2001 through Jan. 20, 2002 (3rd split). Pacific Flyway season dates were unchanged.Canvasback ducks can only be taken during the first split in the Central flyway and in the Pacific Flyway.Daily bag is one bird, possession is two birds

There have been a couple of important changes in the waterfowl regulations for the 2001-2002 season. Canvasback ducks can only be taken during the first split in both the Central and Pacific Flyways. Daily bag limit for Canvasbacks is one bird and the possession limit is two birds.

Tin shot was removed from the list of approved nontoxic shots. Steel shot with coatings of less than 1 percent copper, nickel or zinc chromate or zinc chloride were approved along with tungsten-nickel-iron shot.

The bag limit for ducks in the Central Flyway is six. Of these, up to five can be mallards but no more that two can be hen mallards. The bag limit can not have more that one pintail or two redheads or one mottled duck or two wood ducks or three scaup. The possession limit is two bag limits.

The Pacific Flyway bag limit is seven ducks, including mergansers. Of these all seven can be mallards but no more that two can be hen mallards. The bag limit can not contain more than one pintail or two redheads or three scaup. The possession limit is two daily bag limits.

Goose season in the Central Flyway was moved back a week this year in an effort to make the season more productive for area hunters.

Goose populations are healthy, and the later season in the Central Flyway should provide higher success rates for hunters.

The general goose season in the Central Flyway will run from Nov. 17 through Feb. 17, 2002. The Central Flyway bag limit for dark geese is five birds. The possession limit is 10 birds. The Pacific Flyway season will run from Sept. 29 through Oct. 9 and Oct. 24 through Jan. 20, 2002. The dark geese bag limit for the Pacific Flyway is two geese; the possession limit is four.