2009 waterfowl hunt opener conditions

Harold Crane Waterfowl Management Area

Marsh conditions

Main impoundments — Good. 400 acres of east impoundment phragmites were retreated, and over 400 acres were treated for the first time this fall on the west impoundment. South impoundment is full.

Exterior flats — Excellent, all flats to west, north and east are being flooded. New, small impoundment on west flat is filling. Willard Spur has more water than last year on this date, but is still very shallow!

Rainbow Unit — Fair, Rainbow Pond was low during the summer, but it and other small ponds are being flooded and are in better condition than the last few years.

Generally, marsh conditions and impoundments are improving due to more water being diverted to the area.

Bird numbers:

Main Impoundments — Excellent to good, with south and west impoundments being better and east holding the least. The highest late summer bird use in the last few years has been noted, but preseason scouting has displaced many birds

Exterior flats — Excellent, birds are packed into flooded flats along the north and west dikes.

Rainbow Unit — Better than last year, with some birds on the Rainbow Pond and ponds along GSL mineral canal.

Bird numbers further out on the south, north and west flats are increasing, also. Goose numbers are good.

A currently decreasing, moderate level botulism outbreak has occurred in the Willard Spur to the north and some bird sick birds have come into Crane. Many of the bird recover in the fresher water on Crane, but some have died there. Avoid handling or allowing your dog to handle any located sick or dead birds. See page 11 of the Waterfowl Guidebook for recommendations and info on avian diseases.

Access

A newer road with three parking lots accessing the west Rainbow Unit is in good shape. The main Harold Crane parking lot was enlarged. Newer north-bound water distribution channels in both the east and west impoundments provide improved access for those willing to carry small boats across the south dike.

The Federal Bureau of Reclamation has upgraded their road to Harold Crane through Willard Upland Game bird Area, and it will be graded soon. They also plan to install much larger head gates in the south drain around Willard Bay Reservoir, including under the main road to Crane. The timing of head gate construction activities is not set, but when it does happen, plan on temporary road closures and rough road driving conditions.

Hunt forecast

Greatly improved! The 3.7 average birds per hunter taken on the Youth Hunt was among the highest local WMA bags checks recorded on any kind of opener in the last 30 years. Many of the more remote areas were not hunted and should provide excellent hunting on the General Opener and for anyone willing to expend a little extra effort.