2009 waterfowl hunt opener conditions

Howard Slough Waterfowl Management Area

Marsh conditions: Good. In main impoundments water is at full pool/spilling levels and contain excellent pondweed growth. New extensive marshes have developed west and south of main impoundments. Some seasonal small ponds on the Hooper Hot Springs Unit are filling. 280 acres of phragmites has been retreated with herbicide on the east side of the main impoundment near the popular "Shotgun Alley" location.

Bird numbers: Good in main impoundments and west of new marsh areas along lakefront. Generally, bird numbers have been well above average, but have been fluctuating widely from day to day?

Access: Good, but there will be some construction activates along the main impoundment and Hooper Hot Springs Unit dikes this fall that may temporally disturb some hunters.

Hunting forecast: Only fair for the opener but much better later on. The Youth Hunt had only average bag success. This year's liberalization on pintail and scaup limits will be particularly important to this area's overall harvest later on.