Last week in review
10/5/2026 through 10/12/2026
Weather
Nighttime temperatures were in the mid 40s/50’s with highs averaging in the high 60s to low 70s’s. Once again, mostly light and variable winds all week with no precipitation.
Waterfowl abundance
Refuge counts for ducks did increase this week but remain low around 5700. We observed mainly mallards, wood ducks and quite an increase of teal, also a few widgeon, black ducks and pintail. Goose numbers seemed steady this week with a few more flights moving into the area when the wind was conducive.
Hunting conditions
All available decoy openings have been mowed, flooding has begun in zones 1-3, 9-13, 20’s, teens and 40’s as well as 50-69. Slightly higher Saginaw bay water levels have helped to get most zones to just below full pool prior to season. Expect to have full pool water into hunting zones by week 2 of season.
Zones 1-3 currently have 7-8ft tall corn. Flooding is in essentially full pool with water through zone 1, 2, and 3.
Marsh zones 4-8 all have water and camouflaged blinds. Water levels vary between 6-18 inches.
The corn height in zones 9-13 varies between 7-9ft tall. We currently have reached full pool in these zones as of 10/10/26
Corn heights in 14-19 are very low. The corn is extremely stunted and maybe 2-3 ft tall at best and is already falling down. There is good water throughout 14-19.
The corn in zones 20-32 varies in height from 5-8ft. Zones 22-23, 26, 29 and 31-32 have blinds that hunters can utilize. There is some significant deer damage in zones 28,29,30-32 and a little bit in the normal areas along the northern edge of the field. Water levels have reached full pool as of 10-6-26.
The corn in zones 45-48 is 6-8ft tall, the exception is the very northern end of zone 49 where significant deer damage leaves little to no corn. Zones 48 and 49 have camouflaged blinds if hunters want to get out of the water. Flooding in the 40’s has reached full pool as of 10/10/2026.
Currently, the corn in zones 50-56 is 5-8ft tall. Sharecropping was completed 10-1-26 and flooding immediately started into these zones. The whole field has reached huntable water and flooding has ceased on 10/10/2026. A new access was created for 50-51 and is in the zone 49 parking lot.
The corn cover in 58-69 has reached 5-8ft tall. Sharecropping is complete and flooding into these zones is complete. Some water may be added to increase water depth in zone 65
The corn in the 70’s is 7-8ft tall and should produce good cover and food for migrating waterfowl this fall. The beans have been harvested and shallow disked and rye is being planted as a cover crop.
Buckwheat, barley, and moist soil plants are around most hunting zones and will provide a food source for waterfowl throughout the hunting season as well.
Hunter numbers
Hunter numbers now total with 1953 hunters and a total harvest of 1697 ducks and 250 geese. Opening week of duck season saw a high of 71 parties Sunday morning and a low of 10 parties Monday evening. We averaged 27.5 parties a day so far
Waterfowl harvest
Harvest numbers with goose/teal season as well as the youth/vets hunt resulted in 127 ducks and 141 geese harvested. We are currently up to 1697 ducks and 250 geese taken to 10/12/26.
What to expect this week
High temperatures are supposed to be high 50’s to low 60’s Tuesday through Sunday with a chance for precipitation Wednesday to Friday with gust up to 40 potentially Friday.
Upcoming events
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