Manager's update

Week in review

Sept. 08 – Sept. 14

Weather

Nighttime temperatures were in the 50's with highs reaching the low to mid-70s. Light winds all week and no precipitation.

Waterfowl abundance

Refuge counts remained low. We observed mainly local mallards, wood ducks and a few teal, pintail and black ducks. Goose numbers remained low, with a few new birds showing up toward the end of the week.

Hunting conditions

All available decoy openings have been mowed. Flooding has started slowly in zones 1–3, 9–13, 20s, teens and 40s. Low water levels are severely hampering water manipulation thus far.

• Zones 1–3 currently have 7–9 ft tall corn. Flooding has begun but progress is slow.

• 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 7–9 ft tall. Water has begun to slowly start into zones 9, 11 and 13.

• Corn heights in 14–19 vary from 6–8 ft. Flooding has begun into zones 15, 17, 19.

• The corn in zones 20–32 varies in height from 5–8 ft. Zones 22–23, 26, 29 and 31–32 have blinds that hunters can utilize. We are currently repairing a leak in our north (20s) field, so pumping of water has slowed until we can get that mitigated. Once we resume, hunters will see water slowly beginning into 23, 26, 29 and 32.

• Currently, the corn in zones 45–49 is 6–8 ft tall. Zones 48 and 49 have camouflaged blinds if hunters want to get out of the water. Flooding has begun into zones 46, 48 and 49.

• Currently, the corn in zones 50–56 is 7–8 ft tall.

• The corn cover in 58–69 has reached 6–8 ft tall.

• The corn in the 70s is 7–8 ft tall and should produce good cover and food for migrating waterfowl this fall. There is a cut wheat field with some nice green clover coming up in between two strips of standing corn for early goose hunting opportunities.

Buckwheat, barley, winter wheat 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

Hunting for the remainder of early goose season will be self-registration. There has been low participation so far this season.

Waterfowl harvest

Harvest remains low with only 13 teal and 30 geese taken to date.

What to expect this week

High temperatures are supposed to be in the mid-70s to mid-80s throughout the week, with little to no precipitation expected once again.

Upcoming events

We will be attending the Gateway Sportsman’s Club youth event on Sept. 19 from 4–8 p.m. Youth/veteran hunt weekend drawings will take place on Sept. 20 and 21 at 5:30 and 11 a.m. The check station will be open until noon this weekend.

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