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Long Pond (2–10): Marsh unit. Another great year of healthy vegetation throughout the unit, with small open pockets and larger openings. Water depth is mostly knee-deep but ranges between knee and waist deep, allowing for walk-in hunting and small boat use. The bottom is firm like last year, but it is still a marsh with submerged cattail mounds, so caution is advised. The rollers for this unit are accessible but will require pulling the boat on dry land for some distance before reaching them. Zones 2, 5, and 7 still have areas to hide and hunt, but those units were hit hard by muskrats, so vegetation is less than normal.
Nelson (11–14): Cropped unit. All zones are starting to take on water and will be flooded in the next few days. Corn and buckwheat are in great condition.
Walpatich (15, 19, 21): Cropped units. Corn grew well, standing around 6 feet. Buckwheat production is marginal but still provides food. Water is currently concentrated in the lower areas of the units but will be added prior to the season.
Walpatich (16–18, 20, 22): Marsh/moist soil units. Unit 16 is not cropped this year but will provide shallow water hunting and cattail cover. Units 17, 18, 20, and 22 are cattail marsh units with plenty of good cover. All zones had a good vegetation response, and openings were maintained to provide open water. Water depth ranges from ankle- to waist-deep.
Brancheau (23): Managed by USFWS. Located about 5 miles south of Pointe Mouillee. This unit will be part of the 2025 draw as long as the federal government isn’t shut down. It will also be reduced to just one zone for an individual or a party of 2–4.
Vermet: Public hunting unit. This unit will look similar to last year but with slightly more vegetation growth and taller cattails. Mud motors and flat-bottom boats are recommended. The lower water level should also encourage more dabbler use. It is recommended to use the middle causeway (launch at Roberts Road, south end of Humphries Unit) rollers for this unit rather than the north causeway due to sediment deposits forming in front of the north causeway rollers.
Humphries: Public hunting unit. The west end has excellent shallow water habitat, while the east end is deeper with cattail mats. Walk-in hunting is possible along the west, while a boat is needed for the east. Water levels should be somewhat lower than in previous years.
Bad Creek / Cripple Point Units: Public hunting units. Walk-in units. Units were maintained for openings but have shallower water than in previous years. Most water is concentrated on the east end of the units.
Week hunter trips: 0
Season hunter trips: 0
Draw sizes: Draw sizes dipped from usual numbers but still remained relatively high. Tuesday p.m. had 0 parties, Thursday (all day) had 0 parties, Sunday a.m. had 0 parties, and Sunday p.m. had 0 parties.
Ducks: 0
Geese: 0
Top species: (0)
Ducks per hunter trip: 0.00
Ducks: 0
Geese: 0
Top species: —
Ducks per hunter trip: 0.00
Temperatures should finally drop later in the week starting Oct. 8, with highs in the mid-60s and lows in the low 40s. One rain event is expected on Tuesday, Oct. 7, and hopefully cooler temperatures will persist for a while.
The open house is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. Opening weekend is Oct. 18–19 and will be pre-registered hunts only. The youth preferred draw is scheduled for the morning of Nov. 2, and the veteran preferred draw will be held the afternoon of Nov. 11 (no a.m. draw on Nov. 11).
