Duck numbers have dropped across Southeast Missouri over the last week, and overall, numbers are below average for this time of year.
There still are a lot of pintails, gadwalls, green-winged teal, northern shovelers and other early migrants hanging around, according to MDC Migratory Game Bird Coordinator Andy Raedeke.
The percentage of mallards in the mix, on the other hand, is far lower than normal.
Two weeks ago, a survey showed 63% of ducks were mallards, and on Monday, a new count showed that number only jumped slightly to 67%.
By mid-December, Raedeke said, most of the state sees between 90 and 95% mallards.
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area this week is holding around 22,000, but the daily bird-per-hunter average has been terrible at less than 1.0.
At the Otter Slough Conservation Area, the duck population dropped from 21,000 birds a week ago to 17,000 this week. The average bird-per-hunter number there over the last five days has been slightly higher than 2.0.
Area Manager Nicky Walker said the Duck Creek Conservation Area is holding about 27,000 ducks this week, down from 34,000 last week. The daily bird-per-hunter average for the whole property has hung around 1.7.
Good news for waterfowlers is Mingo’s Pool 8 was opened to hunters this week, and currently 10 parties are allowed to hunt it each day, Walker said.
Since that flooded timber unit opened, Walker noted, the daily bird-per-hunter average in that pool alone has been around 3.7.
At the Coon Island Conservation Area, about 4,500 ducks were counted on Monday.
Other than managed public wetlands, which have been pumping water for six weeks or more, the state overall, Raedeke said, is getting pretty dry.
Dry conditions, he said, cause ducks to sit tight in areas where they are not pressured, and they don’t venture out much.
After a substantial rain, ducks will begin exploring and looking for new food sources, Raedeke said.
Fortunately, there’s a pretty stout weather front predicted to hit the area Thursday and Friday, bringing with it some heavy rain. That could mean good hunting over the weekend.
Missouri’s antlerless deer season, which closed Sunday, finished with a total harvest of 14,896.
Interestingly, that total is slightly below last year’s take of 15,620, even though the season was extended from three to nine days this year.
According to MDC’s Jason Isabelle, last year’s harvest was unusually high because of good weather conditions during the season, and looking back at my records, I’d say he’s right on target. The last time hunters killed at least 15,000 deer in the antlerless season prior to last year was in 2012.
Hunters in Ripley County checked 113 deer during the antlerless season, including 89 does and 24 button bucks.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Southeast Missouri if a few deer weren’t checked in counties which weren’t even open during the antlerless season. A total of 13 deer were checked as antlerless firearms kills between Butler, Carter, Reynolds, Stoddard and Wayne Counties. Go figure.
Missouri’s archery season, with a month to go before it closes, has slowed to a crawl.
Statewide, bowhunters have tagged 54,255 deer, and the number is growing very slowly each day.
Some nocturnal deer movement likely is taking place, but I think the biggest thing may just be a lack of effort as hunters switch to other pursuits.
I hunted one morning last weekend and saw eight deer by 10 a.m., so they are up and moving some. After two days of rain this Thursday and Friday, I’d imagine they will be up and feeding hard over the coming weekend.
Locally, bowhunters have taken 344 deer in Butler County, 540 in Carter County, 85 in Dunklin County, 534 in Reynolds County, 439 in Ripley County, 536 in Stoddard County and 721 in Wayne County.
Crappie fishing remains a hit-or-miss thing, according to those I’ve heard from.
Some days, the catching is good, and others, not so much.
Those having the best success are catching fish with jigs along the river channel in the upper reaches of Wappapello Lake.
As a reminder if you plan on boating on Wappapello Lake, the water level has begun to fall as staff lower the lake to winter conservation pool. That means you’ll need to pay special attention to shallow areas and watch for submerged trees, rocks and other propeller killers.
During its meeting last week, the Missouri Conservation Commission set the dates for the 2022-23 deer and turkey hunting seasons, which is good for those who want to make plans early.
There were no shake-ups in season dates, and everything looks to be similar to recent seasons.
Turkey hunting will kick off in the spring with the youth season April 9-10. The regular spring season will take place April 18 and run through May 8.
Fall turkey hunters will get their shot (that was a joke!) when the firearms season spans the entire month of October. If they’d rather bow hunt turkeys, they’ll be able to do so Sept. 15-Nov. 11 and Nov. 23-Jan. 15, 2023.
Deer seasons will kick off with the archery season Sept. 15-Nov. 11, and the second half of the archery season will run Nov. 23-Jan. 15.
Firearms deer seasons will begin with the early youth season Oct. 29-30, followed by the regular November portion Nov. 12-22.
The late portion of the youth season will run Nov. 25-27, and the antlerless season will be open Dec. 3-11.
Firearms deer hunting will wrap up with the alternative methods season Dec. 24-Jan. 3, 2023.
Daily and season lists have not been announced yet, but I wouldn’t expect anything to change.
Turkey regulations booklets should become available in early spring and deer booklets should be available in July.
The Black River chapter of Quail Forever will hold a gun drawing Christmas day and will be giving away five firearms, including a Benelli Montefeltro 20-gauge shotgun, Rock River VR80 12-gauge shotgun, Kimber Micro 9 pistol, Kimber 6.5 Creedmoor rifle and a Winchester SXP 12 gauge shotgun.
Only 100 tickets will be sold at a cost $100 each and will be entered into every drawing.
To purchase tickets, contact Dental Arts at 573-785-0111.
Paul Davis is the outdoors editor for the Daily American Republic and can be reached at pdavis.dar@gmail.com.