2011 Georgia WMA Waterfowl Forecast

Greg Balkcom, State Waterfowl Biologist

The continental waterfowl population for 2011 was estimated at over 45 million ducks, 11% above last year and 35% above the long-term average.  The total pond count across the U.S. and Canadian prairies was 8.1 million, 22% above last year and 62% above the long-term average.  A strong breeding population coupled with good wetland conditions should mean a good fall flight for waterfowl hunters this year.

However, good numbers of ducks doesn’t necessarily mean good hunting for Georgia’s waterfowl hunters, especially in drought years.  Ducks may stay farther north unless there is sufficient cold weather (i.e. snow) to push them down.  When they do come south, areas with water should be expected to have some birds, but with a dry landscape, many ducks may continue all the way to coast.

For hunters who remembered to apply for the quota hunts earlier this year, WMA waterfowl hunts on Oconee WMA at the Dan Denton Waterfowl Area and on the Butler Island Unit of the Altamaha WMA on the coast may have good success.  The waterfowl impoundments at the Dan Denton Area on Oconee WMA are flooded by pumps that pull water from the Oconee River.  Rainfall or not, as long as there is water in the river, we can flood the impoundments and provide habitat for the ducks.  At the Altamaha WMA, the tides provide the water.  The Butler Island unit has a great crop of fall panic grass, and the shallowly flooded impoundments provide excellent habitat for waterfowl, and typically provide good hunting success as well.

For those who did not get picked for quota hunts, there are many opportunities for you as well.  Managed waterfowl impoundments at WMAs such as West Point, Joe Kurz, Horse Creek, and Morris Creek (at Fishing Creek WMA) are great places to go looking for ducks.  Other WMAs that have waterfowl hunting opportunities include Phinizy Swamp, Clark Hill, Rum Creek (Lake Juliette), Silver Lake, and Lake Seminole.  While these areas do not have managed impoundments, they do have wetlands available for hunting or they border major reservoirs that provide waterfowl habitat and hunting opportunities.

Finally, remember that waterfowl hunting is allowed on all WMAs in some form or another.  In the regulations booklet, some WMAs have specific regulations for waterfowl listed under the headings “Waterfowl” or “Special Regs.”  If waterfowl are not listed specifically, then they are considered small game and they can be hunted anytime duck season is open and the WMA is open for small game hunting.  I’m sure there is a WMA somewhere near you with creeks and beaver ponds that might hold a few ducks.  Why not buy a WMA stamp and go find out?