They dropped a wing low, descending against the winds weight like a Gyr Falcon on final approach…only leading with webs not talons.  Cutting the eighty yards between them and the water in seconds, I could hear the wind as it whistled through their feather tracts.  A calming feeding chatter began as the five black ducks landed in the opening left in the middle of my decoy spread, exactly I had hoped.  Their dark, lanky silhouettes bobbed nervously against a backdrop of three dozen of their brethren, who were growing increasingly lifeless by the second.  One hoarse quack and they were gone, rocketing skyward as the deception was confirmed.  The haunting shadows faded out of sight as fast as they had appeared, and my yellow lab LaRue looked at me in disbelief…no shot?  She did not understand that I had already harvested a black duck, which had worked in with a group of mallards earlier.  For many waterfowl hunters the means are greater than the end, and on that day it was very satisfying to see a group of black ducks work my decoys so perfectly.  Regardless of whether you will spend every day of the waterfowl season afield, or are going for the first time…it is time to start getting ready.

Getting ready for waterfowl season is no small task, generally speaking.  Safety considerations, licensing, and species identifications are among the most important components of the sport.  Duck hunters will again enjoy a 60-day season with bag limits similar to the 2000-2001 season.  The fall flight forecast is lower than last season, but remains above the long-term average. Experienced hunters know that many factors including food availability, open water and hunting pressure are directly correlated with success.  The outlook on Canada goose numbers, and consequently harvest allocations is much lower than last season.  The statewide 2001-2002 harvest quota for Canada geese in Illinois is currently 54,800 birds, compared to last years 127,000.  A major edition to Illinois goose management is the requirement for hunters in the southern Illinois quota zone to punch their Canada goose harvest card, and phone in the harvest on the same calendar day.  This system has been utilized in the northern and central quota zones for several years.

Baiting Waterfowl

 *When hunting a new or unfamiliar area, especially on agricultural fields, several precautions should be taken.  First of all, you should inspect the field for excessive amounts of grain such as corn or soybeans, or any other feed that may serve as an attractant.  You should also ask guides or hunters present who have hunted the area, if they are aware of any feed which has been added, or crops which have been unlawfully manipulated for waterfowl hunting.

 *Agricultural fields, which have been harvested for the purpose of gathering a crop and removal of grain, are legal to hunt.

*Flooded or standing crops may be hunted

*Flooded, harvested crop lands may be hunted

*Blinds, which are camouflaged with agricultural vegetation, may be hunted as long as the use of such vegetation has not been manipulated in a way that causes feed to be exposed or scattered.

*These are very basic guidelines on baiting regulations. For complete information consult the 2001-2002 Illinois Waterfowl Regulations or Federal CFR Title 50 CFR part 20.21 (i)

Other Laws

-         All Illinois boating laws apply to waterfowl hunters and the consequences of mishaps can be deadly due to air temperature and water temperature.

-         Only non-toxic shot is legal: steel, tungsten, bismuth, and hevi-shot are lawful shot types.

-         Shotguns must be unloaded and in a case while being transported on a boat.  Hunters may pursue crippled waterfowl within 400 yards of the blind in a boat.  To shoot the bird, the motor/engine must be shut off and all progress from that motor/engine must cease. At which time the gun may be loaded and the bird reduced to the bag.

-         Only shotguns capable of holding a maximum of 3 shells (plugged) may be used.

-         Waterfowl may not be breasted out, or fully dressed in the field.  Entrails may be removed, but the head or a wing must remain intact for species identification.

-         It is unlawful to fail to retrieve or to attempt to retrieve all migratory game birds killed or crippled.  These birds must remain in the custody of the hunter who harvested them while in the field.

-         No person may give or receive bird of another while in the field regardless of tagging.

-         Birds of anther may be transported once the hunters have reached his/her primary means of land transportation (car/truck). These birds must be tagged with date, signature of hunter who harvested them, address, and species included.

 These regulations are only a overview list of state and federal laws regarding waterfowl hunting.  For complete regulations please consult the Illinois 2001-2002 Waterfowl Regulations and Federal Regulations-Title 50 CFR Part 20.11 and 20.21 (i).  As those of you seasoned waterfowlers know, the pursuit of ducks and geese come with much responsibility.  These inherent responsibilities are to the resource, the safety of yourself and those around you, and to promote ethics to young people who are becoming involved in the great tradition. Promotion of the sport of waterfowl hunting through education and experience is extremely important to continue this Illinois heritage and even lifestyle.

 From the Illinois Conservation Police Officers Lodge, good luck this season, and thanks for promoting safety and responsibility to our future hunters.  Feel free to contact your local conservation officer for further hints on a safe and legal waterfowl season.

 Article provided by second year Woodford county CPO Steve Vasicek. Steve has been hunting waterfowl since the age of 10 and admits that everyday hunting waterfowl in Illinois is as fulfilling as the last. The challenge of hunting waterfowl has taken Steve to over 5 different states in the Mississippi Flyway in his last 20 years of hunting, but he always enjoys kicking off the season in Illinois. Steve has a Bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement with a minor in Zoology focusing on waterfowl biology/ management from SIU-C, and a 20-year field degree in waterfowl behavior!

         Steve always promotes the diverse hunting opportunities in Illinois, stating “there’s is something for all types of sportsmen in Illinois”. Of coarse he edges towards Illinois waterfowl hunting in most conversations, including the huge flocks of divers rafting on Lake Michigan, the great goose fields of north and south Illinois, and the eminence natural puddle duck flyways of the Illinois, Ohio and Mississippi river valleys. 

Michigan Department of Natural Resources
 

MDNR Lt. & CPO Straugh

Michigan U.P. Sgt. Webster & CPO Vasicek