OUTDOORS

OUTDOORS: Cold weather benefits waterfowl hunters
Owen Schroeder

The unseasonably cold weather has put the brakes on the fall fishing at Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, but the freezing temperatures are pushing waterfowl out of Canada and the upper Midwest into Northwest Tennessee just in time for the opening of the statewide duck and goose seasons next weekend.

Temperatures are forecast to fall into the teens this coming week with some warming by the weekend, and we are still a month away from the official start of winter.

“Odds are crappie fishing should rebound once mild weather patterns return,” reports Kentucky Lake fishing guide Steve McCadams. “Bass fishing should also improve, but it’s just been too cold for most anglers this past week.”

For waterfowl hunters, the cold weather is good news, and waterfowl surveys at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge this past week indicate that ducks are pouring into the region.

An aerial survey of the three units of the refuge along the Tennessee River (Kentucky Lake) found above average numbers of ducks and below average numbers of geese resting in the shallow back waters.

A total of 44,610 ducks and 470 geese were observed during the survey, along with 14 bald eagles and other water birds. The majority of the ducks (34,842) and geese (320) were found in the Duck River Unit of the refuge. The Big Sandy Unit had 9,733 ducks and 110 geese, while the Brusseltown Unit had 35 ducks and 40 geese.

The total duck count included gadwall (14.920), mallards (14,858), green-winged teal (7,760), wigeon (1,920), ring-necked ducks (1,520), pintails (1,420), shovelers (1,060), scaup (400), redheads (200), black ducks (182), ruddy ducks (120), wood ducks (100), and mergansers (80).

Nearly 30,000 coots were also observed, along with 1,718 white pelicans and 3 loons.

The bald eagles included 6 adults and 8 immature birds.

The duck count was up 18 percent over the five-year average for this period and up 24 percent over the 10-year average for the period.

The total goose count included 250 Canada geese and 220 white-fronted geese. The goose count was down 13 percent over the five-year average for this period and down 34 percent over the ten-year average for the period.

There was no survey information available for the Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge on the Cumberland River (Lake Barkley) as press time, but it can be assumed that the migrating duck population is also up in the waters of the refuge.

Waterfowl hunters at the Reelfoot Duck Zone have an early two-day season this weekend, and statewide hunters will have an early two-day season next weekend. Both zones will close after their two-day seasons and reopen on Nov. 29. The duck seasons in both zones will run through Jan. 25.

The daily bag limit is six ducks and may include no more than four mallards (no more than two females), one black duck, three wood ducks, two pintails, one canvasback, three scaup and two redheads.

Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset, unless otherwise noted.

Waterfowl hunters may only use federally-approved non-toxic shot while hunting. Possession of any other type loose shot or shotgun shells is prohibited.

Shotguns must be plugged so that they cannot hold more than three shot shells, including the one in the chamber.

Waterfowl hunters, 16 years of age and older, must possess a valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp) signed in ink across the face.

They must also possess a Tennessee Migratory Bird Permit while waterfowl hunting unless they are landowners hunting on their own land; disabled veterans; Tennessee residents age 13 and under or age 65 and older; or Lifetime Sportsman license holders. The $2 permit can be obtained from any licensing agent. The permit is free for Annual Sportsman License holders.

For additional information concerning waterfowl hunting in Tennessee, consult the 2014-15 Tennessee Waterfowl Hunting Guide available from licensing agents, or visit the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s website www.tnwildlife.org.

Owen Schroeder can be reached at 931-358-9214 or by email at owenschroederjr@bellsouth.net.

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