Photo by R.E. Ilg.

Fall hunting seasons are in full swing, and waterfowlers are soon to have their turn. Among the seasons for squirrels, doves, and deer, waterfowl hunters will shortly get their first opportunity to bag ducks and geese. Here in Kentucky, we are fortunate to have opportunities that most other states do not.

Last year, we had a pretty average season. Commonwealth hunters usually do quite well during the early season. Not having to keep track of snow and frozen hunting sites is one of the great things about the September season.

During last year’s early season, there were generally good wet conditions. We had a lot of water compared to the same time the previous year. There was good wood duck production, and we were lucky to have a good movement of teal through the state during the season. Hunter comments were generally positive, according to Rocky Pritchert, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife (KDFWR) waterfowl biologist.

Wood duck hunting is very popular here in the Bluegrass State, and with good reason. Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida are the only states that offer a special early season for wood ducks. Hard work and great conservation efforts have helped us keep the season intact.

Some 20 years ago, these three states took part in an experiment to see if an early season was feasible. Kentucky, along with the other two states, proved the early season had a negligible impact on the waterfowl population, since the harvest was made up primarily of local birds. Kentucky was willing to invest quite a lot of money to substantiate the data. After 20 years of these “experimental” seasons, the early wood duck season was finally made permanent.

Our wood duck population is stable or even slightly increasing, according to trend information from the breeding bird and stream surveys.

There has been no significant change for the last 30 years, and this year should be no different.

The trend for resident geese is also up. Last season, the bird numbers were up, and we’ve had three years in a row of good reproduction.

It’s estimated there are over 40,000 breeding birds in the spring population statewide. This should mean plenty of birds right now!

Teal are a lot more variable, and whether or not we have an early teal season depends on whether the bird population is estimated to be above 3,000,000 birds, If so, then you can shoot teal. If it’s below that figure, you can’t.

The male teal generally move first. Here in Kentucky, we usually see the first birds move through in late August. These birds are blue-winged teal, and the greatest number of birds through the state usually occurs around mid-September.

The peak of this movement is usually over by late September, but we’ll still see birds into October. Green-winged teal move through Kentucky, too, but later in the year than the blue-winged.

Kentuckians have lots of opportunity this month. There are numerous places to target these early ducks and geese, although finding all three species in one location is sometimes difficult. Here are three suggestions for targeting September waterfowl on public land.

KENTUCKY & BARKLEY LAKES
This western hotspot, known as Kentucky and Barkley lakes, has the all the makings of the perfect area. It’s large enough to accommodate lots of hunters and lots of waterfowl. It also has all the habitats to attract the birds.

For teal, the trick is to find some of the shallow flats in the backs of bays and tributaries. Teal will often visit most any place on the lakes where there’s shallow water. But motoring into these very shallow areas in a boat can sometimes be difficult.

The Blood River area of Kentucky Lake is a good location to find wood ducks. Also, the southern end of Lake Barkley seems to be a little better than the rest. Look for wood ducks in some of the very thickly wooded areas, and also around some of the islands.

A pretty fair contingent of resident geese makes its home around the twin lakes, too. However, getting on them during hunting season can be a bit difficult at times. They move a lot and will move even more once the shooting begins.