Jamestown Wildlife Area Waterfowl Report

Waterfowl numbers

No snow geese are present on the area. However, there are good numbers of Blue Winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, White Pelicans and some shore birds using the area.

Mallard Migration Rank

Current Rating=0 The rank is subjective and is from (0= No Mallards, 1=Very few Mallards, 5=Moderate numbers, 10= Peak numbers).

Water levels

The area is 100% open. All boat ramps on Gun Club Marsh are open. Managers are starting the spring draw down. Gun Club Marsh West is at full pool (avg. depth is 24 to 50 inches). Six flood events over the summer has left Gun Club with little food and a large area of open water. Gun Club East is at full pool(avg. depth is 24 to 50 inches). Marsh Creek Marsh decreasing daily. Puddler is empty. Rigneck Marshe is dry.

Hunting conditions

Poor. The snow goose conservation order is now open. Marsh Creek Marsh is fornon-gasoline powered boats only, this includes electric motor boats and boats with no motors. Gasoline engines are prohibited.

Expected hunting success

Poor. The majority of the spring migration of Snow Geese is over. However there are plenty of shore birds and early migrating waterfowl on the area to observe.

Comments

THE BIRDS ARE IN THIER SPRING PLUMAGE AND ARE EASY TO OBSERVE FROM PARKING AREAS AND ROADSIDES.

FREE DAILY HUNT PERMITS REQUIRED FOR ALL HUNTING ON THE AREA. PERMITS AVAILABLE AT THE INFORMATION CENTERS. Hunters will again be required to fill out a daily use permit to report their hunting activities while on the area. The top portion of the two-part permit must be filled out and returned to the survey station prior to hunting and the bottom portion kept with the hunter to record hunting activity. After the hunt the bottom portion is also returned to the survey station where the permits will be collected and information recorded to assist managers with improving the area. Managers are utilizing Gamekeeper Marsh as a water storage area. The water that is stored in Gamekeeper Marsh is used to flood the hunting pools of Gun Club and Marsh Creek Marshes. The water levels in Gamekeeper Marsh may drop throughout the fall in order to flood new habitat for migrating waterfowl. THEREFUGE IS NOW OPEN on the north half of Gamekeeper Marsh. Please introduce youth and novice hunters to the outdoors. Pass it on!