The Low Plains Late Duck Zone opened last weekend for much of Kansas. It's a time anxiously awaited by waterfowlers statewide. Spots with water had some success while others were wondering what the season might hold provided Mother Nature keeps holding out. Drought isn't good for any wildlife, particularly waterfowl. And at this late stage in the game chances are good we've got all the natural precipitation we're going to get.
Some ponds and wetlands can rely on pumping to provide water in drought years. It's a difficult, and often expensive task, but it does provide the key ingredient waterfowl need in their migration southward. It doesn't work on a large scale but it can provide good results on smaller wetlands and ponds.
The duck opener in my neck of the woods found hunters having some success on pumped wetlands. Birds didn't necessarily cover up the newly-formed pools but they did provide promise for future hunts. We killed a few early season migrants like pintails, gadwall, wigeons and teal. No mallards made an appearance, but that's about the norm for this time of year. Cold snaps will send these "fair weather" ducks south on their journey and the big red-legged mallards will show up when it gets cold.
It's hoped the "build it and they will come" mentality holds true and with adequate water migrating waterfowl will stop and check it out. It's still early in the game and the next couple months will tell the tale of whether or not the ducks stop or just keep right on going to greener and wetter pastures. I'm hoping they stop for a visit.
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