Missouri duck hunters flock to north zone

Opening day of the 2008 duck season in Missouri's north zone couldn't come fast enough for many waterfowl hunters, including Fred Fields and Tom Kennedy, Chillicothe, especially after seeing flights of migrating waterfowl heading south the week before the opener last Saturday.

Kennedy said, "Ever since I fired my last shot last season until today, I have been ready for another good season and there's something special about opening day that brings out duck hunters no matter what the weather."

The pair of veteran waterfowlers were hunting near the Fountain Grove Wildlife Area near Meadville in a spot they had opened the season for more than 20 years.

"We have seen some good years and also some poor ones," Fields said. "This year promises to be one of the better ones."

Getting to their blind well before sunrise, the hunters had set out three dozen decoys and were sitting in the blind enjoying their coffee when they heard the unmistaken sound of ducks overhead. A few minutes later the flock of mallards had settled in the water out in front of the blind. Looking at his watch, Fields said, "We still have 15 minutes before shooting time. Maybe they will stay around till then."

However, as duck hunters know things don't usually work out that way and the mallards took off toward Swan Lake minutes before legal shooting time.

As the sun started appearing in the eastern sky, a pair of teal sailed over the decoys and on their next pass, both hunters were ready and the first ducks of the new season lay on the water where their black lab swam out to bring the birds back to the blind.

Moments later about a dozen mallards were sighted high in the sky over the blind and a call from Kennedy brought the ducks down to check out the decoys. Kennedy talked the mallards to fly over the decoys and both hunters were able to drop two greenheads each. Within an hour, the successful hunters had their limits of mallards plus two teal and started to pick up the decoys, head for home and then to the big Wild Goose Festival in Sumner.

"It was the best opening day hunt we have had in a long time," Kennedy said. "With all the ducks moving around, we should have some good hunting for awhile."

From reports from the field, the duck population may be down a little this fall, but there will be a lot of ducks heading south this year. In many areas of the breeding grounds where birds use the Mississippi Flyway water and food conditions were good and nesting birds had success.

Meanwhile, at the annual Wild Goose festival in Sumner, successful hunters were celebrating and passing along stories of how good the opening day hunt was for them. Jim Melton, Bolivar, traveled all the way to Chillicothe for the opening day of the duck season and was glad he did. Melton and his grandson had their limits of mallards well before noon. "It was a great opening day for us. I was especially pleased that my grandson was able to see just how good it can be. After getting our birds, we just sat in the blind and watched the ducks flying around. We even got to see the parade in Sumner and the weather was great for an opening day."

Melton lived in the Chillicothe area several years ago and knew how good the hunting can be.

"Although the Canada goose hunting isn't what it used to be, I think the area abound Swan Lake is still a good place to hunt waterfowl and big deer, so I make several trips up there each fall. It's been a tradition to be here on opening day. I started hunting the area back in the 60s and haven't missed an opening day since and now that my grandson is hunting with me, I hope I can continue the tradition for many more opening days There hasn't been many opening days when I shot my limit of mallards so this day was special. Later on I'll be hunting Four Rivers and Schell-Osage so it will be a long duck season for me this fall," he said.

The Middle Zone opens Saturday followed by the South Zone on Nov. 27. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset and the daily limit on mallards is four birds with no more than two hens.

Meanwhile, with the quail and pheasant seasons opening, its a great time of year for the hunters in the state. As Melton said, "It's no wonder that my health is always better in November. With hunting hitting its prime and fall color with cooler temperatures, it doesn't get any better."