DUCK HUNTING STARTS 

It looks to be a good season for duck hunters in southern Missouri this year, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.  Deer hunting grabs more headlines, but this is a special time of year for waterfowl enthusiasts.

In Missouri, the sport is divided into zones to try to sync hunting times to peak migration periods.  The South Zone, which covers all of southwest Missouri and the southern part of the state,  opened November 23 and runs through January 30.

Prospects look good for duck hunters MDOC reports, due to a survey done in the spring in Canada and the northern US where many of the species nest and raise their young.  There appears to be a 14% increase over the 2006 census, with a population estimate of total ducks the highest since 2000.  Biologists credit three consecutive years of improved wetland habitat in key area for this significant population gain.

The Conservation office warns waterfowl hunters to remember that species restrictions in the daily bag limit require hunters to identify their targets before shooting.

The department offers a free waterfowl hunting booklet.  Information is also available at missouriconservation.org

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