Ducks are coming! Youths get first shot at locals

Inland Northwest waterfowl hunters have reason for great expectations this season.

While summer has been hot and dry in this region, it’s been a wet year in Canada’s pothole regions where much of North America’s waterfowl are produced.

Most duck populations are up or at least status quo from last year. Canvasback numbers have increased enough to allow two cans in the daily limit of up to seven ducks.

Waterfowl flared to the season’s first volley of shots last weekend. Washington’s brief early goose hunt is designed to control locally produced lesser Canada geese that tend to become a nuisance at public parks, waterways and golf courses.

Hunters who find spots to intercept these birds where they can be hunted have great success in hotspots such as Spokane County and along the Snake River.

Licensed youth hunters younger than 16 get the next shot at geese as well as ducks during the special youth hunt Sept. 22-23 in Washington and Sept. 29-30 in Idaho. Both states require the youth hunters to be accompanied by an adult. Idaho, in addition, requires the adult to have a valid hunting license.

Idaho’s general waterfowl season opens Oct. 6, a week earlier than Washington to take advantage of locally produced birds on the verge of leaving on their migrations. Traditionally, the season opens with heavy pressure on locally produced birds ranging from wood ducks to Canada geese in hot spots such as the lower Coeur d’Alene River chain of lakes. The hunting tends to slow after local birds have been “educated” and until the northern birds arrive.

Washington’s general season opens a week later, on Oct. 13 for five days before closing for two days and reopening Oct. 20.

The reason: The federal government limits states in this region to no more than 107 days of waterfowl hunting. Since few ducks are flying and few hunters are out during those two days in October, Washington waterfowl managers prefer to save hunting days for January, when northern waterfowl tend to be congregating in a swath through central Washington.

Mallard numbers are similar to the long-term average, said Don Kraege, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife waterfowl manager. But canvasbacks, shovelers and greenwing teal are near record numbers, he said.