The area ditches are still frozen. About 50% of the rest of the area is also frozen. Where the water is shallow and protected, it is open. That would be about 40% of the area. Most of the activity is around the river and the containment ponds on Prior Rd. There are also fair numbers of birds at the Wahl Rd. marsh.

With this week’s warmer temperatures and rain, larger numbers of birds should be showing up this week. This weekend could be spectacular! I found the trails very walkable and not all that muddy. So if you want to see some birds, get out there this weekend.

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Nov -26-07 - Area Update - "NOTE" waterfowl hunting in the southern zone ends December 2nd and reopens for ducks Jan 5th and 6th and runs through February 3rd 2008 for geese.

Current Conditions:
The area bird harvest as of today is 8528 ducks and 798 geese.
The DNR area bird count as of this morning is 5,000 ducks and 500 geese. This count does not include the federal refuge bird count.

Areas 1 thru 5 - water level is 4 to 12 inches.
Areas 6 thur 8 - water level is 6 to 12 inches
Areas 9 thru 14 - water level is 8 to 24 inches.
Areas 23 thru 28 - water level is 16 inches.
Areas 29 - water level is 12 inches.
Areas 30 thru 38 - water level is 8 to 30 inches.
Areas 39 thru 48 - water level is 6 to 30 inches.
Areas 49 thru 52 - water level is 18 to 30 inches.
Areas 55 thru 60 - water level is 6 to 18 inches.
Areas 61 thru 66 - water level is 6 to 18 inches.
Areas 67 thru 76 - water level is 6 to 24 inches.
Areas 77 thru 150 - Flooded woods area is flooded and the water ranges from 8 to 36 inches deep.

Oct-22-07 - Crops are off in all areas and the cover remains good.

Current Conditions:
The area bird harvest as of this morning was 3,137 ducks and 412 geese.
The DNR area bird count as of 10-22-07 was 3,500 ducks and 200 geese. This count does not include the federal refuge bird count.

Areas 1 thru 5 - water level is 4 to 12 inches.
Areas 6 thur 8 - dry
Areas 9 thru 14 - water level is 8 to 24 inches.
Areas 23 thru 28 - water level is 16 inches.
Areas 29 - water level is 12 inches.
Areas 30 thru 38 - water level is 8 to 30 inches.
Areas 39 thru 48 - water level is 6 to 30 inches.
Areas 49 thru 52 - water level is 18 to 30 inches.
Areas 55 thru 60 - water level is 6 to 18 inches.
Areas 61 thru 66 - water level is 6 to 18 inches.
Areas 67 thru 76 - water level is 6 to 24 inches.
Areas 77 thru 150 - Flooded woods area is flooded and the water ranges from 8 to 36 inches deep.

Oct-02-07 - Area Update - Hint! Make sure to have your bug spray with you, as I was scouting today the mosquitoes were real bad.

Prior Road - Zones 55 to 60 - Crops have been harvested and cover is very good. The DNR expects to have enough water to float decoys by the 5th of Oct.
Zones 61 to 66 - East section cover is better than the west section, this section may not be huntable - field is flooded with enough water to float decoys.
Miller Road - Zones 1 to 5 - Corn is poor but sorghum will provide good cover, the field is dry but should have water by the 12th.
Zones 6 to 14 - Is still being harvested as of this posting and should be completed by the 5th - most likely will not have huntable water until the 12th.
Zones 15 to 22 - Water levels are very low and will be hard to get to.
Zones 23 to 28 - There is a good growth of smart weed here and the section is flooded
Zone 29 - Fully flooded.
Zones 30 to 38 - The north 200 feet of the corn strips will provide little cover but the rest is about 6 foot tall. Crops are still being harvested and the field should be flooded by the 12th.
Zones 39 to 48 - The corn and sorghum are about 6 to 7 feet tall. This field is flooded and all zones have enough water to float decoys.
Zones 49 to 52 - The unit is flooded but has little cover. Think about a blind or cover if hunting this area.
Zone 67 to 76 - Construction on this unit will delay flooding.
Flooded Woods and the Rookery -
Zones 77 to 150 - both units are fully flooded.

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Sep-03-0 7 - Ernie's Field Report -

Prior Road - Prior Road North unit is solid corn. It is close to excellent condition. South unit has fair corn on the East side. More than half the West side has no cover. This year the rows are shorter in length though the corn looks like it will hide a shooter.

Miller Road - The west field (or from Wahl Road the first field 6-12) is solid corn and is close to excellent condition. The North East field (1-5) has little or no corn. There has been sorghum planted and it will afford good blind cover. It doesn’t look like there are any other crops in that field.

The North big field (30’s?) is planted with strips of corn with beans in between. The corn isn’t as good as Prior or West Miller Road. It does look like it will hide a shooter and there is food.

Good Hunting

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Area 55 to 60

Flooded Woods

Oct -16-06 - The DNR is working with the sharecroppers to get the remaining crops off and to have at least sheet water over the entire area by this weekend 10-21-06.

Current Conditions:
The area bird harvest as of 10-12-06 was 2,383 ducks and 320 geese.
The DNR area bird count as of 10-9-06 was 15,015 ducks and 50 geese.

Areas 1 thru 5 - started flooding as of today.
Areas 6 thru 8 - Dry
Areas 9 thru 14 - Flooding
Areas 30 thru 38 - Crops are still in the field and is closed to hunting.
Areas 39 thru 48 - Area is flooded and open.
Areas 55 thru 60 - Area is flooded and now open.
Areas 61 thru 66 - Partialy flooded.
Areas 77 thru 150 - Flooded wood area is flooded.

Oct -13-06 - Ernies Field Report -
Current Field Conditions:
Areas 1 thru 5 - started flooding as of today.
Areas 6 thru 8 - Dry
Areas 9 thru 14 - Still getting crops off should start to flood next week.
Areas 30 thru 38 - Crops are still in the field and is closed to hunting.
Areas 39 thru 48 - Area is flooded.
Areas 55 thru 60 - Partialy flooded.
Areas 61 thru 66 - Partialy flooded.
Areas 77 thru 150 - Flooded wood area is flooded.

Sept-09-06 - Current Field Conditions:
Areas 1 thru 5 - Corn is 3 - 4 foot high and the buckwheat produced about a 50% crop.
Areas 6 thru 8 - Sorghum is about 6 foot high and the buckwheat produced about a 50% crop.
Areas 9 thru 14 - Sorghum is abouth 6 to 8 foot high.
Areas 30 thru 38 - Corn in this field is the best in the area and rages from 6 to 9 foot tall.
Areas 39 thru 48 - The corn in this area ranges from5 to 7 foot tall and buckwheat produced about a 75% crop.
Areas 49 thru 52 - Under construction - when this area reopens there will be good cover and food supply for the waterfowl.
Areas 55 thru 60 - The corn averages about 6 foot high and will be good cover.
Areas 61 thru 66 - The corn averages about 4 foot high.