Missouri Department of Conservation

So far this year we have received ample rainfall but no major flooding. Moist soil and row crop foods are good this year. I expect conditions this fall to be fairly normal.

Early Teal Season Hunting Opportunities (September 11-26, 2010)

During teal season only there will be no morning drawing, no 1:00pm closure, and hunters can hunt in all pools except for the Sanctuary Pool. Hunters do need to fill out and posses a daily tag. These cards are available in area parking lots. The daily limit is 4 with a possession limit of 8. The shooting times are from sunrise to sunset. There will be some teal hunting opportunity in Redhead Slough, Bolin Osborn, Cattail Ditch, and Old Channel Pool. Teal hunters are required to fill out a Hunter Record Card each day.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Opportunities (October 23 and 24, 2010)

The procedures for the Youth season are the same as they have been during the previous few years. Youth hunters will be able to hunt the entire area except for the refuge pools (see area map for details). There will be no drawing during this season and no 1:00pm closure, but hunters must fill out and posses a daily tag. Daily tags and area maps are available in area parking lots. Youth may hunt according to statewide seasons, shooting hours, methods, and limits. Pools open to youth hunters in the east unit include Crane Creek, Otter Slough, Old Channel Pool, Killdeer Chute, Bolin Osborn, Cattail Ditch, and the south ½ of Ash Grove pools. Pools open in the west unit include Cordgrass Flats, Hickory Creek, Middle Marsh, and Redhead Slough pools. Pools closed to youth hunters in the east unit include the north ½ of Ash Grove, Rail Marsh, and the Sanctuary pools. Pools closed in the west unit include Pin Oak pool.

North Zone Duck Season Hunting Opportunities (October 30 to December 28, 2010)

There will be a morning drawing conducted at the Area Headquarters (except for Christmas when waterfowl hunting is closed on the area) to allocate hunting spots in the waterfowl hunting zones. This morning drawing begins each day at approximately two hours before local shooting time. The Waterfowl Hunting Zone in the East Unit is open to hunting all day and consists of 4 hunting and 3 refuge pools. One pool, “Cattail Ditch”, contains four duck blinds and the other three pools are wade and shoot. We will be allowing between 6 and 8 parties to hunt in this unit each day. The Waterfowl Hunting Zone in the West Unit is open to hunting until 1:00pm each day and consists of 4 hunting pools and 1 refuge pool. All of the hunting in this unit will be wade and shoot type hunting. We will be allowing between 5 and 7 parties to hunt in this unit each day. We are going to try to accommodate as many hunting parties as possible in each hunting pool. As in the past on opening day, water levels will not be at full pool, as we increase acres flooded we will increase hunter opportunity.

Waterfowl hunting is also permitted in the East Unit “Open Hunting Zone” (that portion of the area not designated as waterfowl refuge or waterfowl hunting zone) without attending the morning drawing. Open Zone hunters must fill out and posses a daily tag.  Daily tags and area maps are available in area parking lots. Open zone hunters may hunt waterfowl according to statewide seasons, shooting hours, methods, and limits. This open hunting zone consists of 3 wetland pools and various field hunting opportunities. Be aware that this zone is also open to upland game and archery deer hunting as well.

For more detailed or up to date information you can call the area headquarters at 660-446-3371.