IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN
Hunters gearing up for waterfowl seasons, which open Saturday
There’s no mystery that a pile of Canada geese are in and around Will County, especially that area loosely called Plainfield, which includes several southwest suburbs.
That’s good news with Illinois’ waterfowl seasons opening Saturday in the north zone. And the youth hunt in the central zone will be held this weekend. Several nearby public sites, including Braidwood/ Mazonia State Fish and Wildlife Area, Kankakee River State Park and Momence Wetlands, are open for the youth hunt. District wildlife biologist
Bob Massey said the recent rains made the major rivers fast, which concentrated geese even more on slack waters of the retention ponds and lakes around the southwest suburbs.
‘‘ If you can find a spot tucked in between two towns, you are going to do well,’’ he said. Then he added, ‘‘ If you can find the absentee landowner or trust.’’
That aside is a reality of modern hunting.
There aren’t many ducks around, and most are resident wood ducks. Wetland wildlife program manager Randy Smith said he thinks north winds and weather changes might move some fresh birds.
‘‘ Recent rains may have added some sheet water on wetland margins, exposing more food, or put sheet water into harvested agricultural fields, offering readily available food sources,’’ Smith said. ‘‘ Waterfowl are excellent at finding newly available food sources.’’
Crop harvest is well ahead of the five- year average. That opens fields for ducks, geese and hunters. Combines worked furiously through Monday until the heavy rains arrived.
There is a liberal 60- day duck season with a six- duck daily bag. That includes no more than four mallards ( two hens), three woodies, three scaup, two redheads, two pintails, one canvasback, one black duck and one mottled duck. The merganser bag is five ( only two hooded).
For quick reference on waterfowl questions, Smith recommended visiting