Indiana waterfowl seasons

Duck hunters in Indiana are hoping for a better season this year after what DNR biologist Adam Phelps said was a down year for duck harvest last year.

Soon-to-open waterfowl seasons:

Ducks

South Zone: Opens Nov. 24 (Wednesday); closes Jan. 13
Ohio River: Opens Nov. 27 (Saturday); closes Jan. 23

Canada Geese

South Zone: Opens Nov. 24 (Wednesday); closes Jan. 27
Ohio River Zone: Opens Nov. 21 (Sunday); closes Jan. 31

The statewide seasons for snow geese and brant are open and run until Jan. 28; the statewide season for white-fronted geese is open and runs until Jan. 30.

Phelps said the low duck harvest numbers last year were most likely because of bitter cold and frozen conditions statewide during the heart of the South Zone’s season.

“Duck breeding populations this spring were about the same as last year, with better water conditions on the prairies, so reproduction should have been good,” he said.

Phelps said dry weather has concentrated birds in the places where there still is water, so hunters who can find marsh areas that have water should do well ... depending on the weather, of course.

The key to the number of waterfowl available, as in any other year, is the weather, specifically cold fronts from the north or northwest.

“Those of us in the mid-latitude states are completely dependent on weather to push birds TO us and not BY us,” he said.