[ODFW-News] Fern Ridge reservation waterfowl hunt conditions available on the Web and phone line

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005
 
Fern Ridge reservation waterfowl hunt conditions available on the Web
and phone line
 
EUGENE - Conditions at established hunting blinds at Fern Ridge Wildlife
Area were near optimal for floating decoys at last Saturday's start of
the reservation hunt, but wildlife officials continue urging waterfowl
hunters to check conditions before deciding where, or if, to hunt in
coming days. 
 
"Water conditions are improving daily and 14 of the 15 blinds have good
decoy water as of this morning," said Wayne Morrow, wildlife area
manager. "However, water levels alone may not provide good hunting
compared to previous years. Ducks may find little reason to frequent the
reservation hunt area with this year's absence of planted wildlife food
crops combined with the abundance of available waterfowl forage on the
nearby Fern Ridge Reservoir bed."
 
Fern Ridge Reservoir was held at low pool levels during the summer to
allow for structural repairs to the dam. As a result, water was not
available at wildlife area pump stations for irrigation of wildlife food
crops or early season field flooding. Water conditions are now much
improved following lower than normal water levels early in the season in
the East and West Coyote units where the reservation hunt is held.  But
habitat conditions are prime on the reservoir itself which is a unique
event caused by the drawn down and now recent flood up.  The usual start
of the reservation hunt was delayed a month in response to the earlier
dry conditions.  
 
Hunters may view hunter harvest statistics and photos of hunt blinds on
the ODFW Web page at
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/waterfowl/
<http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/waterfowl/>  
In addition, hunters may call 503-947-6111 at any time for a recording
of current information on water levels in the reservation hunt area.
To assist "stand-by" hunters, the number of open reservations available
on each hunt day can also be found on the web page.  
 
Hunters are reminded that the "stand-by" system remains in effect for
blinds left vacant by reservation hunt permit holders. To participate in
the daily random drawing, hunters must be at the Nielson Road parking
lot promptly 1.5 hours before shooting time. Hunt days are each Monday,
Wednesday and Saturday beginning Saturday, Dec. 3, and continuing
through the end of duck season in late January. Saturday, Dec. 24 is
designated as a youth hunt day. Youth day hunters must be 17 or younger
and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult.
 
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