By Lee Leschper
For those few Alaska hunters not trying to fill the freezer this weekend with moose and caribou, it’s probably all about the ducks.
Waterfowl season in most of Alaska opens Sept. 1 and all signs point to another strong early season.
A large flock of mallards circles a Southeast Alaska bay.
Nationwide duck populations remain high, up 22 percent from the long term average. Mallards, the most populus of all American waterfowl, remain over 10 million birds, although down slightly from last year. Most other popular Alaska ducks, including gadwalls and pintails, also remain strong. Widgeon numbers are down slightly from a year ago, according to Federal surveys.
Many Alaska duck hunters don’t follow the traditional of large decoy spreads and calling that are popular further south, choosing instead to jump shoot tidal flats and pass shoot roosting areas. Anchorage and Juneau hunters have really great right in town on the Anchorage and Mendenhall Wetlands, albeit expect to have company if you choose to hunt there, after getting the appropriate permit from ADF&G.
In South Central Alaska, the bag limit is generous–up to eight ducks and four geese per day, depending on species and location.
