Glad I don't live in Florida

WATERFOWLING ON THE PACIFIC FLYWAYOne of the great things about the West Coast is the excellent waterfowl hunting opportunities that are available on public land. And, we have two distinct populations of birds to hunt on these public shooting areas - ducks produced by local nesting and ducks which migrate down from nesting areas in Alaska and Canada. For most of us on the Pacific Flyway, mallard, widgeon, teal and gadwall are the ducks we bring home, with mallards the duck we value the most.

Northern shovelers, ringnecks, wood ducks, buffleheads and bluebills are secondary ducks that frequent the flyway and may be the quarry of choice, depending on terrain and water type. Canvasbacks, redheads and sprig (pintails) are found in quantity on portions of the flyway, but each species has such a reduced limit that they do not form a high percentage of the bag these days.

Public shooting areas exist on most state and federal wildlife areas. First established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, the National Wildlife Refuge System has been expanded extensively over the years. Augmented by state and municipal wildlife areas, hunters use reservations, lottery and sweat lines to access sections that are open to public hunting. If you look around, odds are you will find a public shooting area within an hour's drive of your home. Check local licensing resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state fish and game offices and Web sites to locate them. Information and links to state specific areas can be accessed at the Game & Fish website at http://gameandfish.about.com.
Hunting waterfowl on public land is physically demanding. The learning curve can be steep and an investment in equipment is mandatory. But if you are willing to brave the cold and get dirty, you can't beat the experience.