Winter waterfowl hunting opportunities
By Dave Cagle, wildlife program manager, Pinetop region,
Arizona Game and Fish Department

Arizona is not a high-profile duck and goose magnet like Chesapeake Bay, Klamath Valley or the Mississippi Delta. However, golden opportunities are available across the state for those few waterfowl hunters who do their homework, put forth some effort and are at the right places at the right times. On average, about 5,000 Arizona hunters pursue waterfowl annually, compared to 50,000 quail hunters. Here is a brief description of where and how one might find a golden duck-hunting opportunity in the remaining weeks of this waterfowl season or future seasons:

Arizona has two seasons: one for each of its habitat areas. The mountain zone opened Oct. 6, 2006 and runs through Jan. 14, 2007; the desert zone opened Oct. 20, 2006 and runs through Jan. 28, 2007. Limits are generous this year, with a total of seven ducks and seven geese allowed daily. Check the current waterfowl regulations for more details on species restrictions.

Higher-elevation areas

In the White Mountains area, the higher-elevation waters and created wetlands around Show Low were brimming with duck hunters on opening weekend. Now, as the mountain zone season nears its end, many of those waters are locked up in thick ice, and birds have either moved south or to lower elevations. Depending upon weather conditions, local concentrations of birds can still be found in late season. The Pintail Lake, Redhead Marsh and Jacques Marsh wildlife areas, located near Show Low, often attract ducks throughout the winter. These wetlands were created with treated wastewater effluent originating from the cities of Show Low and Pinetop/Lakeside. The water entering the wildlife areas often provides some open-water situations, even during cold snaps, and ducks can flock to these limited resting and feeding areas.

Other areas to try include Lyman Lake and the numerous stock tanks and natural basins that catch water during previous summer monsoon periods. Above-average precipitation last summer filled many tanks from Show Low north and east toward Holbrook and St. Johns. Ducks can be pursued utilizing decoys on larger bodies of water, or try spot-and-stalk techniques on stock tanks.

Lakes in the Flagstaff area have not fared as well, with Mormon Lake almost dry and many tanks either dry or frozen. Upper Lake Mary is probably the last body of water to freeze in this area, and it can provide waterfowl hunting opportunities throughout the season. Warm periods can also melt portions of other waters, which in turn, bring in wintering birds. Those opportunities can be short-lived, but may yield memorable hunt outings.

Lower-elevation areas

Lees Ferry is a consistent winter waterfowl destination, but requires the use of a motorboat to navigate the Colorado River. This portion of the river attracts many species of puddle and diving ducks. Those hunters interested in a mixed-species bag can end up with seven different species in their seven-duck daily limit. Some species, such as common goldeneye, winter here in large numbers, but are rare or absent in other parts of Arizona. Lees Ferry also provides a unique “cast and blast” opportunity for those pursuing both waterfowl and rainbow trout. Boaters need to be regularly aware of the bottom and rocks when negotiating the river. Water levels fluctuate daily, exposing hazards that were not there a few hours ago.

The western boundary of Arizona along the Colorado River can offer numerous duck and goose hunting opportunities. The bulk of Arizona’s geese spend the winter months on the river. The Cibola, Havasu, Bill Williams River and Imperial National Wildlife Refuges are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are located along the river or its tributaries. The primary management objective of these refuges is to provide habitat for wintering waterfowl. To obtain specific hunting regulations and possibly recent waterfowl numbers, call (928) 857-3253 for Cibola, (760) 326-3853 for Havasu, (928) 667-4144 for Bill Williams River, and (928) 783-3371 for Imperial.

Additional spots to pursue waterfowl include the areas downstream from Martinez Lake south to Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, and Mittry Lake Wildlife Area adjacent to the river. The Gila River, from its confluence with the Colorado River upstream past Tacna, offers good jump-shooting opportunities. Large portions of the river, which is really an intermittent stream here, are accessible by foot, and good numbers of mallard, American wigeon and other puddle duck species can be found in small bodies of open water. The Quigley Wildlife Area, just north of Tacna, allows hunting in the ponds by the bluff, but the food plots are closed to entry to provide resting and feeding habitat for the birds.

Other portions of the Gila River in the Gila Bend area can be accessed, but large sections have been closed by landowners. Taking time to find legal access points is necessary and can be worth the effort, as duck numbers can be locally high along remote sections of the river.

The Salt and Verde rivers and associated reservoirs are other great places to try your luck. Roosevelt Lake annually attracts large numbers of ducks and Canada geese. If birds are moving and your decoys are in the right spot, you can have a tremendous shoot. The Verde River at and above Horseshoe Reservoir winters ducks and a fair number of Canada geese.

Across the desert regions, late-winter duck numbers can soar in areas where one would not think of finding any webbed-footed wildlife. Stock tanks got a boost this summer with the above-average rain that fell across the central, eastern and southeastern portions of the state, and many of those tanks are still holding water. These tanks can attract a large number of birds, especially after winter storms push new migrants into these desert areas. Scouting to find water is essential to be successful. I wore mud on my face during one particular outing after I spent more than 30 minutes stalking up to a tank that the prior year had held water and ducks, only to find no water or birds when I peeked over the dam. This type of stock tank jump-hunting is perfect during a quail outing. Remember, you can only have steel shot in your possession when waterfowl hunting. You can keep lead shot in your vehicle when jumping tanks, or carry number 6 or 7½ steel shot with you to take quail and dove.

The southeastern portion of Arizona also offers localized duck hunting opportunities. The Gila River north and east of Safford can provide high numbers of ducks and possibly geese. Jumping tanks is another productive method to add ducks to the bag.

A good spot to try your hunting luck is the Arizona Game and Fish Commission-owned Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area. This area is widely known for its large number of sandhill cranes, but it is also holding good duck numbers this winter. The wildlife area can be reached by going south from Elfrida about 11 miles on Central Road, turning right (west) on Lee Road, and proceeding about one mile to the wildlife area. Portions of the area are closed to entry to provide crane and waterfowl resting and feeding areas, but hunting is allowed in some locations. Above-average water levels are providing extensive habitat and excellent duck hunting opportunities in the 200-acre “open hunt area” located in the northern portion of the wildlife area. In addition, good dove numbers have been reported in the southeast corner. As a bonus, about 150 snow geese were residing on the wildlife area in mid-December, with a few having been taken by lucky hunters.

An additional duck species you may encounter down here is the Mexican duck, which looks like a dark version of a mallard hen. It’s a rare visitor further north, but is a common resident to southeastern Arizona. If you need more information about Whitewater Draw, contact the wildlife area manager at (520) 642-3763.

Late-season waterfowl hunting is the perfect time to try a new hunting method, scout new areas, take out the bass boat to new waters and adventures, or combine waterfowl with your quail trips. If the hunting gods are on your side and you experience one of those days where everything falls in place, you will have joined the small but dedicated group known as the “Arizona duck guys … or gals.”