Manager's Updates - State of Michigan

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Fennville Farm Unit Manager’s Update 2013 Season - Week of 10/27 Continued Trapping on the Farm Unit is by permit only. We are trying to continue allowing trapping while preventing negative impacts to our primary function: waterfowl hunting. You may contact the ASGA HQ or Farm Unit to get the permit. Be aware that we also have pheasant hunters on the property right now as well.
Fennville Farm Unit Manager’s Update 2013 Season - Week of 11/03 Weather Well, we’ve had a fair bit of rain over the last week and a ½ but it seems to have helped the hunt by moving the birds around. Looks like we have some clear weather for a few days, possible snow, and rain in the forecast. Waterfowl Abundance As with last week, goose numbers have remained constant but they are widely spread across the GMU and have not fully congregated at the Farm refuge. There are some snows mixed in but in low numbers. I’ve had some reports of new birds in the area and heading south toward the area so I expect estimates to rise over the next couple weeks. Even though the numbers aren’t as high as one would like we are still seeing a decent harvest rate because the birds that are here aren’t fully educated and they have been moving on and off the Farm giving hunters a shot as they come and go. I have had multiple reports of new ducks. Lots of orange feet on greenheads and other various species that we don’t normally hold in high numbers have been reported (gadwall, widgeon, pintail, shoveler). The duck numbers have been increasing. Hunting Conditions The fields and drives are wet so be aware as you go out to your zone. Otherwise, conditions are good at all the posts. Do not drive down to 7D – very wet – one hunter buried his truck down there on Sunday and had to get a tow truck. Hunter Numbers There were 25 youth hunters on Youth Day and they harvested 16 birds. I saw quite a few happy faces. Hunter numbers have been average for weekdays and probably we were a little lower than normal for opening day for the adults (we had 59 parties Sunday, 12 Monday, 24 Tuesday for the afternoon, and 12 Wednesday). As of noon yesterday we had harvested 79 geese and 8 ducks through the hunt (remember that duck hunters that come in 1st come – 1st served do not have to report ducks, you can hunt ducks 1st come – 1st served in any zone on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, and Sun. after 3:00 pm). We are already on pace to have a better hunt than last year – the best hunting days of the year are yet to come. Waterfowl Harvest Sounds like the harvest is about average at this point: 79 birds. So we are probably averaging about 3 birds for every 10 hunter trips (the long term average is about 2.5 birds per 10 hunter trips). What To Expect This Week Nothing out of the ordinary, just come and hunt. We may have trappers trying to enter zones on Nov. 10 so help spread the word that trapping for muskrats, mink, and raccoons is closed on the Farm Unit during the managed hunt.
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Manager's Updates - State of Michigan

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