14

Shiawassee River State Game Area

(Spring flooding on corner of Wahl and Broughton Rds.)

Management Unit: Southeastern Management Unit Author: Victor Weigold

Contents Shiawassee River State Game Area ............................................................................................................ 0

Tables ................................................................................................................................................... 2

Appendices ........................................................................................................................................... 2

2017-2018 Annual Hunting and Trapping Season Report ............................................................................ 3

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 3

2. Area Goals and Management Emphasis .......................................................................................... 3

3. Significant Habitat Management ....................................................................................................... 4

4. Land Acquisition Update ................................................................................................................... 4

5. Area Maintenance ............................................................................................................................. 4

6. Equipment ......................................................................................................................................... 5

7. Special Projects ................................................................................................................................ 5

8. Recreational and Educational Activities and Special Events ............................................................ 6

9. Waterfowl Banding ............................................................................................................................ 6

10. Waterfowl Hunting Season ............................................................................................................ 7

A. General Introduction .................................................................................................................. 7

B. Weather and Habitat Conditions ............................................................................................... 7

C. Migration and Waterfowl Numbers ............................................................................................ 9

D. Season Dates and Regulations ............................................................................................... 10

E. Permits and Harvest ................................................................................................................ 10

Species Harvest ................................................................................................................................. 11

11. Management Activities ................................................................................................................ 11

12. Significant Projects ...................................................................................................................... 12

13. Recommendations ...................................................................................................................... 12

14. Prominent Partners and Volunteers ............................................................................................ 12

Shiawassee Flats Hunters and Citizens Association ......................................................................... 13

Ducks Unlimited .................................................................................................................................. 13

15. Economic Benefits ...................................................................................................................... 13

16. Opportunities ............................................................................................................................... 13

17. Deer Hunting Season .................................................................................................................. 14

A. Season length and regulations ................................................................................................ 14

B. Participation in drawings ......................................................................................................... 14

C. Hunter success ........................................................................................................................ 14

D. Deer Check Station ................................................................................................................. 15

Appendix ..................................................................................................................................................... 16

Tables Table 1. Number of user trips and harvest numbers for recreational consumptive activities at Shiawassee State Gamer Area 2013–2017.

Table 2. Days of high and low temperatures across the 2017 waterfowl hunting season with comparisons to 2016 at Shiawassee State Game Area, St. Charles, MI.

Table 3. Shiawassee River State Game Area 2016 Prior Rd. refuge weekly waterfowl surveys.

Table 4. Pre-registered hunt attendance for the Shiawassee River State Game Area 2016-2017.

Table 5. Shiawassee River SGA waterfowl harvest totals, 2013-2017.

Appendices Appendix A. Daily duck harvest by zone and hunt period

Appendix B. Daily goose harvest by zone and hunt period

Appendix C. Species harvest by zone

Appendix D. Cumulative duck harvest by season day and year, 2015-2017.

Appendix E. Cumulative goose harvest by season day and year, 2015-2017.

2017-2018 Annual Hunting and Trapping Season Report

1. Introduction The Shiawassee River State Game Area (SRSGA) is 9,878 acres of lowland hardwoods, diked impounded cropland, cropped upland, riverine marsh, and diked managed emergent marsh located about 10 miles southwest of Saginaw in the town of St. Charles. The game area is located within the Saginaw River floodplain (Shiawassee Flats Critical Flood Storage Area) and lies at the confluence of the Shiawassee River, the North and South branches of the Bad River, and Wolf, Beaver, Pickerel and Swan Creeks.

SRSGA initial planning and construction efforts began in 1951 with the clearing of trees to allow for farmed impoundments, the dredging of ditches, and placement of pumps and water control structures to allow for year-round water level manipulation, and the subsequent placement of over 40 miles of dike. All of this effort was geared towards making the game area, and neighboring 9,600-acre Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, a preeminent migration stopover for the tens of thousands of Canada geese and puddle and diving ducks that move through the area each year.

2. Area Goals and Management Emphasis The primary goals for the SRSGA are to provide essential habitat for migratory and resident game and non-game wildlife species and to provide recreational opportunities for hunting, trapping, and wildlife viewing.

The operation of managed waterfowl areas is identified as a high priority action for the Wildlife Division and meets the following Guiding Principles and Strategies (GPS) goals and objectives:

Goal 1: Manage for healthy and sustainable populations of wildlife.

Objective 1.1: Develop, implement, and revise management plans and guidance for priority game species and species of greatest conservation need.

Goal 4: Enhance sustainable wildlife-based recreation use and enjoyment

Objective 4.4: Increase retention of participants in wildlife-based recreation

Goal 5: Improve and maintain public communication, strong relationships, and partnerships.

Objective 5.1: Foster positive relationships through collaborations and partnerships to implement Wildlife Division goals

The operation of these managed waterfowl areas fulfills More Bang for Your Buck criteria of making Michigan regionally known for a great diversity of waterfowl hunting through the update of water control structures to better manage State wetlands so hunters can pursue more waterfowl.

3. Significant Habitat Management Providing food and cover on upland units continues to be one of the main management objectives for SRSGA.

This year approximately 65 acres of food plots were planted to provide food and cover on these upland areas. These food plots, planted along woodlots and field edges throughout the area, ranged in size from 2 to 10 acres and were comprised of corn and soybeans, wheat, brassica, clover mixes, millet, buckwheat, and various forage sorghums.

The 2017 planting season began on May 24th and all crop plantings were completed by July 14th. DNR staff planted approximately 400 acres of Japanese millet during the week of July 10th and another 300 acres of buckwheat immediately following the millet plantings. All small grain plantings were completed by July 20th.

4. Land Acquisition Update There were no new land acquisitions in 2017.

5. Area Maintenance • The siphon tube project that was completed in 2013 was determined to

have flow issues; the tube was inspected and found to have a 120 ft. constriction. DNR is working with contractors and DTMB to resolve issues. Staff has met on several occasions with DTMB and Lansing staff to correct this issue, there is a tentative plan to install a pump station located on the east end of the sump ditch on Prior Rd. Survey and hydrology work is underway.

• Improved 1-5 field entrance and pull over site. • Installed bridge to increase access to north end of area off of Miller Rd. • Mowed approximately 40 miles of dike tops. • Manipulated water levels for planting, hunting, and wetland

management. • Distributed 2,000 tons of 23a crushed limestone and 1,000 tons of 4a

limestone to dike tops throughout the area to maintain structure and access.

• Maintained four handicap hunting blinds.

• Hired a contractor to mow 4 miles of dike slopes with excavator boom mower to reduce willow establishment.

• Maintained 4 miles of county road to ensure access to the game area. • Aerially treated approximately 150 acres in marsh units to help control

Phragmites, willow, non-native narrow-leaved cattail and reed canary grass.

• Worked on 6-8 and 9-14 center dike to address flood-related damages. • Relocated two ditches in the 30’s and 40’s field to restore grade of dike

and reduce erosion issues. • Rented an excavator for one month to help complete back-logged

projects. • Rented a front-end loader for two months to help with dike repairs. • Vic (wildlife technician) and Josh (wildlife assistant) attended pesticide

applicators classes to keep certifications in core, row crop, field pests, aquatic and right of ways.

• Spot sprayed approximately 40 acres of invasive species in various spots throughout area.

• Planted 40 acres of winter wheat in hunting fields as green browse for early Canada goose season.

• Installed new field entrances and tubes in the 40’s and 30’s fields. • Administered sharecrop agreements covering about 2,500 acres of land. • Installed crisafulli pump into river on the east side of the north refuge

marsh for reserve pumping into the Prior Rd. complex. • Hauled approximately 5,000 yards of fill to holes in dikes throughout the

area to address and repair flood damage. • Completed habitat opening work with marsh master. Shiawassee

National Wildlife Refuge staff assisted us with their marsh master and a contractor was hired to complete openings work in zones 23-28.

• Installed a new cement pad and set up a 1,000-gallon fuel tank at Ott farm.

6. Equipment A new medium-duty equipment trailer was purchased in 2017.

7. Special Projects Upon completion of an application and associated fee, a local beekeeper was again allowed to place bee hives throughout the area to provide for more effective crop pollination.

We held a birding tour on May 9th for visitors to tour the area and catch the spring passerine migration. Attendance was light but well received. We also held a fall open house on October 4th to allow everyone to visit and tour the

area prior to the general waterfowl season. We had over 50 people in attendance and lots of very positive feedback from participants. There was a large number of waterfowl staging on the area and during the driving tour portion of the open house participants got to see large numbers of waterfowl in flight.

The Shiawassee Flats Citizen Hunters Association (SFCHA) sponsored a youth event day on September 9th. The event was well received with staff from the area attending and participating. The event included dog retrieval demonstrations, waterfowl banding demonstration, and a barbecue to wrap up the event. SFCHA acquired items from sponsors to hand out to each youth such as duck calls and decoys; every youth also received a t-shirt. There were about 25 youth that attended the event. Although the event had a lot of participation the number of youth hunting was low.

8. Recreational and Educational Activities and Special Events Table 1. Number of user trips and harvest numbers for recreational consumptive activities at Shiawassee State Gamer Area 2013–2017.

Trips Harvest

Activity 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Waterfowl 5427 5605 6607 6046 5537

7757 8079 6717 6973 8051

Deer 989 1304 N/A 41 58 *

Trapping Muskrat N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

4095 2268 N/A N/A *

Beaver N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

23 1 N/A N/A * Raccoon N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

107 12 N/A N/A *

Fox N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

0 0 0 N/A * Mink N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

29 12 N/A N/A *

Opossum N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

0 7 10 N/A * Otter N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

3 1 7 N/A *

Coyote N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

1 0 2 N/A * Woodchuck N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A *

The asterisk * indicates that all hunting and trapping reports are not in. Trapping reporting rates have decreased in recent years; we required trappers to provide a phone number on their permits for the 2017 season to increase reporting rates. Due to low fur prices recently, trapper numbers have decreased with only 12 permits being issued in 2017.

9. Waterfowl Banding Due to temporary staffing assignments, local staff did not complete duck banding on the game area this year. However, a duck banding crew stationed out of Lansing completed banding efforts at both the game area and Shiawassee

National Wildlife Refuge. The banding team was able to band 351 wood ducks and 1 mallard on the game area.

10. Waterfowl Hunting Season

A. General Introduction In 2017, there were a total of 5,537 (down 8.4%) hunter trips for the waterfowl season and hunters harvested an average of 1.45 birds per trip, up from 1.1 birds per hunter trip in 2016. Permits were required to be returned either in person, by email, fax or regular mail, the kiosk drop box, or by using the drop tubes. There was a strong effort taken to ensure permits were returned this year. The waterfowl check station was open from 4:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day throughout the regular waterfowl season.

Leftover permits were available in the check station this year. We eliminated the self-registration for the regular waterfowl season after the 2015 waterfowl season. We eliminated add-ons and went to registering absentee hunters during the draw. We hired two NCWA’s to assist with the waterfowl season. Full time staff of Josh Imber, Victor Weigold and Jeremiah Heise also assisted with the waterfowl check station operation.

During the regular goose season (October 14th – December 10th) hunters harvested 616 geese.

For the youth waterfowl hunting weekend, which occurred on September 9th and 10th, youth harvested 71 ducks which is similar to prior years.

Participation was low for the late split duck season December 30th and 31st due to cold and ice condition (area was completely frozen), pushing most waterfowl out of the area. We did not hold daily draws and there were no reports of waterfowl being harvested during this period.

There is a late goose season (January 27– February 12, 2018).

B. Weather and Habitat Conditions Crop (Corn, Soybeans, Millett and Buckwheat) planting by sharecroppers started on May 24th and was completed by May 28th. Conditions for the area started out very soggy; we experienced an early April flood that covered most of the area with water levels staying high for 10 days. During this flood we had several washouts with two complete dike breaches (one on the west 6-8 dike and a major breach on the north end of 1-5). We fixed these washouts and hauled fill to the dike breaches in a short timeframe. Crops got off to a good start but during the last week of June we received 2.5 inches of rain while areas to the north received 11 inches of rain. After that rain event we experienced another flood

during the first week of July. During this flood water levels were higher than during the April flood. This flood event resulted in dike breaches in 6-8 (new breach, not the same breach from April Flood) and 9-14 dikes. On July 4th there was 4 feet of water in the 6-8 and 9-14 fields. Sharecroppers had these fields planted and lost all crops in these units as well as a 50% reduction in harvest in all of our upland units. The effect of these floods plagued us during the summer. We wound up planting 150 more acres of small grains in the 9-14 field than planned to replace the loss of sharecropped soybeans; this put our work planning schedule behind for the summer. Despite the conditions crops responded well and we actually had one of the best seasons here in a few years. Due to the floods we were able to store water in our marsh units, the river levels remained high throughout the summer, and we were able to have all the fields that we wanted to have available flooded for the opener (more fields available and flooded for the opener in years). Approximately 300 acres of buckwheat were planted in early July by Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division staff. The buckwheat grew well in all units. Staff also planted 400 acres of millet, which provides an excellent food source for migrating waterfowl. Field layouts in the 30’s, 40’s and north Prior fields were all block style. Hunters really liked the layout and asked staff to continue into next year and possibly expand to other fields.

Field 6-8 was lost due to flooding in 2017 (the weekend of July 4th had 4 feet of water on field). The field was largely a moist soils type unit. Sorghum was planted but didn’t produce well because of wet planting conditions. As a result, SFCHA volunteers constructed three blinds, one in each hunting zone to hunt out of, which were appreciated by hunters. This is the 3rd year of a three-year experiment for this field. Overall hunters liked the layout of the field and are starting to recognize the value of a moist soils unit. Duck harvest from the unit was slightly above the long-term average.

The flooded woods unit (zones 77-117) provided average hunting opportunities through most of the season but provided good hunting later in the season. The radial gates were closed on September 1 to allow water build up to flood the Prior Rd. complex and full pool was reached in about 7 days. Smartweed growth was good in the unit this year. The water levels in the river systems remained 1 to 1.5 feet higher than the past several years and this helped with flooding capabilities and time required to flood fields. We started flooding the Prior Rd. refuge marshes in August. We set a Gator pump into the river to assist with flooding. The Gator pump ran periodically for four weeks due to the changing river levels, one day the river would be too high to pump and other days it would be too low to pump. We could only run the

Prior rd. pump station for three days then had to shut it off and let water build up for two days. We would then pump water from the marshes into the fields for flooding. We had the entire Prior Rd. complex flooded two days before the waterfowl opener.

During the 60-day waterfowl season, temperatures ranged from a low of 18 degrees on November 11th (16 degrees in 2016) to a high of 78 degrees on October 22nd (72 degrees in 2016).

Table 2. Days of high and low temperatures across the 2017 waterfowl hunting season with comparisons to 2016 at Shiawassee State Game Area, St. Charles, MI.

Temperature 2016 Highs 2017 Highs 2016 Lows 2017

Lows

Above 50 45 24 15 8

40-49 11 26 12 12

32-39 4 10 22 18

Below 32 0 0 11 22

C. Migration and Waterfowl Numbers Weekly waterfowl counts were completed on the Prior Road refuge (Table 3). Counts were done every Wednesday around 12:00 noon. The same observers, route and methods were used each week.

The east half of the flooded woods were again designated as a waterfowl refuge, but archery deer hunters could hunt the area.

Table 3. Shiawassee River State Game Area 2016 Prior Rd. refuge weekly waterfowl surveys.

Date Ducks Geese Total Waterfowl

12-Sep 861 129 990

19-Sep 636 94 730

26-Sep 2563 277 2840

03-Oct 4545 730 5275

10-Oct 7565 1158 8723

17-Oct 10302 1135 11437

24-Oct 13685 1750 13860

01-Nov 10605 1000 11605

07-Nov 12020 1475 13495

14-Nov 17640 2000 19640

21-Nov 10175 1500 11675

The refuge counts only report the number of birds in the Prior Rd. refuge units- numbers of birds using the areas were likely higher early in the season but were not captured due to them utilizing areas outside of the refuge. Canada goose numbers were higher than in previous years’ counts.

D. Season Dates and Regulations There was an early teal season held again this year which ran from September 1-10 with a 6-bird bag limit.

The waterfowl season was a 60-day, 6 bird/day season. The first split (58 days) of the south zone opened on October 14th and ran through December 10th. There was a two-day December 30th and 31st late split. The six ducks per day bag limit could include no more than four mallards (no more than two of which could be a hen), three Wood ducks, two Redheads, three Scaup, one Pintail, two black ducks and two Canvasbacks. Hunters could also take five Mergansers, only two of which could be hooded merganser. Canada goose bag limit was a part of an aggregate daily bag limit. From September 1-30, the dark goose aggregate daily bag limit for Canada geese, white fronted geese and Brant is 5, which only 1 can be a Brant. After September 30, the daily limit for dark geese is 5, only 3 of which can be Canada Geese and 1 of which can be a Brant.

The Saginaw Goose Management Unit has been removed; areas that fall within its traditional boundary now follow South Zone season dates.

E. Permits and Harvest For the first two days of the regular waterfowl season, all hunt periods were preregistered with a maximum of 35 parties (Table 5). The afternoon hunts on opening day p.m. hunt and November 3rd were both youth priority draws. An after-draw was held for all hunt periods to fill any vacant spots to the maximum of 35 parties.

Table 4. Pre-registered hunt attendance for the Shiawassee River State Game Area 2016-2017.

DATE 2016

Permits Available

2017 Permits Available

2016 Participants 2017 Participants

October 10th am

40 35 33 32

October 10th pm

40 35 31 29

October 11th am

40 35 29 26

October 11th pm

40 35 28 31

Table 5. Shiawassee River SGA waterfowl harvest totals, 2013-2017.

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

5-yr Average 2017

Hunter Trips 5964 5325 5605 6607 6046 5909 5537 Ducks 6440 6697 7120 5666 6057 6396 7433 Geese 1027 897 775 1051 916 933 618 Ducks/Hunter Trip 1.08 1.26 1.27 0.86 1.00 1.08 1.34 Total Birds/Hunter Trip 1.25 1.43 1.41 1.02 1.15 1.24 1.45

Species Harvest Species harvest by zone and field can be found in the appendices

11. Management Activities Marsh restoration work that began in prior years continued in 2017. The federal marsh (Zones 23-28) was again drawn down in an effort to promote beneficial moist soil plant species and to allow equipment access in an effort to remove aggressive, non-native narrow-leaved cattail. A contract marsh master cleared roughly 60 acres of cattail from the unit that created marsh openings and allowed native vegetation to emerge.

The Wahl Rd. marsh (Zones 67-76) was left in full pool to drown non-native, narrow-leaved cattail that was treated and removed in previous years. This process has promoted several large openings, allowed native vegetation to return, and increased access for waterfowl hunters and trappers.

Roughly 150 acres of narrow-leaved cattail and reed canary grass were aerially treated in fall 2017 in an effort to create marsh openings in the flooded woods (Zones 77-117) and Rookery (Zones 137-150). The aggressive, non-native species have overtaken these marsh units, reducing their benefit to waterfowl and associated hunting opportunities.

12. Significant Projects Wildlife Division staff continue to work with Ducks Unlimited, Spicer Group, and DTMB on efforts to replace the aging B2 pump station on the north end of the game area that services the 1-5, 6-8, and 9-14 fields as well as Wahl Rd. Marsh. Wildlife Division partnered with several conservation partners and successfully acquired a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant in 2016 and DNR Wildlife Habitat Grant in 2017. As a result, all required funding is in place and construction of a new pump station is scheduled for 2018.

As previously mentioned, Wildlife Division continues to work towards a remedy for the failed siphon tube project from 2013. Funding has been secure and Spicer Group is in the process of engineering an auxiliary pumping station to supplant reduced water capacity through the siphon tube.

13. Recommendations • Continue with the number of pre-registered parties at 35. • Continue to allow for fall tillage in the bottomlands in a manner with minimal

top soil disturbance; do not allow fall tillage of any kind in the decoy opening areas of the field.

• Purchase front-end loader. • Pursue long-term sharecrop agreements. • Replace B-2 pump station. • Work closely with constituent groups while still being able to manage our

game areas to benefit wildlife and improve habitats. • Trust local staff to make judgments and decisions in matters concerning their

areas when following the GPS. • Replace the D41P dozer • Purchase a 10-15-yard dump truck to replace two older antiquated dump

trucks. • Find a permanent cost-effective solution to the siphon tube blockage

situation. • Fill the equipment operator position.

14. Prominent Partners and Volunteers The following groups helped us to reach some of our management goals. Their generous donations of both time and money are greatly appreciated.

Shiawassee Flats Hunters and Citizens Association • Posted river blinds • Mowed willow brush at various locations • Coordinated youth waterfowl hunt day event at the SRSGA check station • Completed re-painted of pullover posts and mowing of pullover locations • Coordinated and funded wild rice planting • Undertook major posting of the area, which included navigational signs

throughout the area to better direct hunters to their hunting spot. This project was funded by the M.D.N.R. and the posting was done by SFCHA

Ducks Unlimited Ducks Unlimited will be acting as the project manager for the B2 pump station replacement project, which will be taking place in 2018. DU was integral in acquiring funding for this project through a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant, in coordination with numerous other conservation partners.

15. Economic Benefits Hunters, trappers, fishermen and wildlife viewers use this area frequently throughout the year. The biggest influx of users on the area is during the fall when waterfowl and deer harvest opportunities exist. It is hard to put a dollar amount or percentage of sales amount on the contributions made to local businesses from users of the game area. With over 5,000 waterfowl hunter trips, approximately 900 deer hunting days, and the number of trapping days it is quite significant. This does not include fishing days, bird watching days, kayaking days or days where people are just enjoying the area on a walk. When talking to local business owners the percentage of increase varied from season to season and also business-to-business. Overall the estimates were from 5% to 25% increase in sales from people using the area and doing business with local merchants.

16. Opportunities The spinning wing decoy ban continued here this year. With the exception the order wording was changed to say motion wing decoy ban.

This year we hired three non-career wildlife assistants for the summer months. Two of the assistants that we hired had a good working knowledge of construction equipment which helped out greatly with projects that were accomplished over the summer. We hired one STW for 20 hours a week year-round to do office maintenance, yard work, snow removal and assist out in the field when needed.

Due to the vast area we manage and the susceptibility to floods, it’s imperative that we take a proactive approach to dike maintenance. In order to take such an

approach, we suggest a replacement schedule to update equipment. Large ticket items include a large dozer with 6-way blade (Cat D6 category), a front-end loader and a dump truck. Along with this approach we need to replace the equipment operator that retired about 7 years ago.

Deer numbers on the game area seem to be stabilizing this year. Deer hunters seem to like the reduction in number of permits available and report seeing more deer with better antler development. The aerial deer survey has not been flown yet because of inadequate conditions for the survey.

River levels seems to be on the rise. This will provide us with some challenges in the future such as not being able to use gravity to dewater our fields which will increase operational cost. This will also provide challenges when doing projects, keeping project areas dry to accomplish earth moving operations will be more challenging.

On the plus side this will make flooding operations more efficient.

17. Deer Hunting Season

A. Season length and regulations For the 2017 deer season all aspects of the application and permitting process were completed through the State’s Retail Sales System. The online application period ran from July 15 – August 15, 2016. Hunters were only allowed to apply for either the state or federal hunt areas but not both. Any leftover permits from hunt periods that did not fill up were available on a first come first serve basis until the hunt period met its quota. The 2017 season regulations were very similar to 2016 regulations except there were 30 bonus antlerless permits available for each hunt period. Statewide rules and regulations applied to deer hunting on the game area. The youth hunt period for September 16th and 17th was also handled through the online process with 30 permits being available.

B. Participation in drawings Participation in a given years’ drawing are posted with the DMU 273 deer reserved hunt information sheet. Results from the 2017 drawing will be posted with the information sheet when it becomes available in July before the application period.

C. Hunter success Deer harvest numbers are estimates based on returned surveys are applicable to the state land side of DMU 273 only. As of the writing of this survey, there was 55% return rate on 2017 harvest surveys, which is above average for standard mail surveys.

Of the 339 returned surveys, harvest was 73 deer, 50 of which were antlered bucks. Due to harvest being skewed towards antlered deer over the past several years, and as a result of survey respondents stating the number of does being seen, antlerless-only permits were again offered this year.

D. Deer Check Station Two full-time and on part-time NCWA were hired to assist in the deer check station in 2017. The St. Charles field office is one of the busier check stations in the area, with staff registering 1,347 deer, which is slightly above average over the past several years.

Appendix Follow on next pages

Appendix A. Daily duck harvest by zone and hunt period

2017 Date

Hunt Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 A

Federal marsh

Flooded woods

River zones Rookery Triangle Wahl Rd. Total Daily Total

Oct-14 AM 12 6 8 8 4 2 2 7 7 13 8 9 12 3 2 10 1 2 10 20 5 14 7 8 3 3 3 2 26 217PM 1 18 18 13 3 6 8 13 2 12 6 15 22 5 12 9 3 24 13 5 14 2 13 3 13 5 13 23 3 14 311 528

Oct-15 AM 13 4 1 6 18 17 8 4 20 3 6 3 11 6 4 2 5 2 4 3 8 6 6 1 2 1 1 15 5 185PM 6 8 2 2 4 13 7 11 1 6 2 10 5 6 7 1 5 2 1 2 6 16 7 4 22 156 341

Oct-16 AM 3 7 4 11 5 3 6 5 1 1 8 8 2 7 4 6 1 2 6 1 3 8 27 1 130PM 1 3 4 3 8 6 9 4 3 4 1 2 12 1 4 6 2 6 8 5 1 93 223

Oct-17 AM 9 16 2 5 7 7 8 11 18 4 4 3 3 6 103PM 6 8 6 12 7 6 16 8 5 1 3 5 2 5 4 4 3 101 204

Oct-18 AM 4 3 1 1 4 3 4 8 2 7 3 6 1 11 2 60PM 3 6 3 1 2 3 7 4 5 1 6 41 101

Oct-19 AM 1 2 6 2 3 1 6 2 1 3 4 3 34PM 4 1 7 9 4 5 3 3 5 1 3 45 79

Oct-20 AM 2 1 4 5 2 2 2 3 2 23PM 2 2 1 3 5 2 2 1 1 2 21 44

Oct-21 AM 7 2 5 1 1 1 1 3 2 4 1 2 2 3 2 1 11 1 5 55PM 13 1 2 2 9 1 1 1 3 7 40 95

Oct-22 AM 2 1 2 4 1 4 1 1 2 1 1 3 1 1 32 5 62PM 2 5 1 1 2 1 5 1 1 2 3 2 1 4 3 6 7 1 48 110

Oct-23 AM 1 1 2 3 2 1 2 4 16PM 1 6 12 15 4 4 2 8 1 3 3 3 15 9 11 3 6 5 1 12 1 2 5 10 3 145 161

Oct-24 AM 8 3 5 3 1 2 12 2 1 3 4 3 2 4 4 57PM 1 11 5 4 1 2 9 4 3 4 9 9 7 1 7 4 7 4 5 3 5 8 2 10 7 2 6 140 197

Oct-25 AM 3 2 5 3 4 3 6 3 1 2 2 3 37PM 3 4 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 8 5 3 4 1 38 75

Oct-26 AM 1 2 6 2 2 2 6 3 24PM 1 7 4 3 1 6 5 2 2 3 34 58

Oct-27 AM 1 1 3 1 1 8 1 6 6 1 4 6 2 1 1 4 2 3 52PM 2 6 2 4 3 2 1 2 4 1 1 10 2 13 2 9 4 3 1 4 11 4 2 2 8 2 1 106 158

Oct-28 AM 3 2 4 2 4 2 1 2 3 1 2 2 4 3 2 4 1 1 6 2 8 3 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 9 1 4 90PM 1 3 10 8 4 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 2 4 8 4 6 10 15 16 1 11 2 2 4 6 3 138 228

Oct-29 AM 3 1 1 1 1 2 4 4 8 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 3 3 2 3 6 2 57PM 1 4 4 5 1 2 3 2 1 3 6 3 2 4 3 1 9 2 5 1 3 2 2 7 2 1 79 136

Oct-30 AM 5 2 4 1 6 15 13 16 4 1 7 1 1 5 1 1 83PM 10 1 10 5 3 3 2 1 6 2 2 12 3 7 8 12 3 1 1 3 4 3 6 1 17 5 5 1 137 220

Oct-31 AM 8 3 2 2 4 1 3 6 5 4 3 5 2 2 2 2 1 4 1 4 6 1 6 4 2 83PM 1 13 4 4 15 1 12 5 12 10 2 1 5 1 8 1 4 1 4 6 110 193

Nov-01 AM 3 8 1 4 9 10 3 4 2 4 48PM 1 8 2 13 2 6 11 5 6 5 2 2 63 111

Nov-02 AM 1 5 2 3 2 1 4 5 3 1 3 1 2 1 34PM 4 1 5 14 2 2 5 4 3 9 5 1 4 9 3 5 1 2 12 3 6 7 1 3 111 145

Nov-03 AM 4 4 5 5 6 1 1 4 10 40PM 1 2 2 5 1 9 2 1 1 2 1 4 2 4 2 6 45 85

Nov-04 AM 2 5 4 2 1 3 1 8 1 7 7 2 2 2 3 8 2 5 5 2 3 1 3 3 7 1 1 5 4 1 101PM 1 4 10 3 3 5 2 1 2 1 6 2 3 9 6 5 5 12 3 9 3 2 5 7 5 5 2 10 1 2 3 137 238

Nov-05 AM 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 14 4 2 1 4 1 1 5 3 48PM 4 9 6 2 2 2 1 4 11 3 2 1 3 5 6 14 5 2 1 3 1 10 97 145

Nov-06 AM 3 3 5 4 6 12 3 2 1 2 8 49PM 5 5 8 1 7 1 2 3 8 7 12 4 12 9 3 4 2 1 94 143

Nov-07 AM 1 4 5 10 2 5 3 8 7 3 48PM 6 2 4 3 1 4 3 5 5 8 5 3 2 2 9 3 3 68 116

Nov-08 AM 6 2 9 3 1 1 2 1 1 3 29PM 6 8 7 6 4 1 1 8 4 8 3 6 3 5 3 3 1 6 1 6 4 1 12 3 110 139

Nov-09 AM 5 2 6 5 5 4 1 4 4 5 1 3 1 3 3 5 57PM 7 8 12 8 11 11 2 2 1 12 12 8 12 2 9 13 14 8 8 1 9 13 8 8 4 10 12 12 4 8 5 12 3 5 8 5 7 11 21 5 331 388

Nov-10 AM 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 3 3 2 1 11 33PM 13 15 2 1 2 1 8 7 7 2 17 2 8 3 1 7 5 16 16 13 12 2 12 1 8 17 198 231

Nov-11 AM 6 2 2 8 3 21PM 1 12 1 3 4 1 3 3 1 5 2 9 14 37 96 117

ZonesDUCK HARVEST

Appendix A. Daily duck harvest by zone and hunt period (continued)

2017 Date

Hunt Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 A

Federal marsh

Flooded woods

River zones Rookery Triangle Wahl Rd. Total Daily Total

Nov-12 AM 1 4 8 2 7 6 1 1 8 2 12 52PM 2 2 1 2 1 2 4 4 2 3 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 6 8 19 67 119

Nov-13 AM 5 3 4 5 4 22 2 1 2 3 51PM 6 11 8 2 3 6 4 2 5 2 49 100

Nov-14 AM 2 4 2 1 4 13PM 5 1 1 4 6 2 2 11 9 2 6 6 5 3 2 1 66 79

Nov-15 AM 4 7 2 4 2 3 5 1 28PM 6 4 2 4 2 9 8 5 18 11 5 9 4 2 1 4 4 4 15 11 8 5 141 169

Nov-16 AM 11 12 3 4 5 4 7 18 5 2 4 75PM 3 2 2 5 2 6 15 8 8 8 5 2 4 6 5 3 2 4 3 2 5 100 175

Nov-17 AM 3 2 7 8 1 5 5 31PM 2 1 2 2 6 4 6 1 1 2 2 7 2 2 2 4 2 1 2 5 56 87

Nov-18 AM 2 1 1 8 1 1 2 3 2 2 1 2 6 9 2 2 45PM 1 6 4 1 7 4 1 2 8 2 1 8 4 3 2 5 2 9 2 4 12 6 4 2 2 11 2 18 15 17 5 170 215

Nov-19 AM 1 7 5 13 2 1 4 1 3 5 1 2 3 1 2 8 8 8 75PM 2 9 1 1 2 3 1 7 8 12 6 1 8 10 5 4 4 3 1 2 1 3 2 96 171

Nov-20 AM 4 5 4 1 14PM 4 4 1 3 2 1 15 29

Nov-21 AM 2 6 4 2 2 16PM 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 15 31

Nov-22 AM 4 9 2 4 1 1 1 3 6 6 37PM 6 7 5 3 3 1 1 3 1 1 31 68

Nov-23 AM 2 1 8 3 2 2 4 22PM 5 2 1 5 13 35

Nov-24 AM 2 1 1 1 8 5 3 2 4 1 1 5 8 6 6 54PM 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 4 3 1 7 1 29 83

Nov-25 AM 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 1 6 6 23PM 4 6 1 5 5 1 2 1 7 2 12 7 5 58 81

Nov-26 AM 3 5 5 7 4 24PM 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 8 4 2 28 52

Nov-27 AM 4 3 2 9PM 1 4 5 10 19

Nov-28 AM 4 1 1 1 2 9PM 10 4 5 9 2 30 39

Nov-29 AM 3 4 7PM 12 2 5 1 2 22 29

Nov-30 AM 4 2 6PM 6 4 5 4 4 1 7 2 4 4 9 8 58 64

Dec-01 AM 3 5 6 14PM 10 7 1 1 9 4 18 3 10 63 77

Dec-02 AM 1 4 2 1 2 2 1 4 2 4 3 12 38PM 2 1 1 12 11 8 8 5 48 86

Dec-03 AM 4 11 2 12 1 30PM 2 4 2 8 8 15 14 53 83

Dec-04 AM 1 11 6 6 24PM 6 6 2 1 4 10 13 3 12 57 81

Dec-05 AM 18 3 21PM 16 6 1 10 1 12 2 5 1 3 1 11 42 2 2 115 136

Dec-06 AM 4 1 18 3 5 31PM 3 10 3 21 21 14 72 103

Dec-07 AM 1 13 14PM 3 1 7 8 27 21 67 81

Dec-08 AM 1 11 2 1 15PM 8 4 41 53 68

Dec-09 AM 2 2 15 19PM 2 15 1 18 37

Dec-10 AM 13 13PM 14 14 27

Grand Total 54 104 69 216 149 91 67 86 43 117 82 16 83 15 43 20 74 26 110 369 164 76 322 104 19 44 162 363 90 190 91 146 239 303 152 312 37 285 26 207 95 237 145 156 46 283 699 407 34 169 67 7,433 7,433

ZonesDUCK HARVEST

Appendix B. Daily goose harvest by zone and hunt period

2017 Date

Hunt Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 A

Federal marsh

Flooded woods

River zones Rookery Triangle Wahl Rd. Total Daily Total

Oct-14 AM 4 3 3 2 1 1 3 2 1 1 21PM 3 4 1 1 9 30

Oct-15 AM 3 1 1 3 1 1 1 3 1 15PM 3 6 3 5 1 2 1 21 36

Oct-16 AM 2 1 4 5 1 7 2 22PM 1 1 5 3 6 2 1 19 41

Oct-17 AM 5 2 2 1 1 11PM 4 1 1 1 2 9 20

Oct-18 AM 1 1 1 1 1 5PM 4 2 4 1 11 16

Oct-19 AM 1 1 2 1 5PM 1 1 1 3 8

Oct-20 AM 2 1 1 4PM 4 4 8

Oct-21 AM 1 1 1 3PM 1 2 1 1 5 8

Oct-22 AM 2 1 1 2 6PM 1 2 6 1 10 16

Oct-23 AMPM 2 3 1 2 8 8

Oct-24 AM 3 1 1 4 1 1 2 13PM 1 1 6 2 2 2 14 27

Oct-25 AM 2 1 1 1 5PM 1 1 6

Oct-26 AMPM 1 1 2 2

Oct-27 AM 2 1 2 2 7PM 1 2 5 1 1 5 15 22

Oct-28 AM 1 2 1 2 6PM 4 1 1 2 3 1 12 18

Oct-29 AM 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 9PM 1 2 3 12

Oct-30 AMPM 1 2 3 3

Oct-31 AM 4 1 1 1 3 10PM 2 2 1 1 2 1 9 19

Nov-01 AM 3 3PM 1 4 1 1 3 10 13

Nov-02 AM 1 1 2 1 1 6PM 4 1 5 11

Nov-03 AM 1 3 1 2 7PM 1 2 1 2 1 1 8 15

Nov-04 AM 1 1 1 2 1 6PM 2 1 1 2 1 7 13

Nov-05 AM 1 3 4PM 1 2 1 2 1 1 8 12

Nov-06 AM 1 1PM 2 2 3

Nov-07 AMPM 1 1 1 3 3

Nov-08 AM 3 1 2 2 1 9PM 3 4 1 1 9 18

Nov-09 AM 1 4 1 1 7PM 1 1 4 6 13

Nov-10 AM 1 1 1 3PM 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 11 14

Nov-11 AM 2 2 4PM 1 1 2 6

GOOSE HARVEST Zones

Appendix B. Daily goose harvest by zone and hunt period (Continued)

2017 Date

Hunt Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 A

Federal marsh

Flooded woods

River zones Rookery Triangle Wahl Rd. Total Daily Total

Nov-12 AM 1 1PM 1 1 2

Nov-13 AM 2 1 3PM 2 1 3 6

Nov-14 AM 1 2 3PM 4 4 7

Nov-15 AM 1 1 2PM 3 3 2 2 1 11 13

Nov-16 AM 1 1 1 3PM 1 1 4

Nov-17 AM 2 1 2 1 6PM 1 4 5 11

Nov-18 AM 1 4 1 3 9PM 1 2 2 1 3 1 3 2 15 24

Nov-19 AM 1 1 1 1 1 5PM 2 8 10 15

Nov-20 AM 2 1 1 4PM 2 2 6

Nov-21 AM 1 1PM 1 1 1 3 4

Nov-22 AMPM 1 2 1 4 4

Nov-23 AM 1 1 6 8PM 1 1 9

Nov-24 AM 1 4 1 1 1 1 9PM 9

Nov-25 AM 1 2 3PM 5 1 2 2 1 1 12 15

Nov-26 AM 1 4 2 1 4 1 13PM 1 1 2 15

Nov-27 AM 3 1 1 5PM 5

Nov-28 AM 2 2PM 2 2 4

Nov-29 AMPM 1 1 1

Nov-30 AM 4 2 6PM 2 2 4 10

Dec-01 AM 1 1PM 1 1 2

Dec-02 AMPM 1 1 1

Dec-03 AM 1 1PM 1

Dec-04 AM 1 1PM 1 1 1 3 4

Dec-05 AM 1 4 5PM 1 3 2 6 11

Dec-06 AMPM 2 1 3 3

Dec-07 AMPM 2 2 2

Dec-08 AMPM 0

Dec-09 AMPM 4 4 4

Dec-10 AMPM 3 3 3

Grand Total 7 4 20 22 2 7 2 10 29 12 4 13 2 2 1 6 5 10 89 43 2 41 19 2 24 18 6 16 1 4 6 17 6 21 14 13 1 9 14 29 22 8 20 2 5 6 616 616

GOOSE HARVEST Zones

Appendix C. Species harvest by zone

2017 58-Day Season1

Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 AFederal marsh

Flooded woods

River zones Rookery Triangle Wahl Rd.

Grand Total

Geese Canada goose 7 4 20 22 2 7 2 10 29 12 4 13 2 2 1 6 5 10 89 43 2 41 19 2 24 18 6 16 1 4 6 17 6 21 14 13 1 9 14 29 22 8 20 2 5 6 616Snow goose 1 1Ross's goose 1 1

Ducks Mallard, male 22 44 36 115 74 39 16 40 10 34 26 3 30 5 18 4 29 13 46 193 87 29 189 52 7 7 84 172 40 87 23 65 72 131 37 99 11 83 4 82 27 95 58 54 2 126 244 210 4 89 16 3,083Mallard, female 15 35 15 62 38 11 2 18 6 22 21 6 19 1 6 1 16 10 17 91 41 23 73 30 4 10 40 100 25 56 25 32 60 78 38 79 8 56 2 40 31 53 37 43 1 71 103 116 6 26 12 1,731Wood duck 5 3 1 4 2 42 3 5 11 5 4 3 2 3 9 8 16 10 1 15 20 3 3 10 6 17 3 7 30 26 9 21 7 16 8 9 8 11 7 20 15 25 18 272 6 8 5 11 753Green-winged teal 2 8 5 4 4 6 2 1 4 5 8 7 1 2 7 3 6 2 2 2 9 10 11 9 11 2 4 63 29 52 44 17 41 2 13 6 12 4 3 3 3 8 7 4 17 465Pintail 2 4 1 5 6 21 3 17 8 20 8 2 14 2 2 2 3 1 3 9 9 10 1 1 8 16 5 11 3 2 8 13 10 20 1 25 2 11 7 16 10 7 4 6 8 1 348Black duck 1 1 9 4 5 1 3 1 2 2 1 1 4 2 5 9 8 1 10 3 2 3 13 3 9 6 1 6 5 6 6 1 10 1 5 3 14 23 11 5 2 208Shoveler 2 4 4 4 12 4 1 2 2 6 2 2 3 1 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 9 4 30 6 35 6 19 6 6 7 1 200Gadwall 2 2 7 3 2 2 10 1 1 1 5 1 5 7 3 1 2 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 3 5 6 2 1 1 1 2 1 20 3 28 1 21 4 165Ring-necked 1 2 2 1 2 1 6 6 4 2 5 2 2 16 4 3 4 2 2 9 9 39 4 1 3 4 1 1 138Wigeon 1 1 3 4 6 2 5 2 2 1 1 2 5 3 2 5 2 5 6 4 2 12 5 4 3 5 2 4 14 3 1 4 1 122Merganser 1 1 4 1 1 1 5 1 1 3 3 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 10 1 47Scaup 3 2 1 4 2 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 1 1 1 1 1 1 42Blue-winged teal 1 1 3 2 2 1 1 1 7 3 1 3 3 2 1 2 1 5 40Redhead 1 1 1 1 2 1 10 1 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 35Unk duck 1 1 2 4 1 2 2 7 1 1 2 4 28Canvasback 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 11Bufflehead 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 10Goldeneye 2 1 3Ruddy 1 1 1 3MALL x ABDU 1 1

Total duck harvest 7,433Other Coot 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 2 1 1 1 7 25

Grand Total 52 111 73 237 171 93 74 89 53 150 95 20 96 17 43 22 80 31 120 458 207 78 363 123 21 44 186 382 96 206 92 150 245 320 158 337 37 300 26 222 96 247 159 185 32 300 681 428 23 178 69 8,0761Does not include late two-day split of Dec. 30-31

Zones

Appendix D. Cumulative duck harvest by season day and year, 2015-2017.

Appendix E. Cumulative goose harvest by season day and year, 2015-2017.