ODFW/Fern Ridge waterfowl hunt conditions/web

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

For Immediate Release Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005

Fern Ridge reservation waterfowl hunt conditions available on the Web and phone line

EUGENE - Conditions at established hunting blinds at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area were near optimal for floating decoys at last Saturday's start of the reservation hunt, but wildlife officials continue urging waterfowl hunters to check conditions before deciding where, or if, to hunt in coming days.

"Water conditions are improving daily and 14 of the 15 blinds have good decoy water as of this morning," said Wayne Morrow, wildlife area manager. "However, water levels alone may not provide good hunting compared to previous years. Ducks may find little reason to frequent the reservation hunt area with this year's absence of planted wildlife food crops combined with the abundance of available waterfowl forage on the nearby Fern Ridge Reservoir bed."

Fern Ridge Reservoir was held at low pool levels during the summer to allow for structural repairs to the dam. As a result, water was not available at wildlife area pump stations for irrigation of wildlife food crops or early season field flooding. Water conditions are now much improved following lower than normal water levels early in the season in the East and West Coyote units where the reservation hunt is held. But habitat conditions are prime on the reservoir itself which is a unique event caused by the drawn down and now recent flood up. The usual start of the reservation hunt was delayed a month in response to the earlier dry conditions.

Hunters may view hunter harvest statistics and photos of hunt blinds on the ODFW Web page at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/waterfowl/
In addition, hunters may call 503-947-6111 at any time for a recording of current information on water levels in the reservation hunt area. To assist "stand-by" hunters, the number of open reservations available on each hunt day can also be found on the web page.

Hunters are reminded that the "stand-by" system remains in effect for blinds left vacant by reservation hunt permit holders. To participate in the daily random drawing, hunters must be at the Nielson Road parking lot promptly 1.5 hours before shooting time. Hunt days are each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday beginning Saturday, Dec. 3, and continuing through the end of duck season in late January. Saturday, Dec. 24 is designated as a youth hunt day. Youth day hunters must be 17 or younger and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult