Here is what waterfowl hunters need to know for the 2023-24 season

The Southwest Idaho waterfowl season opened Thursday, Oct. 19, excluding Valley County, where the season has been open since Oct. 7. While some hunters may still be accustomed to the waterfowl season opener falling on a weekend, this is the third consecutive year in which the season has opened on Oct. 19. 

Season dates were shifted later starting in the 2021-2022 waterfowl season, so that the 107-day season ends as late as allowed within the federal framework, on Jan. 31.  A shorter scaup season opens on Nov. 7 in Area 1. The decision to shift season dates later was made after a survey of waterfowl hunters showed that a majority in Southwest Idaho prefer to hunt as late as possible.

For some parts of the state, including most of the Southwest Region, seasons for white-fronted geese and light geese (including Blue, Ross's and Snow Geese) start later than duck and Canada goose seasons, allowing for late season hunting opportunities. Hunters can find more information and area maps in the Idaho Migratory Game Bird 2023-24 Seasons & Rules booklet.

All hunters must have a valid hunting license or hunting passport, a Migratory Bird (HIP) permit, and hunters 16 years old or older must have a federal migratory bird stamp. Nontoxic shot is required to hunt waterfowl. 

How is the season shaping up?

What, do you expect us to look into the crystal ball we have stashed in a closet at the Southwest Regional Office? Okay – we'll bite. 

We don't actually have a crystal ball, but we can provide you with some information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's annual Waterfowl Population Status report, with some caveats.

What can duck hunters in Idaho take from this very broad picture of the North American waterfowl breeding population? Well, it's tough to say because there are an almost infinite number of variables that exist between a duck or goose showing up in the survey of the breeding grounds and that bird potentially making its way onto a hunter's duck strap in Idaho.

Hunters probably shouldn't take this as a harbinger of how their season is going to go, but hey – it's still fun to dive into the data and imagine what might happen in the next 105 days. 

According to the Waterfowl Population Status report, habitat conditions in the breeding grounds generally declined over a large portion of the surveyed area compared to 2022. Much of the Canadian prairies were in abnormally dry to extreme drought, while habitat conditions in most of the U.S. prairies improved from 2022. 

The total estimated duck breeding population was about 32.3 million birds, which is down 7% from the 2022 estimate and 9% below the long-term average. All told, the breeding population and habitat survey this year is a mixed bag across all flyways, which isn't uncommon because of the vastness of the survey area. 

Hunters in Idaho might glean a little more by homing in on the survey data from southern Alberta, and to a lesser extent Montana and the western Dakotas, which is where many of the "northern birds" that migrate through Idaho come from.

Habitat conditions in Southern Alberta generally declined compared to 2022. Habitat conditions in most of the province were fair, due to below- to well-below-average precipitation between Oct. 2022 and April 2023. Two exceptions were the southeast corner of the province near the border with Montana, where habitat conditions improved compared to 2022 thanks to well-above average fall and early winter precipitation, and the central portion of the province which had poor habitat conditions.

As far as duck numbers, the estimate for southern Alberta was similar (up around 6%) compared with the 2022 estimate and 27% below the long-term average. 

In Montana and the western Dakotas, wetland conditions improved compared to 2022, and good production of waterfowl was predicted. The breeding population estimate was up 23 percent from 2022, and also up 23 percent from the long-term average. 

What's new for hunters in Southwest Idaho?

First, and most importantly, let's talk about the Snake River. As you may have heard, quagga mussel veligers were detected by the Idaho Department of Agriculture (ISDA) on Monday, September 18, 2023, in the Snake River near Centennial Water Park located in Twin Falls. Hunting, fishing and trapping, as well as general access, were temporarily restricted on a portion of the Snake River while treatment was taking place.

ISDA has since completed treatment of the area where the mussels were detected, and hunting, fishing and trapping will resume in most of the previous closure area at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19.

While that’s a ways away from the Southwest Region, the detection of quagga mussels upstream is a good reminder for waterfowl hunters to be vigilant about inspecting, cleaning, draining, and drying their watercraft when they leave the water, regardless of where they are hunting. Hunters in Southwest Idaho who are planning to travel the Magic Valley Region to hunt in the reopened area need to take their watercraft to the wash station at Twin Falls Visitors Center for decontamination after exiting the river. 

It's also worth mentioning that duck hunters may encounter some dead fish on the Snake River as a result of the treatment, downstream of the treatment area. If you observe a dead sturgeon, please note the location and contact the Magic Valley Region office. 

Snake River duck hunters downstream of C.J. Strike Dam should be aware that the Grand View Boat Ramp will be closed until at least Nov. 20, 2023 amid ongoing improvements. Hunters should plan to use other river access sites in the meantime, which can be found using the Idaho Fishing Planner Map Center. 

Duck hunters should also be aware of a few things regarding the Southwest Region's Wildlife Management Areas:

Fort Boise WMA

The Teal Ponds will not have huntable water for the opener, but will fill up by early November. Additionally, hunters are reminded that the Roswell Marsh Habitat Area south of Highway 18 is only open for hunting on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. 

"There should be a fair number of birds around," said Tyler Archibald, regional wildlife biologist for the Fort Boise Habitat District. "We started getting water back into the ponds last week after spraying and mowing, and I imagine we'll start to see bird numbers increase as we get the water spread out. As always, we keep an eye on the weather for birds to be pushed south."

C.J. Strike WMA

Hunters should reap the benefits of recent habitat work at the Bruneau Duck Ponds segment of the WMA, which included a broadcast burn of around 230 acres that reduced emergent aquatic vegetation, improving waterfowl and shorebird habitat as well as hunting opportunities.