The full report is an interesting read for those of us that hunt north of the red.

https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/sites/default/files/Waterfowl%20Presentation-Final.pdf


Wildlife Commissioners Receive Overview of Waterfowl Hunter Survey

Members of the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission received an overview of results from a recent survey of waterfowl hunters during their regular February meeting Monday, Feb. 11, in Oklahoma City.

The comprehensive survey conducted in October and November 2018 questioned resident and nonresident hunters who pursue waterfowl in Oklahoma about various issues such as hunting season dates and zones.

Josh Richardson, migratory game bird senior biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said this survey was the most comprehensive the Department has conducted of waterfowl hunters, with 5,608 responses collected from an estimated 15,000 active waterfowl hunters in Oklahoma.

Results indicated most respondents were neutral or satisfied about the current number and location of zones. But when asked how zones should be handled in the future, respondents were divided between keeping the current configuration (28 percent) or combining Zones 1 and 2 (24.5 percent), while 38.5 percent had no opinion.

When asked about the season split, more respondents were satisfied (24.5 percent) than dissatisfied (16.5 percent) with having a split, but satisfaction about the timing of the split was less defined (21 percent satisfied, 18.5 percent dissatisfied). The survey also indicated that most waterfowl hunting occurs on weekend days, and that having waterfowl seasons open on weekends and holidays such as Thanksgiving is important.

Richardson said a final report on this waterfowl hunting survey would be issued sometime after public hearings on Department rule change proposals are held March 7. Dates for the 2019-20 Oklahoma waterfowl hunting seasons will be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in early May.

I’m a one percentager, lol

I filled out the survey. I married a Okie gal and as luck would have it, her two brothers are bigger duck hunting fanatics than myself. I'm a big fan of the season opening up on Thanksgiving weekend. I didn't know enough about their different zone configuration so I indicated I was natural.

They have been kind enough to let me tag along the last three seasons. This past season was absolutely brutal, we hunted everywhere you could in the area and had one marginal hunt. We hunted Lake Eufaula, private lands near the lake and all over Council Hill to no avail. They talked to guys who normally save up their holidays hours to take off and guide during November/December. They didn't have much luck either, one guy said it best "It has been a long time since I have slept this much in the month of December." I finally threw in the towel after a dismal Christmas weekend group of hunts.

Here are a couple pics from last season

I don't like the Thanksgiving waterfowl because deer rifle is open and some fields I can't hunt because they lease to deer rifle hunters. I'm spoiled though as I can hunt just about anytime I want. I wanted a later start to the season and no split.

interesting read. i think there are some generalizations that can be applied to Texas. Thanks for the share!