Good start to quail, duck hunting seasons

Although the quail population has been down for the past several years, hunters like Tom Nelson, Springfield, don't like to miss opening day and although the opening day Monday, was more like a good duck hunting day, he, along with Flash, his Brittany, headed to the fields.

"I had seen more quail this summer than I have for the past several seasons, so I decided to give it a try," he said. "I put on my rain gear and hunted a fence row and it didn't take long before Flash was on point. Hunting in Vernon County, a nice covey of 15-16 birds flushed and I managed to drop one. Before I quit hunting, I had flushed two coveys and came home with six birds. It turned out to be a great morning in spite of the rain."

Nelson had hunted quail in southwest Missouri for more than 30 years and said, "I have seen the quail population go up and down and it's good to see them back in huntable numbers. Although I don't think it will ever be as good as it once was, I hope their numbers keep improving."

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Ever since the close of last year's duck season, waterfowlers like Ron Barber, Kansas City, have looked forward to this year's opening day.

Hunting in Carroll County near the Missouri River, Barber was in his blind with decoys bobbing in front as the first light of day appeared.

Just before shooting time, a flock of widgeons sailed over the spread of three dozen decoys and settled in. "I got goose bumps just watching the first ducks of the new season," Barber said. "Although the birds left before legal shooting time, there were plenty more flocks moving around."

Barber and his hunting friend, John Anderson, had hunted this same spot for more than 20 years and have had many good and bad opening days, but this year was going to be one of the better ones.

"We had lots of water and food for the ducks and although the big migration hasn't started as of opening day, we know it will be a good year, at least the conditions are pointing that way and after a great opening day, we have a lot to look forward to this year," Anderson said.

Just after legal shooting time, six greenwing teal buzzed the decoys so fast that neither man had a chance to shoot. However, the birds made a circle and this time the hunters were ready and dropped a pair of teal on the second pass. Butch, Barber's eight-year-old black Lab, swam out and retrieved the teal while a flock of gadwalls zoomed overhead.

"We saw a wide variety of ducks Saturday," Barber said. "There were a few mallards, widgeons, greenwing teal, gadwalls, shovelers and wood ducks as well as some others I wasn't sure of."

Anderson said, "It was one of those opening days you dream of. Enough wind to keep the decoys moving, ducks responding to calls, great weather, good dog work and plenty of action. It doesn't get much better than that. It was one of those unforgettable mornings with ducks appearing like ghosts. Those are the kinds of hunts that keep you coming back for more. When we stopped hunting around noon, we had four teal, two mallards, three gadwalls and a pair of woodies. Pretty good for an opening day. After we quit hunting, I got out my cameras and took photos of the ducks flying around."

Other hunters in the North Zone had good hunting on opening day. Fred Hawkins and Harry Thomas, Independence, opened the season near Lexington where they have opened the duck season for more than 30 years.

Thomas said, "It was a very good opening day in October. We had plenty of shooting and even hit a few birds. I would have liked for the temperature to have been a little cooler. I had to fight off mosquitos around daylight, but it was a great way to start off the season."

The duck season in the Middle Zone will started on Nov. 6, while the South Zone opens on Nov. 26.

Since the quail season opened Monday, with deer season opening on the 13th and the waterfowl seasons starting, its a great time for the hunters in the state.