|
Shiawassee River State Game Area
Field conditions as of 10/01/2007
Field 1-5
Corn strips were planted in this field for cover and food for ducks
as well as sorghum for additional cover. The corn crop is poor but
the sorghum strips will provide adequate cover for the hunting season.
Buckwheat was also planted again this year and will provide as a
good food source for migrating waterfowl. The ditches in this unit
are full but the field will be dry at least until the 12th of October.
Field 6-14
This field is planted to solid corn by the sharecropper. This is
an excellent stand of corn and will provide for good cover and food
for the fall hunting season. This field is 75% harvested and harvest
should be completed by the 5th of October. This field will probably
not have huntable water conditions until the 12th of October.
Zones 15-22
These are the zones located along the river. Water levels have been
low all year long which has provided for conditions that promote
vegetative growth along the river. We have not noticed any significant
growth of smartweed or other food sources along the river this summer.
Water levels in the river are extremely low and hunters will experience
difficult conditions in accessing the river blinds.
Zones 23-28
The old federal marsh unit. Hot and dry conditions have caused this
unit to experience a natural drawdown this summer. We have begin
pumping this unit to bring water levels back up for the hunting
season. There is some growth of smartweed in this unit. Water levels
in this unit are at the desired levels at this time.
Zones 29
This unit has had good water on all year and will provide for some
good hunting opportunities this fall. This unit is at full pool
at this time.
Field 30-38
This field was planted by the sharecropper to soybeans. The states
shares of corn strips that were planted will provide for good cover
for the hunting season. The north 200 feet of each corn strip will
not provide for good cover for the hunting season but the corn is
6 feet plus in the rest of the corn strip. The soybeans are not
harvested at this time, if weather permits we expect harvest by
the end of this week. We are planning on having this unit flooded
by the 12th of October.
Field 39-48
Corn strips were planted in the field to provide for food and cover
for the fall hunting season. Sorghum was also planted to provide
additional cover. The corn and sorghum at this time are both 6 to
7 feet tall and will provide good cover and food for the hunting
season. This unit is flooded at this time, there is enough water
to float decoys in all zones for the opener.
Zones 49-52
This is the triangle unit which was converted to marsh 3 years ago.
The dike work was completed in the spring and will be flooded and
ready to hunt for the hunting season. There will be little natural
cover to hunt from so it would be advised to hunt this unit to bring
your own cover. The water levels in this unit are at full pool at
this time.
Field 55-60
This field was planted by the sharecropper to a solid stand of corn.
The corn in this unit stands 6 to 8 feet tall and will provide for
a good food source for waterfowl this year. This unit has been harvested
and we expect to have enough water to float decoys in every zone
by the 5th of October.
Field 61-66
Corn strips and sorghum were planted for food and cover in this
field this year and both crops stand from 6 to 7 feet tall at this
time. Buckwheat was also planted in this unit and will provide for
an excellent food source for waterfowl this year. The west portion
of the unit was also disked up and planted to buckwheat as well
as sorghum for cover strips however the sorghum in this portion
of the field will probably not provide for cover for the hunting
season. This unit is flooded and there is enough water to float
decoys in every hunting zone.
Zones 67-76
The Wahl road marsh. This unit was drained in early spring for dike
repairs, tube replacement and opening maintainance. The dike work
has been done as well as openings that have been created throughout
the unit. Tube replacement will be completed next week and we will
start flooding this unit as soon as possible. We have begun to put
water in this unit and we will add water gradually and conditions
are favorable to do so.
Zones 77-117
The flooded woods unit. We will be closing the radial gates early
next week. The woods experienced a loosestrife beetle hatch in the
spring but no secondary hatch in mid-summer. We are continuing to
see improvements in the habitat in this unit but still have a long
way to go to see it like the good old days. This unit is at full
pool.
Zones 137-150
The rookery. Water levels will be brought back up to full level
as soon as we have the opportunity to begin pumping. This unit is
at full pool.
NOTE!!! The fields on the north end of the area
( 1-5 , 6-8 and 9-14 ) will be flooded as soon as possible. We have
not been able to pump into these fields for two reasons. One issue
is the B-2 pump is out of service due to repairs but even if the
pump was in service water levels have been and remain to low to
pump from the Swan Creek. We will as soon as the North Prior field
is full we will begin pumping into the sump and across to the Miller
rd fields but this is a very slow process.
Shiawassee River State Game Area
Victor Weigold
Wildlife Technician
|
