Midseason Survey On Waterfowl

At Lake Terrell hunters crept out on ice under bed sheets. Pass shooting in Lummi and Bellingham bays successful for mallards. Snow geese abundant at Fir Island, Conway and Stanwood.

Nisqually and Skagit flats plus Chehalis Valley and coastal salt water areas have flights of pintails, mallards and baldpates. Some teal at both spots plus a few homely shovelers. Vanguard of another big flight arriving now, right on schedule. Goose gunners enjoying excellent sport at Skagit Flats. Gunning expected to reach peak Thanks-giving Day. Shooting in northeast Washington currently bad.

CENTRAL FLYWAY

Colorado: There are more geese and ducks in Colorado at present than in many years. A department count shows approximately 14,000 geese on Two Butte reservoir, 4,000-7,000 on Queen's reservoir and large flocks on John Martin reservoir and Blue and Meredith lakes. Shooting is good both in pits and fields in the southeast.

Jumbo reservoir reports 50,000-60,000 ducks, Bonny Dam reservoir, 800 geese. On Colorado's western slope, ducks are plentiful, especially along the Gunnison between Delta and Grand Junction.

Montana: Hunting excellent in central and western part of state. Though main flights have passed, hunting will continue good till season ends December 21. Limits of five greenhead mallards now common. Canada goose shooting good in Great Falls area, fair elsewhere. Ducks definitely more plentiful than last year, geese and hunters about same.

New Mexico: Greatest concentration of migratory birds in the state is at Elephant Butte reservoir and in the Pecos Valley. Roswell area, good. Mallards are in majority, with a few pintails, shovelers and several other species.

Success to date is approximately 2 birds per man. The season will not reach its peak until December 20, if the weather runs true to form.

MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY

Arkansas: Seldom, if ever before, has the number of birds or the quality of the shooting at Stuttgart been equaled. It's all private shooting (and expensive, too), but hunters are even figuring out ways to prolong the time it takes to get their limits. Some swing only on the fat ones, others stick to smallgauge guns or single shots and many bury themselves in thick pin oak woods so they'll have only lightning quick chances at ducks through the treetops.