"Lake-hunting was average to above average from late October through Nov. 20," said Kafcas. "Hunter bags consisted primarily of scaup and buffleheads, with few redheads and even fewer canvasbacks harvested. There were good black and white duck numbers in November."

Because Lake St. Clair's diver hunting is dependent on migrating birds, habitat conditions and reproduction on the prairies of the north-central U.S. and Canada are extremely important. Initial spring habitat conditions in Manitoba and northern Ontario were reported to be good to very good. Returning breeders found good conditions across most of Saskatchewan, with the exception being the southern portion of the providence. According to Ducks Unlimited, "Across the U.S. portion of the Prairie Pothole Region, wetland and upland habitats are generally in fair to poor shape. However, scattered pockets of good and excellent habitat remain in northern North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota and northern Iowa." Provided we had a normal nesting season, it looks like good news for Lake St. Clair hunters who rely on the prairies to produce good numbers of divers.

For more information on hunting in southeast Michigan, contact the DNR's Southeast Management Unit at (734) 953-0241.

Besides Lake St. Clair, the marshes and managed waterfowl areas surrounding Saginaw Bay are the most important staging areas for migrating waterfowl and waterfowl hunters in Michigan. Up to 25 percent of the total hunting effort takes place at the managed areas surrounding Saginaw Bay, and a similar proportion of the harvest. Waterfowl hunting in and around the bay in 2004 brought mixed results.

"Overall, the hunting was poor," said wildlife biologist Barb Avers. "Hunting at Nayanquing Point and Shiawassee was very poor. Hunters at Fish Point enjoyed fair hunting in October, but success fell off dramatically in November."

One good thing for Saginaw Bay waterfowlers was that water levels were up. The increase in water levels made flooding the managed hunting zones easier and provided good hunting conditions. Areas around the bay had excellent food and habitat conditions, but few ducks. One bright spot was diving ducks on the bay. "Hunters reported fairly good diver hunting on the bay," said Avers.

Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area is located three miles north of Linwood and encompasses more than 1,400 acres. Nayanquing Point is one of the more popular WMAs around Saginaw Bay. The 2004 waterfowl season was the third worst in terms of ducks harvested in the 28 seasons of managed hunting at Nayanquing Point. The first 30 days of the season showed 2,717 ducks harvested in 2,572 hunter trips, an average of 1.05 ducks per trip. The month of November was very poor, with only 697 ducks shot in 1,206 hunter trips. The totals for the season were 3,208 ducks killed in 3,361 hunter trips. Some 1,967 of the ducks harvested, or 61 percent, were mallards. The five-year average for duck harvest at Nayanquing Point was 3,838 ducks.

For more information on hunting at Nayanquing Point, contact the wildlife management area office at (989) 697-5101.

Fish Point Wildlife Area is a 2,477-acre public hunting area located three miles northwest of Unionville on Saginaw Bay's east side. About 1,200 acres of the area is diked wetland, which is planted with crops and flooded to attract waterfowl. Another 720 acres are maintained as a permanent marsh and acts as a refuge for waterfowl. Permits are required for 77 hunting zones, most of which are standing corn, and another five blinds are in three permanent marshes. Two other scramble zones can accommodate an additional 20 hunters. Again, one bright spot around the bay was the water levels.