Wood ducks are another species that waterfowl hunters enjoy hunting. They are pretty and plentiful most years. This year should be great for harvesting wood ducks. In fact, the numbers are so good that Robinson believes they may have to increase the bag limit.

"I think many things have helped contribute to the increase of wood ducks. Having lots of water and flooded timber has helped. A lot of marshes and wooded areas near marshes and wetlands are growing up, which is perfect habitat for wood ducks. Building and placing wood duck boxes around marshes and ponds is something many waterfowl hunters and school age kids like to do. When there is an abundance of water and an abundance of places for them to nest, wood ducks are going to thrive. Since wood duck numbers are so high, we are considering increasing the daily bag limit on wood ducks to three," Robinson noted.

The blue-winged teal is another favorite of Michigan duck hunters. Increased water conditions have improved blue-winged teal numbers and 2008 could be a great year for them as well.

"We have seen an increase in the number of blue-winged teal around this year, but we never know what numbers will be harvested," Robinson said. "For several years, warm temperatures in the early season produced high harvest numbers. When it is cold, the numbers are lower because the ducks head south quickly. When the weather is warm during the youth hunt, the kids can have a blast harvesting a lot of blue-winged teal. They are often very abundant during the youth hunt and probably will be this fall."

Diver ducks aren't hunted as much as mallards and wood ducks, but chasing divers can be very enjoyable, and like other duck species, diver numbers are also on the rise.

"We saw an increase in bufflehead numbers last year," Robinson said. "It looks like we will see more buffleheads this year. Buffleheads are often very plentiful and were once the second-most harvested duck in Michigan. Canvasback numbers are also up. Last year, we saw an increase in the daily bag limit from one bird to two birds, which is an encouraging sign."

With duck numbers on the rise, hunters should be happy with what they see in marshes and waterways this fall. Robinson believes waterfowl hunters may have to work for birds and encounter hunters, but says that some of the best places to hunt ducks are often overlooked and underutilized.

"In Michigan, we have some great wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges and state game areas that hold a lot of ducks, especially when water levels are up. Many of these areas don't get hunted very much," Robinson commented.

Robinson believes the Muskegon State Game Area and Muskegon Wastewater will provide great waterfowl hunting for the 2008 season.

"I always hear duck hunters talk about hunting in places like Arkansas where the flooded timber offers some of the greatest waterfowl hunting there is," he said. "Of course, that is true, but we have some great flooded timber in Muskegon that will offer some great hunting. The Muskegon River runs through much of the state game area and there are lots of small pockets of water that can provide hunters with good shooting. Hunters will often be alone. In the flooded timber, it doesn't take long to get a couple of mallards and a limit of wood ducks."

Utzinger said that with a little work, any hunter should be able to experience good duck hunting in the Muskegon State Game Area in the 2008 waterfowl season.