Bob Brown CA isn't as good in the late season as other areas because it's in the north zone and freezes earlier. It can freeze over anytime from mid-December on. But it's along the Missouri River, so it has a good potential to attract many waterfowl. The waterfowl units are planted on rotation, like on most of the state Conservation Areas.

"We plant a crop one year and that attracts waterfowl," Graber said. "But it's mainly done to disturb the soil."

Rotating between planting and leaving the fields fallow increases the production of native moist soil plants and these are the main attraction for waterfowl on most of our Conservation Areas, he said.

Bob Brown CA can accommodate 20 parties of hunters with a maximum of four hunters per party, which is the maximum size on all MDC Conservation Areas. On average, only half of the hunters who are successfully drawn in the lottery ever show up for reservations on any of the Conservation Area waterfowl hunts. About half the openings are designated for reservations and about half are left open for walk-in hunters. That usually leaves three-fourths of the slots open for hunting parties who could draw for the openings on any given morning for any of the Conservation Areas. However, some are more popular than others.

Check for recent waterfowl harvest information on the MDC Web site. Waterfowl numbers and hunter harvests are updated weekly for each Conservation Area during the hunting season. The Conservation Areas are open for hunting seven days a week and the controlled-access waterfowl units have a specified closure of 1 p.m., when hunters must unload their guns and start leaving the area.

"Bob Brown is similar to most of our other waterfowl areas," Graber said. "The water distribution areas, the canals and ditches, are also service areas for hunters."

Hunters use boats with motors to access the flooded units. Some use push-poles to get around. You can hunt along the edges where there's some cover. Many hunters use layout boats and portable blinds. You can't run motors in the flooded units because they are typically only flooded to a depth of a foot or so, as that's the preferred feeding depth for dabbling ducks.

You can wade most areas safely because when they are dry during the summer, the soil consolidates. You still have to be careful where you put your feet after it's flooded, as there could be soft spots, Graber said.

"It's a good idea to use a boat or a wading staff so you have something to hold onto if your feet get stuck," he said.

The shallow water makes Bob Brown and many other Conservation Area waterfowl hunting units attractive to ducks, Canada geese and snow geese. But ducks are the biggest draw.

Hunters can expect to see plenty of mallards. But there will be other ducks, including pintails, gadwalls, teal, shovelers and widgeons. At times, white geese will utilize the Bob Brown CA. That's because Squaw Creek NWR holds good numbers of white geese and is located just 10 miles away.

GRAND PASS CA
In Northwest Missouri, the popular Nodaway Valley CA will have poor food availability. Hunters who normally hunt there will want to go to another area. However, Grand Pass CA will likely continue to be a hotspot, especially concerning mallards.

"Grand Pass Conservation Area didn't get hit by the floods," Graber said. "It's one of the larger areas and next to a larger river that doesn't freeze, so it typically holds many ducks.

"You can apply for reservations there and we fill half the spots with reservations," he said.

There's a drawing for the rest of the spots each morning. Grand Pass has 5,000 acres, so it can accommodate a large number of hunters.