Early in the season, waterfowlers can expect a mixed bag, including teal, gadwalls, buffleheads, shovelers and mallards. Photo courtesy of Billie R. Cooper.

Pete, my yellow Lab, snapped to attention, his dark eyes brightening as he stared to the east. Wet nose twitching, his muscular body rippling with excitement, he was in that posture that could mean only one thing: ducks on the wing.

My eyes followed the direction of Pete's excited gaze. As dark specks quickly grew larger on the eastern horizon, my canine companion groaned nervously.

The birds approached to 100 yards out. I mimicked three soft quacks on my H. S. Strut Bill Collector call -- and a trio of greenheads broke from the flock and lost altitude quickly. One more quack came from my call; I let it slide from my hand.

Cupped wings, green heads and orange feet filled my sight picture as soon as I shouldered my Remington 870 12-gauge. The fat mallards were in the hole at 20 yards. Piece of cake.

Missouri duck hunters are a fortunate lot. Few states offer as many public waterfowling opportunities. The Missouri Department of Conservation owns a statewide network of conservation areas managed specifically for waterfowl. The areas are as diverse as the hunters who visit them. However, the waterfowl areas all have one thing in common: Every CA is managed by a professional wildlife biologist passionate about providing both the best habitat possible for waterfowl and the best hunting opportunities for the sporting public.

Duck hunters would do well to visit one of the following CAs this season. They are among the best in the state, and any duck hunter worth his call should have some luck cornering ducks at these well-managed areas.

FOUR RIVERS CA
Four Rivers Conservation Area's 13,732 acres in Vernon and Bates counties are only a stone's throw from the Schell-Osage CA to the east.

"Four Rivers is one of the most susceptible CAs to flooding," said wildlife management biologist Chris Daniel. "Several creeks and streams run through the property. Heavy rainfall quickly floods the area."

In 2007, flooding remained a problem well into July here, and 2008 hasn't been much better. However, Daniels and his crew managed to attract good numbers of waterfowl with late-season plantings.

Of the total acreage at Four Rivers, 5,300 acres are wetlands management units, so water of various depths will be found on all of that acreage. Daniels normally plants up to 300 acres of crops including corn, buckwheat, Japanese millet and milo. Moist soil units grow smartweed and wild millet. Invertebrates and insects also provide a valuable food source to waterfowl in these areas.

"Duck hunting here is primarily wade-and-shoot," Daniels pointed out. "There are no blinds here, except for the handicapped blind. We do plant some Sudan grass, which makes good hides."

Hunters should consider bringing along camo material to help conceal themselves. Little natural vegetation is available to hide waterfowlers.

"All of the management units contain 2 to 12 inches of water," Daniels said. "The ditches and boat lanes are deeper. Most waterfowlers use small johnboats and pole boats."