This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Most — but not all — Wasatch Front residents have loved this year's mild late September and October temperatures.
Count duck hunters such as Salt Lake City's Phil Koncar among the minority who can't wait for colder, wet weather to move into the area.
"It has not really been duck weather," he said Tuesday while he and hunting partner Wesley Nelson pulled their boat out after a morning of hunting at Farmington Bay. "It has been a crazy year with warm weather. We have been hoping for colder and nastier weather."
With rest areas at state waterfowl management areas along the Wasatch Front holding thousands of birds, what's needed to improve hunting is a storm or two.
That occurred last weekend.
"This weekend was amazing," said Koncar. "There was a full moon and the ducks fed into the night. And it was overcast and breezy."
Zach Binning of Bountiful was among those who were looking at the forecast and hoping for a storm.
"It could be better," he said. "Thursday should be way better because there will be more clouds."
Waterfowl managers report hunting pressure is up this season, but the beautiful bluebird weather has kept success down for many of the state's over 20,000 duck hunters.
Most of those have struggled a bit.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Jason Jones, who manages Farmington Bay, said hunting has been slow. He attributes that to the warm weather and the near record lows of the Great Salt Lake.
That hasn't kept the pressure down. On most mornings and evenings, dozens of hunters can be seen parked near boat ramps and dikes.
"The shallow areas are where we hold hundreds of thousands of birds," said Jones. "There is airboat traffic in the water that is there that could be helping those birds move right along. We've had several storms blow through that have kicked a few birds out of there."
That said, thousands of birds could be seen on the Farmington Bay rest area Tuesday, a spot where they can escape hunters, rest and feed.
Blair Stringham, the DWR's waterfowl coordinator, said hunting has been slow statewide compared to previous years. He attributed that to low levels of water on the Great Salt Lake or that birds have not come into the area yet.
"With the lake level being lower, birds are moving through quicker and not staying as long as they have in past years," he said. "In the month of November, I expect newer birds to come in. That's when the divers start showing up. Hunting is slower this time of year. I expect it to improve when the first of November rolls around, as long as we don't freeze up."
Stringham said hunting in the northern part of the Great Salt Lake has been good, especially at the federal Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
At Bear River, project leader Bob Barrett said duck numbers are up across continental flyways. Most of the ducks at Bear River have been divers and dabblers.
He said swans have not moved into the area as of late and geese are staying clear of many hunters.
The number of vehicles at Bear River Bird Refuge was up 67 percent on the opening weekend, which Barrett said was a huge increase.
"Any time you have weather that moves through, it stirs things up a little," said Barrett. "They try to feed in other areas to get out of the weather and move around some more. Having some weather will help duck hunting. These bluebird days are not conducive to good waterfowl hunting."
So, while many football fans, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts are savoring the beautiful fall weather, duck hunters join skiers in hoping that the cold weather comes to northern Utah soon.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
Utah's duck hunt
P Duck hunting season is open until Jan. 16
• Warm weather has slowed hunting on many Utah marshes.
• Hunters have had the most success on the northern part of the Great Salt Lake including the federal Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge west of Brigham City.