A duck hunter’s delight!
Winter 2025
Article and photos by Jimmy Jacobs
Although Georgia is technically on the Atlantic Flyway that migrating flocks of ducks use annually, that’s a bit misleading. Most of that migration skirts the bulk of the state, sticking near our Atlantic coast. Inland portions of the Peach State see little of that movement and waterfowl hunting is a tough proposition. That action is based on our resident wood ducks and mallards.
A wood duck drake.
Fortunately, thanks to a cooperative effort by Georgia Ducks Unlimited, Georgia Power and the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, Middle Georgia does a have a bright spot in regard to waterfowling. The Dan Denton Waterfowl Area covers 100 acres along the west shore of the Oconee River, just downstream of Lawence Shoals Dam on Lake Oconee. The area consists of shallow impoundments that are managed specifically for the benefit of ducks and geese. They are part of the larger 7,400-acre Oconee Wildlife Management Area.
Of course, just having a couple of impoundments near a river hardly guarantees that ducks will show up to use it. After all, Georgia has about 4.3 million acres of freshwater wetlands, not counting the 412,000 acres in the Okefenokee Swamp. So why would the birds show up at the Oconee impoundments?
The answer lies in the joint project mentioned earlier. Georgia Power provided the property, Ducks Unlimited raised funds and the Georgia WRD provides management of the area. There was also some preliminary work needed to prepare the area. That work created a system of new or renovated water control structures and dykes. Those allow the waterfowl biologists from the WRD to manipulate water levels that produces moist-soil vegetation and flooded agricultural crops that are important as forage for dabbling ducks, such as resident woodies and mallards. The impoundments also offer brooding areas for the wood ducks and wintering habitat for migrating birds like ringnecks.
A ringneck taken on Impoundment No. 1.
Even better, this waterfowl area is not just a sanctuary. Public hunting through a quota system is provided as well. Two youth quota hunts take place in November, followed by eight more hunts that are open to all ages occurring in December and January. All these hunts take place on Impoundment No.1 or Impoundment No. 3. Individuals drawn may have up to three hunters in their party.
Hunters drawn may scout the area at any time, but are not allowed to set up until the day of their hunt and not before 5 a.m. that morning. You also must sign in and out at the kiosk in the parking lot on the north side of Georgia Highway 16 beside Impoundment No. 1. Actual shooting hours are 30 minutes prior to legal sunrise until noon on the quota hunts.
Be aware that there are no permanent blinds on the impoundments, but you are allowed to bring or make your own. Also, there are no boat ramps. Small boats can be launched from shore, with poling or trolling motors being highly recommended. You really don’t need a boat here, since most of the water can be waded using chest or hip waders. There are some deeper spots around stands of willow trees or in drainage ditches along the dikes.
Regardless of how you approach the hunts, the efforts of DU, Georgia Power and the WRD are paying off for waterfowlers in the Peach State.
Jimmy Jacobs is the editor of Georgia Outdoor Adventures, as well as being editor/publisher of On The Fly South. He also is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writers Association. He makes his home in Marietta with his English setters, Luke and Lulu. He can be contacted at jimmyjacobs@mindspring.com.