Duck hunting season opened Saturday statewide, and hunters in Grant and Adams counties can make use of five new blinds established in the Winchester Reserve west of Moses Lake.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife district biologist Rich Finger said the blinds are an experiment to see if they are used by duck hunters.

All hunters must register so WDFW can track harvest numbers and use the information to compare changes implemented by management.

The WDFW hunting forecast for the Columbia Basin states that duck production is up slightly from last year. The long-term trend in productivity, however, is sloping downward, but hunter success in the basin remained stable, which indicates birds flying in from elsewhere prior to duck season.

November migrations should bring large numbers of waterfowl, including mallards, widgeon, gadwalls, teal, scaup, redheads and canvasbacks.

The Winchester Reserve area, which was completed with the help of the Bureau of Reclamation, Ducks Unlimited, WDFW Duck Stamp and Print Program and the Washington Waterfowl Association, is typically one of the larger roosting areas for ducks, according to the WDFW hunting forecast.

The limited access site is open Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. No seating is provided in the blinds.

Joe Pflueger: 664-7145

pflueger@wenatcheeworld.com