2008 waterfowl hunt opener conditions

Farmington bay, Timpie and Layton-Kaysville

MARSH CONDITIONS: The Great Salt Lake (GSL) has decreased to an elevation of 4194.2 feet above mean sea level. This is over a foot below last year's fall elevation. Marsh vegetation along the shoreline areas below Crystal and Turpin is in fair shape. Interior marshes are in great condition. Overall, marsh conditions at Farmington Bay are considered good outside diked units and great inside diked units.

Marsh conditions at Timpie are good to excellent.

Marsh conditions at Layton-Kaysville are fair. Lower marshes are fairly dry from reduced summer flows. Interior marshes are in fair condition. Airboat access into the interior will be very difficult.

WATER CONDITIONS: All units within Farmington Bay will be holding and spilling fresh water throughout the fall. Most units will be at 100% capacity, except for East Crystal and West Crystal, which will be at 80% capacity until we start to get some storms.

Because Timpie Springs WMA is spring fed, water conditions are the same as last year and considered good to excellent.

Water conditions at Layton-Kaysville are fair. Once the irrigation season ends October 15, incoming fresh water may diminish. This will be highly dependent on the amount of fall precipitation.

ACCESS: All access points into Farmington Bay WMA will be open September 13, 2008. Boat hunters are encouraged to use the North entrance to launch into Unit 1 and Turpin. Small boat access is also available at the South entrance. Due to submersed hazards, wake less boat speed is advised in all fresh water impoundments. Hunters are encouraged to consider retrieval of downed birds before selecting a place to hunt.

An ATV corridor has been posted, and is available for use. The corridor is located at the North entrance and is next to Goose Egg Island. When the parking lot is full, no more access will be allowed. Users must obey signs.

Access points into Timpie and Layton-Kaysville will be open one day prior to the youth hunt, September 26, 2008.

BIRD USE: A good number of ducks and a few geese are present at Farmington Bay, while fair numbers of ducks and geese are present at Timpie and Layton-Kaysville. An increase in bird use and distribution is anticipated, due to great habitat conditions. The 2007 opening weekend average at Farmington Bay was 1.84 ducks/hunter.

This year's opener should be similar to last year's!

SPECIAL REGULATIONS: Waterfowl youth hunt will be held September 27, 2008, followed by the general waterfowl opener on October 4, 2008. Shooting on the youth hunt will begin at 6:50 a.m. Shooting on the general opener will begin at 8:00 a.m.

All areas listed above are open for hunting.
The northwest corner of Unit 1 at Farmington Bay WMA is posted as a Waterfowl Rest Area and is closed to hunting and trespass.
Shooting is prohibited at Farmington Bay WMA within 600 feet of all dikes and roads open to motorized vehicles.
Airboats are prohibited within diked units.
The South Crystal unit is posted as a motorless unit.
Camping is allowed in parking areas only. Open fires are prohibited. Please clean your camp site so we can continue our camping policy.
ATVs must stay within the posted corridor, failure to do so will result in a citation.
Construction on the Doug Miller Unit has been postponed until Summer 2009, because the Army Corps of Engineers office has held up the construction permit for 5 months.