Florida’s duck season opens Saturday and waterfowlers are looking forward to some memorable hunting.

“I would have to say that in my 26 years of duck hunting, I’ve never seen the habitat better or so many birds down so early,” said Capt. Jeff Kraynik. “That’s from south of Vero Beach all the way north of Titusville.”

The first phase of Florida’s 60-day season runs through Nov. 27 to coincide with the Thanksgiving holiday. The second phase is Dec. 10-Jan. 29.

Hunting takes place in diverse locales ranging from Tampa Bay to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to the Everglades as well as big lakes such as Okeechobee, Toho and Seminole, small lakes, ponds and even flooded pastures.

Kraynik, of Palm Bay, specializes in guided duck hunts in the marshes of the Upper St. Johns River and in the Indian River.

He said storms that dumped more than a dozen inches of rain have rejuvenated Central Florida marshes that were almost dry last year.

“Potholes that haven’t been open in years are back open,” Kraynik said. “You can navigate most of the St. Johns River from Vero to Sanford in an outboard.”

The state conservation chairman for Ducks Unlimited, Kraynik said he has heard similar reports from hunters throughout Florida. He can’t wait to be out there Saturday.

“Duck hunting is a tradition,” Kraynik said. “Being out in the marsh watching the sun come up, being with your friends, watching the ducks come in and locking their wings.”

For Paul Schmitz of Coral Springs, the best thing about duck hunting is figuring out where the ducks will be and then luring them into his decoy spread.

Making that more challenging than usual is how South Florida’s wetlands have gone from drought-stricken to deluged over the past few months.

“What I like is it’s completely different,” Schmitz said. “We haven’t had water like this in 10 years. In September [while scouting for early teal season] we were scratching our heads because there was no water. Now we’re scratching our heads because there’s so much water.

“That’s what makes it fun. I don’t know how people go out and don’t scout. They’re missing the best part of hunting: finding the ducks and getting set up where they’re pouring into your decoys.”

Unraveling that mystery also is the attraction for Steve Coleman of Fort Lauderdale, who starts each season at Merritt Island.

He keeps a detailed log of every trip so he knows what water levels are huntable – if the water’s too high, there’s no place to hide a boat – and where ducks are feeding.

For Jorge Gutierrez of Miami, an attorney and the president of the Everglades Coordinating Council, duck season means he finally gets to spend some quality time in a marsh with his son J.P. and his 8th Street Gang hunting buddies.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Gutierrez said. “It’s my chance to get back into the great Florida outdoors, especially this year where I’ve been so busy with other stuff.”

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