I realize that everyone is not going to agree on things like this, but I for one am not that happy about the South Zone season dates and I think they are kind of emotional. While later dates may seem desirable, in many years much of the South Zone is inaccessible by January if it is cold. We also miss a lot of calendar ducks, as weather is, in my opinion, not that much of a determinant of migration patterns for Delaware Bay are hunting. I know that the "classic" duck hunting weather is freezing with sleet and ice everywhere, and I am sure that is true in many places, but not in the South Zone. The best weather for us is about 40 degrees in the daytime in December and mid 20's overnight. The ducks are always around, but mild Decembers like the last couple of years allow them to feed at night and loaf way out on the bay in the day. You can't predict the weather, and the problem with trying to set seasons around it are that after a few years of data showing weather patterns and using them as a reason, the next few years it inevitably changes in some way. But the good news is the shack will be active through mid January, which is not a bad thing at all.
