ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS: HUNTERS MAY FIND A DUCK IN EVERY POT

A dramatic across-the-board population increase in most species of ducks this year has waterfowlers virtually salivating over the promise of broadened opportunities.

In truth, the past couple of duck season have been better for area hunters than they had a right to expect. The lean years proved to have had a fair amount of fat in them, primarily because migrations of existing birds were pretty well timed with seasons that put hunters out there to intercept them.

If the timing goes right this year, duck gunners can expect a down-right generous winter of hunting, potentially the best in several years.

With notably more ducks in the flyway -- the result of greatly improved water and nesting conditions in northern American and Canadian prairies -- the possibilities for duck hunters are expanded. Those traditional areas of duck traffic, the coveted bottomland properties, can be counted on to provide a wealth of action. Yet, the sheer increase in duck numbers should improve the odds of fair or better hunting in some locales that previously were only marginal duck spots.

In short, the late fall and winter of 1994-95 ought to be a fine time for the freelance duck hunters, those that seek out birds in those odd and somewhat underrated locations.

The sloughs and bottoms along the heart of the Mississippi Flyway are almost a lock to yield some delicious hunting this coming season. But hunters who are short on access to the prime areas may muddle through without great loss by taking advantage of some alternative approaches.

River hunters can expect to encounter their fair share of duck luck this time around. The big rivers -- the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland -- all hold promise for the mobile boat hunter. Some of the smaller navigable streams also could produce tolerably well.

A river-worthy boat, a broad-beamed vee-hull or deep-sided johnboat with a removable blind cover and packable collection of decoys is the ticket to the bigger river action. Ease into a backwater slough, a wad of willows or creek mouth, set up and wait. In the right spot, that could be the ticket for fast action on passing clusters of puddle ducks and divers.

On both small and big rivers, sneak-boating could pay off some this year. A fully-camouflaged boat -- one that will pass inspection as a floating snag -- could let hunters drift within gun range of numerous river-bobbing ducks. Hanging to the inside bends and moving with plenty of stealth could pay off with some hot jump shooting for mallards, woodies, blacks and more.

The big lakes have come on strong as holding spots for ducks in recent years. This one should be even better with the bulge in duck numbers.

Floating blind hunts will work on the expansive waters, but plenty of hunting will be there for the taking from the shoreline hides, impromptu blinds built on the points and banks a back in the sheltered coves. Generous decoy spreads, about all one can stand to pack in and out, are a key to hot shooting on some of the big waters.

Aside from some protected refuge areas, most of the big lakes are fair game for the freelance hunter. There's lots of room and the potential rewards are rich and varied. Everything from garden variety mallards to pintails to a smorgasbord of quick-winged divers are apt to show up there.

Steve Vantrees is outdoors editor at The Paducah Sun.