[stumaas]

Waterfowl hunters considering these two areas will find improved conditions considering the spring floods and weather conditions since. DNR officials recently (really did) over flew Riverton and Forney; their photos reveal favorable water levels and open areas -- at Forney, even in the east hunting area looks huntable ... and the water in the Riverton main hunting area also appears excellent. Water levels in both refuge areas is also very good –- at or above planned levels. The Jensen Tract will not be ready for the early season, but with some luck, it should be “OK” for the later season, main push.

The duck’s eye view of Forney shows openings in the vegetation and early Teal are using those openings. With a bit of clearing, hunters can make openings a bit larger. The bottom is "pretty solid" and vegetation is not as rank as it looks from the road or boat ramp; hunters can wade the area or use small blind boats. Boat blind rigs with conventional motors will not fare well at Forney. Water ranges from about 36” deep to 18” deep. Smaller, low-profile rigs with light mud motors would probably work … wading in and dragging a couple small polyethylene sleds would probably work as well or better. Finding downed birds will be the challenge.

At Riverton, there is lots of open water and looks pretty good from the aerial photos; however, perimeter vegetation is not as high as in years past -- taller blind boats ... a “conestoga-type” rig ... will really stand out! The west walk-in area has not yet been loaded, but should get loaded as soon as the road gets fixed -- 5500’ of the paved road were severely undercut in the spring floods. Be advised -- traffic will likely be “one-way.”

There are pump issues that need to be addressed for the Jensen Tract and once they are conquered, water should be flowing. Its main negative this year will be the lack of vertical vegetation. There was so much water in that area during the spring and summer. Smart weeds and other seed plants are just catching up. Concealment will be a challenge.

In sum, both these areas merit a serious look by waterfowlers for 2008.

Be safe; take a youth with you and good luck.

 

[altrocker1]

thats good news...hopefully some of the water can hold out until the spring...especially in forney lake. water in forneys = more snow geese. i really wish i could make it down there for a few days in the fall sometime, i know my dad used to make it down there every fall, but stopped once the CO season came into effect

 

[AJB]

well that is good to hear.

 

[rivertonducker]

riverton

They got the Pump running on the south(jensen track.Its filling up nicely should be good to go by the youth season.

 

[crengineer]

Are the permanent blinds still in the main lake at Forney's? Or have they removed them. We used to hunt the blinds frequently back when I was in high school in the late '80s. Would like to go back there to hunt again.

 

[rivertonducker]

forneys

The blinds have been removed for several years.I have great memories of hunting there in the blinds with my father in the late 80s.i stiil remember blind 23 one thanksgiving morning when i killed my first snow. I wish they were still there what i would give to be setting in blind 23 with my father and daughter this Thanksgiving day!!!!!!

 

[altrocker1]

i hear many...MANY....stories from my dad about the blinds at both riverton and forney lake...we drive around sometimes and he shows me where they used to be when we are taking a break from hunting in the spring...he has also shown me how much more public hunting there used to be at riverton...i wish that some of that land was still there...i would love to hunt out of the blinds some fall. the way my dad made it sound, there would be 3 or 4 days in their week trip where they would get good blind draws, and the rest of the time things were still good. they always went down the week of thanksgiving as well. they always stayed at the tall corn inn with my uncle who passed away very tragically a few years ago...lots of memories on that water. if you ever want to hear an old codger go on about how good the duck and goose hunting was and how badly the land has been screwed up down there, i'll be happy to give you his number LOL!! its still a great place, i just wish the dnr had to money to do it justice....