According to state waterfowl biologists, resident goose populations are estimated at around 100,000 birds. However, last year's mild winter has kept a larger than normal number of migratory birds in the state. Last year, large numbers of birds did not fly as far south as usual.

With about 250,000 birds migrating along the Atlantic Flyway, hunters can take a shot at between 400,000 and 450,000 geese during the 2008 fall hunting season. Talk about a target-rich environment!

When it comes to smaller ducks, New Jersey has a solid mix of mallards, black ducks, blue-winged and green-winged teal, along with numerous lesser species at any given time during the fall and winter. The state's tidal marshes and wetlands are a traditional stopover for about 75 percent of the migratory brant population along the Atlantic coastline.

The 10-year average shows that mallard and black duck populations have remained stable. Recent surveys show good numbers of green-winged teal (between 2,500 and 3,000 birds) are available to hunters during October and into November, depending on the conditions on any given year. Great Bay Boulevard WMA
If you're looking for a good spot for duck hunting, one of the best in the state is the Great Bay Boulevard WMA. Located in Ocean County south of Tuckerton off state Route (SR) 9, the 5,358 acres of Great Bay Boulevard are mostly tidal marshes located between Little Egg Harbor Bay and Great Bay.

A causeway runs up the center of the main portion of the WMA, giving boat-hunters access via a boat launch about halfway down the road.

The Sedge Islands along the north side and the islands along the south side augment the main portion of the WMA. Hunters will find excellent populations of black ducks, widgeons and teal, along with fair numbers of mallards.

Stafford Forge WMA
Another good bet for some excellent waterfowl hunting is Stafford Forge WMA. Some 2,788 acres were purchased back in 1965 to create this WMA. Since then, it has been expanded to 17,212 acres, all of which are located in Ocean County

This WMA is broken up into three sections: north, central and south. The north section is located along the west side of SR 539; the central section to the east of SR 539 and bordering the Garden State Parkway, which also separates it from the south section.

Pete Jayne, chief of the Wildlife Bureau for the Wildlife and Heritage Service in Maryland, said that with the exception of black ducks, Maryland's waterfowl populations have remained steady and are in excellent shape.

The best waterfowl hunting is found in the WMA's central and south sections. Along the lower western side of the center section are located five ponds or bogs, and these produce the best hunting.

Waterfowl hunters can find both geese and ducks in the WMA's ponds and marshes. Canada geese are the dominant large waterfowl, while wood ducks, mallards and teal dominate among the small species.

MARYLAND
Pete Jayne, chief of the Wildlife Bureau for the Wildlife and Heritage Service in Maryland, said that with the exception of black ducks, Maryland's waterfowl populations have remained steady and are in excellent shape. The resident Canada goose population is estimated at about 85,000 birds, while the migratory populations varies from year to year.

I was told that here, too, the numbers of migratory birds that wintered over in Maryland's wetlands was higher than average due to this past season's mild weather.

An estimated 500,000 Canada geese and 200,000 snow geese found their way to the marshes and wetlands of the Free State. Most of these birds flocked to the wetlands of Maryland's famed Eastern Shore.