In all, this federal property encompasses 10,000 acres, about 7,400 of which are tidal and freshwater marsh.

"Prime Hook has a good diversity of ducks," Hossler said. "The success rate here is very good. Water levels are more stable. It's worth the drive to get there."

The Midwinter Waterfowl Survey is conducted at the same time each winter in each state a long the Atlantic Flyway, from Maine to Florida.

He said that December hunters could expect to find good numbers of mallards and black ducks -- the foundation of most public hunting areas. At Prime Hook, there's a better chance of seeing gadwalls, pintails and widgeons than at many other places.

While Prime Hook is located near Delaware Bay, the public property does not extend to the bay front. Waterfowl hunting is done on the freshwater impoundments and tidal marshes found off the bay. The stable water levels Hossler spoke of apply to these impoundments.

Permits are required to hunt the Prime Hook NWR. Drawings are held each hunting day, two hours before the start of shooting hours. Hunting days are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the regular Delaware hunting seasons.

All hunting takes place from the permanent blinds found there. Boats are required to reach all of the blinds. Boats are limited to 25 horsepower. All boats, including canoes and other non-powered boats, are required to have proper running lights. Officials of the refuge recommend push poles for navigating shallow water.

Shooting hours at Prime Hook are a half-hour before sunrise until 3 p.m. A questionnaire is provided with each permit, which the hunter must fill out.

As at the Augustine Wildlife Area, Prime Hook offers additional opportunities for the late-season snow goose hunter.

Call the refuge headquarters at (302) 684-8419 for more information. This office is located off state Route (SR) 16, and lies 12 miles southeast of Milford and 10 miles northwest of Lewes.

MARYLAND
Heaters Island
Wildlife Management Area
Maryland Department of Natural Resources waterfowl manager Larry Hindman said that waterfowlers should expect to see a good variety of ducks during December hunts in the Free State.

"This time of year, the divers will show up," he said. "The full complement of ducks will be here, assuming normal weather and typical migration. Scaup and canvasbacks will be on open-water areas. The migration usually peaks in December."

One area for waterfowlers to key in on, particularly ones from the central part of the state, is the 162-acre Heaters Island WMA. Found in Frederick County, Heaters Island is the largest of a complex of islands located in the Potomac River near Point of Rocks.

"The Potomac River is a well-used corridor for migrating waterfowl," notes Hindman. "Basically, hunters will find mallards and black ducks there. There may also be ringnecks and scaup. The goose hunting can also be good."

Maryland leans away from controlled hunts on its public lands, and this is the case on Heaters Island.

Special permits are not required to hunt this property, and you can erect a temporary blind. Your blind must be removed at the end of the day, however.

You will need a boat to access Heaters Island. A public ramp is located at Point of Rocks. Heaters Island is located downriver from the ramp, the first island below the U.S. Route 15 bridge. Heaters Island is forested. The waterfowl hunting is limited to the shoreline along the river, since no waterfowl habitat exists on the island itself.