Missourians who want to hunt ducks or geese on most wetland areas managed by the Conservation Department can start applying for reservations Sept. 1. Those who hunt at three areas will enter the drawing closer to their hunt dates. All applications will be handled online this year.

The Conservation Department will accept applications for reservations on 12 managed wetland areas from Sept. 1 through 18 at www.mdc.mo.gov/7559. Drawing results will be available Oct. 1 at the same website.
The phone reservation system used in the past has been discontinued this year. Wildlife Division Chief DeeCee Darrow noted that the decision was based on a need to cut the agency’s budget and on the dwindling use of the telephone system.

According to Darrow, the telephone reservation system handled 27 percent of all applications in 2002. In 2009, only 4.5 percent of hunters applied by phone. This, together with the expense of maintaining the telephone reservation system, prompted the decision to discontinue the service.

Also for the first time this year, the Conservation Department is testing a new reservation system, called Quick Draw, at Eagle Bluffs, Grand Pass and Otter Slough conservation areas.

Having a reservation under the traditional system does not always benefit reservation holders. Reservations often do not coincide with days when large numbers of migrating waterfowl are present. Quick Draw gives hunters more flexibility by letting them apply for hunts as little as three days in advance. This allows hunters to try for guaranteed hunting slots on the best hunting days of the year.

Grand Pass CA will the first area to test the new system, because it is in the North Zone. Applications to hunt during the first three days of the 2010 duck season will open at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 22 and close at 3 p.m. Oct. 25. Results will be available after midnight that day. Successful applicants will be notified by e-mail or text message if they provide contact information. They also can check the results online.

Eagle Bluffs and Otter Slough CAs are in the Middle Zone, so applications for reservations the first three days of the season at those areas will run from 12:01 a.m. Oct. 29 and close at 3 p.m. Nov. 1. Results will be available after midnight a.m. Nov. 1.

After the initial drawing in each zone, Monday drawings will award reservations for Friday through Monday. Applications will be open from Monday through Wednesday to assign reservations for Tuesday through Thursday.

Whether applying through the traditional reservation system or Quick Draw, applicants need the nine-digit identification number found at the top of their hunting or fishing permit. The number also is shown next to the bar code on Conservation Heritage Cards.

To apply for reservations under Quick Draw, hunters over age 15 and under age 65 need a small-game hunting permits and a migratory bird permit. Hunters under age 15 only need a Conservation Identification Number. Disabled veterans need a Conservation Identification Number and a certified statement of eligibility from the Veterans Administration. The certification must be presented the morning of the hunt.

Quick Draw applications will close at 3 p.m. the day of the draw. Results will be posted at the Quick Draw website at 12:01 a.m. the following day. Successful applicants who provide e-mail addresses will receive notice of their reservation and of their order in the morning lineup to select hunting spots. Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified, but can check draw results online.

Hunters may apply for reservations at only one Quick Draw area per day. However, there is no limit on the number of days you can apply. If you submit an application and change your mind about where you want to hunt, you can change your application up until the time of the drawing.

Hunters should check hunting conditions before applying for reservations. For the latest report, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/15520.