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“Poor-line”waterfowl hunters get more spots this year.
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri residents can apply for hunting spots at Grand Pass, Eagle Bluffs, and Otter Slough conservation areas (CAs) under the Quick Draw system starting a week before the season opener. The only change this year is an increase in the number of hunting spots set aside for hunters without reservations.
The Missouri Department of Conservation uses Quick Draw to make hunting at these three state-owned wetlands more convenient and accessible to more hunters. In the past, the system allocated one-fifth of all hunting spots to hunters who were unsuccessful in the twice-weekly drawing. This year, the system will reserve one-quarter of all hunting spots for hunters without reservations.
Hunters will be able to register for the first drawing at Grand Pass CA starting at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 18 and closing at 3 p.m. Oct. 21. The initial registration period for hunting at Eagle Bluffs and Otter Slough CAs opens at12:01 a.m. Oct. 25 and closes at 3 p.m. Oct. 28.
After the initial drawing in each zone, applications will be open from 12:01 a.m. Friday through 3 p.m. Monday for reservations on the following Friday through Monday. Applications will be open from 12:01 a.m. Tuesday through 3 p.m. Thursday for reservations the following Tuesday through Thursday.
All three areas under Quick Draw will use the system to assign ADA-accessible blinds. Drawings for the youth waterfowl season will be handled as in the past.
The Quick Draw registration form, drawing results, and detailed information about the system are available atmdc.mo.gov/node/10272. Successful applicants who provide email contact information can receive notification of Quick Draw results at 8 p.m. the day of the drawing. Results are available online at 12:01 a.m. the morning following the drawing.
Hunters without reservations compete for available hunting spots by taking part in drawings at the three Quick Draw areas each morning. Hunters who participate in this drawing, popularly known as the “poor line,” compete for the one-quarter of all hunting spots reserved for them, plus the spots of any successful Quick Draw applicants who do not show up. Over the past three years, when poor-line hunters were guaranteed 20 percent of hunting spots, they ended up getting 56.5 percent of hunting spots, due to reservation holder no-shows.
The traditional waterfowl hunting reservation system is in effect at the Conservation Department’s 12 other managed wetland areas. The application deadline for that system has passed. Results are available atmdc.mo.gov/node/9632.
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