"We get lots of widgeon on all six impoundments of the main complex," Davis said "We also see teal, ruddy ducks, gadwalls, ringnecks and other species."

The pumps stay in place permanently and it takes quite a bit of manpower to operate them and keep the impoundments at their most effective water levels. Moist soil impoundments are just beginning to be flooded at the start of hunting season. Therefore, an impoundment that has water during the early seasons one year may not have enough water for hunting the next early seasons. However, all of the impoundments should be full by the November season segment.

"Hunting is a byproduct of waterfowl management," Davis said. "We don't just pull the plug after hunting season. We manage the water all year. Waterfowl management is some of the most intensive wildlife management there is. But it produces good hunting opportunities."

Indeed, the hunting is so successful that a number of years ago a permit system was initiated to lower the pressure and keep the hunting experience a quality event.

Campbells Creek, Spring Creek, Hunting Creek and Pamlico Point now require permits that are issued on a lottery basis on high-use days after Nov. 1. These days are opening days, closing days, Saturdays and holidays after the September teal season and short October season.

Two seasons back, except for the weeks with holidays or opening or closing days on a weekday, the impoundment hunts were cut from three days per week to two, leaving only one non-permit day per week (on Tuesdays) for hunters who don't draw permits or can't plan their hunts far enough in advance to apply for them.

Spring Creek also has a handicapped access blind, with hunt dates issued by lottery. The blind is accessible to ATV or motorized wheelchair from the parking lot. No permit is required for youth waterfowl hunting days.

Smith Creek and Hobucken impoundments are lower-use impoundments that do not fall under the permit system, but still are only open two days per week with the previously noted exceptions.

"I get very few complaints about the two-day hunting schedule instead of three days," Davis said. "Hunters tend to go along with anything we do to increase the quality of the hunting. But success depends more on the number of waterfowl utilizing the area than on the number of hunter days."

The impoundments vary in size. Pamlico Point is 754 acres, Spring Creek, 157, Hunting Creek, 135, Smith Creek, 13, Campbell's Creek, 340, and Hobucken, 40.

The parking area for Hunting Creek and Spring Creek impoundments is located on NC 33 west of its intersection with NC 304. The parking area for the Hobucken Impoundment is located just south of the intersection of NC 33 and NC 304. Just west of the Spring Creek parking lot is the commission's Smith Creek Boating Access Area. This ramp provides boaters access to Smith Creek Impoundment, about one-half mile away and Campbell's Creek Impoundment, about one mile away. Hunters use johnboats to ferry gear and smaller boats to drag over the impoundment dikes.

"Smith Creek is underutilized," Davis said. "You can put in at the ramp and go to the impoundment, and then use the crossovers or drag a small boat over the dike. You need to use a large boat to get there because you don't know the conditions that will occur. Wind is always a factor in hunting the impoundments that require access from boat ramps."