That favorite duck hunting spot you’ve returned to year after year might look a little different this season.
Water conditions can change quickly across the Great Salt Lake Basin, and wetlands that held water in previous seasons may be considerably drier today. For waterfowl hunters in the region, that makes preseason scouting and knowing current conditions even more important.
Ducks Unlimited (DU) developed the Great Salt Lake Drought Tracker to better understand changing water conditions around the Great Salt Lake and give DU and its partners timely information to help guide wetland conservation and management. Now, hunters can put that same conservation science to work as they plan their time in the field.
The interactive mapping tool provides a bird’s-eye view of surface water across Great Salt Lake wetlands, helping hunters better understand habitat conditions before heading to the marsh.
Conservation Science You Can Use
Water drives wetland habitat. Understanding where water is on the landscape, and how those conditions change over time, helps DU and its partners make informed decisions about the wetlands waterfowl depend on throughout the Great Salt Lake ecosystem.
The Drought Tracker allows conservation professionals to monitor those changes across a vast landscape. Models developed for the tool improve the ability to measure extremely shallow water areas that have historically been difficult to track. That information can help guide wetland management and restoration and help DU and its partners make the most of conservation resources.
For Great Salt Lake waterfowl hunters, that same information provides a valuable look at habitat conditions in the places they hunt.
Water conditions can influence where suitable waterfowl habitat is available from one season to the next. The Drought Tracker won't tell you where the ducks are, but it can give you a better idea of where water and potential habitat remain around the Great Salt Lake, giving you a place to start your scouting.
Start with Public Hunting Areas
When you open the Drought Tracker, start by turning on the public wildlife areas layer and looking at the most recent wetland conditions.
This allows you to see public wildlife areas around the Great Salt Lake alongside the surface water displayed on the map. From there, zoom in on the places you're considering and take a closer look at current water conditions.
It can be especially useful to start with familiar ground. Pull up a public area you've hunted before and see how today's water footprint compares with what you remember. A marsh that held plenty of water last season may look significantly different this year. To help, we have added wetland conditions for October 2025 to compare what has changed.
Find the Water Before You Make the Drive
One of the simplest ways hunters can use the Drought Tracker is to get a better idea of where surface water is currently available within the Great Salt Lake region.
Instead of relying solely on last years’ experience, hunters can zoom in on individual areas and see where water is showing up across the landscape. That can be valuable when deciding which locations warrant a closer look in person.
Think of the Drought Tracker as another tool in your scouting toolbox. Use it to get the big-picture view from home, narrow your options and then put boots on the ground to see what conditions look like.
Conditions Can Change Quickly
The Great Salt Lake Drought Tracker is updated every two weeks, providing a regularly updated look at water conditions across the region. But anyone who spends time around wetlands knows conditions can change quickly.
That's why the Drought Tracker should be one part of your hunt planning, not a substitute for checking current conditions.
Once you've identified an area you want to scout or hunt, contact the local wildlife management area or appropriate land manager before heading out. Local managers can provide the latest information about water conditions, access and other conditions on the ground.
Hunters should also check current regulations and any property-specific requirements before heading afield.
The technology was developed to help DU and its partners better understand and conserve the Great Salt Lake wetlands that waterfowl depend on. For hunters in the region, it's another way to better understand those same wetlands and be a little more prepared the next time they head to the marsh.
Media Contact
Molly Jarone
Regional Communications Coordinator
Western United States Region
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 20 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
