Lesser Canada geese are moving steadily in the Central and Mississippi Flyways and their calls are welcoming in the first days of autumn. With shooting underway in most states along the Canadian border, hunter success on local mallards and early migrants is good to excellent for this time of year.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
As many states prepare for the coming of opening day, youth waterfowl hunts are fast approaching for many, and in some states they are already complete. Waterfowler.com’s hunting reports recount the success of youth hunts that have already taken place across the country, in both harvest and, more importantly, the excitement introducing a child to the grand tradition of waterfowl hunting.
With an endless variety of sporting and entertainment choices that keep children on the go, a quiet morning in the duck blind is simply invaluable quality time with your young hunting partners. Sitting together in the morning mist, while waiting for the sound of whistling wings, provides a bonding opportunity that is so often interrupted by text messages, television, video games or the distraction of their latest teen romance. Ah yes, so much has changed, and yet so little.
Today, as it has been since the dawn of sport hunting, hunter recruitment is dependent on one thing: taking a child hunting. Over 95% of hunters entered the sport because a parent or relative took them hunting. The future of hunting lives or dies on the ability of today’s hunter to recruit the next generation of land stewards, conservationists and sportsmen. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to take a kid hunting. According to recent surveys, over 75% of children today would go hunting if given the opportunity. Make time during the next week to pass along your knowledge, skills and opportunity by participating in a youth waterfowl hunt this season. It’s as easy as extending an invitation to a friend or family member – and the future of ducks and duck hunting depends on it.
Waterfowler.com would like to welcome Remington Arms Company as our Migration Map Sponsor this season. WFC reminds our readers that they can “Load Up on Savings”. Fall Promotion offers CASH BACK on select Remington firearms and up to $150 CASH BACK on select Remington Wingmaster HD™ ammunition purchases. To take advantage of this offer visit:
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Waterfowler.com encourages our members to make daily data contributions to our real-time Migration Mapping System. It takes only minutes to input data for your area, and the information is invaluable to us all.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
Lesser Canada Geese have been arriving in excellent numbers throughout the northern portion of the flyway. From Minnesota to Northern Illinois, the skies have been filled with the song of migrating geese. Ringed-neck ducks are moving into Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin in good numbers and recent rains have improved habitat conditions in these areas. Look for birds to be active in recently flooded fields and rice. With North Dakota still experiencing drought conditions, Minnesota is experiencing the benefit of a shift in migrating waterfowl, and snow goose numbers are on the rise in the state and expected to increase over the next few weeks.
This week’s surveys for the Great Lakes region show gadwall and widgeon on the rise, and both blue-wing and green-wing teal still present in the north. Mallards are fair to good across the north, most being local populations and molting into breeding plumage at this time. In the far north, the bean harvest is near completion and the corn harvest is expected to run late – do to late spring plantings and recent rains.
Remaining blue-wing teal continue to filter south, with the bulk of the population at their southern most destinations. Teal season ended in most southern states last week, and hunter success was fair to good from Missouri south, and excellent in Louisiana rice fields.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Drought persists in North Dakota and hunter success is varied. Scouting remains the vital ingredient to success and those putting miles in the truck are turning up with the most birds. Gadwall, Widgeon and Ring-necked ducks are the most prevalent species with redheads good, and mallards fair to low from Montana to South Dakota.
In Colorado, lesser Canada geese are on the rise with widgeon and gadwall good with numbers reducing quickly to the south. Teal are fair to good in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma, with the bulk of teal already into Texas and Mexico.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
Geese are on the move from the Canadian border to the Sacramento Valley. White-fronted geese are the most active migrants in northern California, and Canada Geese in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Widgeon, gadwall and teal are good to excellent in the northern portion of the flyway, with mallards fair all the way to the Lower Klamath Basin — and above average for this time of year.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
With early goose seasons ended in the east, hunters are counting down to opening day and preparing for the coming season. Teal numbers are on the rise and good to excellent throughout the New England States and into New Jersey. Wood ducks and teal are on throughout the flyway and migration activity is good to excellent from Virginia to the Carolinas and into Georgia. As fall color arrives to the Appalachians, and blankets the region with the colors of the changing season, waterfowl hunters in the Flyway are making last minute preparations. As the youth season’s approach, WFC encourages our readers in the east to take a kid hunting this fall.
Until next week,
Take a kid hunting!
