Hunting continues in the north along with precipitation. The early push of birds in the Central and Mississippi Flyway has provided opportunity for hunters beyond the opening day chaos and simply put, the hunting is good — really good.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
All to often the waterfowl season begins with a huge bang on opening day then leads to a lull before the northern birds arrive. Thankfully, an early clipper system carried a number of puddle ducks south and kicked off the diver migration earlier than normal. Hunters in northern states are enjoying the increased activity and the daily bag often includes a variety of species. A study of available waterfowl surveys shows duck numbers are holding near or slightly above the long-term averages, but the species present in the counts are usually those that arrive much later in the season. While numbers have remained steady over the past two weeks on most surveys, it’s important to note that birds that are being harvested are being replaced by a steady influx of migrants.
Harvest delays are ongoing in the corn-belt and continue to impact field hunting options and hunter success. Goose numbers continue to build across the northern third of all four flyways. When the combines finally ring the dinner bell, hunters who scout diligently and acquire access to the first harvested fields will reap the harvest. As it stands now, geese are congregating in grassy areas adjacent to water near metropolitan areas, or refuge areas that offer an abundant food supply. Local geese are becoming harder to decoy due to hunting pressure and with temperatures warmer, they are content to rest in safe havens.
The number of states open to hunting increases each week and youth hunts in a number of states will open over the next few weeks. As always, Waterfowler.com encourages our members and readers to take a kid hunting during the special youth season. The future of our sport depends on the growth.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
Hunting is underway in the Pacific Northwest, with teal and widgeon numbers good to excellent and mallards fair. Canada goose numbers down slightly in Washington and Oregon but numbers are reported much higher in Idaho and western Montana. Mallard numbers are good to excellent in the northeastern portions of the flyway and fair in Nevada and Utah. In California, teal and spoonbill numbers are good to excellent from the Sacramento Valley south. The rice harvest is nearly complete and should be flooded in time for the bulk of migrating waterfowl.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Duck numbers are good to excellent from Eastern Montana into North Dakota – with mallards good to excellent and all other species fair to good. While a number of birds have left the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region, hunters willing to scout are finding huge concentrations of migrants from Canada and experiencing incredible hunting. Duck numbers in Canada remain high and hunter success for traveling waterfowl hunters has been good to excellent north of the border. Gadwall, green-winged teal, widgeon and pintail numbers are good to excellent in Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota, with white-fronted geese moving again in the northern portion of the flyway. Hunting is good to excellent all along the Missouri River corridor, with divers and puddle duck numbers good to excellent. In the southern portion of the flyway, duck and goose numbers are building slowly in preparation of the season openers with habitat conditions improving.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
Hunter success has slowed in Minnesota slightly over the previous weeks, as the influx of new birds is not keeping pace with harvest and those continuing to migrate. Diver hunting remains good to excellent in Wisconsin and Michigan with puddle ducks good and geese fair. Puddle duck hunting is good to excellent in Iowa and Illinois. Widgeon, Redhead, and gadwall numbers remain good to excellent with green-winged teal and wood ducks good and mallards fair. Wood ducks and teal are good to excellent in Indiana with all others fair. Diver numbers remain good to excellent in the Erie Marshes of Ohio, with puddle ducks fair.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
The recent nor’easter did provide a bump to teal and wood duck activity in the New England States, though numbers remain down compared to this time last year. Mallard, widgeon, pintail and black duck numbers are fair to good in most areas with snow goose numbers lower than previous years as well. Along the coast, the first flights of sea ducks have arrived in New York with numbers slightly better to the north. Canada goose numbers remain steady and locals are becoming harder to hunt as they become educated and set into a pattern of frequenting known safe zones.
