Despite above average temperatures, the diver migration continues to follow the calendar as canvasback numbers reach their peak in the upper Mississippi River. Bufflehead, scaup and goldeneye are moving steadily from the Dakota’s through the Great Lakes and the upper Atlantic Flyway. Puddle duck activity is variable but numbers are near the long-term average in most areas.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
The migration is rolling along at a steady pace and the harvest is finally underway through most of the corn-belt and areas that were experiencing delays. According to the NOA Climate Prediction Center, the El Nino anomaly will keep temperatures above average through November and hunters in the north should expect to hunt through the end of their seasons without the fear of an early ice out – unless an unexpected arctic system should form over the next few weeks.
When temperatures are above average, hunter success is defined by mobility and willingness to adapt to waterfowl activity schedules. Clear skies and a bright moon will often result in nocturnal feeding and reduce early morning activity. A midday hunt can often spell the difference between success and failure. Midday hunts should be limited to a few times a week to prevent pressuring the birds out of the area. Avoid shooting at large groups during the day and be very selective with your shots.
Diver activity is good to excellent across most of the north at this time and will provide excellent opportunity if puddle ducks are slow. Taking a few days to hunt on big water will rest your marshes and ponds during this slow time and increase your opportunity when the kind of weather that moves ducks finally arrives.
As ducks remain in areas for a longer period of time, it is extremely important to provide a fresh look to your decoy spread each hunt. If you are in an area where you can leave your decoys out, be sure to pick them up at the end of each hunt. Vary the size and species in your spreads as well as the layout and look. Swap out spinning wing decoys for old-fashioned jerk rigs or other motion decoys. When opportunity is limited, attention to detail can mean the difference between a few in the bag, or getting skunked.
Waterfowler.com members are encouraged to post hunting reports and migration map data even when activity is low. Often times, knowing what isn’t moving is just as important as knowing what is when you are planning a waterfowl adventure.
PACIFIC FLYWAY:
Mallard, wigeon, gadwall, pintail and teal are good to excellent in the northern third of the flyway, with dark geese fair along the coast and good to excellent in Idaho and western Montana. White fronted goose numbers are average for this time of year from the Basin to the Sacramento Valley. Diver numbers are fair to good in Washington, Oregon and redhead numbers are excellent into Nevada. In California, hunting is good to excellent in the Sacramento Valley. In southern California, teal and shoveler numbers are good to excellent, with pintail fair.
CENTRAL FLYWAY:
Hunting remains good to excellent in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region. Mallard numbers are good to excellent and goose numbers fair. Gadwall, wigeon, pintail and green-winged teal are still present in good numbers, with divers moving through consistently. Puddle ducks are fair to good in Nebraska and Colorado and low in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas – where teal and wood duck numbers good.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
Puddle ducks remain at or slightly below the long-term average in the northern third of the flyway, with diver numbers good to excellent. Canvasback, redheads, scaup and bufflehead numbers are good to excellent and diver hunting is providing the most consistent shooting. The harvest is underway and goose activity is unpredictable. Many geese are feeding at night in recently harvested fields and loafing on safe water most of the day. Teal and wood duck numbers are good to excellent in the lower two thirds of the flyway, with all other ducks fair.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
Diver numbers are good to excellent in the northern third of the flyway with puddle ducks fair to good. Teal and wood duck numbers remain good to excellent from Maine to Virginia with dark geese good and light geese fair. Sea duck numbers are on the rise from Rhode Island north to the coast of Maine – with hunter success good to excellent before the storm.
Until our next report, hunt safe and hunt often.
