As we approach the Winter Solstice and the lunar start of the winter season, we take a look at current weather and habitat maps to help explain the current state of migration. While the official start of winter is a few days away, Old Man Winter has done his job to move ducks south over that past week. Of course, he and Old Mother Nature seem to have opposing plans for the south – as the little water that exists in areas of the south has seen a lot of ice.
Hello folks, and, as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
With a few areas of the south between their split seasons, ducks are packing in to available water and the re-opening of the season is expected to kick of with a bang for many hunters this weekend.
While a number of hardy mallards hug the snow line, there is no shortage of ducks spread across the south. While the state of the migration provides a number of good reasons to dance on the table if you are a hunter in the south, of course, there’s always a hitch – water is scarce and some of it was covered in ice for a few days.
Thanks to the magic of digital image software, we were able to overlay a few of the current weather maps to help provide insight to the state of the migration (Weather Quick-Links at left). If we overlay the current Snow-Cover Map on top of the Drought Monitor Map, the random duck movements on the Mallard Migration Map from the Missouri Department of Conservation begin to appear less random and much more predictable.
In short, the hot spots on the map are along the river systems and areas with the most desirable habitat in the south. Reports from Louisiana this past week confirmed the arrival of ducks in massive numbers and roost flights were described as absolutely insane in many areas. Of course, looks can be deceiving when water is low as birds will concentrate in these limited areas. Hunter success in the south will be determined by one’s willingness to be mobile and manage hunting pressure – if you shoot the roost, be willing to kiss your ducks goodbye.
As gunning continues along the snowline, ducks will continue to move south in search of water, food and a safe haven. As hunting pressure increases, so will the nocturnal feeding habits of ducks in many popular hunting areas. Hunters should keep in mind that ducks will fly a great distance to find food and safe habitat even when they arrive at wintering grounds. While refuge areas may have an abundance of food when ducks first arrive, it’s not uncommon for them to devour those supplies quickly and find the need to search for food in other areas. The average feeding flight can cover a much greater distance than hunters often imagine. Changes in wind direction can bring ducks from unexpected distances and the worst day can suddenly become the best you could have hoped for – and that’s why we do what we do.
PACIFIC FLWAY:
In Washington, recent rains have ducks dispersed and feeding in recently flooded areas. Duck numbers along the Columbia are average to slightly below average for this time of year. Waterfowl numbers in the Sacramento Valley are good to excellent at this time and shooting has improved in most of Southern California, Nevada and New Mexico.
CENTRAL FLYWAY
Goose hunting in Colorado continues, while ducks remain heavier in the eastern part of the flyway. While ducks remain in lower numbers along the edge of the snowline, hunting in Oklahoma is excellent at this time – with numbers near peak. Goose numbers in Texas continued to increase over the past week, with ducks – with numbers good to excellent from the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast.
MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY:
Duck numbers have declined in Missouri as birds continue to move south and spread to the east. Hunting is good to excellent in southern Illinois, eastern Arkansas, Kentucky and Mississippi at this time. In Louisiana duck and light goose numbers continue to build towards the peak – with new arrivals daily.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY:
Snow and ice tightened its grip on the northeast this past week, sending flight birds deep to the south. Duck numbers have increased significantly in the Carolinas as the migration continues at a quicker pace. Waterfowl numbers are on the rise in Georgia, Alabama and Florida – as record cold temperatures hugged the state this past week.
Until our next report, hunt safe and hunt often.
